(05-04-2022 03:06 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 02:58 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 12:54 PM)Inkblot Wrote:  Announced today... Charlotte, FAU, and UAB men's soccer are joining the AAC a year early, and FIU is joining as an affiliate. https://theamerican.org/news/2022/5/3/ge...iving.aspx

That would be an attractive conference for Kentucky and South Carolina (or any other SEC schools that they might encourage to play soccer).

UK, South Carolina and WVU are in the Sun Belt for Mens Soccer which is a better league in my opinion.

In the 2021 season: 5 of 6 AAC teams were in the Top 100 RPI ratings, including Tulsa 9.

In the 2021 season Sun Belt did not have a soccer competition. Appalachian State dropped their team and Howard moved all their affiliates to the NEC. Georgia State and Georgia Southern scrambled to play in the MAC.

In 2021 Kentucky and South Carolina played in CUSA, which was not too bad since it did have Marshall and FIU.

With football realignment. Sun Belt had enough teams, but CUSA did not particularly for the future.

It makes sense for Kentucky and South Carolina and West Virginia to grab on to the Sun Belt for 2022.

But now the AAC has announced that Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, and UAB are moving to the AAC for 2022, and they are bringing along FIU. 8 of the 10 are Top 100 schools. If we exclude Kentucky and West Virginia, then we have:

Tulsa 9 - Marshall 20
FIU 22 - Georgia State 32
Charlotte 47 - JMU 63
SMU 53 - CoCar 70
(UCF 58) - Georgia Southern 120
FAU 89 - ODU 151
USF 92
Memphis 93
UAB 117
Temple 157

Now that the AAC has its future configuration, UCF is likely to stick around for soccer. If they want to play West Virginia, they can schedule OOC.

When you are looking at this from the perspective of Kentucky and South Carolina you can't count them as being in the Sun Belt or AAC. The AAC has the stronger core.

And from the perspective of an AD at Kentucky, the AAC schools are clearly G5. The Sun Belt schools are FCS+.

If Kentucky or South Carolina were scheduling OOC football games, most of the AAC schools would want H-and-H. The Sun Belt would be looked at as buy games. Kentucky is not going to travel to Conway or Harrisonburg.

The one downside of the AAC is that it is a larger conference and the soccer season is limited. Soccer takes a lot of running, and cleats into an ankle or stepped on foot, or heads colliding take a toll. So while soccer can play say Friday and Tuesday - they prefer the midweek game to be an OOC in which they can start backup players for essentially exhibition matches, and keep the starters fresh.

The AAC at 10 is OK for 9 games in a single round-robin. At 12 they would have to go divisions and make sure Kentucky and South Carolina are in the same division.

Maybe:
Tulsa, SMU, UK, Memphis, UAB, USC
Temple, Charlotte, UCF, USF, FAU, FIU

(05-04-2022 03:44 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 03:10 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 12:54 PM)Inkblot Wrote:  Announced today... Charlotte, FAU, and UAB men's soccer are joining the AAC a year early, and FIU is joining as an affiliate. https://theamerican.org/news/2022/5/3/ge...iving.aspx

I figured FIU would end up in the AAC as opposed to the Sun Belt. Even though they have a great program, the Sun Belt seems to have quite the grudge against the schools that left for CUSA.

FAU being in the AAC helps as well. You can get two games in one trip plus you have a cross-metropolitan area rivalry.

Not really. Soccer typically plays Friday - Tuesday, with an OOC game on Tuesday.

There is a lot of running in soccer, with ankles, feet, knees, and heads vulnerable to collisions. It would be hard to have starters play on consecutive days, and you want your starters to play in league games.

There is a proposal to switch soccer to a split season so that it would be more typically one-match per week.

(05-04-2022 08:58 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 03:06 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 02:58 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 12:54 PM)Inkblot Wrote:  Announced today... Charlotte, FAU, and UAB men's soccer are joining the AAC a year early, and FIU is joining as an affiliate. https://theamerican.org/news/2022/5/3/ge...iving.aspx

That would be an attractive conference for Kentucky and South Carolina (or any other SEC schools that they might encourage to play soccer).

