As we have speculated in this thread for a couple of weeks, the web has been abuzz the past 24 hours about the fact that Butler, VCU & Mason have all supposedly been invited to the A-10. The schools appear to be making up their minds right now.
Sporting News wrote:Butler, VCU, George Mason mulling move to Atlantic 10
Staff report
Sporting News
Three of the nation's best mid-major basketball programs—Butler, VCU and George Mason—are on the verge of joining the Atlantic 10 Conference, according to CBS Sports.
The moves, if approved by each school's boards, would take place before the 2013-14 season. The A-10, which is losing Temple to the Big East and could be losing Charlotte to the Sun Belt, also is looking into the possibility of adding Creighton.
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Of course, it is not a foregone conclusion that all will make the jump. While Butler appears to be anxious to leap from the Horizon, the decision is a bit tougher for VCU & GMU.
Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote:Woody: CAA perfect fit for VCU, GMU
By: PAUL WOODY | Times-Dispatch
Published: March 25, 2012
Just as the Bible says "You will hear wars and rumors of wars" (Matthew 24:6), in college athletics, you will hear about change and rumors of change.
The rumor burning through Virginia and the Midwest is that Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University will leave the Colonial Athletic Association, and Butler University will leave the Horizon League for the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Temple is leaving the A-10 for the Big East after the 2013 season, which is the reason for this rampant speculation on conference change.
If VCU and George Mason left the CAA for the A-10, it would stink.
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While I am not sure I get the Scriptural reference to End Times, the columnist does illustrate that this is not a slam dunk decision. But it hasn't stoked the fires for schools viewing this as a potential opportunity to slide into the CAA should the two schools bolt. Our own RVAparks has been speculating on Twitter about this being a golden opportunity for CCU to shift from the Big South to the CAA. Conway has been taking notice ...
CoastalFans thread on CAA Possibilities
Frankly I don't see the CAA jumping to add anyone if a couple of hoops schools bolt. Here's the hoops lineup remaining if VCU & Mason depart:
- Delaware
Drexel
Georgia State
Hofstra
JMU
Northeastern
ODU
Towson
UNC-Wilmington
William & Mary
That is a nice round 10-team league. Sure, a couple more schools would allow for north & south divisional play to continue. But it is for from a necessity. Now let's look at where things stand in regard to football (* for affiliates):
- Delaware
Georgia State
JMU
Maine*
New Hampshire*
ODU
Richmond*
Rhode Island*
Towson
Villanova*
William & Mary
For the 2012 season, there will be 11 teams. Rhode Island heads to the NEC starting in 2013 dropping the roster back to 12 moving forward. In other words, barring any further departures the league really has no need to expand and especially not for a football school. That's why the CAA was so unwilling to allow Charlotte to join as football affiliate.
But clearly the CAA has to be looking for self-preservation should an exodus of full members occur in the not too distant future. In fact, it could be easily suggested that the CAA could potentially be out of the football game within a few months unless they are the sponsor of a new FBS league. Let's check the lineup of CAA full members who play football once again:
- Delaware: Always among the FCS leaders in attendance, they have been speculated as possible FBS candidates should a new East Coast league be formed or should the CAA start up their own FBS league.
Georgia State: Virtually a lock to move to either the MWCUSA Merger/Alliance or the Sun Belt by the end of the summer. This is by far the most likely opening being created that could result in another football school being invited.
JMU: Openly considering a move to FBS. Supposedly one of the ring leaders in organizing a new East Coast FBS league. While they are unlikely to be offered by any FBS leagues this summer, they didn't expand that stadium for games vs. Towson & Maine.
ODU: See JMU.
Towson: Arguably the school hoping & praying that the CAA stays intact. They are nowhere near any position to move up to FBS.
William & Mary: While they have no known interest in FBS, they might be willing to give the Patriot League a second look now that they are allowing scholarships. Academically they fit better with the Patriot League than they do the CAA.
Bottom line: If the CAA begins looking for football-playing new members then it likely means the CAA as we know it has blown up.
Now here is an additional thought ... should the CAA go looking for football members, who do you think would make the most attractive options?
- Albany
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Fordham
Stony Brook
I would suggest that tapping into the northern markets might be more appealing for the brass in Richmond.
Marshall is already I-A in the C-USA.
--Fumble (1961-2009), RIP
Haize, good point!
- By LU Armchair coach
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