[-army56mike-]

I know we're adding Kennesaw St. next season to get us up to 7 teams. It would be nice to have 9-10 teams to play with. With the increasing success and competition of the BSC, would there be any other teams interested in joining the conference? Is FGCU still considering adding football? They currently play in the same conference as Kennesaw. Maybe they'd make the move to the Big South. That would add Florida recruiting and a great vacation spot. What other teams are out there that could enter the BSC? I imagine we'd be pulling from the Pioneer, Patriot, or Northeast Conferences. But ideally, 9-10 teams would be best... or more. If I could add a few teams from those conferences it would be FGCU, Fordham, Morehead St., Jacksonville, Dusquesne.

[Sly Fox]

North Alabama is the school most prominently mentioned as a postential Big South target. Morehead State, Jacksonville & Duquesne are less likely to add scholarships than their Pioneer compatriots who alredy have the rest of their sports in the Big South.

If FGCU ever added football, they would be very attractive to a slew of leagues including the Sun Belt.

[gobluehose]

Rumor is that Campbell U (already a member in sports other than football) will be adding scholarships to become the 8th member.

I know we (PC) have them on the schedule next year as a non-conference game. So 2016 might be their first conference year kind of like Mercer was this year in the SoCon.

If anyone can corroborate this that would be great for the conference IMO.

N. Alabama has been talking D-I for 8 years. They even did a study and initially approved the move but something fell through. I'm really not well versed on their story except for the fact that they have been thinking about it for a long time.

[D-ZasterLU]

Not sure they have expressed any interest but Valdosta state could be a great addition. They are a d2 football power. And could likely compete in several,sports right away if they were added as all sport. And they aren't to far from our current footprint.

[Sly Fox]

I have heard no rumors about Campbell because frankly they don't have the resources to pay for scholarships in football. They would be the obvious school that I was referencing in my prior post.

[ballcoach15]

I talked with the High Point AD 2 or 3 years ago. They are "thinking" about adding football, but there is no time table in place.

[flamesfilmguy]

In order of likelihood to be added:
1.Campbell
2a.West Georgia(New stadium Good football Already expressed interest)
2b. UNA
3.Valdosta State(less likely than UWG based on lack of stadium on campus and facilities.)
after these I don't really see anyone with any real reason or want to move up in the geographic realm of the Big South. West Alabama and Lenoir Rhyne are possible I guess but I think they are happy where they are.

[ATrain]

I talked with the High Point AD 2 or 3 years ago. They are "thinking" about adding football, but there is no time table in place.

When I worked for the Champion, a BSC official told me that High Point was "thinking," about adding football but would need to add a women's sport in order to compete and "considering" adding softball. A couple years later, they dropped both tennis programs and added women's lacrosse. That was 7+ years ago...who knows what their mindset is now.

[ballcoach15]

In my opinion HP, Radford and Longwood weaken BSC landscape.

[ATrain]

In my opinion HP, Radford and Longwood weaken BSC landscape.

Why just those three and not the other schools w/o football? (Winthrop, UNCA, etc...)

[PAmedic]

HPU has actually stepped up and did pretty well across the board last year

they are dumping a ton of money into their campus & athletics

aka: the "Liberty Way" (if you see what i did there)

[ATrain]

I see what you did there...

[ballcoach15]

Silly me, I forgot Wintrop and UNC-A also not have football. They also weaken BCS, even if they win sometimes in other sports.

[Purple Haize]

Silly me, I forgot Wintrop and UNC-A also not have football. They also weaken BCS, even if they win sometimes in other sports.

They have both been to the Mens BB Tournament more than us I believe. Their facilities are VERY solid, their 'arena's' rival ours.
I guess 'sometimes' is subjective

[JK37]

None of the non-football schools weaken the conference solely due to their lack of football. Hard to "weaken" a league that is only one notch above the MEAC and SWAC anyway.

[Chippy]

None of the non-football schools weaken the conference solely due to their lack of football. Hard to "weaken" a league that is only one notch above the MEAC and SWAC anyway.

13 FCS conferences - we're 3rd. That means 10 conferences below us.

[ATrain]

None of the non-football schools weaken the conference solely due to their lack of football. Hard to "weaken" a league that is only one notch above the MEAC and SWAC anyway.

13 FCS conferences - we're 3rd. That means 10 conferences below us.

Probably referring to athletics overall...not just football. How are we, historically, in men's and women's bball? The answer: some years, the Independents rank higher than us. Also, most Olympic sports we are a 1-bid league...exceptions being baseball and golf, and its more of a testament to the programs at Liberty and Coastal rather than the overall competitiveness of the league in those sports.

[JK37]

Yes, ATRAIN, that's exactly to what I was referring. The comment was made that the non-football schools weaken the league. So the premise is that we're discussing the league as a whole. And historically-speaking, the Big South is one tier above the. MEAC/SWAC level.

I've got no data or numbers to back this up; only personal experience. But I would place the MEAC and SWAC at the bottom.
Above that: Big South. NEC, MAAC
Above that: Patriot, ASun, SOCON, OVC
Above that: CAA

And so on...

[ATrain]

And our men's BBall team isn't helping the Big South AT ALL in this regard.

[BJWilliams]

Alright...I know we have had a...well pretty rough couple of seasons but I think coach Layer has been run over enough on the basketball section

[PAmedic]

well there ya go. BEEJAY has spoken. There shall be no more dissent.

none shall pass!

[BJWilliams]

I can understand dissent shorty, but you can only run over somebody so many times before they are...you know...dead.

[Dr. Sheh]

I can understand dissent shorty, but you can only run over somebody so many times before they are...you know...dead.

Dead...just like our bball program! j/k.

Looking forward to attending the SFNY game Saturday.

[BJWilliams]

Theyre 3-4...no need to call Ducky yet on this season

[ATrain]

I hadn't had my turn yet...wins over UD and Furple in Men's BBall are nice, but losing to MORGAN STATE (where is the State of Morgan on the map???) and Miami-Ohio in spectacular fashion are reasons for questioning the direction of that program.

And now, back to Big South expansion...