The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(02-27-2021 04:21 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 04:07 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  Okay, I am just a simple fan but through a lot of connections (although less than even a couple of years ago) I do get some info and it is sometimes pretty solid. I think the A-10 was in play but the key was they thought 2 members were going to drop out. That was going to create space for both us and UNCC. However, as everyone knows no one has dropped out of the A-10 and the current thinking is nobody is soooo? What can ODU do about that? Football independence would be high risk (if the A-10 happened) because you lose so much; no all freshman team, no all conference, no off., def., player of the week, etc. Then add no conference champion, no bowl connections and on and on, including TV contract such as it might be. All those things are important to potential players, especially good ones who hope to see their names in all those aforementioned categories. There is also a stadium ODU now has to pay for each and every year no matter what we decide to do. I also have been told directly that many of the schools you folks keep mentioning as candidates have told ODU that they like where they are and have NO INTEREST in leaving. In 2 cases due to connections I could independently confirm what I was told to be true. Then there is one often mentioned school that told ODU they cannot afford to move and are not moving period. So, from what I have heard and believe to be true the A-10 is currently out for ODU and moving football to independent is now also out. If you folks can actually line up all the schools you keep listing please call our admins (both athletic and otherwise) and let them know and they will be thrilled. I think they would also admit they tried those same schools and failed. Also, pretty sure they would rename something after you for the kind service. They are all well aware we need to move for pretty much all the reasons noted on the MB but lacking magical powers to move others they have concluded there is nowhere to go at this time. So batten down the hatches and hope ODU can ride it out until the weather breaks.

I understand not wanting to divulge too much in order to keep and protect you contacts but at least give us this little tidbit

Is JMU in the not wanting to move or the can't afford to move category?

Thank you for your kindness and I think I can safely answer your question without giving anything away. An answer is already in the public domain on this MB, check number 135 on this Thread and note his number 1.

(02-27-2021 04:07 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  Okay, I am just a simple fan but through a lot of connections (although less than even a couple of years ago) I do get some info and it is sometimes pretty solid. I think the A-10 was in play but the key was they thought 2 members were going to drop out. That was going to create space for both us and UNCC. However, as everyone knows no one has dropped out of the A-10 and the current thinking is nobody is soooo?

I usually roll my eyes at the idea of someone leaving the conference to drop down a level. What's the point of dropping down? Being more competitive in the newer league, so you make the NCAAs more often and look better. THEN WHAT?

La Salle is an often rumored A-10 school, because of financial hardship; "they should join the MAAC" everyone says and they'll be more competitive.

They would be more competitive. Siena and La Salle are basically the same program, except Siena wins 20 games in the MAAC with no opponents in the Top 150 of the NET, while La Salle is 10th in the A-10 with 9 top 150 teams ahead of them in the standings.

Siena: 1 National TV appearance on ESPNU, plus MAAC champ game (ESPNU)
La Salle: 7 National TV games (FS1, CBSSN, 5 on NBCSN), plus every A-10 2nd, quarters, semis or finals game is on national TV.

Siena desperately WANTS to be in the A-10 because it provides more TV money, more exposure and more access to the NCAA Tournament.
La Salle HAS THAT, why would they give it up?

For a good 20+ years, we've seen the consolidation of power in conference realignment, with everyone making moves to climb the football ladder, or try to. That's how C-USA got here. But UConn joined the Big East (like BYU's WCC move) because there's no upward mobility in football.

There is zero reason for the BCS to expand, because they're all doing just fine, or have no good candidates anyway. If UCF going 23-1 over two seasons with a bowl win over Auburn didn't make the Big 12 expand, what's going to? UCF is a massive school, in a Top 20 TV market in fertile recruiting territory. The American thought so little of potential candidates they replaced UConn with... nobody.

So if the whole point of C-USA was the best FBS league for upward mobility and there isn't any upward mobility; you've got to accept that your spot in the national landscape in football. And that's why ODU is gazing toward the A-10.

It definitely got us talking on the A-10 board. The common view from our perspective is:
1. We don't need to expand / we don't want to get in bed with FBS schools that could cause future instability later
2. ODU is enticing, but Charlotte isn't.

