To that point here are the profiles of the current members (even included JMU) with enrollment and endowment:

Charleston- public- 10,783- 102.8M
Delaware- public- 23,281- 1.45B
Drexel- private- 22,412- 798.3M
Elon- private- 6,991- 261.6M
Hofstra- private- 10,871- 637.1M
James Madison- public- 21,787- 116.7M
Northeastern- private- 21,627- 1.07B
Towson- public- 22,923- 87.8M
North Carolina Wilmington- public- 17,499- 103.8M
William & Mary- public- 8,817- 967.7M

Queens University- private- 2,100- 142.5M

With C USA losing six teams JMU is on the way out of the door They will have a choice between C USA and Sunbelt

(10-21-2021 10:09 AM)Big Alpha Hawk Wrote:  With C USA losing six teams JMU is on the way out of the door They will have a choice between C USA and Sunbelt

CUSA is a hot mess. Sunbelt seems likely to poach that conference AND add JMU.

There is a very long thread on the JMU board re conference rumors.

AAC tried to get Mountain West schools to join and were of course turned down flat - went to plan B with CUSA schools which sort of makes sense and might have a ripple through the CAA .

(10-21-2021 12:58 PM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  AAC tried to get Mountain West schools to join and were of course turned down flat - went to plan B with CUSA schools which sort of makes sense and might have a ripple through the CAA .

In the past couple of rounds of realignments the effects did, indeed, ripple down to the CAA. And if an individual school (cough, cough) is not ready to deal with that, then you get left behind. You get the short end, and that's all you get.

From the looks of it, JMU is going to probably the Sun Belt or maybe CUSA. Either way they are most likely gone sooner than later.

Can the CAA schools agree on a replacement or will they operate as a 9 team round robin league from Boston to Charleston? Travel partners could shift where Northeastern is a one off and other northern travel partners are
Hofstra-Drexel
Delaware-Towson

I'm just not sure if the CAA can agree on a replacement

Campbell makes the most sense to me out of realistic candidates

I do think it's funny that EZ is getting left behind by a lot of the schools they jumped there to be in the conf with

(10-22-2021 07:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  I do think it's funny that EZ is getting left behind by a lot of the schools they jumped there to be in the conf with

If you look at their history, that has happened every time they switch conferences. They always find out they aren't as prominent as they think they are. Pretty soon, Charlotte and App State will pass them in football because they won't face the fact they aren't SEC or ACC level, and they keep ending up in conferences going nowhere.

(10-22-2021 09:18 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 07:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  I do think it's funny that EZ is getting left behind by a lot of the schools they jumped there to be in the conf with

If you look at their history, that has happened every time they switch conferences. They always find out they aren't as prominent as they think they are. Pretty soon, Charlotte and App State will pass them in football because they won't face the fact they aren't SEC or ACC level, and they keep ending up in conferences going nowhere.

It would help ECU's cause if they were actually performing well when these conference shake-ups happen.

Of course, for that matter, the same applies to UNCW.....

(10-22-2021 01:00 PM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 09:18 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 07:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  I do think it's funny that EZ is getting left behind by a lot of the schools they jumped there to be in the conf with

If you look at their history, that has happened every time they switch conferences. They always find out they aren't as prominent as they think they are. Pretty soon, Charlotte and App State will pass them in football because they won't face the fact they aren't SEC or ACC level, and they keep ending up in conferences going nowhere.

It would help ECU's cause if they were actually performing well when these conference shake-ups happen.

Of course, for that matter, the same applies to UNCW.....

Their story is similar in football to us in hoops isn't it. Only difference I think most of here are aware of what we are even when good.

(10-22-2021 01:46 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 01:00 PM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 09:18 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 07:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  I do think it's funny that EZ is getting left behind by a lot of the schools they jumped there to be in the conf with

If you look at their history, that has happened every time they switch conferences. They always find out they aren't as prominent as they think they are. Pretty soon, Charlotte and App State will pass them in football because they won't face the fact they aren't SEC or ACC level, and they keep ending up in conferences going nowhere.

It would help ECU's cause if they were actually performing well when these conference shake-ups happen.

Of course, for that matter, the same applies to UNCW.....

Their story is similar in football to us in hoops isn't it. Only difference I think most of here are aware of what we are even when good.

Not sure what that means? What are we "even when we are good"?

(10-22-2021 03:12 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 01:46 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 01:00 PM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 09:18 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(10-22-2021 07:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  I do think it's funny that EZ is getting left behind by a lot of the schools they jumped there to be in the conf with

If you look at their history, that has happened every time they switch conferences. They always find out they aren't as prominent as they think they are. Pretty soon, Charlotte and App State will pass them in football because they won't face the fact they aren't SEC or ACC level, and they keep ending up in conferences going nowhere.

It would help ECU's cause if they were actually performing well when these conference shake-ups happen.

Of course, for that matter, the same applies to UNCW.....

Their story is similar in football to us in hoops isn't it. Only difference I think most of here are aware of what we are even when good.

Not sure what that means? What are we "even when we are good"?

It means we don't think we belong in the ACC just because we had a few good years, Where that other school, thinks they belong. We are realistic about where we are at.

