[Sly Fox]

From Big South Media Day ...

Expansion on horizon?

One of the hot topics in the conference this season - and at media day Thursday - is that the Big South will have, for the first time, an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.

That comes as a result of the conference's growth over the years and the FCS tournament's expansion to 20 teams this season.

Although the Big South has grown large enough to merit one of the 10 automatic bids for its conference champion, conference commissioner Kyle Kallander hinted that the Big South might not be done growing just yet.

"We've been fortunate to have been able to attract VMI, to attract a Gardner-Webb, to have been able to attract Stony Brook," Kallander said. "It took a while to get to that point, and we continue to look to try to expand further, but it's just a process that takes time."

But Kallander said the conference has no specific timeline or goal in mind for possible expansion.

"We've never talked about a specific number," he said. "I don't know that we want to grow too large, necessarily, but it would be nice to have at least one more if not two [more schools]. ... But we're very selective as we go forward. It's not an automatic deal that we're just going to bring anybody in.

"It's important that our schools feel like it's the right program to bring in the league."

Click Here for Full Story

[PAmedic]

From Big South Media Day ...

Expansion on horizon?

... But we're very selective as we go forward. It's not an automatic deal that we're just going to bring anybody in.

"It's important that our schools feel like it's the right program to bring in the league."

Click Here for Full Story

ohhhhh.

like Campbell?

[Sly Fox]

In light of recent events, I assume he is referencing potential MEAC refugees. But you are absolutely correct that his track record is less than stellar.

[flameshaw]

Yeah sounds reasonable, can't get a live streaming program to work, but want to expand the Mickey Mouse League. KK is in way over his head.

[ATrain]

How many new members are we talking about? We're at 11 with Campbell, right? SC State would make 12 (with 7 football counting Stony Brook). If we go to 14, are we also considering Delaware State? Florida A&M? Will Longwood finally be asked to our prom?

[prototype]

how is he still the commissioner???

I cannot believe the schools haven't replaced him yet...

He knows nothing about growth, marketing, sponsorship sales, TV, etc...

[PAmedic]

How many new members are we talking about? We're at 11 with Campbell, right? SC State would make 12 (with 7 football counting Stony Brook). If we go to 14, are we also considering Delaware State? Florida A&M? Will Longwood finally be asked to our prom?

In light of this discussion, I actually spent time on the BSOUTH website.

Was surprised to find BUCKNELL and HOLY CROSS are associate members of the conf for women's golf. Never knew that.

http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArtic ... ID=1097092

[NG33]

Wow Worcester, MA is far ways away from anyone else in the Big South (aside from Stony Brook)

[kiltsareitchy07]

I mean, I don't really know what to think about the conference at this point. I see y'all leaving for 1-A in few years, which will leave a huge vacuum.

[Chantzilla]

Sadly - and I'm not defending KK here - the Big South doesn't have much to choose from.

Which school(s) out there would potentially bolster our conference in any sport? I don't see any defections from the CAA or SoCon jumping ship anytime soon (i.e./VMI).

The only school I can think of would be Jacksonville & they play non-schollie FB. Maybe East Tennessee State for basketball.

I don't see SCSU leaving the MEAC right now (might be wrong).

[ATrain]

Interesting that you mentioned ETSU. I know there's been talk of bringing back football ever since they cut the program, but would VMI want them back in after they essentially forced VMI out of the SoCon? And would the rest of the SoCon take back ETSU?

[Chantzilla]

ATrain - I could be wrong, but I thought VMI leaving the SoCon was their own decision (they figured they'd be more competitive in the BSC).

As for ETSU, they just announced "out of the blue" that they were dropping FB (no warning given). This threw a monkey wrench into scheduling, etc. I think the ETSU-SoCon "bridge" is burned for right now.

[olldflame]

My recollection of the reasons for VMI leaving the SoCon are the same as Chantzillas. They were getting there butts kicked in pretty much everything, but especially football. I think they lost like 30 or 40 conference football games in a row. They haven't done a whole lot better in the BSC, but it's not quite as embarassing for them.

[Chad4Life]

IIRC, VMI wanted to do like Davidson does--be a Southern Conference member for all sports except for football, and I do believe that ETSU was the ringleader in opposition to this. It came back to bite ETSU when they dropped football.

Regarding expansion, as it has been mentioned, there aren't many viable candidates out there.

1) Depending on the Legacy Bowl outcome, some of the MEAC schools could be moving.

2) Current conference member start up football (unlikely for the forseeable future)

3) Non scholarship DI school moving to Big South--Jacksonville (rumored over the past couple of years) or Campbell (don't see that happening even though moving to Big South for other sports.)

4) Maybe a school like Kennesaw State adding football--mentioned, but I don't even think they've done a study (which, of course, is a requirement )

5) DII schools moving up when moraturium ends--don't see any SAC schools moving up; Gulf South in flux with Arkansas schools planning to leave conference--schools like North Alabama (more likely to OVC) and Valdosta State may decide to move to D-I.

6) Associate member from Northeast such as Albany.

Again, the options are somewhat limited.