I am wondering, with all of the realignment that is currently happening, why the SoCon seems to be standing pat. Don't get me wrong. I like the league and the teams we currently have, but, for those who know these things better, is this a point where the SoCon gets left behind and remains a one bid league?

(01-25-2022 01:25 PM)ncrrt08 Wrote:  I am wondering, with all of the realignment that is currently happening, why the SoCon seems to be standing pat. Don't get me wrong. I like the league and the teams we currently have, but, for those who know these things better, is this a point where the SoCon gets left behind and remains a one bid league?

I'm not sure it gets left behind. Currently the league is 11th in the NET, or it was right after the non-conference schedule. The SoCon has a lot of stability right now, and as I understand it, the members are generally happy, but everyone is always thinking about 'what if', including us. After we beat Vandy in football, I was told that we were contacted by two leagues. I think one of those was the CAA, who previously had told us we were "irrelevant." I think our admin is trying to keep an 'ear to the ground' on realignment, and if we get a better opportunity, we may jump. However, if we jump, travel costs will likely jump with it.

(01-25-2022 02:03 PM)GoBucsGo Wrote:  

(01-25-2022 01:25 PM)ncrrt08 Wrote:  I am wondering, with all of the realignment that is currently happening, why the SoCon seems to be standing pat. Don't get me wrong. I like the league and the teams we currently have, but, for those who know these things better, is this a point where the SoCon gets left behind and remains a one bid league?

I'm not sure it gets left behind. Currently the league is 11th in the NET, or it was right after the non-conference schedule. The SoCon has a lot of stability right now, and as I understand it, the members are generally happy, but everyone is always thinking about 'what if', including us. After we beat Vandy in football, I was told that we were contacted by two leagues. I think one of those was the CAA, who previously had told us we were "irrelevant." I think our admin is trying to keep an 'ear to the ground' on realignment, and if we get a better opportunity, we may jump. However, if we jump, travel costs will likely jump with it.

The CAA added Hampton and Monmouth today while making Stony Brook a full member. - bringing the total full members playing football to six. It’s hard to keep track of who is a full member and an affiliate member in the CAA. VMI had said no thanks to an overture from the CAA last year. As for ETSU, the CAA makes no sense unless the SoCon breaks up. And, there’s the ASUN trying to get football going. Are they after anyone in the SoCon? Or maybe they will merge with the depleted Big South football schools. But, as soon as Jacksonville State joined the ASUN, they then announced their departure for CUSA. My guess, Eastern Kentucky and Central Arkansas would go CUSA with an invite in that both want to go FBS.

Now, yes the SoCon seems stable, is geographically compact, and makes sense — especially for football and basketball. If the CAA was after any SoCon schools in this recent expansion, it appears that failed with these additions today. If the SoCon wants to grow to say twelve — maybe bring back W&M, Elon, or Richmond (full membership). Who knows what will happen. But, for ETSU - moving to another FCS league makes no sense at this time unless forced to do so. That old SoCon argument about public vs private schools seems to have faded. These smaller privates in the SoCon certainly proves that they can recruit and be as competitive as the publics since all operate with the same number of scholarships. In my opinion, that is a key factor in the stability of the SoCon, a well balanced and competitive league.

My thought process wasn't really about ETSU leaving the SoCon...don't really see a better place to go for us. I was thinking more along the lines of the tweet by FCS Nation Radio about the SoCon looking at adding a couple of teams like Campbell and NC A&T. I understand the pro's of the SoCon, but I also understand that sometimes you have to shake things up a little. Don't know that anyone has any interest in joining the SoCon, just wondering if we are at least at there gauging any interest.

https://twitter.com/FCSNationRadio1/stat...1607531522

I don't think the SoCon adding members does anything to improve the league, and might make it worse. The SoCon is in a prestigious position and it can add members anytime it needs to. So if I were the SoCon I would enjoy the stability and keep a short list of candidates in case a school or two does leave.

I also don't think any members of the SoCon will find a better league for FCS football. So the only reason I'd expect members to depart would be an invitation to FBS football. That's up to the school if that would be preferable.

I love the fact that the SoCon has top quality mid major basketball, excellent baseball, and a perfect balance of quality members (4 private, 4 public, 2 military).

If anyone does leave then I'd wish them well and the SoCon would have members lined up to take their place.

(01-26-2022 02:40 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  I don't think the SoCon adding members does anything to improve the league, and might make it worse. The SoCon is in a prestigious position and it can add members anytime it needs to. So if I were the SoCon I would enjoy the stability and keep a short list of candidates in case a school or two does leave.

I also don't think any members of the SoCon will find a better league for FCS football. So the only reason I'd expect members to depart would be an invitation to FBS football. That's up to the school if that would be preferable.

I love the fact that the SoCon has top quality mid major basketball, excellent baseball, and a perfect balance of quality members (4 private, 4 public, 2 military).

If anyone does leave then I'd wish them well and the SoCon would have members lined up to take their place.

Looking at the FCS leagues around the SoCon, the Big South is currently down to five football schools and is probably looking to DII schools like West Georgia and Valdosta State to restock. The OVC is crumbling and has few if any options to add FCS schools, thus with rumors that it will become a basketball league. The CAA recently grew to six full-time members that play FCS football, and that growth, in my opinion, meant that SoCon schools declined offers from them - most certainly VMI declined and publicly stated so last year while UNCG was mentioned in the press. The wild-card - ASUN football - seems to lose members as they join, see Jacksonville State. Eastern Kentucky and Central Arkansas will leave if invites come from CUSA. With the exception of Greensboro, no football, ALL the SoCon members play each other for conference championships in BOTH football and basketball which gives the league a nice cohesion that these others don’t have. Unless there are those in the SoCon with actual, realistic, secret plans of “moving up” to FBS football, then there’s not a better where-the-rubber-meets-the-road option for them at present than the SoCon.