Good point hoops. Sometimes where you are is okay. Hawks have had success in the CAA and have had more banners than any existing team. I feel that this is a good level for UNCW right now and they have to get to the top and stay there to think otherwise. It's tough to get to the top and tougher when your coach leaves you. If and when we get back and I think that we will eventually maybe sooner than later given the style and players that we are getting, hopefully we will be smart and do what is necessary to stay there. If that happens, then maybe think A 10 but we need to get back to the top first.

I'm excited to see what this team has. They finally have enough depth and shooting to make this work. Let's hope that the added size and depth (plus actually have 2 true PG-great job filling in Mike) will allow us to see how this is supposed to work. It should work out in theory but we have to see how it plays out.

(10-22-2021 11:04 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Good point hoops. Sometimes where you are is okay. Hawks have had success in the CAA and have had more banners than any existing team. I feel that this is a good level for UNCW right now and they have to get to the top and stay there to think otherwise. It's tough to get to the top and tougher when your coach leaves you. If and when we get back and I think that we will eventually maybe sooner than later given the style and players that we are getting, hopefully we will be smart and do what is necessary to stay there. If that happens, then maybe think A 10 but we need to get back to the top first.

I'm excited to see what this team has. They finally have enough depth and shooting to make this work. Let's hope that the added size and depth (plus actually have 2 true PG-great job filling in Mike) will allow us to see how this is supposed to work. It should work out in theory but we have to see how it plays out.

Interesting to me that you think the A10 is a fit for UNCW and that the A10 might consider UNCW .Seems like the A10 would go another direction if they decide to add schools . SoCon might be the right way to go for UNCW if at all possible and I understand that football is the major hurdle with that .

Best fit for UNCW outside a N/S CAA division is the ASUN..

(10-23-2021 11:46 AM)82hawk Wrote:  Best fit for UNCW outside a N/S CAA division is the ASUN..

Depends the CAA starts adding after JMU bolts. If they start adding the likes of Queens University, you can split it into as many divisions as you like . It would be time to go almost anywhere else!

That being said, there has been more innovative thinking in the Asun in the last 12 months than the CAA has mustered up in the last 12 years. So we could do a lot worse than end up there.

If I were my decision I would add 3 and go to divisions.

Campbell would fill JMU's slot in CAA football and Winthrop and UMBC will allow divisions to be established

North: Northeastern, Hofstra, Drexel, Delaware, Towson, UMBC

South: William and Mary, Elon, Campbell, UNCW, Winthrop, CoC

(10-23-2021 06:48 PM)solohawks Wrote:  If I were my decision I would add 3 and go to divisions.

Campbell would fill JMU's slot in CAA football and Winthrop and UMBC will allow divisions to be established

North: Northeastern, Hofstra, Drexel, Delaware, Towson, UMBC

South: William and Mary, Elon, Campbell, UNCW, Winthrop, CoC

We have been going backwards consistently in the CAA, and this is the worst iteration of a CAA conference yet. There is nowhere we can land that has any real rivalries or makes me want to watch a game. Adding Campbell and Winthrop doesn't move the needle for me at all. With a new chancellor coming on board, we can park in the CAA for a few more years with some expansion. But it's time to really think about our entire athletic department, what we want it to be and where is the best place to be to make it happen?

Baseball is our best chance to replicate what we are missing in football. We need to create an incredible fan experience with a tailgate atmosphere in the spring. Get the alumni to return and engage the university. A chance to reconnect with old friends and also be a part of some great rivalries. But those games have to be weekend games or it won't work. It's also a lot cheaper to upgrade a baseballl stadium than it is a basketball arena. So which conference would provide the best weekend baseball rivalries for UNCW? The SoCon(#12) AND the Atlantic Sun(#13) are rated hgher than the CAA(#20). Every other conference ahead of these two would be beyond our reach.

Next is basketball. Again, there has got to be a way to create a tailgate type atmosphere before games for fans and alumni to easily gather. The get together in Hanover doesnt' cut it. Have a bonfire, UNCW band playing, cookout. Until we get a new arena or upgrade Trask, we won't have a sufficient indoor area to gather.

Soccer. This is an area where UNCW could become a powerhouse if we put our mind to it. Another outdoor field that could be upgraded far more easily than an indoor arena. Whether we like it or not, a lot more students today played soccer and are fans. We could provide another great fan experience in the fall. This is also a great opportunity to draw in the community which has a huge soccer program in the area and in surrounding areas.

Based on a direction like this, the SoCon or ASUN should be our plan. Right now we are simply reactive in conference affiliation with no idea where we WANT to be. I have no idea if the SoCon would consider a reconsolidation with CofC, but if they would, we could join them. Then we would have UNCW, UNCG, WCU and CofC in the same conference. I'd take those rivalries and games over anything we have in the CAA now or will have in the CAA. And we'd upgrade in baseball immediately with no downturn in basketball or soccer.

CofC and Elon both burned the bridge down when they departed the SoCon for the CAA. I don't see any votes in the SoCon for either to return. The SoCon did take back Davidson, ETSU, & VMI, however, they didn't depart the conference with a scorched earth policy either...

I do think that both UNCW and William & Mary would be very nice additions to the SoCon. I'd like to see the SoCon return to divisions in basketball, and UNCW would be a very good addition to the SoCon for baseball.