3. IF La Salle and Fordham LEFT.... (And we opined about having better members at the bottom of the league).

I think that if ODU came to the A-10 with an "ODU/Belmont" idea, then it would have been more enticing for us to go to 16, since we don't care about FBS football; but you have two strong basketball teams in Top 40 markets.

But no President is going to vote to kick someone out -- because it could easily happen to them. Bonaventure was on the list of A-10 schools to kick out from 2003-2011. But .550 basketball since with 4 NCAA calibre seasons. Only program with won 10+ A-10 games for 7 years in a row.


So if you're locked into a situation that isn't that great, roll the dice and form your own league to ditch the western schools that suck at basketball and FAU/FIU. You'd be better off. And the most realistic way is the waiver with an even 7/7 split from C-USA. Because forming a new league with your dream 9 people from C-USA, Sun Belt, MAC means no NCAA auto for 8 years. But you COULD get it done with a 7/7 split. Which means you need MTSU, UAB and La Tech.

Anyhow, fun to talk about!

(02-27-2021 11:33 AM)JSchmack Wrote:  

(02-26-2021 09:41 PM)webster Wrote:  Football basically has zero coverage now. So that’s a wash.
If we go to the A10, at least basketball would most likely get regional tv coverage. VCU seems to be on all the time.

A-10 hoops are on ESPN (Friday night and other selected games), NBCSN (all the time), CBSSN (all the time) and any home games not on those networks is on ESPN+

But NBCSN is going dark this year. If those A10 games land on USA, that's pretty good. If they land on the streaming service Peacock, besides having a funny name, that's also probably a worse visibility deal than ESPN+ (more subs on Peacock than ESPN+ but most likely far fewer sports fans).

I don't think you'll find anyone willing to argue that CUSA's media deal is anywhere near the A10's, just that the A10's situation might be a bit fluid in that regard.

(02-27-2021 10:36 AM)webster Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:01 AM)ODU2011 Wrote:  My sources tell me we’re not leaving CUSA. Official announcement will not be made, we will just stay I’m being told.

Disappointing to hear if true. Even last year’s study on the athletic department- https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/colle...story.html

stated that we should switch conferences to-
Reduce travel expenses, shorten student athletes time away from class, and increase fan interest/ticket sales.

From my perspective, the excitement around ODU sports has dropped each year we’ve been in this far flung league. Nobody cares about the conference schedule and going to away games is basically impossible.
But I’ll leave it to leadership to make the decisions. I think money will eventually talk. I would imagine they know about the the lethargy among many fans. I also think a strategy of staying put in hopes of a magical knock on the door is flawed.

I have no sources and was completely joking. I apologize. I’m still
Waiting for a sarcasm font.

(02-27-2021 04:57 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 04:21 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 04:07 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  Okay, I am just a simple fan but through a lot of connections (although less than even a couple of years ago) I do get some info and it is sometimes pretty solid. I think the A-10 was in play but the key was they thought 2 members were going to drop out. That was going to create space for both us and UNCC. However, as everyone knows no one has dropped out of the A-10 and the current thinking is nobody is soooo? What can ODU do about that? Football independence would be high risk (if the A-10 happened) because you lose so much; no all freshman team, no all conference, no off., def., player of the week, etc. Then add no conference champion, no bowl connections and on and on, including TV contract such as it might be. All those things are important to potential players, especially good ones who hope to see their names in all those aforementioned categories. There is also a stadium ODU now has to pay for each and every year no matter what we decide to do. I also have been told directly that many of the schools you folks keep mentioning as candidates have told ODU that they like where they are and have NO INTEREST in leaving. In 2 cases due to connections I could independently confirm what I was told to be true. Then there is one often mentioned school that told ODU they cannot afford to move and are not moving period. So, from what I have heard and believe to be true the A-10 is currently out for ODU and moving football to independent is now also out. If you folks can actually line up all the schools you keep listing please call our admins (both athletic and otherwise) and let them know and they will be thrilled. I think they would also admit they tried those same schools and failed. Also, pretty sure they would rename something after you for the kind service. They are all well aware we need to move for pretty much all the reasons noted on the MB but lacking magical powers to move others they have concluded there is nowhere to go at this time. So batten down the hatches and hope ODU can ride it out until the weather breaks.

