[LUconn]

I like all of the above options except A&T. Believe it or not, I think their Bball program would bring us down as crazy as that seems. Also could you see Elon crawling back? I don't think any school has that little pride.

[WinthropEagleFan]

I like all of the above options except A&T. Believe it or not, I think their Bball program would bring us down as crazy as that seems. Also could you see Elon crawling back? I don't think any school has that little pride.

Agreed, no way Elon comes back, at least for a while...and the Citadel alumni would never accept a move either, unless it was to Div. I-A

[Sly Fox]

Fellas, I have heard some things in regard to both Elon & The Citadel that would make it feasible. Just think of it this way, El Cid gets to get back in the same league with their archrivals up in Lexington and put themselves in position for an auto bid that they could actually win (unlike their current scenario). As for Elon, it would be tied into a move by The Citadel. While unlikely, I have heard some things to lead me to believe it could happen.

As for A&T, it would strictly be for the benefit of football... ditto for the rest of the MEAC options. But football is what the expansion talk are all about. But we wouldn't be bringing in A&T without Hampton or SC State. That would have to be apackage deal.

[Guest]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that, after 2 decent years of FB, they have "outgrown" the BSOUTH (besides the obvious fact that the conf is pretty weak in general). What else have they done to be THAT far and away better than the rest of the conf? Its not like I see them on Sports Center every morning.

I see another Elon happening. Esp if the FB team doesn't dominate this year- and I fully expect them NOT to. Methinks this is a bit premature, no disrespect intended to those guys.

Who said anything about being better? It makes sense as far as travel is concerned for all sports. Plus I think the fans would rather be affiliated with Furman and Georgia Southern. Then again, they could talk about going I-A too, but that would just be ridiculous

[Hold My Own]

SoCon has looked at LU in the past...remember when I said there was a problem with KK and JF told him he'd leave them if he continued to act this way towards LU...KK has been much more pleasent now...but SoCon has looked at us in the past and I think they will look at us in the future, maybe in about 5 years...

you want to talk about something that makes a lot of sense....

introducing the VAcon

JMU
Richmond
Hampton
LU
William & Mary
VMI
and a few others....keep the money in state and get some love for the Gov't for doing so

[PAmedic]

Who said anything about being better? It makes sense as far as travel is concerned for all sports. Plus I think the fans would rather be affiliated with Furman and Georgia Southern. Then again, they could talk about going I-A too, but that would just be ridiculous

our guest CCU fan brings up a valid point. Travel considerations are important and I could see that as impetus for a move. Even "guests" would have to agree though, over on other boards thats not the reason being floated as the main desire to go SoCon.

[TallyW]

I'd enjoy a VACon... toss in some OOC competition and we'd have a pretty nice situation...

[PAmedic]

still like to see us in the Patriot league

or at least a league that include Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, Temple, Rutgers, Delaware or Del. State. Is that asking too much?

[SuperJon]

All football season I asked a question at Coastal and no one would answer it, "Are we above the competition and just playing bad or do we think we're better than we are and just playing normal?" I think it was a combination of both.

The SoCon would do no good for Coastal except in football. That's all. They're not great in basketball or baseball or anything like that. The only good thing would be football.

[A.G.]

SJ--You're kidding, right. They're not good in BASEBALL??? #1 seed mean anything to you??

[Sly Fox]

I believe SJ was referring to the SoCon and not CCU. Obviously the Chants have a fabntastic baseball program. The SoCon is not much of an upgrade over the Big South in anything other than football. But let's face it, that sport is the key.

Old Hags on here may remeber when we stepped up from DII int he Late '80s we put a fullcourt press on the SoCon since they were the logical place for us to join. It was a regional league with a makeup split between state school and historically Baptist institutions. But Jerry was the ultimate hot potato at the time (even moreso than now, believe it or not) and they passed on us. We even were producing a "This Week in the Southern Conference' show for them and everything to try and entice them into dealing us in. But what hurt us was that the so-called Baptist schools int he league looked at our school as academically inferior because of our open enrollment. They didn't want to be guilty by association.

