[Blessed1]

Hello everybody. I found this board about a month ago. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to join. I am a full-time student at another university, but I will be enrolling into Liberty U in 2007 to gain my Bachelors.

I am a big college football fan. My favorite football team is the Miami Hurricanes. I just recently started following the Big South Conference. I know the conference only has 5 football playing schools and Presbyterian College will be joining next year.

I was wondering if the Big South plans to expand? If so who would be invited? I think Valdosta State, North Alabama, and Savannah St. would be good choices. Thoughts anyone?

[SuperJon]

Savannah State would be horrible.

[Sly Fox]

First off, welcome to the board and to the LU family soon. Glad you feel comfortable to jump on the board with us.

As for the Big South, expansion talks haven't done much in recent years other than the aforementioned addition of Presbyterian. There have been rumors of offers extended to Wingate and possibly Carson-Newman over the past decade with no progress. Keep in mind, the league didn't even sponsor footbal until a fe wyears ago. We were operating as an independent. But with Gardner-Webb joining us a football affiliate and Coastal Carolina starting up the sport it became a viable option with VMI joining us from the Southern Conference. Frankly there are not a great deal of attractive schools for expansion on the I-AA level. And Division II schools like Prebyterian require a transitional period that keeps them from being a full football member for a number of years.

Savannah State is in such a mess that inviting the Tigers in as a football affiliate doesn't even appear very attractive. There is a distinct possibility they are either going to drop down in classification or possibly even drop the sport if this latest attempt to clean up their program isn't successful.

Obviously Valdosta State & North Alabama would be attractive if they chose to step up. But if they were to make the move they would probably have more interest in a league with less travel required such as the OVC.

Complicating the matter even more is that Coastal Carolina may be finally receiving word in the next few weeks whether or not they finally get their wish to bolt the Big South for the Southern Conference. Until that decision is made, its tough for us to recruit other viable options. If CCU stays, then we could possibly make overtures to other I-AA schools. There continues to be a rift among some of the MEAC schools over playing int he I-AA playoffs. Should the league actually make the decision to pull out of the playoffs, there is a chance we could steal Hampton, NC A&T and SC State. But that appears to be a long shot at the moment. Delaware State would be more likely. Frankly, I'd like to see us make a move to try and steal The Citadel and say Elon from the SoCon.

Bottom line, the league is in a tough spot right now with nothing particularly promising ont he horizon. Then when you factor in our public intentions of going I-A it gives us even less leverage in the league than we had before. We are considered by many to be short-timers.

[bigsmooth]

welcome and sly said it all. im hoping that with ODU and georgia state starting football that the CAA will split and we could fall into the mix somehow,and if ETSU would revive their program, maybe the big south could coax them as well.

[Blessed1]

Thanks Sly Fox & bigsmooth for welcoming me to the board.

Wow, I didn't know Coastal Carolina was thinking about leaving. That would set the conference back a little. I like Valdosta State and North Alabama because they have attractive stadiums, a large fan base, and successful football programs. I heard a rumor Savannah St. was only going to be invited for football only. However, since the program is a mess, they wouldn't be a wise choice.

[ATrain]

Wait a sec...hen is Georgia State starting football? And is George Mason going to upgrade from a club team soon? And Blessed, just to let you know its the dream of every one of us that we get outta the Big South and into the CAA.

[bigsmooth]

i guess i jumped the gun...just a feasibility study.

What is the status of Georgia State starting an NCAA football team?

In response to a directive from President Patton and as a result of interest expressed by some alumni, staff members, and students, Director of Athletics Mary McElroy submitted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Football feasibility study in mid-January through the University System Board of Regents.

CH Johnson Consulting, a national firm, narrowly won the bid in April to conduct the feasibility study. Johnson Consulting is undertaking a six-month process to examine the benefits and obligations to consider regarding the addition of a varsity intercollegiate football team at Georgia State which would play in CAA Division I-AA football.

As part of the feasibility study, surveys will be conducted to allow alumni, students, faculty and staff, as well as prospective financial supporters to indicate their suppport and share their concerns.

During the Fall of 2006, the President, the Athletic Director, and the Athletic Board will evaluate the results of this study, establish parameters that must be met in order to add football, and will make a decision on how the University should proceed.

If the decision is made to add football, attention would then turn to securing the necessary financial and logistical support, as well as establishing a timeline for such support to be identified and a timeline for when the University would field a team.

This process is, indeed, much more a marathon than a sprint. For example, fellow CAA member Old Dominion University began a similar process for the third time in 2005 with the hope of finding a way to start a football program by 2009.

The CAA will become an NCAA football league in 2007 as six members, including two previous I-AA national champions (Delaware and James Madison) currently field teams with six Atlantic 10 members. Other CAA schools who currently compete in football are Hofstra, Northeastern, Towson and William & Mary.

[PAmedic]

welcome aboard B1, though to be honest- part of me thinks being a fan of "the U" ought really disqualify you from full membership and all the rights/privileges thereof.

(no pony for you)

[Blessed1]

Thanks PAmedic for the warm welcome!

By the way, I knew I was going to catch some flak about being a Canes fan. It's all good though!

[ATrain]

I'm a VT fan...so I'm just going to keep my mouth shut about blessed liking Miami. Welcome to the board, btw