[ToTheLeft]

Reading over at AGS, there is talk that the Patriot League wants to expand soon, and of course all the fans have teams that they want to be added to the PL.

A lot of the talk is about VMI.

They fit in with the Patriot League ideals, and honestly would be a good fit, except that they are by far the Southernmost team if they were to join.

That being said... there was also talk about LU joining the PL, along with teams like our own Presby and G-W.

So, things to ponder...

1) If VMI were to leave the BSC, that would put us back under the number of teams needed for Auto Qualification, especially considering that SBU would probably bolt from the league if they smelled it crumbling.

2) If Presby and VMI left, and we were going to be short on teams for the long term, would you want us to leave the conference? If so, where would we go? And why?

3) If the PL offered us a spot, would you want LU to go to the PL (in every sport, not just football)?


Feel free to offer any other thoughts on the subject.

And there is little to no fact here, just a lot of speculation, but it is still worth talking about.

[Sly Fox]

Presby is not going to the PL under any circumstances. So scratch that from the options. And frankly, they are more likely to head there than we are. There is no upside for us.

VMI makes a great deal more sense to slide into the Patriot where they would be on more even footing athletically and academically. That said, I hope they don't go anywhere.

And if we leave the Big South, the only FCS league we would consider would be the CAA. Otherwise we step up to FBS.

[ToTheLeft]

Presby is not going to the PL under any circumstances. So scratch that from the options. And frankly, they are more likely to head there than we are. There is no upside for us.

VMI makes a great deal more sense to slide into the Patriot where they would be on more even footing athletically and academically. That said, I hope they don't go anywhere.

I realize that there is a Million to one odds on a school like Presby or LU getting into the PL, but it was brought up there so I figured I would bring it up here...

(Edit, you edited and answered my question)

[Sly Fox]

It is not a matter of us wanting to "get in" the PL. It is a matter of it matching up with our financial parameters and our mission ... neither of which make the Patriot League a viable option. There would certainly be resistance by many PL presidents to let us in. But it really is a non-issue at this point.

[ToTheLeft]

"Get in" was the wrong phrase to use... I just meant that we were not going to have the opportunity to join due to academics, ideals, and various other reasons.

And I agree it is a non-issue. Just repeating what I heard elsewhere.

[bigsmooth]

from what i have heard, VMI is happy to be in the big south as they are competitive in most sports unlike the SoCon, but they would be an excellent for the patriot league.

[coolhandluke]

I was thinking the other day that if we were to bump up to an FBS conference it would be C-USA. I think that would be a good fit for us in every sport. Obviously we are still a few years away from that step, but I think it would work. Our football team could likely beat some of the teams from their conference and our basketball team would do the same. Our women's team might even win the conference.

Do you guys think it would be a good fit for us?

[SuperJon]

Unless there are major changes, we're not going anywhere other than the Big South anytime soon.


And correct me if I'm wrong, but the Patriot League doesn't give the full amount of scholarships does it?

[Sly Fox]

The PL claims they don't give any scholarships. But they do offer grants in aid which accomplish the same thing.

The Patriot League is not for us at all.

[ToTheLeft]

Unless there are major changes, we're not going anywhere other than the Big South anytime soon.


And correct me if I'm wrong, but the Patriot League doesn't give the full amount of scholarships does it?

Well, that's what I'm saying. Losing VMI and Stony Brook would be a pretty major change, would it not?

That's what the speculation is about.

[Schfourteenteen]

Big South goes and gets Jacksonville the minute they hear whispers about the move.

Still puts us in a pickle, hopedully the CAA would be willing to expand 2 more teams, picking up LU and ODU(football). Obviously they would fit great for us, but outside of the CAA there isnt much hope on the IAA level.


Now here is a blow up idea that will never happen
Knowing that there is a cap for a couple years, teams from this surrounding area who are looking to go IA create the paperwork for a IA conference, then make the move together right after the cap ends.

[SuperJon]

Now here is a blow up idea that will never happen
Knowing that there is a cap for a couple years, teams from this surrounding area who are looking to go IA create the paperwork for a IA conference, then make the move together right after the cap ends.

Who, other than JMU, is even looking at it? App has said multiple times that they aren't.

[Schfourteenteen]

Again, thats why it wouldnt happen

Wed have to steal multiple CAA teams(JMU, ODU and someone else), SoCon teams(Elon and 1 other), and hope GW + CCU make the move. Could really use some preexisting IA teams(tough sell though) like WKU, Marshall(spewing farther away from any hope of reality), Army, someone from the MAC.

It really would take a huge miracle to pull off. By that, I mean its super logically flawed

[Schfourteenteen]

The cap is on til when 2011? If so 3 years can change minds about where they stand now.

[SuperJon]

Elon could never, ever, afford to go FBS. ODU has to stay FCS for at least four years and realistically speaking, pulling a South Florida doesn't happen very often.

The only thing that is actually logical that's out there is the CAA breaking up. Even with that, I don't see us getting an invite. I don't see VMI leaving anytime soon and realistically, there is no other school in the conference that is appealing to another conference, not even us at this point.

Edit to clarify: I think we're making strides to be appealing for a bigger conference, we're just not there yet. In the next 5-10 years, that could definitely change. Coastal, if they could ever find money for an actual arena and field house, could be appealing. They'd need to get their level of basketball up and get back to how they were in football. Winthrop's got the facilities in terms of basketball and baseball, but they don't have football and the harsh reality is right now, things are revolving around football in most conferences.

[Sly Fox]

We've talked about a new regional league many times before. All you would need is a core of six schools to make it work. I could see the following:

• 
  Liberty
  JMU
  ODU
  Appy St.
  Temple
  East Carolina
  Georgia Southern

Several others who might be interested include Delaware, Delaware State and Richmond. If they were in a league of just six, we might be able to include Navy offering them the flexibility to still schedule the other service academies and Notre Dame.

Frankly it is not as farfetched as some might suggest. Even Appy's most recent comments on stepping up only stated that the conditions are not amenable right now. But they did not rule out anything once the moratorium is over. Travel costs would be similar for a league of the above schools to what we have right now in the Big South.

[SuperJon]

Richmond could never dream of going FBS.

ODU is a good 8-10 years away.

JMU could possibly.

App could possibly.

Georgia Southern could possibly.

We're another 8-10 years off as well.

[Sly Fox]

Richmond was FBS in the not too distant past and has the financial resources to make it happen again under the right circumstances (i.e. small regional league). But I agree they are not likely.

As for a timetable for our program, let's just say there is a difference of opinion.

[SuperJon]

Richmond is about to open a new stadium that is nowhere near what any FBS standards would be.

[Schfourteenteen]

I think we all know that in reality none of this is going to happen, although it very intriguing to look at what happens if one Domino falls(VMI)

I think if they were to leave, CCU and LU would be dancing quick, IMO

[coastalalum]

I Our football team could likely beat some of the teams from their conference and our basketball team would do the same. Our women's team might even win the conference.

ummmmm.....

kick your heels together 3 times dorothy and come on back to kansas.

repeat after me...there's no place like home. there's no place like home.

[pastorbrad]

could you drift into Georgia and to Alabama... with VA being the northern most state? picking up a team like Jack ST.

[TDDance234]

Those would be long trips...I believe Georgia is something like a 7-8 hour trip and Alabama would be even longer.

Some good teams that would make a good conference but just don't see how it could work financially and logistically.

[LUGrad2000]

App St would never leave the SouCon. Years ago if I am not mistaken LU proposed the CAA and was left out.