[Cider Jim]

Campbell isn't coming for football. They're non-scholly Pioneer League and I've heard nothing of plans to change that.

If Campbell isn't coming for football, then why not accept Longwood? They've been begging to join us. Is Campbell stronger athletically than Longwood? I'd love another Virginia school in our conference.

[ATrain]

Campbell isn't coming for football. They're non-scholly Pioneer League and I've heard nothing of plans to change that.

If Campbell isn't coming for football, then why not accept Longwood? They've been begging to join us. Is Campbell stronger athletically than Longwood? I'd love another Virginia school in our conference.

That's my question. I've looked at their programs, they bring nothing to the table and since they aren't upgrading, why are we welcoming them back? Longwood is the same level, competitively speaking, as Campbell, and Farmville is pretty close to the same size of Buies Creek/Fuquay-Varina from what I remember. Plus Longwood is much closer to Richmond than Campbell is to Raleigh. Not that people in either locale really care about either school unless they're alumni.

[Sly Fox]

There was an established relationship between the league & Campbell that I am sure led to the decision. It still seems odd but I am sure the Carolina contingent was being served. I would have assumed that stepping up to scholarship football would have been a condition of re-admission to the conference. But apparently Kyle's infinite wisdom is not something that we should ever question.



That said, I want no part of Longwood in the Big South unless we are already gone. And I agree with LUconn that our inevitable departure is probably topic number one among the league braintrust much the way CCU's efforts to get into the SoCon were front & center a few years ago.

And yes, the Kennesaw State & West Georgia topics continue to be brought up in regard to possible expansion. I drove past the little burg where West Georgia is located on my trip over for Homecoming. It'd still a zillion miles from Texas and a long, long way from Lynchburg. And it is not exactly the type of place anybody outside of Georgia or Alabama would want to travel to see a game. At least Kennesaw offers up Greater Atlanta staples like the Coke Museum & Varsity burgers.

[LUconn]

Get out of here with that Longwood garbage. Why do we even need another basketball team anyway?

[flamesfilmguy]

Sly got to chat with the UTSA AD yesterday. her and a few other members of the athletic department came by to see what we were doing about gameday set up and atmosphere in a NFL stadium. They well be moving fast much like i think GSU will be as well. give it 5 years and you won't have GSU in the CAA anymore.

[Liberty4Life]

Sly got to chat with the UTSA AD yesterday. her and a few other members of the athletic department came by to see what we were doing about gameday set up and atmosphere in a NFL stadium. They well be moving fast much like i think GSU will be as well. give it 5 years and you won't have GSU in the CAA anymore.

I always thought that Georgia State was a poor choice for the CAA (geographically). I've heard that these days, other member schools feel the same way.

[Sly Fox]

UTSA isn't even bothering with joining an FCS league and they've have already booked a slew of big names to come to the Alamodome untilthey get their own stadium built.

[jcmanson]

UMASS "eyes" move to join FBS

http://bostonherald.com/sports/columnis ... position=2

[jcmanson]

Mike Barber, JMU's beat writer via twitter says:

Multiple sources around the Colonial Athletic Association tell me UMass is going to MAC as football member. Announcement later today

[SumItUp]

How will this shake out for CAA football IF
-UMASS leaves for the MAC and
-Villanova bolts for the Big East and
-Maine & UNH make a move to the NEC to limit travel (assuming they decide this month to increase scholarship levels for the conference)?

Would the CAA look to add additional football teams from the south?

[Schfourteenteen]

Mike Barber, JMU's beat writer via twitter says:

Multiple sources around the Colonial Athletic Association tell me UMass is going to MAC as football member. Announcement later today

He also said the announcement today has nothing to do with UMass or Football

[jcmanson]

How will this shake out for CAA football IF
-UMASS leaves for the MAC and
-Villanova bolts for the Big East and
-Maine & UNH make a move to the NEC to limit travel (assuming they decide this month to increase scholarship levels for the conference)?

Would the CAA look to add additional football teams from the south?

I've been watching this very closely. It will be interesting, and I think its just a matter of time before the former CAA North teams are no longer a part of the conference. The only "if" that looks to remain after today is "if" 'Nova goes to the Big East. Then Maine and UNH would almost be forced out of the conference.

The CAA Football would then consist of:
Richmond
ODU
Delaware
William & Mary
JMU
Georgia Southern
Towson

They'd want to add a couple teams. Charlotte? App State? I would think those would be their top 2 targets, but would it work out - who knows. I think we would fall in the next group of teams the CAA would look at.

