(04-18-2021 05:40 AM)Tribe757 Wrote: I am curious why WM fans think the A10 is such a reach
Our oldest rival in in the conference. 2 recent CAA teams are in the conference
Have we sunken that low that we want to play in a conference w NO tv coverage
2 other state schools in the conference. Let me say that again. 2 basically spin offs of WM are in the conference. Same tax payers. Remember when Warner mandated that Va Texh be invited in the ACC
This should be doable. Anyone remember great VCU games w fans? We have watched ODU VCU GMU UR all make strides. Lets not wait firm JMU to leave and then hope we can get a home and home w CNU
To me, the A10 is strictly a basketball league. Better than the CAA in that single sport for sure though that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best spot for W&M.
I think all sport leagues have better foundations and in our case, I prefer we have an all sports home. Right now, the CAA is by far the best option for us: top tier in football, mid major competitive in basketball and decent in baseball. Also sponsors all the other sports.
I wouldn’t agree either that the foursome you mention have overall prospered after leaving the CAA. ODU certainly has not. I don’t think Mason has either. Their glory days were in the CAA. Same for VCU. UR is the one example where I think their profile improved though the A10 was a much higher profile league when they joined (Temple, Xavier, etc) then it is now.
I also think - just in terms of basketball - the current CAA without these other state rivals has allowed W&M to breathe and improve significantly. We have gone from perennial losers to expected winners the last 5-6 years. Our attendance has actually increased during the stretch. The interest level in W&M basketball has never been better, other than maybe the late 70s.
I would rather not jump back into the pool of a bottom feeder right now, not until we get a few more solid CAA years of development under our belt. Maybe a championship? It’s possible in the CAA. It’s a pipe dream in the A10.