UK, South Carolina and WVU are in the Sun Belt for Mens Soccer which is a better league in my opinion.

In the 2021 season: 5 of 6 AAC teams were in the Top 100 RPI ratings, including Tulsa 9.

In the 2021 season Sun Belt did not have a soccer competition. Appalachian State dropped their team and Howard moved all their affiliates to the NEC. Georgia State and Georgia Southern scrambled to play in the MAC.

In 2021 Kentucky and South Carolina played in CUSA, which was not too bad since it did have Marshall and FIU.

With football realignment. Sun Belt had enough teams, but CUSA did not particularly for the future.

It makes sense for Kentucky and South Carolina and West Virginia to grab on to the Sun Belt for 2022.

But now the AAC has announced that Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, and UAB are moving to the AAC for 2022, and they are bringing along FIU. 8 of the 10 are Top 100 schools. If we exclude Kentucky and West Virginia, then we have:

Tulsa 9 - Marshall 20
FIU 22 - Georgia State 32
Charlotte 47 - JMU 63
SMU 53 - CoCar 70
(UCF 58) - Georgia Southern 120
FAU 89 - ODU 151
USF 92
Memphis 93
UAB 117
Temple 157

Now that the AAC has its future configuration, UCF is likely to stick around for soccer. If they want to play West Virginia, they can schedule OOC.

When you are looking at this from the perspective of Kentucky and South Carolina you can't count them as being in the Sun Belt or AAC. The AAC has the stronger core.

And from the perspective of an AD at Kentucky, the AAC schools are clearly G5. The Sun Belt schools are FCS+.

If Kentucky or South Carolina were scheduling OOC football games, most of the AAC schools would want H-and-H. The Sun Belt would be looked at as buy games. Kentucky is not going to travel to Conway or Harrisonburg.

The one downside of the AAC is that it is a larger conference and the soccer season is limited. Soccer takes a lot of running, and cleats into an ankle or stepped on foot, or heads colliding take a toll. So while soccer can play say Friday and Tuesday - they prefer the midweek game to be an OOC in which they can start backup players for essentially exhibition matches, and keep the starters fresh.

The AAC at 10 is OK for 9 games in a single round-robin. At 12 they would have to go divisions and make sure Kentucky and South Carolina are in the same division.

Maybe:
Tulsa, SMU, UK, Memphis, UAB, USC
Temple, Charlotte, UCF, USF, FAU, FIU

https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2022/4/...rence.aspx

"Nine teams will comprise Sun Belt Conference men's soccer; three of the new Sun Belt members (as of July 1) James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion will join Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. In addition, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia will compete as affiliate members for men's soccer only. The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men's soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20. "

(05-04-2022 09:36 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 08:58 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 03:06 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 02:58 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 12:54 PM)Inkblot Wrote:  Announced today... Charlotte, FAU, and UAB men's soccer are joining the AAC a year early, and FIU is joining as an affiliate. https://theamerican.org/news/2022/5/3/ge...iving.aspx

That would be an attractive conference for Kentucky and South Carolina (or any other SEC schools that they might encourage to play soccer).

UK, South Carolina and WVU are in the Sun Belt for Mens Soccer which is a better league in my opinion.

In the 2021 season: 5 of 6 AAC teams were in the Top 100 RPI ratings, including Tulsa 9.

In the 2021 season Sun Belt did not have a soccer competition. Appalachian State dropped their team and Howard moved all their affiliates to the NEC. Georgia State and Georgia Southern scrambled to play in the MAC.

In 2021 Kentucky and South Carolina played in CUSA, which was not too bad since it did have Marshall and FIU.

With football realignment. Sun Belt had enough teams, but CUSA did not particularly for the future.

It makes sense for Kentucky and South Carolina and West Virginia to grab on to the Sun Belt for 2022.

But now the AAC has announced that Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, and UAB are moving to the AAC for 2022, and they are bringing along FIU. 8 of the 10 are Top 100 schools. If we exclude Kentucky and West Virginia, then we have:

Tulsa 9 - Marshall 20
FIU 22 - Georgia State 32
Charlotte 47 - JMU 63
SMU 53 - CoCar 70
(UCF 58) - Georgia Southern 120
FAU 89 - ODU 151
USF 92
Memphis 93
UAB 117
Temple 157

Now that the AAC has its future configuration, UCF is likely to stick around for soccer. If they want to play West Virginia, they can schedule OOC.