I understand not wanting to divulge too much in order to keep and protect you contacts but at least give us this little tidbit

Is JMU in the not wanting to move or the can't afford to move category?

Thank you for your kindness and I think I can safely answer your question without giving anything away. An answer is already in the public domain on this MB, check number 135 on this Thread and note his number 1.

Haha, they broke. Misery loves company.

(02-27-2021 09:33 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:36 AM)webster Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:01 AM)ODU2011 Wrote:  My sources tell me we’re not leaving CUSA. Official announcement will not be made, we will just stay I’m being told.

Disappointing to hear if true. Even last year’s study on the athletic department- https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/colle...story.html

stated that we should switch conferences to-
Reduce travel expenses, shorten student athletes time away from class, and increase fan interest/ticket sales.

From my perspective, the excitement around ODU sports has dropped each year we’ve been in this far flung league. Nobody cares about the conference schedule and going to away games is basically impossible.
But I’ll leave it to leadership to make the decisions. I think money will eventually talk. I would imagine they know about the the lethargy among many fans. I also think a strategy of staying put in hopes of a magical knock on the door is flawed.

I have no sources and was completely joking. I apologize. I’m still
Waiting for a sarcasm font.

I didn’t know if you were joking or not but laughed at your post. I’m not buying any of this message board rumors, I’ll wait on the official announcement that we’re stuck in CUSA.

(02-27-2021 09:38 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 09:33 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:36 AM)webster Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:01 AM)ODU2011 Wrote:  My sources tell me we’re not leaving CUSA. Official announcement will not be made, we will just stay I’m being told.

Disappointing to hear if true. Even last year’s study on the athletic department- https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/colle...story.html

stated that we should switch conferences to-
Reduce travel expenses, shorten student athletes time away from class, and increase fan interest/ticket sales.

From my perspective, the excitement around ODU sports has dropped each year we’ve been in this far flung league. Nobody cares about the conference schedule and going to away games is basically impossible.
But I’ll leave it to leadership to make the decisions. I think money will eventually talk. I would imagine they know about the the lethargy among many fans. I also think a strategy of staying put in hopes of a magical knock on the door is flawed.

I have no sources and was completely joking. I apologize. I’m still
Waiting for a sarcasm font.

I didn’t know if you were joking or not but laughed at your post. I’m not buying any of this message board rumors, I’ll wait on the official announcement that we’re stuck in CUSA.

You’ve now encouraged me to continue jokes. Those around me may suffer.

(02-27-2021 09:38 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 09:33 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:36 AM)webster Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:01 AM)ODU2011 Wrote:  My sources tell me we’re not leaving CUSA. Official announcement will not be made, we will just stay I’m being told.

Disappointing to hear if true. Even last year’s study on the athletic department- https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/colle...story.html

stated that we should switch conferences to-
Reduce travel expenses, shorten student athletes time away from class, and increase fan interest/ticket sales.

From my perspective, the excitement around ODU sports has dropped each year we’ve been in this far flung league. Nobody cares about the conference schedule and going to away games is basically impossible.
But I’ll leave it to leadership to make the decisions. I think money will eventually talk. I would imagine they know about the the lethargy among many fans. I also think a strategy of staying put in hopes of a magical knock on the door is flawed.

I have no sources and was completely joking. I apologize. I’m still
Waiting for a sarcasm font.

I didn’t know if you were joking or not but laughed at your post. I’m not buying any of this message board rumors, I’ll wait on the official announcement that we’re stuck in CUSA.

The reference to last year's study was yes ODU is wanting to move upward (or laterally at least) to another conference that suits them better. The issue is whether or not if/when any handful of conference spots actually open up for ODU to slide in. ODU wanting to move is not a rumor, the actuality of a shift in conferences/teams is.

(02-27-2021 07:00 PM)JSchmack Wrote:  For a good 20+ years, we've seen the consolidation of power in conference realignment, with everyone making moves to climb the football ladder, or try to. That's how C-USA got here. But UConn joined the Big East (like BYU's WCC move) because there's no upward mobility in football.

There is zero reason for the BCS to expand, because they're all doing just fine, or have no good candidates anyway. If UCF going 23-1 over two seasons with a bowl win over Auburn didn't make the Big 12 expand, what's going to? UCF is a massive school, in a Top 20 TV market in fertile recruiting territory. The American thought so little of potential candidates they replaced UConn with... nobody.

