(12-19-2022 04:02 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  [quote='mvfcfan' pid='18677385' dateline='1671472503']
The way I've understood it, it's going to be the exact same thing the WAC and ASUN have been doing. This alliance is going to last for at least 4 seasons (as of now). I think both leagues want to eventually add more football schools so that they don't have to depend on this alliance for an auto-bid.

The OVC seems to be in a better position to do so. Currently the OVC has 6 football members. I heard UIndy turned down a bid for now, but that they may still be on the table. I've also heard Grand Valley State mentioned and I wouldn't be surprised if the OVC office looks at more D2 Missouri schools.

I'll believe it when I see it. Austin Peay is wanting to do the same thing. The chances of both of those schools making the move up are small. MTSU would protest their move, and would block both of them from joining the C-USA.

(12-19-2022 01:59 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:01 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  OVC might as well just invite the 4 Big South schools in for football affiliation and Big South just give up sponsoring football.

Big South may want to wait on seeing what is happening with the MEAC and ASUN.

By scheduling 6 conference games, they give an opportunity for scheduling OOC more on a regional basis. For example Bryant has scheduled two Ivies, one NEC, and one CAA (URI), and @UNLV.

If Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern end up elsewhere, Bryant and Robert Morris could affiliate with the OVC, unless they could create an America East based league: UNH, Maine, URI, Bryant, Albany, and Robert Morris.

The CAA would have to be broken up for that to happen. They need to be broken up anyway. They're the biggest conference in the FCS.

(06-07-2023 05:23 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 11:49 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:01 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  OVC might as well just invite the 4 Big South schools in for football affiliation and Big South just give up sponsoring football.

That's in fact what's happening. The OVC needs to sponsor football to meet NCAA regs, while the Big South does not. Framing it a collaboration is just a more PR-friendly approach.

Neither the ASUN nor the WAC actually need to sponsor football to meet the regs, but FWIW, it's the ASUN that's formally sponsoring the sport and the WAC programs are affiliates.

Both conference football teams are affiliates under a conference separate from other athletics. That's why the UAC was created.

The NCAA didn't approve of the UAC as a new single-sport conference. So the UAC FB teams are all still technically in the ASUN, and the UAC is just what the ASUN's FB wing is branded.

(12-19-2022 01:59 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:01 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  OVC might as well just invite the 4 Big South schools in for football affiliation and Big South just give up sponsoring football.

Big South may want to wait on seeing what is happening with the MEAC and ASUN.

By scheduling 6 conference games, they give an opportunity for scheduling OOC more on a regional basis. For example Bryant has scheduled two Ivies, one NEC, and one CAA (URI), and @UNLV.

If Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern end up elsewhere, Bryant and Robert Morris could affiliate with the OVC, unless they could create an America East based league: UNH, Maine, URI, Bryant, Albany, and Robert Morris.

Gardner Webb and Charleston Southern would fit better in the SoCon if the SoCon was willing to expand.

(12-19-2022 02:23 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:29 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:01 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  OVC might as well just invite the 4 Big South schools in for football affiliation and Big South just give up sponsoring football.

It may happen, but we'll have to see how things play out. I'm not sure they're keen to keep Bryant. They're too far north. Robert Morris makes sense though. Gardner Webb and Charleston Southern may do ok.

I’m not even sure it makes sense long term for Bryant and Robert Morris to keep playing scholarship football.

When it comes to regional conferences:

They’ve burned their bridges with the NEC
They don’t have the academics for the Patriot or Ivy
They are too small time to be CAA

These 2 are never going to have a stable regional conference home

I’d consider dumping football or going non-scholarship. Robert Morris would at least have a few conference games that aren’t too far. (Marist, Dayton, Butler, Valpo, Moorehead St)

I doubt anyone in the NEC shed a tear when Bryant left. Quite frankly, I don't blame anyone in the NEC for having that viewpoint either. Robert Morris, I suspect, could be a little different. They didn't leave on bad terms like Bryant did, and I can see the NEC possibly throwing RMU a lifeline if they can't get in anywhere else. Bryant though, burned their bridges because they wanted to cash out in the America East Conference.

(06-07-2023 08:32 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:59 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:01 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  OVC might as well just invite the 4 Big South schools in for football affiliation and Big South just give up sponsoring football.

Big South may want to wait on seeing what is happening with the MEAC and ASUN.

By scheduling 6 conference games, they give an opportunity for scheduling OOC more on a regional basis. For example Bryant has scheduled two Ivies, one NEC, and one CAA (URI), and @UNLV.

If Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern end up elsewhere, Bryant and Robert Morris could affiliate with the OVC, unless they could create an America East based league: UNH, Maine, URI, Bryant, Albany, and Robert Morris.

Gardner Webb and Charleston Southern would fit better in the SoCon if the SoCon was willing to expand.

Don't realy see what those two bring to the table for the SoCon.

(06-07-2023 09:59 PM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(06-07-2023 08:32 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:59 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(12-19-2022 01:01 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  OVC might as well just invite the 4 Big South schools in for football affiliation and Big South just give up sponsoring football.

Big South may want to wait on seeing what is happening with the MEAC and ASUN.

By scheduling 6 conference games, they give an opportunity for scheduling OOC more on a regional basis. For example Bryant has scheduled two Ivies, one NEC, and one CAA (URI), and @UNLV.

If Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern end up elsewhere, Bryant and Robert Morris could affiliate with the OVC, unless they could create an America East based league: UNH, Maine, URI, Bryant, Albany, and Robert Morris.

Gardner Webb and Charleston Southern would fit better in the SoCon if the SoCon was willing to expand.

Don't realy see what those two bring to the table for the SoCon.

They fit the geography of the SoCon better than the OVC.

Some really unrealistic posts here by andybible IMHO.

(06-08-2023 10:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Some really unrealistic posts here by andybible IMHO.

At least I'm not DavidSt who thinks every FCS and D2 school will move up.to the FBS.

(06-09-2023 08:03 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 10:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Some really unrealistic posts here by andybible IMHO.

At least I'm not DavidSt who thinks every FCS and D2 school will move up.to the FBS.

DavidSt is the aspirational member everyone strives to be.

(06-09-2023 09:09 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(06-09-2023 08:03 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 10:04 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Some really unrealistic posts here by andybible IMHO.

At least I'm not DavidSt who thinks every FCS and D2 school will move up.to the FBS.

DavidSt is the aspirational member everyone strives to be.

He needs to work on his conference realignment speculations though. I'm not someone anyone should look up to for anything, but at least I have enough since to know that every FCS and D2 member isn't moving up to FBS.

(06-09-2023 08:03 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  At least I'm not DavidSt who thinks every FCS and D2 school will move up.to the FBS.

Not all of them but a lot of them.

(06-07-2023 08:32 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  Gardner Webb and Charleston Southern would fit better in the SoCon if the SoCon was willing to expand.

I don't think the SoCon would be interested in them right now. Would be aiming higher when they eventually expand again.

(06-09-2023 03:06 PM)Mid-Major Hoops Enthusiast Wrote:  

(06-09-2023 08:03 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  At least I'm not DavidSt who thinks every FCS and D2 school will move up.to the FBS.

Not all of them but a lot of them.

(06-07-2023 08:32 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  Gardner Webb and Charleston Southern would fit better in the SoCon if the SoCon was willing to expand.

I don't think the SoCon would be interested in them right now. Would be aiming higher when they eventually expand again.

They would have to aim higher on the D2 side because the FCS higher ups are looking for a way into the FBS.