(01-26-2022 04:18 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(01-26-2022 02:40 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  I don't think the SoCon adding members does anything to improve the league, and might make it worse. The SoCon is in a prestigious position and it can add members anytime it needs to. So if I were the SoCon I would enjoy the stability and keep a short list of candidates in case a school or two does leave.

I also don't think any members of the SoCon will find a better league for FCS football. So the only reason I'd expect members to depart would be an invitation to FBS football. That's up to the school if that would be preferable.

I love the fact that the SoCon has top quality mid major basketball, excellent baseball, and a perfect balance of quality members (4 private, 4 public, 2 military).

If anyone does leave then I'd wish them well and the SoCon would have members lined up to take their place.

Looking at the FCS leagues around the SoCon, the Big South is currently down to five football schools and is probably looking to DII schools like West Georgia and Valdosta State to restock. The OVC is crumbling and has few if any options to add FCS schools, thus with rumors that it will become a basketball league. The CAA recently grew to six full-time members that play FCS football, and that growth, in my opinion, meant that SoCon schools declined offers from them - most certainly VMI declined and publicly stated so last year while UNCG was mentioned in the press. The wild-card - ASUN football - seems to lose members as they join, see Jacksonville State. Eastern Kentucky and Central Arkansas will leave if invites come from CUSA. With the exception of Greensboro, no football, ALL the SoCon members play each other for conference championships in BOTH football and basketball which gives the league a nice cohesion that these others don’t have. Unless there are those in the SoCon with actual, realistic, secret plans of “moving up” to FBS football, then there’s not a better where-the-rubber-meets-the-road option for them at present than the SoCon.

That's a good point about cohesion and playing each other. I love that about the league. I think Mercer is blessed to be in the group, it's been great.

As for FBS -- Everyone on message boards love to say that UT-Chattanooga wants to move to FBS. ETSU's name gets tossed around a lot as well, followed by WCU. Well, this is the put up or shut up time for those rumors, IMO. There's never been a wider opening to FBS than there is right now with Conference USA looking as desperate as can be. I personally think UTC would have been announced already if they were gonna jump, since they'd be a top choice in my eyes. I just don't see it happening.

SoCon doubles exit fee to $2 million

Doesn't preclude the SoCon from adding teams, but also makes it less likely UNCG certain members will leave for other FCS/one-bid MBB conferences.

(01-27-2022 10:39 AM)Mister Consistency Wrote:  SoCon doubles exit fee to $2 million

Doesn't preclude the SoCon from adding teams, but also makes it less likely UNCG certain members will leave for other FCS/one-bid MBB conferences.

Before the recent CAA expansion announcement - the Richmond newspaper did list UNCG as a potential addition. Obviously UNCG turned that down and, instead, now commits to this increased exit fee. And, like I said elsewhere, VMI had already publicly stated that it had turned down an offer. If the SoCon wanted to grow to say twelve or fourteen, my list would include: W&M, Richmond, Elon, Charleston, UNCW.

Nice to see the SoCon raising the exit fee unanimously, reaffirming commitment to each other.

There had been discussion in another board that the Southern Conference is expecting to be raided. Honestly I do not know if that is the case, but I do remember seeing it.

I keep waiting and waiting to hear if the SoCon will try to add anyone..

I read NC A&T and Howard are now on the CAA radar.
The Big South and OVC schools are being picked over
Interesting that only Tech and Morehead are left in the 8 team OVC ETSU was in for 20 years.

Lindenwood and Southern Indiana will be joining OVC

I almost posted this last week, but passed, but the more I think about it, the more it just says: "We're struggling to remain relevant here, and don't have many options, but if we throw out some shiny objects maybe that'll be distracting from the real issues."

https://www.etsubucs.com/mtennis/news/20...hool-year/

There's just too many folks out there in marketing that have learned that "logos" and "brands" are solutions, or part of them. While they *can* be, like our new "E" logo, I suppose, more often than not it's just something that allows younger marketers to think they've invented the wheel. Color me cynical, obviously.

(08-16-2023 03:32 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  I almost posted this last week, but passed, but the more I think about it, the more it just says: "We're struggling to remain relevant here, and don't have many options, but if we throw out some shiny objects maybe that'll be distracting from the real issues."

https://www.etsubucs.com/mtennis/news/20...hool-year/

There's just too many folks out there in marketing that have learned that "logos" and "brands" are solutions, or part of them. While they *can* be, like our new "E" logo, I suppose, more often than not it's just something that allows younger marketers to think they've invented the wheel. Color me cynical, obviously.

From recent article on CUSA: “The 2023 season is the start of yet another new era. Six schools left for the American Athletic Conference, one year after three left for the Sun Belt. Conference USA in response added Liberty and New Mexico State from the FBS and Sam Houston and Jacksonville State from the Football Championship Subdivision, making for a nine-team league. Kennesaw State will come up from the FCS next year for No. 10, and the league is open to expanding further. (Potential candidates include Missouri State, Eastern Kentucky, Tarleton State and some others)”.

Some others? Maybe ETSU and UTC? Not likely. Even if so, UTC beats us out on facilities alone. And, if the Sun Belt expands again, at least MTSU and WKU would be added from CUSA. Hey, we are stuck in the SoCon with essentially zero options. And a lateral FCS move to the CAA isn’t really an attractive option. Relevancy? As college sports goes through revolutionary changes, ETSU and the Southern Conference can only watch from the outside with no voice and no vote. Yep, I’m guilty of putting lipstick on this pig along with this new marketing, but touting the virtues of SoCon membership has become just empty talk. Like the popular and affordable Model-T back in the day, it’s a little ol geographic college athletic conference that’s fading deeper into irrelevancy year by year.