So if the whole point of C-USA was the best FBS league for upward mobility and there isn't any upward mobility; you've got to accept that your spot in the national landscape in football. And that's why ODU is gazing toward the A-10.

It definitely got us talking on the A-10 board. The common view from our perspective is:
1. We don't need to expand / we don't want to get in bed with FBS schools that could cause future instability later
2. ODU is enticing, but Charlotte isn't.

3. IF La Salle and Fordham LEFT.... (And we opined about having better members at the bottom of the league).

I think that if ODU came to the A-10 with an "ODU/Belmont" idea, then it would have been more enticing for us to go to 16, since we don't care about FBS football; but you have two strong basketball teams in Top 40 markets.

But no President is going to vote to kick someone out -- because it could easily happen to them. Bonaventure was on the list of A-10 schools to kick out from 2003-2011. But .550 basketball since with 4 NCAA calibre seasons. Only program with won 10+ A-10 games for 7 years in a row.


So if you're locked into a situation that isn't that great, roll the dice and form your own league to ditch the western schools that suck at basketball and FAU/FIU. You'd be better off. And the most realistic way is the waiver with an even 7/7 split from C-USA. Because forming a new league with your dream 9 people from C-USA, Sun Belt, MAC means no NCAA auto for 8 years. But you COULD get it done with a 7/7 split. Which means you need MTSU, UAB and La Tech.

Anyhow, fun to talk about!

La Tech wouldn’t join the Eastern schools in a split, maybe with USM but they’d prefer to point towards Texas. UAB likely would, there’s history there to the old Sun Belt. Marshall would probably want at least one FL school, FAU is the better of the two all the way around but they’d likely want to bring FIU. The west could pretty easily add NMST or TXST so I’m not sure why you think it needs to be an even 7/7 split for there to be an autobid, I thought we agreed that wasn’t guaranteed regardless. But as you can see there’s a whole lot of politics involved. ODU is probably willing to take the leap but that’s not enough, we’re also the one most hurt by the current alignment. Besides UTEP, who might as well be in Mexico we’ve got the farthest average travel in the league. Looking around this makes little sense as there’s a lot of good like minded Div I schools nearby, many of which are in the A10 but few that play FBS football that aren’t in the AAC. Maybe we should have been content in FCS and taken GMU’s spot when we had the chance but beating VT in Norfolk was pretty sweet. One things for sure, sooner or later there will be more movement.

(02-27-2021 10:03 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  La Tech wouldn’t join the Eastern schools in a split, maybe with USM but they’d prefer to point towards Texas. UAB likely would, there’s history there to the old Sun Belt. Marshall would probably want at least one FL school, FAU is the better of the two all the way around but they’d likely want to bring FIU. The west could pretty easily add NMST or TXST so I’m not sure why you think it needs to be an even 7/7 split for there to be an autobid, I thought we agreed that wasn’t guaranteed regardless. But as you can see there’s a whole lot of politics involved. ODU is probably willing to take the leap but that’s not enough, we’re also the one most hurt by the current alignment. Besides UTEP, who might as well be in Mexico we’ve got the farthest average travel in the league. Looking around this makes little sense as there’s a lot of good like minded Div I schools nearby, many of which are in the A10 but few that play FBS football that aren’t in the AAC. Maybe we should have been content in FCS and taken GMU’s spot when we had the chance but beating VT in Norfolk was pretty sweet. One things for sure, sooner or later there will be more movement.

If ODU, WKU, MTSU, Marshall, Charlotte are on the same page, you can get it done. And that's what matters.

If you asked La Tech about leaving C-USA, they'd want a tie to Texas teams, or So Miss or whatever.
If you asked Marshall about leaving C-USA, they might want a Florida tie for recruiting, or whatever.
If you asked UAB or MTSU about leaving C-USA, they'd have their opinion.

But if you told the ADs at La Tech/UAB "Hey, the 5 of us are leaving. You can join us, or we can take FIU/FAU; you have until the end of the week to decide" then La Tech would say "Wait! Yes! I have to talk to my President, but hell yes. Let me talk to him/her then call you back."

