|
|
Post by dawgjowls on Jan 18, 2022 19:51:41 GMT -5
So it looks as if we're losing Monmouth and Hampton to the CAA, and KSU and UNA were already slated to leave. There are rumors that even Campbell could be plucked from us for either the CAA or SoCon. What now for Big South football? Or for a GW program hoping to rebuild?
Over at AnyGivenSaturday, there's speculation that the Big South will look to DII, hopeful that a couple of "desirable" schools want to move up. Or that the football-playing members of the conference will either leave or become associate members of other conferences.
I don't immediately see any great options. Can someone offer a more optimistic take?
|
|
|
|
Post by gwebb1994 on Jan 18, 2022 23:14:12 GMT -5
There's not. Kallander is an absolute loser of a commish, and our boneheaded AD with Bonner blew the chance to move to the SoCon a few years ago. The fact the SoCon would look to CU before GW as an option right now speaks volumes. You would assume that if the SoCon expands it will be by two schools, maybe we could beg them to take us.
|
|
|
|
Post by garbageman80 on Jan 19, 2022 9:25:08 GMT -5
I agree with both Dogjowls and GWebb1994 there aren't any good options and it seems the Big South Conference is going to have find a way to dodge the dominoes of Conference Realignment! Kyle Kallander and the Big South staff are in my opinion clueless on this!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by garbageman80 on Jan 19, 2022 9:26:39 GMT -5
My question is who or what D2 Schools do the Big South take and is there anyone in the FCS we could poach??
|
|
|
|
Post by thebigdawg on Jan 19, 2022 10:32:35 GMT -5
My question is who or what D2 Schools do the Big South take and is there anyone in the FCS we could poach?? wingate would be a great fit if they want to make the jump to D1. They have a rather successful D2 athletic program and would fit well within the footprint of the Big South. Lenoir Rhyne could be another option. |
|
|
|
Post by dawgjowls on Jan 19, 2022 18:37:47 GMT -5
Wingate might be one of the better options for us, sadly. They're a decent fit as an academic institution, but it's hard to see what they have to add athletically. Lenoir-Rhyne wouldn't be bad, I guess, and I'll confess to thinking back to the days when Carson-Newman dominated our little conference. But do we really want to be part of South Atlantic Conference 2.0? We were supposed to be moving on and moving up.
Over at AGS, the speculation also runs to NC Central, South Carolina State, West Georgia, Valdosta State, West Florida, and even North Greenville. I'd have no real issue with Central, and SC State would give us another solid football program, but I keep hearing that the remaining MEAC teams are committed to staying, and as cool as it is to have HBCUs in the conference, I kind of hope their conference does survive. And, then, I'm not sure any of these schools/programs moves the Big South out of the stepping-stone-to-better-conferences category.
Someone did mention the possibility of adding Youngstown State as an associate member, but that just sounds crazy at a time when most schools are trying to trim travel (and, more generally, athletic) budgets.
Maybe we should hope for further weakening in the Ohio Valley and ASun/WAC conferences. Or even for an invite. I'd rather have a strong Big South, but if staying means adding institutions that further dilute whatever conference identity we have, without offering a major market in return, I'd say walk.
|
|
|
|
Post by dawgjowls on Jan 19, 2022 18:40:15 GMT -5
Hope I don't sound as if I'm dissing any of those schools. It's not that I think--as so many others seem to at other boards--that Schools X, Y, and Z aren't worthy to be associated with us. Just trying to find hope that the Big South will add a couple of schools that move the dial a little.
|
|
|
|
Post by gwebb1994 on Feb 2, 2022 21:28:19 GMT -5
Monmouth and Hampton officially to the CAA now, and the BSC sits with 5 football schools, risking the auto bid. They can apply for a one year waiver to right the ship.
Burch and Downs need to wake the hell up and beg the SOCON for a full invite and tell Kallander to stick it.
|
|
|
|
Post by dawgjowls on Feb 5, 2022 13:12:47 GMT -5
I just posted something on the other football thread, about SoCon membership, that probably fits better here.
But after that downer of a post, I thought, Enough negativity! Why not, just for fun, design our own conferences, with schools that (a) make at least some geographical sense (because travel costs) and (b) seem in one way or another to be similar or complementary somehow?
|
|
|
|
Post by 20Dog on Feb 5, 2022 16:45:15 GMT -5
Right now there are 27+ schools around the country who are basically blowing in the wind with their respective conferences at or below the minimum auto bid number. Fortunately the NCAA allows a two year grace period for conferences to get back up above six. Also, fortunately, those conferences in limbo right now are going to be forced to work out some solutions together. There are talks behind the scenes between commissioners already, as well as presidents and athletic directors. It's not the end of the world. And everybody's going to wind up changing dance partners in a few more years again once the Power 5 (or top 60 schools) break away to do their own thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by dawgjowls on Feb 5, 2022 18:25:19 GMT -5
20Dog: A very reasonable and upbeat take. Thanks for that.
|
|
|
|
Post by gwebb1994 on Feb 6, 2022 12:51:40 GMT -5
Bottom line, as mentioned before, GW doesn't have the prestige, alumni, fan support, and definitely $$$, to bring to the table, thus is not being pursued.
So, GW has to rely on a total buffoon like Kallander for their survival as a D1 athletic program.
A scary scenario any way you put it.
|
|
|
|
Post by webbinsider on Feb 13, 2022 23:52:25 GMT -5
Why not the ASUN?
|
|
|
|
Post by gwebb1994 on Feb 14, 2022 20:06:19 GMT -5
Probably travel considerations, it was brutal when we were in it before, especially for the minor sports. |
|
|
|
Post by dawgjowls on Feb 22, 2022 19:27:33 GMT -5
|
|