[jcmanson]

Mike Barber, JMU's beat writer via twitter says:

Multiple sources around the Colonial Athletic Association tell me UMass is going to MAC as football member. Announcement later today

He also said the announcement today has nothing to do with UMass or Football

There's 2 different announcements today:
1 from the CAA - which supposedly has nothing to do with UMass or football
1 from UMass which is supposedly them jumping to the MAC

[aredd33]

Is there any chance that this CAA stuff unfolds by Jan. (So maybe a move in 2012 or 13)? A move to the CAA would be great for the school in all sports.

And also I've heard that some of the school leaving the WAC have to pay the conference some kind of fee??? (I'm not sure what it is or anything)...would anything like that apply to us leaving the Big South?

[From the class of 09]

Is there any chance that this CAA stuff unfolds by Jan. (So maybe a move in 2012 or 13)? A move to the CAA would be great for the school in all sports.

And also I've heard that some of the school leaving the WAC have to pay the conference some kind of fee??? (I'm not sure what it is or anything)...would anything like that apply to us leaving the Big South?

If there is a fee it is small enough that it will not be playing a factor

[Sly Fox]

My reaction to this news is different than most so far ... I see this as one step closer to a new Eastern FBS league.

Supposedly UMass didn't have the funds to make the jump. For them to make such a move adds further credence to the leaked Montana email of earlier this year. FCS is taking on water and those with the ability to jump ship are doing so in a hurry.

And I also agree that the CAA North is all but dead. The remaining CAA members look like a who's who of schools considering make the jump to FBS despite the protests otherwise by UR and W&M. And the former is only an affiliate member who could opt out very easily. The Colonial has to be giving some serious thought about stepping up or they likely will be losing the core of their remaining members anyway.

[From the class of 09]

Does anyone know a school right in the footprint of the CAA who would be interested in joining them to help form a FBS league

[aredd33]

Will the WAC still be around by 2015? It looks worse and worse every week for the conference.

[Sly Fox]

It will be around because have FBS membership as a league has value in and of itself. But it certainly will be a shadow of its current state. Of course, the ability for a school to make a name for itself by building a program in the WAC remains in place. Somebody will fill that void eventually. But the current state of affairs is pretty bleak. That said, I'd be very happy with a WAC-type league in the east where we could find a home.

[Sly Fox]

For the record, the Patriot league has tabled their decision on becoming a scholarship football league. That likely means Fordham's agreement with the PL is now on shaky ground. Speculation has already begun that perhaps the Rams might follow Stony Brook's lead to an affiliate membership with the Big South. Hmmmm.

[4everfsu]

Report: UMass could join MAC

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/ncf/ne ... id=5929950

[4everfsu]

All I know is that it was reported today on ESPN

[4everfsu]

No problem man

[Sly Fox]

Just a quick heads up, decisions are expected from both Villanova & Umass in the next couple of weeks ... possibly as soon as the next few days.

All indications seem to have Villanova biting a major financial bullet and accepting the Big East invitation. It also appears that UMass is positioning itself to be ready to accept an offer from the MAC as soon as it is formally presented.

• If 'Nova does in fact head to the Big East, that means the BCS league will not likely be reaching into CUSA to snatch UH or UCF. That would limit access to that league for school wanting to step up like Appy & ourselves. But it would possibly open up a spot in the CAA. There is speculation that the northern CAA schools would push for Youngstown State. Obviously we would like to considered as well.
  
  If Nova turns the Big East down, it means they are committed to FCS for the long haul and the CAA maintains some stability. Frankly there wouldn't be much direct impact on our situation from the status quo.
  
  If UMass does in fact step up to the MAC in addition to 'Nova, who knows what kind of repercussions could come for the CAA North. Maine & New Hampshire would be left on an island and have to consider other options just as Rhode Island did a year ago. That could mean a complete realignment of the CAA that would open some doors for us.
  
  If UMass doesn't move up to the MAC, it might postpone some action until the summer. Frankly they would be gambling to accept an invitation from the MAC considering there might be better opportunities available in the next round of shuffling. Regardless, they would offer some brief stability for the CAA Northern affiliates.

In summary, there are pluses & minuses for whichever combination comes to fruition. In order for us to either find a place in the CAA or step up to the FBS level, we need for leagues to be forced to look around at the options. We have a done great deal to make us attractive to potential leagues over the course of the past five years. But unless a conference is forced to reach down to pluck us out of Big South obscurity, they likely won't feel compelled. The events of the next few weeks are just the latest pieces in the puzzle of how we can move on to greener pastures.

[Purple Haize]

I vote for option 3. That lets the "Northern Schools" either have YSU and still leaves room for a "Southern School". OR the Northern Schools go their own way opening up MANY slots for Southern Schools.