(That's literally how the MWC was formed. Presidents of Colorado St, Utah, BYU, Wyoming, Air Force met in the Denver airport and decided they were leaving the WAC, called San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico with that exact ultimatum, and all three immediately said yes).

At the end of the day, everyone would rather be with ODU, Charlotte, WKU, MTSU, Marshall, UAB, La Tech than Rice, UTEP, UTSA, North Texas, So Miss, FAU, FIU.

And the the reason it needs to be a 7/7 split is because if 8 teams left C-USA for a new league, the other 6 would sue the new league. Like the Big East sued the ACC and Dayton, VCU and Va Tech sued C-USA 1.0.

I like all the ideas I heard but I know I sound like a broken record. I keep hearing sun belt. I wish it was only 4 east sun belt and the 5 cusa teams around us.

(02-27-2021 10:42 PM)JSchmack Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:03 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  La Tech wouldn’t join the Eastern schools in a split, maybe with USM but they’d prefer to point towards Texas. UAB likely would, there’s history there to the old Sun Belt. Marshall would probably want at least one FL school, FAU is the better of the two all the way around but they’d likely want to bring FIU. The west could pretty easily add NMST or TXST so I’m not sure why you think it needs to be an even 7/7 split for there to be an autobid, I thought we agreed that wasn’t guaranteed regardless. But as you can see there’s a whole lot of politics involved. ODU is probably willing to take the leap but that’s not enough, we’re also the one most hurt by the current alignment. Besides UTEP, who might as well be in Mexico we’ve got the farthest average travel in the league. Looking around this makes little sense as there’s a lot of good like minded Div I schools nearby, many of which are in the A10 but few that play FBS football that aren’t in the AAC. Maybe we should have been content in FCS and taken GMU’s spot when we had the chance but beating VT in Norfolk was pretty sweet. One things for sure, sooner or later there will be more movement.

If ODU, WKU, MTSU, Marshall, Charlotte are on the same page, you can get it done. And that's what matters.

If you asked La Tech about leaving C-USA, they'd want a tie to Texas teams, or So Miss or whatever.
If you asked Marshall about leaving C-USA, they might want a Florida tie for recruiting, or whatever.
If you asked UAB or MTSU about leaving C-USA, they'd have their opinion.

But if you told the ADs at La Tech/UAB "Hey, the 5 of us are leaving. You can join us, or we can take FIU/FAU; you have until the end of the week to decide" then La Tech would say "Wait! Yes! I have to talk to my President, but hell yes. Let me talk to him/her then call you back."

(That's literally how the MWC was formed. Presidents of Colorado St, Utah, BYU, Wyoming, Air Force met in the Denver airport and decided they were leaving the WAC, called San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico with that exact ultimatum, and all three immediately said yes).

At the end of the day, everyone would rather be with ODU, Charlotte, WKU, MTSU, Marshall, UAB, La Tech than Rice, UTEP, UTSA, North Texas, So Miss, FAU, FIU.

And the the reason it needs to be a 7/7 split is because if 8 teams left C-USA for a new league, the other 6 would sue the new league. Like the Big East sued the ACC and Dayton, VCU and Va Tech sued C-USA 1.0.

All those lawsuits failed. They were settled for what amounted to exit fees. CUSA was formed, the ACC expanded then expanded again with many of the litigants of the first expansion. They get their exit fees then what damages are they suing for? Either way, what bearing does that have on an NCAA autobid and why is 7 a magic number?

(02-27-2021 10:49 PM)jaybird44 Wrote:  I like all the ideas I heard but I know I sound like a broken record. I keep hearing sun belt. I wish it was only 4 east sun belt and the 5 cusa teams around us.

I fail to see how the SB would help us. Not worth the entrance/exit fees.

3 options AAC, A10 & an eastern split of CUSA. Otherwise stay the course, improve our programs and see what happens.

(02-27-2021 11:10 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  All those lawsuits failed. They were settled for what amounted to exit fees. CUSA was formed, the ACC expanded then expanded again with many of the litigants of the first expansion. They get their exit fees then what damages are they suing for? Either way, what bearing does that have on an NCAA autobid and why is 7 a magic number?

Dayton got like, 10 years of non-conference home and home series.