Not much has changed in the nearly two decades since. Those schools continue to look at us with disdain. That's why we are never mentioned in expansion plans despite the fact that we are the giant elephant in the room nobody wants to acknowledge.

[A.G.]

Then, SJ--I offer my sincere appologies. I obvious misunderstood the intent.

Now, to join the fray, what if it were the SoCon going after LU? We'd be turning cartwheels and counting the days until we could ditch the Big South. Although Coastal was one of the founding members, you can't really fault a school for bettering itself, and I don't think anyone could argue, that, top to bottom, in almost every sport, the Big South CAN'T hold a candle to the SoCon.

[Sly Fox]

Cartwheels might be an exaggeration. If we could get an auto bid for the Big South I don't think there would be much motivation to go to the SoCon. But since we don't have one right now, it obviously has some appeal.

[A.G.]

Come on, Sly. Don't tell me that you would not be as excited as most of the rest of us it LU had a chance to jump ship.

[Sly Fox]

Frankly I would not be as excited as most of you. But that's just me. There's too much baggage associated with these guys that I'd have a tough time getting amped to face them.

[Hold My Own]

AG it's been discussed before about LU jumping ship...and JF didnt do cartwheels (i wish he'd try, that could be fun to watch)

[PAmedic]

maybe its our age talking- but I gotta agree w/ SLY. I've become convinced there's really no point in moving laterally to the SoCon. Onward and upwards- make the BSOUTH a viable mid-major conf or go up to the next level.

[Hold My Own]

I just cant see the SoCon being that much better...I just cant, not heads above like some are trying to say...if we're going to make a move let it be a good move....I'm not kidding about that Vacon either, I think it's doable and if we still had Dr. Borek here it might have been done (wishful thinking but possible)

It could happen...the Govt could put some pressure on them offering grants for those who join...try and keep the money in state...what's the old saying $1 turns over 4 times before it leaves the city....instead of going all over the country give back to the state more and in turn get something for doing it....I've actually talked to a few politicians about it, just to see what thier take on it was

[PAmedic]

the biggest thing will be convincing any conf or schools looking potentially starting a conf to view us as "normal" university- at least in the context of athletics. None of us were around, but ND may well have faced an anti-catholic bias in the early days too. Forward thinking ADs would not be sorry that they jumped in with us- LU has a LOT to offer any conf- but I guess I'm preaching to the choir here!

[Sly Fox]

ND had a reputation for cheating for decades (whether deserved or not) that created a lot of resentment in the Great Lakes region. So I think that along with their success on the field had the most affect on their isolation from the Big Ten and other leagues over the decades.

[ATrain]

I wouldn't be excessively excited about going to the SoCon...CAA on the other hand, well, I can dream, can't I? CAA is far better than the SoCon in nearly everything...including academics (ever hear of a school called William and Mary, aka The College? Yeah...Furman, Wofford, CofC, Appy...eat your hearts out).

Like I said, I can dream, right?

[Hold My Own]

If your a big W&M fan then hop on my wagon to the VAcon, they'll be a charter member

I'll let it go sometime

[SuperJon]

You can have the VAC and then start a Carolina Conference:

App
Western
SC State
WSSU
NC A&T
Gardner-Webb
Wofford
Furman
Coastal
The Citadel
PC
Charleston Southern

That's twelve football playing schools. Have two divisions.

HPU, Asheville, Wilmington, and Winthrop for basketball, 16 teams. It'll be a mini-Big East.

Yea, it's dumb, but it's 1:51 in the morning and I can't sleep.

[Hold My Own]

Dont steal my idea SJ

[ATrain]

I personally like the idea of a VACon and Carolina Conference...cuts down on travel, plus increased ticket sales due to more fans being able to take trips...lets see, HMO, I'm guessing the VACon would include:

VMI
Liberty
Richmond
W&M
Hampton
Norfolk State
JMU
ODU*

and non-football: Radford and VCU, maybe Longwood...am I leaving any out?

*ODU is starting football in 2009