(01-31-2021 04:13 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:08 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:02 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Y’all are pretty confident there is 0% chance of any SoCon school leaving for the ASUN.

Just like they were confident that no current D1 school would join the ASUN...

We know the ASUN has been courting Chatty, again, not saying they accept, but to say they dont, I cant.

They turned down sunbelt inquiries. Why would they now accept ASun inquiries which could be argued is an FCS version of the Sunbelt?

It DOES cost more money to play FBS. Now, maybe that money would be offset with conference/CFB playoff payouts. I don’t know.

I will say, living here in Chattanooga - it seems to me they struggle with fan support. I’ve been to a few of their football games where I was surprised by the low turnout. I don’t think they average 10k per game. Maybe that many tickets are sold, but they don’t usually have that many people on the stands. So could they average the 15,000 needed to be in FBS? I’m sure it’s possible if higher profile teams are visiting, but maybe their administration is still concerned.

Again, that’s just all speculation on my part from having attended several Mocs games.

I do believe some of their better-attended games have been against Jacksonville State, and I’m sure they see Kennesaw State as a potential good draw as well. Unfortunately COVID cancelled UNA’s game in Chattanooga this past season, but I think we would’ve travelled well.

I’ll go on the record in saying I don’t believe UTC comes on board right now. But I could see them looking at a move to the ASUN as a chance to grow their fanbase.

I think the lack of large support is directly tied to the poor product they've put on the field since Huesman left. Working with several UTC grads I've seen their interests dip in the last few years. They still pay attention to the Citadel and Furman games though. ETSU is getting back to being a solid draw and interest again. But if they put a winning team they'd draw 14-17ish no problem.

Govs and or Mocs possible. Gumbart is a super salesman. Are Chattanooga, WCU, ETSU, and UNCG essentially the only public SOCON schools?

(01-31-2021 06:07 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Govs and or Mocs possible. Gumbart is a super salesman. Are Chattanooga, WCU, ETSU, and UNCG essentially the only public SOCON schools?

Technically VMI and Citadel are too.

SoCon Publics:
WCU
ETSU
UTC
UNCG
VMI
Citadel

SoCon Privates:
Mercer
Samford
Wofford
Furman

(01-31-2021 09:46 AM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 09:17 AM)SMUfan Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 02:47 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Public and in footprint:

Every OVC school except Morehead State and Belmont has football and is public, and except Eastern Illinois is in footprint. We can rule out Tennessee State also as this would not likely be their preferred direction.

Austin Peay State
Murray State
Southeast Missouri State
Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Martin

In the Southern (IMO no chance for any of these):

Western Carolina
Tennessee Chattanooga
East Tennessee State

Why no chance for those 3?

A lot of reasons.

Exit fees

SoCon RPI, SoCon Tourney, SoCon TV deal

Institutional wants: UTC, ETSU, WCU are ever so slightly basketball schools more than FB

Chattanooga takes their football seriously. They went downhill since they lost their rivals who went to the SBC. If it positions them to be in the right spot for football and basketball? They will leave. SoCon is not a great basketball conference after losing 2 of their top teams.

(01-31-2021 04:13 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:08 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:02 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Y’all are pretty confident there is 0% chance of any SoCon school leaving for the ASUN.

Just like they were confident that no current D1 school would join the ASUN...

We know the ASUN has been courting Chatty, again, not saying they accept, but to say they dont, I cant.

They turned down sunbelt inquiries. Why would they now accept ASun inquiries which could be argued is an FCS version of the Sunbelt?

A split in all sports to 1A and 1AA. ASun is positioning themselves to be 1A while SoCon could be regulated to 1AA.

(01-31-2021 05:51 PM)UNAfied Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:13 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:08 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:02 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Y’all are pretty confident there is 0% chance of any SoCon school leaving for the ASUN.

Just like they were confident that no current D1 school would join the ASUN...

We know the ASUN has been courting Chatty, again, not saying they accept, but to say they dont, I cant.

They turned down sunbelt inquiries. Why would they now accept ASun inquiries which could be argued is an FCS version of the Sunbelt?