But your answer to "Why is 7 the magic number?" is really because 8 C-USA programs are good enough in FB/MBB to be at the same level, and one of them is 887 miles west of La Tech. So the non-UTEP good C-USA team are the perfect number to get an NCAA waiver as a new conference.

(02-27-2021 09:33 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:36 AM)webster Wrote:  

(02-27-2021 10:01 AM)ODU2011 Wrote:  My sources tell me we’re not leaving CUSA. Official announcement will not be made, we will just stay I’m being told.

Disappointing to hear if true. Even last year’s study on the athletic department- https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/colle...story.html

stated that we should switch conferences to-
Reduce travel expenses, shorten student athletes time away from class, and increase fan interest/ticket sales.

From my perspective, the excitement around ODU sports has dropped each year we’ve been in this far flung league. Nobody cares about the conference schedule and going to away games is basically impossible.
But I’ll leave it to leadership to make the decisions. I think money will eventually talk. I would imagine they know about the the lethargy among many fans. I also think a strategy of staying put in hopes of a magical knock on the door is flawed.

I have no sources and was completely joking. I apologize. I’m still
Waiting for a sarcasm font.

Whoops my bad. No apologies needed. As you can see I’m jumpy for any info lol

This is all pretty disheartening if you believe what ETSU says, and I do. We are stuck in a really bad place. Part of me thinks the situation in CUSA is so bad that we should consider anything and everything in order to get out and then start rebuilding from there, but part of me realizes that there are situations that would dig us into an even deeper hole that will be even more impossible to get out of. I know one thing, whatever steps are taken to improve our programs and get out of the currently configured CUSA will require a good bit of risk, and I hope our admin's risk averse nature will not keep them from making a bold as soon as one presents itself. They must proceed with a sense of urgency. I truly believe the future of ODU Athletics depends on it.

(03-01-2021 10:12 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  This is all pretty disheartening if you believe what ETSU says, and I do. We are stuck in a really bad place. Part of me thinks the situation in CUSA is so bad that we should consider anything and everything in order to get out and then start rebuilding from there, but part of me realizes that there are situations that would dig us into an even deeper hole that will be even more impossible to get out of. I know one thing, whatever steps are taken to improve our programs and get out of the currently configured CUSA will require a good bit of risk, and I hope our admin's risk averse nature will not keep them from making a bold as soon as one presents itself. They must proceed with a sense of urgency. I truly believe the future of ODU Athletics depends on it.

This is depressing. So basically we have to hope St. Louis goes to the MVC or Big East, or Dayton goes BE. Unless we can talk the A10 into just taking us as an expansion member. Which does make some sense as we are so close to the HQ. We should have joined in the 90s when we had a chance. If VCU got asked to the AAC, they might consider that. And if so, I still think the A10 would be better for us with GMU, GW and Richmond. We are certainly in a less than ideal situation.

It isn't that bad, reminds me of the old Sunbelt. Which was a very good Mid-Majors BB conference. Home is what you make it. We can do much better in CUSA. I think we may see more interconference scheduling first.

Going to double post but feel if you want that A10 bad enough, it has better than 50% odds of getting the invite. The A10 is proactive regarding conference realignment.

Here is the long double post.

(03-01-2021 12:16 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(03-01-2021 11:45 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  My take is conservative and would be shocked if the A10 puts a wrapper on football. They want no part of football. That said the A10 is proactive in conference realignment and did go to 15 teams before the Big East split. So there is presidency for the A10 going to 15 in case LaSalle flounders or the Big East does grab St. Louis or Dayton. ODU would be perfect footprint and brand wise and can see just ODU. The 49ers were in the A10 because they got booted out with St. Louis for not having football, so no real love there.

This is the year for ODU with no football revenue to do it and the question is will the A10 take them in on July 1st. The odds are at least 50% in my book.

Yea, I don't see any scenario where football is at all palatable to the A10, nevermind desirable enough to balloon membership the way that would be necessary. ...

UMass will/is strongly supportive for ODU admission into the A10. Sure some of you get calls regarding donations and several months ago ask about ODU. There was no hesitation. "That would be really good". Have to think most of the former CAA Virginia Universities would also be strongly supportive: Richmond, VCU, and George Mason. Most other universities would go along and very few would be opposed initially. (IMHO) A10 back to 15 teams.