[SuperJon]

He's not the head guy. He's on staff though.

[Ed Dantes]

I think the setup there is most logical.

Someone just watched Star Trek...

...and found that it was awesome!

[Sly Fox]

No one ... and I mean no one knows what will happen after the moratorium is lifted. I get the impression that most colleges presidents are looking around at each other and decided they don't need to even think about realignment until they know a moratorium is going to be lifted (there are indication the moratorium could be extended). Once there is light at the end of the tunnel and the first moves occur then it gets serious. Right now I am hearing there is nothing more than casual conversations. And oh yeah, the economy has played havoc with the plans to move up for many D2 and I-AA schools.

Count me among the Longwood detractors. I just don't see the merit of them coming on board just to be #12. Incidentally, I now have some connections into the Jacksonville athletic department. I am working those angles to hear what they have shaking as well for those of you who mentioned them earlier in the thread.

[ATrain]

Longwood would be a great regional rival for LU, and give Virginia two sets of travel partners. Their programs would compete well in the Big South (except for women's tennis). For Liberty, Longwood would be a great add, for the rest of the Big South, not so much.

[SuperJon]

I just don't see the merit of them coming on board just to be #12.

Which is exactly why Kallandar would do it.

[Stevev]

Seems as if this Kallender guy is not very popular these days.

I don't think that getting Campbell will do us or the BSC much good. Seems like Campbell is a "typical Big South" type of athletic program with poor facilities, small enrollment, lower tier performance and weak OOC schedules and would not upgrade the conference one bit. I do think that the BSC should push hard to get East Tennessee or Jacksonville since they would bring much more to the table than Campbell or Longwood. ETSU seems to have more resources with which to work with and has had success in the tougher Southern Conference and Jacksonville has a lot of potential. With the BSC going to more teams it seems that would populate our schedules with too many "entry level" division 1 teams and that in turn could lower our ranking and prevent us from playing teams in better conferences. The BSC needs quality or quantity right now.

[matshark]

I'd like to see ETSU or Jax as well. Heck, BOTH! No reason to add a school with limited or no growth potential. just doesn't make sense. Period.

[flamesfilmguy]

sorry I'm late to the party guys. I think once the moratorium is lifted you are going to see a lot of moves. The A-Sun has now lost 2 teams in the span of 3 years and that conference has several schools looking at football(Mercer and Kennesaw State) I'd love to have the CAA schools like GSU and UNCW in the Big south but with Georgia state just adding football i don't think they'll want to leave because of the conference for football. I think this is a great move for Campbell but as for us in the BSC its probably what many on here have said as far as a "wait and see" attitude.
Some people mentioned adding Jacksonville, I highly doubt unless they had a travel partner or two that they'd want to join strictly because of travel costs. having a couple of Georgia schools like GSU and Kennesaw State would be a prime way to help get Jax in.
As far as CU football is concerned i doubt very seriously that they'd join the big south in football any time soon. I'd like to see it but like chad said they are just happy to have football.

[Chad4Life]

Seems as if this Kallender guy is not very popular these days.

I don't think that getting Campbell will do us or the BSC much good. Seems like Campbell is a "typical Big South" type of athletic program with poor facilities, small enrollment, lower tier performance and weak OOC schedules and would not upgrade the conference one bit. I do think that the BSC should push hard to get East Tennessee or Jacksonville since they would bring much more to the table than Campbell or Longwood. ETSU seems to have more resources with which to work with and has had success in the tougher Southern Conference and Jacksonville has a lot of potential. With the BSC going to more teams it seems that would populate our schedules with too many "entry level" division 1 teams and that in turn could lower our ranking and prevent us from playing teams in better conferences. The BSC needs quality or quantity right now.

I have to disagree with the facilities comment. With the new arena, the facilities are fine. Could there be some improvements? Probably so, but I imagine most, if not all schools, in the Big South have a desire to improve at least one of their athletic facilities. Enrollment--I am not sure of the exact numbers, but the main campus numbers are in the 4 to 6 thousand range. It's not the largest school, but it's not the smallest and it generally fits well with the other Big South schools. They have a strong School of Pharmacy and a solid School of Law which will be moving to Raleigh in the coming year.

To me, the biggest 2 complaints about adding Campbell to the conference would be: 1) Their lack of a scholarship football program, when the conference could use another scholarship program and 2) Their location in Buies Creek--while between Fayetteville and Raleigh, the coverage can be lackng by those media outlets, especially the Raleigh area.

And while I would agree that Jacksonville would offer a number of advantages, one problem that I see with Jacksonville, espcially with your non-revenue sports is the distance. For VMI and Liberty, that would be a long trip. Not saying it could't work, but I personally feel that some of these smaller conferences will be giving serious consideration to travel expenditures for their conference sports.

My suggestion--take a wait and see attitude. Who knows, Liberty may get the opportunity to move to the CAA or the Southern Conference before they enter.

[4everfsu]

One thing about adding Jax U to the BSC is the ability to help us recruit that area of Florida more.

[Ed Dantes]

The reason this move was made, and I can say this knowing NOTHING about the Big South or Campbell, is the same reason for everything. Finances. It made financial sense for Campbell, who can cut down on travel expenses. It makes sense for the Big South, because... well, I don't know. They probably pocketed the entry fee for admission to the league, which is probably $5 dollars and a coupon for free chicken strips at Chick-Fil-A.

Yeah, it would have been nice to get ETSU or Jax. I don't think they were knocking on our door, though. I think Campbell's ceiling as a program is like a Charleston Southern or a Presby school, which obviously isn't what we need more of, but whatever. It is what it is.