It DOES cost more money to play FBS. Now, maybe that money would be offset with conference/CFB playoff payouts. I don’t know.

I will say, living here in Chattanooga - it seems to me they struggle with fan support. I’ve been to a few of their football games where I was surprised by the low turnout. I don’t think they average 10k per game. Maybe that many tickets are sold, but they don’t usually have that many people on the stands. So could they average the 15,000 needed to be in FBS? I’m sure it’s possible if higher profile teams are visiting, but maybe their administration is still concerned.

Again, that’s just all speculation on my part from having attended several Mocs games.

I do believe some of their better-attended games have been against Jacksonville State, and I’m sure they see Kennesaw State as a potential good draw as well. Unfortunately COVID cancelled UNA’s game in Chattanooga this past season, but I think we would’ve travelled well.

I’ll go on the record in saying I don’t believe UTC comes on board right now. But I could see them looking at a move to the ASUN as a chance to grow their fanbase.

Fan support have gone down across the board for all schools right now which I think had to do with all the expansions and the lost of rival schools. Chattanooga's real rivals in football are Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Moving Chattanooga to the ASun to go FBS would get them closer to them as rivals.

First off, let's forget the FBS stuff. We dont know any of that right now. So there is no point talking about it.

Second, just talked to a alum/donor of Chattanooga. He says that they are in talks and most of the donors support the move...

That doesn't mean that they will make the move. But the way I see it, and the way he sees it, if the donors get pissed and dont donate anymore, where are they going to lose the most money?

Like I said, not saying it will happen.


And DavidSt, if Chattanooga wanted to position themselves to be with App St and Georgia Southern, why would they turn down the Sun Belt... (they didnt) the sun belt didnt consider them.

The Sunbelt was interested in Chatty. If Chatty had wanted in Coastal wouldn't be in the Sunbelt. They thought App and Southern were making a bad move

https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/21813635/ut...n-fbs-move

Quote:As it turns out, the Mocs could have been part of Wednesday's big Sun Belt announcement.

Herron said the school was contacted two months ago by the league about the likelihood of joining App State and Georgia Southern on the FBS level. However, UTC isn't interested in pursuing it.

"I told (the Sun Belt) we're not considering that at this time, but hose are always options to look at in the future," said Herron, who noted UTC's newly-hired chancellor and soon-to-be hired athletic director may feel differently. "We're happy in the Southern Conference, and we look forward to dominating it in football and other sports."

Huesman echoes that sentiment.

You can count him in the group that's happy UTC isn't making the jump. In fact, he's still scratching his head about the decision from his two rivals.

"My personal opinion is no, it's not a good move, but I haven't been in all the backdoor meetings to learn about how it helps,"Huesman said. "They'll probably get a Tuesday night or Wednesday night ESPN game, and that's great exposure for their university.

"I have no idea why they want to do it, but it's their decision and they've been planning it for a long time. Congratulations to them, and I hate not to play them anymore."

Different question.

Would any FBS school drop down to FCS to join the ASUN?

(01-31-2021 07:36 PM)solohawks Wrote:  The Sunbelt was interested in Chatty. If Chatty had wanted in Coastal wouldn't be in the Sunbelt. They thought App and Southern were making a bad move

https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/21813635/ut...n-fbs-move

Quote:As it turns out, the Mocs could have been part of Wednesday's big Sun Belt announcement.

Herron said the school was contacted two months ago by the league about the likelihood of joining App State and Georgia Southern on the FBS level. However, UTC isn't interested in pursuing it.

"I told (the Sun Belt) we're not considering that at this time, but hose are always options to look at in the future," said Herron, who noted UTC's newly-hired chancellor and soon-to-be hired athletic director may feel differently. "We're happy in the Southern Conference, and we look forward to dominating it in football and other sports."

Huesman echoes that sentiment.

You can count him in the group that's happy UTC isn't making the jump. In fact, he's still scratching his head about the decision from his two rivals.

"My personal opinion is no, it's not a good move, but I haven't been in all the backdoor meetings to learn about how it helps,"Huesman said. "They'll probably get a Tuesday night or Wednesday night ESPN game, and that's great exposure for their university.