When you are looking at this from the perspective of Kentucky and South Carolina you can't count them as being in the Sun Belt or AAC. The AAC has the stronger core.

And from the perspective of an AD at Kentucky, the AAC schools are clearly G5. The Sun Belt schools are FCS+.

If Kentucky or South Carolina were scheduling OOC football games, most of the AAC schools would want H-and-H. The Sun Belt would be looked at as buy games. Kentucky is not going to travel to Conway or Harrisonburg.

The one downside of the AAC is that it is a larger conference and the soccer season is limited. Soccer takes a lot of running, and cleats into an ankle or stepped on foot, or heads colliding take a toll. So while soccer can play say Friday and Tuesday - they prefer the midweek game to be an OOC in which they can start backup players for essentially exhibition matches, and keep the starters fresh.

The AAC at 10 is OK for 9 games in a single round-robin. At 12 they would have to go divisions and make sure Kentucky and South Carolina are in the same division.

Maybe:
Tulsa, SMU, UK, Memphis, UAB, USC
Temple, Charlotte, UCF, USF, FAU, FIU

https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2022/4/...rence.aspx

"Nine teams will comprise Sun Belt Conference men's soccer; three of the new Sun Belt members (as of July 1) James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion will join Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. In addition, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia will compete as affiliate members for men's soccer only. The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men's soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20. "

And you can count on UCF joining the following year. Sorry AAC fanboys, it’s a stronger core WITH better geography.

It's really whatever UCF and FIU want to do in 2023.

C-USA soccer will limp through 2022 with four (4) schools, three of whom are leaving after this year (UAB, Charlotte, FAU). I am pretty sure C-USA is not on great terms with the AAC, so the idea of the AAC taking them in for a year is probably out. They really can't let these schools go early, even for one sport after they made such a show over others leaving early. But who knows, C-USA might just pull the plug early and let those three join the AAC soccer a year early.

I don't see the AAC having affiliates. They won't need them with 8 members. They only have affiliates in women's lacrosse (and women's rowing -- but that is like bowling, a glorified club sport, doesn't really count).

Anyway, I don't think anyone at the athletic departments are losing any sleep over this.

(05-04-2022 10:11 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  It's really whatever UCF and FIU want to do in 2023.

C-USA soccer will limp through 2022 with four (4) schools, three of whom are leaving after this year (UAB, Charlotte, FAU). I am pretty sure C-USA is not on great terms with the AAC, so the idea of the AAC taking them in for a year is probably out. They really can't let these schools go early, even for one sport after they made such a show over others leaving early. But who knows, C-USA might just pull the plug early and let those three join the AAC soccer a year early.

I don't see the AAC having affiliates. They won't need them with 8 members. They only have affiliates in women's lacrosse (and women's rowing -- but that is like bowling, a glorified club sport, doesn't really count).

Anyway, I don't think anyone at the athletic departments are losing any sleep over this.

You failed to read the announcement that UAB, Charlotte, FAU, and FIU are going to affiliate with AAC beginning on July 1, 2022.

Let's review what has happened:

2019:

AAC (8 teams) UConn would leave to Big East, and Cincinnati would drop soccer.
CUSA (8 teams, including affiliates UK and USC)
Sun Belt (6 teams, including affiliates Central Arkansas and Howard). Appalachian State would drop soccer and Howard would move affiliation to NEC.
CAA: James Madison
MAC: Affiliates SIUE and West Virginia

2020 (because of Covid, played Spring 2021).

AAC (6 teams)
CUSA (8 teams, including affiliates UK and USC)
Sun Belt (4 teams, including affiliate Central Arkansas)
CAA: James Madison
MAC: Affiliates SIUE and West Virginia

Because the Sun Belt soccer was dead at this point, Coastal Carolina would affiliate with CUSA, Georgia State and Georgia Southern would affiliate with the MAC, and Central Arkansas was moving all of their program to the ASUN. The OVC does not sponsor soccer, the ASUN does.

