The real question now (if Howard to the CAA happens) is does the MEAC grab some Division 2 schools or Chicago State or do their members get picked by other leagues (CAA, NEC, SWAC, etc.)? We could be looking at a scenario where we are back down to 31 conferences (something the major leagues would like in basketball).

(04-17-2022 01:05 AM)WolfCrashpad Wrote:  CAA Football has to be reaching an impasse soon. 15 teams is obscenely high, no FBS or FCS conference has that.

It could be easier to just trim the fat and dump most of the non-football. Goodbye to America East schools, fend for yourself! Maine, Albany and New Hampshire.

Rhode Island hasn't contributed much of anything footballwise, but they have a sexy A10 brand name. Same with Richmond, who won a FCS title in the 2000s. Villanova, you obviously keep for the sexy name and Big East ties. But the America East schools can go, you're also reducing travel by getting rid of the most northern geographic outliers.

A10FC: Rhode Island, Richmond, UMass, Fordham, Duquesne, plus affiliates Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, Villanova.

CAA: Stony Brook, Monmouth, Delaware, Towson, William&Mary, Hampton, Elon, NCA&T, UNCW + Howard(?)

(04-17-2022 11:17 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 01:05 AM)WolfCrashpad Wrote:  CAA Football has to be reaching an impasse soon. 15 teams is obscenely high, no FBS or FCS conference has that.

It could be easier to just trim the fat and dump most of the non-football. Goodbye to America East schools, fend for yourself! Maine, Albany and New Hampshire.

Rhode Island hasn't contributed much of anything footballwise, but they have a sexy A10 brand name. Same with Richmond, who won a FCS title in the 2000s. Villanova, you obviously keep for the sexy name and Big East ties. But the America East schools can go, you're also reducing travel by getting rid of the most northern geographic outliers.

A10FC: Rhode Island, Richmond, UMass, Fordham, Duquesne, plus affiliates Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, Villanova.

CAA: Stony Brook, Monmouth, Delaware, Towson, William&Mary, Hampton, Elon, NCA&T, UNCW + Howard(?)

UMass ain't going back down. Also, the CAA must retain Richmond and Villanova, maybe Rhode Island too, for the A10 + Big East association.

(04-17-2022 12:40 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 09:49 PM)sctvman Wrote:  HBCU GameDay says that Howard is likely to move to the CAA starting in the 23-24 school year. They would still be in the MEAC in 2022-23.

https://hbcugameday.com/2022/04/16/sourc...ce-change/

This must've been what Matt Brown Is Out Of Office's tweet was about this afternoon:

Yup, that's right.

Saw that Howard’s President (who held a press conference about holding the MEAC together and looked more like a leader than the ex-Commissioner) is retiring. He’s only 50 and looks younger.

(04-16-2022 11:04 PM)WolfCrashpad Wrote:  I don't want this!

The perfect size for CAA is 12. We didn't need Hampton and one of Monmouth/NC A&T.

The CAA was supposed to be an MVC level conference for the east coast behind the A10.

Both the CAA and MVC have been forced to add schools that I thought would never get in there.

CAA now is looking the part of a low major deluxe ala the WAC with some of the moves it has been making.

(04-17-2022 11:59 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 11:04 PM)WolfCrashpad Wrote:  I don't want this!

The perfect size for CAA is 12. We didn't need Hampton and one of Monmouth/NC A&T.

The CAA was supposed to be an MVC level conference for the east coast behind the A10.

Both the CAA and MVC have been forced to add schools that I thought would never get in there.

CAA now is looking the part of a low major deluxe ala the WAC with some of the moves it has been making.

Yes. I'm surprised with some of their additions.

(04-17-2022 11:50 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Saw that Howard’s President (who held a press conference about holding the MEAC together and looked more like a leader than the ex-Commissioner) is retiring. He’s only 50 and looks younger.

He might say that publicly, but he is serving his own university by exploring other options.

(04-17-2022 12:08 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 11:59 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 11:04 PM)WolfCrashpad Wrote:  I don't want this!

The perfect size for CAA is 12. We didn't need Hampton and one of Monmouth/NC A&T.

The CAA was supposed to be an MVC level conference for the east coast behind the A10.

Both the CAA and MVC have been forced to add schools that I thought would never get in there.

CAA now is looking the part of a low major deluxe ala the WAC with some of the moves it has been making.

Yes. I'm surprised with some of their additions.

With CUSA on the prowl for potential new members it makes sense for the CAA to build up its membership. If the WAC hadn’t gone to 14 before losing NMSU and SHSU it would be looking a lot less stable now. Delaware may not be interested in FBS at the moment but that could change down the road.

Also having 14 for Olympic sports better facilitates setting up northern and southern divisions to reduce travel costs. And adding Howard in particular will allow Towson to stay in the northern division with nearby Drexel and Delaware.

Overall the moves make sense to me.

Phew, the MEAC!

