[FlamesHighontheTide]

So, most of you have probably learned that we are partnering with the Atlantic Sun Conference for football purposes. Since we have such a good community on this forum, I wanted to see what y'all thought about two questions:

1. What is your reaction to this partnership?

2. Who would you like to see join the Big South from the ASUN(Atlantic Sun Conference)?

[BJWilliams]

Looking at their membership currently the only real immediate additions from a football standpoint would be Stetson and Jacksonville, who are both in the Pioneer Football League and playing non-scholarship football along with current conference member Campbell. North Florida and FGCU have looked into the possibility (although neither is looking to add football right now according to the release) but at least if they do establish programs there is a place for them already.

[Jonathan Carone]

The whole thing was a boring announcement and further proof that Big South football will never grow past what it is now.

[Sly Fox]

I lean toward Jon's sentiments. Kyle managed to have a news conference where nothing changes. I'm sure Kennesaw State feels wanted. Beyond that it does little to change anything.

None of the non-scholarship schools have any real incentive to step up to a scholarship level.

[PAmedic]

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=15624&start=11150

[ballcoach15]

I have not fully comprehended all this yet, but it looks like to me they should just combine both conferences in all sports. Or better yet, put football schools in one conference and the table tennis schools in other conference.

[-army56mike-]

This announcement basically said nothing. I am encouraged that it appears the two conferences are communicating and working together. But no action will come from this announcement.

The two conferences should have combined into one conference. There is (mostly) a nice geographic fit. We would have 18 basketball schools, which makes for a nice full conference schedule. The conference membership would have improved competitively as well.

It would do nothing for football. Unless you coax the non-scholies to be in a conference with scholarship teams (if that's even allowed). Even then, we only get three new teams. I don't think any other Pioneer football teams would want to join the BSC as an associate member.

[ballcoach15]

Army Mike you are 100% correct.

Now that I understand this deal (somewhat), it has nothing to do with football, waste of ink on paper printed on.. It would have made more sense for both conferences to merge.

There's one school, I believe is in A Sun, BSC and Pioneer League.

[Sly Fox]

I will disagree with you on the merits of merging. You would basically be dropping one of the two combined automatic bids and getting very little in return. I am glad that they did not merge. Ar argument could be made that a scheduling alliance or perhaps a redsitribution of schools between the conferences could have merit.

[olldflame]

I will disagree with you on the merits of merging. You would basically be dropping one of the two combined automatic bids and getting very little in return. I am glad that they did not merge. Ar argument could be made that a scheduling alliance or perhaps a redsitribution of schools between the conferences could have merit.

Agreed Merger would have cut automatic bids in all sports from 2 to 1, and resulted in an 18 team league for basketball and most other sports That would mean playing only one game a year against conference opponents in basketball, There is no way you could even play a 3 game series against all of your conference opponents in baseball and softball, and I doubt you could even play every team once in sports like soccer It would be AWFUL

[ballcoach15]

Football schools in one conference
Non-football schools in the other conference

That might would work.

[olldflame]

Football schools in one conference
Non-football schools in the other conference

That might would work.

You are obsessed with this idea that somehow schools who don't have football programs are inferior sissies not worthy of associating with the macho football schools The results of the Sasser Cup last year however, show that overall, some of the worst athletic programs in the BSC are schools that have football teams

I'm not even going to check how bad it would be, but dividing the conference based on football vs non-football would not take geography into account, which would no doubt result in extra travel

[Purple Haize]

fight

[ballcoach15]

I am a firm believer than non football schools, should not be in a conference with football schools. Whether right/wrong/indifferent, football drives the train at most schools.

[Purple Haize]

I am a firm believer than non football schools, should not be in a conference with football schools. Whether right/wrong/indifferent, football drives the train at most schools.

Segregationist

[rtb72]

Maybe it's just me, but is this not an indicator of a dying conference(s)? Most conferences with anticipated future growth do not need to or entertain the idea of "merger". When you start adding nonscholly schools to your athletic conference.....does it really bespeak of a bright future? If that be the case and LU doesn't move to FBS in the near future....what would be a practical and beneficial choice for LU and where we hope to go as a program? SoCon?

[Jonathan Carone]

This does sound like a dying conference, but no non scholarship teams will be added. The condition is any ASun team that is full scholarship will have a football home in the Big South.

As for where to go in FCS, there is nowhere. We shot ourselves in the foot by making our intentions known as FBS or bust.

[rtb72]

This does sound like a dying conference, but no non scholarship teams will be added. The condition is any ASun team that is full scholarship will have a football home in the Big South.

As for where to go in FCS, there is nowhere. We shot ourselves in the foot by making our intentions known as FBS or bust.

Ok....thanks for the feedback. It is kinda scary that we are "boxed in" like that. FBS or bust??? The former is not looking so probable.

[Chris Lang]

I think it may have been mentioned in the other thread, but this essentially gives West Georgia and North Alabama a place to go if they decide to move up. I don't think the Big South wanted either for all sports, and I doubt either wanted to be in the Big South for all sports for geographic reasons. The Big South tried stretching that footprint once with Birmingham Southern and it was a disaster. It's a bus league for everything but football, and when you start making Radford go to Alabama for weeknight volleyball matches, that's just bad for the student athletes.

The ASun is down to eight all sports members, and if they lose anyone else, they get in danger of losing their automatic NCAA tournament bid in hoops. So it would behoove them to convince geographically friendly schools like West Georgia and North Alabama to take the plunge. Both have football, so moving to the ASun wouldn't be attractive without this deal in place. Obviously, Kyle isn't going to speak of specific schools, but one would think they were the logical targets of this partnership. Jacksonville and Campbell aren't moving full skolly any time soon. Stetson, maybe.

[Jonathan Carone]

Isn't the transition process to Division I a five year process now?

[Chris Lang]

I believe so. So it's more of a future prospecting move. It looks like the current six-team setup is stable for now. I think the Liberty FBS dream is close to dead. Not sure where Monmouth would go. I don't think the CAA has any interest. So they're stuck. I suppose there could be a concern that PC finally wises up and realizes it has no business in Division I (financially), but I doubt that will happen.