2021

AAC (6 teams)
CUSA (9 teams, including affiliates UK, USC, and CoCar)
Sun Belt - Defunct
CAA: James Madison
MAC: Affiliates West Virginia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State

West Virginia had announced they were moving their affiliation to CUSA. After the realignment announcements, it was not known when ODU, Marshall, and James Madison would move. Though the Sun Belt would eventually have 6 and the CUSA two it was not known if that would be until 2023. If ODU and Marshall were stuck in CUSA, CoCar would not have left, and Georgia State and Georgia Southern would have played another season in the MAC.

Kentucky and South Carolina would not move until there was more certainty.

After Marshall and ODU agreed to pay their ransom, the Sun Belt could count on six teams. Moreover, CUSA would be down to four, with three of those leaving in 2023. It was time for Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia to jump ship. With some uncertainty about UCF, the AAC was not yet an option.

With CUSA down to four, it was time for the AAC to proactively take the three teams that would move in 2023 anyhow.

This left FIU and Liberty. Liberty is still in ASUN for the 2022 season. FIU has an excellent soccer program, and the AAC grabbed them. Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia have a one-year committment to play in the Sun Belt.

2022:

AAC(10 teams, including affiliates Charlotte, FAU, UAB, and FIU. The first three will be full members in 2023. UCF will leave the AAC in 2023).
CUSA(no competition).
Sun Belt(9 teams, including affiliates Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia)
MAC(4 teams???)

2023:

AAC(9 teams)
Sun Belt (6 teams)
MAC(4 teams)
ASUN(7 schools)

Free Agents:

West Virginia and UCF
Kentucky and South Carolina
FIU and Liberty

FIU will stick with the AAC, unless perhaps the MAC offered FIU and Liberty a combined deal. Akron like FIU is an excellent program.

Kentucky and South Carolina will want to stick together. But there is no reason for them to not choose the better core in the AAC, with perceived schools further up the food chain than JMU, CoCar, etc.

UCF could easily stick with the teams they have been playing with for many years. There might be a small desire to be in the same soccer conference with West Virginia. But South Carolina and Kentucky have been together in the SEC for 30 years and they are actually southeastern. UCF and West Virginia will be in the Big 12 for 1 year, and they are geographical outliers to the conference. There is not the same affinity.

(05-04-2022 09:36 PM)Porcine Wrote:  https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2022/4/...rence.aspx

"Nine teams will comprise Sun Belt Conference men's soccer; three of the new Sun Belt members (as of July 1) James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion will join Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. In addition, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia will compete as affiliate members for men's soccer only. The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men's soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20. "

This is only for 2022.

Kentucky and South Carolina and West Virginia may prefer the stability of a conference that has not stopped sponsorship twice.

If we exclude Kentucky and West Virginia, then the AAC is the better conference and the schools are closer to being peers.

Why would UK or WVU care about playing in the AAC when they could play a national champion basically right next door?

You spent a lot of words to try and twist and squirm the story into the AAC being better for soccer, even though it's not.

(05-05-2022 02:55 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 09:36 PM)Porcine Wrote:  https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2022/4/...rence.aspx

"Nine teams will comprise Sun Belt Conference men's soccer; three of the new Sun Belt members (as of July 1) James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion will join Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. In addition, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia will compete as affiliate members for men's soccer only. The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men's soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20. "

This is only for 2022.

Kentucky and South Carolina and West Virginia may prefer the stability of a conference that has not stopped sponsorship twice.

If we exclude Kentucky and West Virginia, then the AAC is the better conference and the schools are closer to being peers.

AAC geography sucks for soccer. UK is less than two hours from Marshall (national champion), it's a straight shot down I64. WVU and Marshall (national champion) instate match-up. South Carolina and Coastal instate match-up.

(05-05-2022 06:51 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  Why would UK or WVU care about playing in the AAC when they could play a national champion basically right next door?

You spent a lot of words to try and twist and squirm the story into the AAC being better for soccer, even though it's not.

And if they want in the AAC, why aren't they going now?

(05-05-2022 02:47 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 10:11 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  It's really whatever UCF and FIU want to do in 2023.