There seems little left that will keep any school from doing everything possible to get out. One or more schools are bound to lose the game of musical chairs.

SC State, NC Central, and Norfolk State surely are making phone calls to the Big South and/or ASUN.

Morgan State, Coppin State, Delaware State, and UMES must be making calls to all the northeastern-based leagues.

It makes me wonder if, indeed, it gets down to three or fewer members if some group of schools from some other league will seek to take the "shell" of the MEAC and basically build a new league around the few remaining members. For instance, some of the higher performing A-10 schools, plus, I don't know, Belmont, and Murray State could all but make a new league. All that is very unlikely, of course, but if the MEAC does dwindle to very small numbers, some schools at the very least are going to have conversations about creating something out of that MEAC autobid.

If this is true, Norfolk St and NC Central to the Big South is a no brainer.

The other 5 are in a tough spot.

(04-17-2022 12:38 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  SC State, NC Central, and Norfolk State surely are making phone calls to the Big South and/or ASUN.

If the Big South wants to preserve football without expanding the footprint they now have golden opportunity

Quote:Morgan State, Coppin State, Delaware State, and UMES must be making calls to all the northeastern-based leagues.

It will be interesting to see what happens to them

Quote:It makes me wonder if, indeed, it gets down to three or fewer members if some group of schools from some other league will seek to take the "shell" of the MEAC and basically build a new league around the few remaining members. For instance, some of the higher performing A-10 schools, plus, I don't know, Belmont, and Murray State could all but make a new league. All that is very unlikely, of course, but if the MEAC does dwindle to very small numbers, some schools at the very least are going to have conversations about creating something out of that MEAC autobid.

If the MEAC doesn't survive the CAA taking their shell and splitting makes a ton of sense to me

(04-17-2022 12:47 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 12:38 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  SC State, NC Central, and Norfolk State surely are making phone calls to the Big South and/or ASUN.

If the Big South wants to preserve football without expanding the footprint they now have golden opportunity

Quote:Morgan State, Coppin State, Delaware State, and UMES must be making calls to all the northeastern-based leagues.

It will be interesting to see what happens to them

Quote:It makes me wonder if, indeed, it gets down to three or fewer members if some group of schools from some other league will seek to take the "shell" of the MEAC and basically build a new league around the few remaining members. For instance, some of the higher performing A-10 schools, plus, I don't know, Belmont, and Murray State could all but make a new league. All that is very unlikely, of course, but if the MEAC does dwindle to very small numbers, some schools at the very least are going to have conversations about creating something out of that MEAC autobid.

If the MEAC doesn't survive the CAA taking their shell and splitting makes a ton of sense to me.

Yeah, it could be a lot of possibilities. Who knows? But a CAA split seems more likely than an A-10 split. I was just throwing the A-10 idea out there.

One thing I do think is not gonna happen is using a MEAC "shell" to make the mythical East coast G5 league that was discussed on the message boards in recent years. The AAC schools aren't paying those exit fees for anyone but a P5. (I wish that wasn't the case as I would like ECU in the SB, but it's not gonna happen.) The SB schools are happy enough with the their new regional divisions. And C-USA schools just are where they are.

(04-17-2022 12:38 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  Phew, the MEAC!

There seems little left that will keep any school from doing everything possible to get out. One or more schools are bound to lose the game of musical chairs.

SC State, NC Central, and Norfolk State surely are making phone calls to the Big South and/or ASUN.

Morgan State, Coppin State, Delaware State, and UMES must be making calls to all the northeastern-based leagues.

It makes me wonder if, indeed, it gets down to three or fewer members if some group of schools from some other league will seek to take the "shell" of the MEAC and basically build a new league around the few remaining members. For instance, some of the higher performing A-10 schools, plus, I don't know, Belmont, and Murray State could all but make a new league. All that is very unlikely, of course, but if the MEAC does dwindle to very small numbers, some schools at the very least are going to have conversations about creating something out of that MEAC autobid.

The MEAC schools have some of the lowest budgets in Division I. Nobody would want the leftovers unless they were desperate. NC Central and Norfolk might find homes. It will be very difficult for the rest.

I think the CAA will not mind the formation of AEC football, might well encourage it to remove their New England wing for a tighter geographic footprint. Bryant (AEC with Big South football) plus CAAF members Albany, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island (A-10 member) are the obvious core of such an AEC group. Whatever, they'll likely continue divisions for a bit more regional scheduling.

Pods in general are silly --of course some proponents on this board always have to bring them up--. But in theory you could do shadow pods in basketball. With 15 teams you have 14 games playing everyone in a single round robin, play 4 in your pod of 5 for a 2nd game to finish an 18 game schedule.

I don't see that happening. Far more likely everyone will designate two rivals. Hampton, Howard and NC A&T will almost certainly want each other as built in rivals, never mind being in different "pods," with strong arguments for better attendance. Also playing a rotation of the other 10 schools a 2nd time improves cohesion. So I expect this to be the scheduling choice

(04-17-2022 11:26 AM)WolfCrashpad Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 11:17 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 01:05 AM)WolfCrashpad Wrote:  CAA Football has to be reaching an impasse soon. 15 teams is obscenely high, no FBS or FCS conference has that.