"I have no idea why they want to do it, but it's their decision and they've been planning it for a long time. Congratulations to them, and I hate not to play them anymore."

Chattanooga made the mistake that they realized now in not going to the SBC then after seeing how successful that App. State and Georgia Southern did.

(01-31-2021 08:25 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Different question.

Would any FBS school drop down to FCS to join the ASUN?

Who?

Just a thought. Old Dominion or ULM.

I would be surprised (but not necessarily stunned) if Chattanooga switched from the Southern to the ASun.

Having said that, I've always kind of wanted UTC in the FCS. It's an underrated university located in the urban heart of a wonderful city (if you have not visited, Chattanooga is like a smaller version of Portland, Oregon, in so many ways). It would be a neat thing for the city to have a university with a D-I football program. But that is highly unlikely to ever happen.

(01-31-2021 10:53 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I would be surprised (but not necessarily stunned) if Chattanooga switched from the Southern to the ASun.

Having said that, I've always kind of wanted UTC in the FCS. It's an underrated university located in the urban heart of a wonderful city (if you have not visited, Chattanooga is like a smaller version of Portland, Oregon, in so many ways). It would be a neat thing for the city to have a university with a D-I football program. But that is highly unlikely to ever happen.

UTC has an FCS team. They've had one since 1904.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga_Mocs_football

(01-31-2021 10:15 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Just a thought. Old Dominion or ULM.

No.

(01-31-2021 10:54 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 10:53 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I would be surprised (but not necessarily stunned) if Chattanooga switched from the Southern to the ASun.

Having said that, I've always kind of wanted UTC in the FCS. It's an underrated university located in the urban heart of a wonderful city (if you have not visited, Chattanooga is like a smaller version of Portland, Oregon, in so many ways). It would be a neat thing for the city to have a university with a D-I football program. But that is highly unlikely to ever happen.

UTC has an FCS team. They've had one since 1904.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga_Mocs_football

My fumble. I meant to write "Having said that, I've always kind of wanted UTC in the FBS."

(01-31-2021 06:23 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:13 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:08 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:02 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Y’all are pretty confident there is 0% chance of any SoCon school leaving for the ASUN.

Just like they were confident that no current D1 school would join the ASUN...

We know the ASUN has been courting Chatty, again, not saying they accept, but to say they dont, I cant.

They turned down sunbelt inquiries. Why would they now accept ASun inquiries which could be argued is an FCS version of the Sunbelt?

A split in all sports to 1A and 1AA. ASun is positioning themselves to be 1A while SoCon could be regulated to 1AA.

How? Certainly aren’t separating themselves with attendance figures or on-field success.

(02-01-2021 09:40 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 06:23 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:13 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:08 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 04:02 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Y’all are pretty confident there is 0% chance of any SoCon school leaving for the ASUN.

Just like they were confident that no current D1 school would join the ASUN...

We know the ASUN has been courting Chatty, again, not saying they accept, but to say they dont, I cant.

They turned down sunbelt inquiries. Why would they now accept ASun inquiries which could be argued is an FCS version of the Sunbelt?

A split in all sports to 1A and 1AA. ASun is positioning themselves to be 1A while SoCon could be regulated to 1AA.

How? Certainly aren’t separating themselves with attendance figures or on-field success.

They're making noise about WANTING to be FBS, which I guess is more than the SoCon is doing??

It's been a weird sea-change in 2020, where we went from schools making decisions valuing negligible distinctions in prestige really highly, to those distinctions meaning jack squat. (Or maybe since prestige is something of a con game, just declare the new thing more prestigious than the old thing, and so it is)

Dont believe UTC will join the ASUN. UTC should but probably wont.

The SOCON doesnt offer opponents with a draw. The ASUN would increase interest with opponents who would spark some interest into the program. KSU and JSU would create some bad blood, some already exist with JSU. These two would replace App and GaSo. If ETSU would come along and AP, UTC would have a conference almost centered around Chattanooga. OOC, the SOCON and OVC teams will still need to schedule OOC games which could leave games with WCU, Samford, Mercer, TTU, UTM and others as possibilities.