C-USA soccer will limp through 2022 with four (4) schools, three of whom are leaving after this year (UAB, Charlotte, FAU). I am pretty sure C-USA is not on great terms with the AAC, so the idea of the AAC taking them in for a year is probably out. They really can't let these schools go early, even for one sport after they made such a show over others leaving early. But who knows, C-USA might just pull the plug early and let those three join the AAC soccer a year early.

I don't see the AAC having affiliates. They won't need them with 8 members. They only have affiliates in women's lacrosse (and women's rowing -- but that is like bowling, a glorified club sport, doesn't really count).

Anyway, I don't think anyone at the athletic departments are losing any sleep over this.

UCF could easily stick with the teams they have been playing with for many years. There might be a small desire to be in the same soccer conference with West Virginia. But South Carolina and Kentucky have been together in the SEC for 30 years and they are actually southeastern. UCF and West Virginia will be in the Big 12 for 1 year, and they are geographical outliers to the conference. There is not the same affinity.

Kentucky, South Carolina and Marshall have been in the same Soccer league for 20 years.

(05-05-2022 02:47 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  Kentucky and South Carolina will want to stick together. But there is no reason for them to not choose the better core in the AAC, with perceived schools further up the food chain than JMU, CoCar, etc.

I don't think you understand dynamics here. Marshall and Kentucky have been each other's biggest men's soccer conference rivals for nearly a quarter-century, and they are basically next-door neighbors with both having risen to Top Ten type programs together over the last decade. WVU coach Dan Stratford intentionally restarted the OOC series with Marshall and were going to join C-USA AND now the SBC to specifically join up with Marshall and UK. South Carolina compliments both UK and Coastal Carolina, as the Chanticleers are a perennial Top 25 men's soccer program (and are opening a new soccer-specific stadium in the next 2 years). These are programs that WANT to be together as a core.

In addition, JMU and ODU have outstanding facilities and are geographic compliments - with JMU actually having numerous Top 25 finishes and 17 NCAA tournament appearances as well. Georgia State just opened a new soccer facility in 2021 and made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large as well.

One other thing that has been mentioned - during the introductory press conference, these coaches talked about how the geography of the Sun Belt will allow them to play their conference games on Saturdays (which they find much more preferable).





The Sun Belt is going to be a tough, fun soccer league that is geographically compact playing in some of the newest and best facilities in the NCAA. But it's understandable that you all want some of what's happening here...

(05-05-2022 06:51 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  Why would UK or WVU care about playing in the AAC when they could play a national champion basically right next door?

You spent a lot of words to try and twist and squirm the story into the AAC being better for soccer, even though it's not.

Kentucky's Womens Team plays an SEC schedule. As far as travel for the men's team travel in the AAC travel is similar:

Playing at Tulsa is no different than playing at Norman.
Playing at Dallas is no different than playing at Austin or College Station
Playing at Memphis is no different than playing at Nashville or Knoxville
Playing at Birmingham is no different than playing at Tuscaloosa or Auburn
Playing at Orlando or Tampa is no different than playing at Gainesville

Sun Belt soccer is basically ACC, Jr. with banjo music.

Kentucky is going to be in the same conference as South Carolina. At one time Vanderbilt sponsored soccer and Kentucky were in the same conference. When Vanderbilt dropped soccer, Kentucky and South Carolina teamed up and have been together ever since. They style their game the "SEC Championship".

The Sun Belt did not play soccer last season because Appalachian State dropped soccer and they were poached by the ASUN and NEC.

Of the schools in the future AAC and Sun Belt, Charlotte (AAC) has been the most consistently rated. If a team wanted to play the national champion they would play in South Carolina. No doubt, South Carolina will play Clemson OOC.

The truth is, if we take Kentucky, South Carolina and West Virginia out of the Sub Belt, then the AAC is the better choice to affiliate with.

(05-05-2022 10:39 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-05-2022 06:51 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  Why would UK or WVU care about playing in the AAC when they could play a national champion basically right next door?

You spent a lot of words to try and twist and squirm the story into the AAC being better for soccer, even though it's not.