It could be easier to just trim the fat and dump most of the non-football. Goodbye to America East schools, fend for yourself! Maine, Albany and New Hampshire.

Rhode Island hasn't contributed much of anything footballwise, but they have a sexy A10 brand name. Same with Richmond, who won a FCS title in the 2000s. Villanova, you obviously keep for the sexy name and Big East ties. But the America East schools can go, you're also reducing travel by getting rid of the most northern geographic outliers.

A10FC: Rhode Island, Richmond, UMass, Fordham, Duquesne, plus affiliates Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, Villanova.

CAA: Stony Brook, Monmouth, Delaware, Towson, William&Mary, Hampton, Elon, NCA&T, UNCW + Howard(?)

UMass ain't going back down. Also, the CAA must retain Richmond and Villanova, maybe Rhode Island too, for the A10 + Big East association.

UMass can play 4 FCS opponents a year. Then they only need 8 FBS games a year. UConn and Army will be willing to play home and home. A couple of buy games, and 4 home-and-home against 4 G5 teams.

The CAA has decided to go all in for football. Why would an A-10 team want to be associated with a lesser basketball league in any way?

Maybe Dayton and Davidson will start awarding scholarships in football.

(04-17-2022 02:11 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 12:47 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(04-17-2022 12:38 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  SC State, NC Central, and Norfolk State surely are making phone calls to the Big South and/or ASUN.

If the Big South wants to preserve football without expanding the footprint they now have golden opportunity

Quote:Morgan State, Coppin State, Delaware State, and UMES must be making calls to all the northeastern-based leagues.

It will be interesting to see what happens to them

Quote:It makes me wonder if, indeed, it gets down to three or fewer members if some group of schools from some other league will seek to take the "shell" of the MEAC and basically build a new league around the few remaining members. For instance, some of the higher performing A-10 schools, plus, I don't know, Belmont, and Murray State could all but make a new league. All that is very unlikely, of course, but if the MEAC does dwindle to very small numbers, some schools at the very least are going to have conversations about creating something out of that MEAC autobid.

If the MEAC doesn't survive the CAA taking their shell and splitting makes a ton of sense to me.

Yeah, it could be a lot of possibilities. Who knows? But a CAA split seems more likely than an A-10 split. I was just throwing the A-10 idea out there.

One thing I do think is not gonna happen is using a MEAC "shell" to make the mythical East coast G5 league that was discussed on the message boards in recent years. The AAC schools aren't paying those exit fees for anyone but a P5. (I wish that wasn't the case as I would like ECU in the SB, but it's not gonna happen.) The SB schools are happy enough with the their new regional divisions. And C-USA schools just are where they are.

Yep the only conference that makes sense to split into 2 would be the CAA

Then CAA Football could be a standalone conference a la MVFC with both CAA North and CAA South members gaining automatic membership if desired along with the current affiliates

Possible happenings:
1) CAA split
2) MEAC adds the requisite trash from Div II

Won't happen:
1) MEAC folding and allowing new conference take auto bid

Yep the only conference that makes sense to split into 2 would be the CAA

Then CAA Football could be a standalone conference a la MVFC with both CAA North and CAA South members gaining automatic membership if desired along with the current affiliates
[/quote]

In an ideal world, I could see this. Two divisions of 10 members each could form two new conferences.

North division adds Fairfield, Albany, & Quinnipiac or Bryant.

South division adds UNCG, High Point, & Campbell or some other combination of 3 schools.

Technically, unless the NCAA changes their bylaws, I don't think schools can just break away from an existing conference and form a new one at the snap of their fingers. I remember the ASUN exploring this a few years ago and all I recall is that it would have been a messy and long process.

Also, regardless if it was possible or not, I think this new CAA should just let it be for a few years and see how it goes first. This 14 team set up is better than two smaller conferences. Plus, I don't think this wave of realignment is quite over yet. If the Big East decides to grab some A-10's, the CAA will change again. So, I think they should just wait and see what happens.

America East Conference
Full (5): Albany, Bryant, Maine, New Hampshire, Stony Brook
FBO (4): Connecticut (BE), Massachusetts (A-10), Monmouth (CAA), Rhode Island (A-10)
NFB (7): Binghamton, Hofstra, NJIT, Northeastern, Quinnipiac, UMass Lowell, Vermont

Colonial Athletic Association
Full (7): Delaware, Elon, Hampton, Howard, NC A&T, Towson, William & Mary
FBO (2): Richmond (A-10), Villanova (BE)
NFB (5): Charleston, Drexel, Monmouth, UMBC, UNC Wilmington

Annual scheduling alliance in FB wherein each AE football school plays a game against a CAA football school in a 9-year rotation