Kentucky's Womens Team plays an SEC schedule. As far as travel for the men's team travel in the AAC travel is similar:

Playing at Tulsa is no different than playing at Norman.
Playing at Dallas is no different than playing at Austin or College Station
Playing at Memphis is no different than playing at Nashville or Knoxville
Playing at Birmingham is no different than playing at Tuscaloosa or Auburn
Playing at Orlando or Tampa is no different than playing at Gainesville

Sun Belt soccer is basically ACC, Jr. with banjo music.

Kentucky is going to be in the same conference as South Carolina. At one time Vanderbilt sponsored soccer and Kentucky were in the same conference. When Vanderbilt dropped soccer, Kentucky and South Carolina teamed up and have been together ever since. They style their game the "SEC Championship".

The Sun Belt did not play soccer last season because Appalachian State dropped soccer and they were poached by the ASUN and NEC.

Of the schools in the future AAC and Sun Belt, Charlotte (AAC) has been the most consistently rated. If a team wanted to play the national champion they would play in South Carolina. No doubt, South Carolina will play Clemson OOC.

The truth is, if we take Kentucky, South Carolina and West Virginia out of the Sub Belt, then the AAC is the better choice to affiliate with.

Bitter? LOL they are in the SBC because THEY WANT TO BE IN THE SBC!!! What part of that do you not understand?

Still upset that all the P6 BS didn't work out for the mighty AAC? You paid millions in entrance and exit fees only to be back in CUSA again.

If you want to know why they chose the SBC, just look at a map. The furthest two schools from each other are West Virginia and Georgia Southern, and that's still a closer trip for WVU than 80% of the AAC.

Men's soccer is not a revenue sport. Teams are not going to trade a geographically compact conference for a marginal improvement (if that) in competitiveness.

(05-05-2022 08:58 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(05-05-2022 02:47 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 10:11 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  It's really whatever UCF and FIU want to do in 2023.

C-USA soccer will limp through 2022 with four (4) schools, three of whom are leaving after this year (UAB, Charlotte, FAU). I am pretty sure C-USA is not on great terms with the AAC, so the idea of the AAC taking them in for a year is probably out. They really can't let these schools go early, even for one sport after they made such a show over others leaving early. But who knows, C-USA might just pull the plug early and let those three join the AAC soccer a year early.

I don't see the AAC having affiliates. They won't need them with 8 members. They only have affiliates in women's lacrosse (and women's rowing -- but that is like bowling, a glorified club sport, doesn't really count).

Anyway, I don't think anyone at the athletic departments are losing any sleep over this.

UCF could easily stick with the teams they have been playing with for many years. There might be a small desire to be in the same soccer conference with West Virginia. But South Carolina and Kentucky have been together in the SEC for 30 years and they are actually southeastern. UCF and West Virginia will be in the Big 12 for 1 year, and they are geographical outliers to the conference. There is not the same affinity.

Kentucky, South Carolina and Marshall have been in the same Soccer league for 20 years.

Kentucky and Marshall were in the MAC together, and South Carolina was playing as an independent.

In 2005, Kentucky and Marshall and South Carolina joined SMU, UAB, FIU, Memphis, Tulsa, UCF, and East Carolina in CUSA.

If they wanted to play JMU, ODU, and Georgia State they would have joined the CAA. If they wanted to play Coastal Carolina they would have joined Big South. If they wanted to play Georgia Southern they would have joined the SoCon.

So since 2005, Kentucky, South Carolina, SMU, UAB, FIU, and Marshall have been in the same soccer league.

In 2013, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, and ODU joined CUSA, so Kentucky, South Carolina, and Marshall have been in the same conference with SMU, UAB, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, and ODU since then.

The Sun Belt did not start soccer again until 2014 when Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and Appalachian State were joined by NJIT, Howard, and Hartwick.

(05-05-2022 10:38 AM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  

(05-05-2022 02:47 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  Kentucky and South Carolina will want to stick together. But there is no reason for them to not choose the better core in the AAC, with perceived schools further up the food chain than JMU, CoCar, etc.

I don't think you understand dynamics here. Marshall and Kentucky have been each other's biggest men's soccer conference rivals for nearly a quarter-century, and they are basically next-door neighbors with both having risen to Top Ten type programs together over the last decade. WVU coach Dan Stratford intentionally restarted the OOC series with Marshall and were going to join C-USA AND now the SBC to specifically join up with Marshall and UK. South Carolina compliments both UK and Coastal Carolina, as the Chanticleers are a perennial Top 25 men's soccer program (and are opening a new soccer-specific stadium in the next 2 years). These are programs that WANT to be together as a core.

In addition, JMU and ODU have outstanding facilities and are geographic compliments - with JMU actually having numerous Top 25 finishes and 17 NCAA tournament appearances as well. Georgia State just opened a new soccer facility in 2021 and made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large as well.

One other thing that has been mentioned - during the introductory press conference, these coaches talked about how the geography of the Sun Belt will allow them to play their conference games on Saturdays (which they find much more preferable).





The Sun Belt is going to be a tough, fun soccer league that is geographically compact playing in some of the newest and best facilities in the NCAA. But it's understandable that you all want some of what's happening here...

I listened to the video and didn't hear anything about Saturday. If you could listen and find the time, I'll take a listen.

The only schools that I found that might be applicable to is Georgia State and Georgia Southern who would travel up to Ohio and play two games with a two-day separation. That might be because that was always a short-term desperation move after Central Arkansas and Howard left, and Appalachian State dropped soccer.

CUSA pretty consistently played on Saturday. It appears that there is a bit of an effort to play on four days rest, which causes a drift if you are trying to get two games per week.

Soccer scheduling is also going to have to work around football schedules and women's soccer schedules. Schools might not want to host two events on Saturday, and the women and men share a stadium. I don't know how attractive double-headers are in soccer in the fall, where you end up with the second game played in the mud. But having an in-house soccer league could help out with coordination.

Only 6 of the 14 Sun Belt Schools sponsor soccer - none in the west do. It might be that the league would actually discourage Arkansas State or Louisiana-Monroe or even Troy playing soccer since it would break up their bus league.

(05-05-2022 02:55 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 09:36 PM)Porcine Wrote:  https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2022/4/...rence.aspx

"Nine teams will comprise Sun Belt Conference men's soccer; three of the new Sun Belt members (as of July 1) James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion will join Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. In addition, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia will compete as affiliate members for men's soccer only. The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men's soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20. "

This is only for 2022.

Kentucky and South Carolina and West Virginia may prefer the stability of a conference that has not stopped sponsorship twice.

If we exclude Kentucky and West Virginia, then the AAC is the better conference and the schools are closer to being peers.

What are you basing that on? Nowhere in the article does it say it's just for 2022, the wording makes it seem like it's there permanent home, at least until the next round of realignment.

(05-05-2022 11:03 AM)jcohen42 Wrote:  If you want to know why they chose the SBC, just look at a map. The furthest two schools from each other are West Virginia and Georgia Southern, and that's still a closer trip for WVU than 80% of the AAC.

Men's soccer is not a revenue sport. Teams are not going to trade a geographically compact conference for a marginal improvement (if that) in competitiveness.

Women's soccer is not a revenue sport. Kentucky and West Virginia travel all over to play in the SEC or Big 12.

If we were concerned about geography: Pitt, West Virginia, Marshall, Ohio, Cincinnati, Miami, Kentucky and Louisville would be in the Ohio Valley Conference for all sports.

(05-05-2022 12:37 PM)TDenverFan Wrote:  

(05-05-2022 02:55 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-04-2022 09:36 PM)Porcine Wrote:  https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2022/4/...rence.aspx

"Nine teams will comprise Sun Belt Conference men's soccer; three of the new Sun Belt members (as of July 1) James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion will join Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. In addition, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia will compete as affiliate members for men's soccer only. The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men's soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20. "

This is only for 2022.

Kentucky and South Carolina and West Virginia may prefer the stability of a conference that has not stopped sponsorship twice.

If we exclude Kentucky and West Virginia, then the AAC is the better conference and the schools are closer to being peers.

What are you basing that on? Nowhere in the article does it say it's just for 2022, the wording makes it seem like it's there permanent home, at least until the next round of realignment.

I agree that they will be in the conference until they are not.