[g-webb1994]

I'd much rather have Longwood than Savannah State or NC Central any day of the week. (That is NOT a racially motivated statement either, before some lurking lib on here cries foul.)

[ATrain]

I'd much rather have Longwood than Savannah State or NC Central any day of the week. (That is NOT a racially motivated statement either, before some lurking lib on here cries foul.)

+1,000,000

[Chad4Life]

No one ... and I mean no one knows what will happen after the moratorium is lifted. I get the impression that most colleges presidents are looking around at each other and decided they don't need to even think about realignment until they know a moratorium is going to be lifted (there are indication the moratorium could be extended). Once there is light at the end of the tunnel and the first moves occur then it gets serious. Right now I am hearing there is nothing more than casual conversations. And oh yeah, the economy has played havoc with the plans to move up for many D2 and I-AA schools.

Count me among the Longwood detractors. I just don't see the merit of them coming on board just to be #12. Incidentally, I now have some connections into the Jacksonville athletic department. I am working those angles to hear what they have shaking as well for those of you who mentioned them earlier in the thread.

Good points, by the way. My thought is that the moratorium was instituted more as a "we really have no idea what to do about all of these teams moving up to DI, so let's give everyone a break for 4 years and maybe that will slow things down" rather than "let's really determine serious requirements for a university or college to become a DI school." I'm not really certain anything substantial will come out (I understand that it's not an easy; for example, a problem arises when they try to set attendance or stadium requirements for football and it is shown that these policies would have an effect on a school like Duke--the ACC doesn't want to lose Duke as a football playing member. And yet, if they gave an exception for Duke, then they have to give exceptions to all the schools who are in the same position as Duke.)

The economic downturn has made a big dent in plans for a number of schools and conferences. More schools may cut more sports to get closer to the minimums required. At some schools, members of the athletic staff are being let go. UNO is thinking of eliminating their athletic programs; Centenary (home of ex-Boston Celtic Robert Parish) is thinking about going Division III. Winston Salem State is having difficulties making the transition to DI. And I imagine there are a number of other schools who were struggling when the economy was going well; how are they going to handle it during the downturn?

It will be interesting to see the fallout.

[Sly Fox]

Interesting that you would bring up a couple of Louisiana schools that i have knowledge into down this way. Centenary has ZERO business being DI in the first place. They have constantly discussed dropping down in light of their conference mess for a long, long time. But I get the impression they have a big donor who is keeping them division I ... barely. Over in New Orleans, they are doing their best to stay afloat as a college. And it is always tough to be a 3rd or 4th Tier college choice in a major professional marketplace. I'm not quite sure why they continue to field teams. No one pays attention in NOLA.

[GoUNCA]

I have to say that I think this is a bad idea. All it really does it water down each school's chances at an NCAA tourney bid. It messes up scheduling and an 11 team tourney makes for a weird set up. More teams is not better.

I know that Campbell had to settle out of court with the Big South back in the day and that they had to pay an $101,430 entrance fee. Maybe we are really cash strapped. It wouldn't surprise me.

[Chad4Life]

Interesting that you would bring up a couple of Louisiana schools that i have knowledge into down this way. Centenary has ZERO business being DI in the first place. They have constantly discussed dropping down in light of their conference mess for a long, long time. But I get the impression they have a big donor who is keeping them division I ... barely. Over in New Orleans, they are doing their best to stay afloat as a college. And it is always tough to be a 3rd or 4th Tier college choice in a major professional marketplace. I'm not quite sure why they continue to field teams. No one pays attention in NOLA.

Yep, and I know a number of the Louisiana state schools are concerned about how their athletic budgets are going to be affected.

If Centenary could get in the Southland, they'd probably stay D-I, but the Southland's not interested in them and they really don't fit the profile (they'd be the only private school in the conference, I believe), and they are out of place in the Summit League (as is Southern Utah State.) There are some low-major/mid-major type conferences that are going to have to make decisions, both as individual institutions and as a conference as a whole regarding their membership arrangements, especially with regard to travel and time away from the class. Those issues are present when times are good, but when times are bad, the problem is magnified.

[Chris Lang]

I have to say that I think this is a bad idea. All it really does it water down each school's chances at an NCAA tourney bid. It messes up scheduling and an 11 team tourney makes for a weird set up. More teams is not better.

I know that Campbell had to settle out of court with the Big South back in the day and that they had to pay an $101,430 entrance fee. Maybe we are really cash strapped. It wouldn't surprise me.

As of now, there is no plans to expand beyond an eight-team tournament for basketball. There have been discussions at the presidents' meetings, but the proposals have been shot down each time.

[Chad4Life]

I have to say that I think this is a bad idea. All it really does it water down each school's chances at an NCAA tourney bid. It messes up scheduling and an 11 team tourney makes for a weird set up. More teams is not better.

I know that Campbell had to settle out of court with the Big South back in the day and that they had to pay an $101,430 entrance fee. Maybe we are really cash strapped. It wouldn't surprise me.

As of now, there is no plans to expand beyond an eight-team tournament for basketball. There have been discussions at the presidents' meetings, but the proposals have been shot down each time.

And, honestly, when the conference needs the best (or least one of the top teams) in the NCAA tournament, why take a chance that the #11 team gets hot for 4 games and ends up being the representatve in the NCAA tournament?

[flamesfilmguy]

Bump! So i just found out yesterday that West Ga has plans on moving up out of Divison II once the moratorium is lifted and they are building a fairly nice stadium. With the addition of campbell in the Big south what are the odds that if the CAA splits we'll see a Big south in the NC SC and VA and a Fla/ GA conference with schools like Ga State and west Georgia?

[ATrain]

West Georgia could actually be a good one to add to the Big South: football school, and not too far from WU, UNCA, GW, and PC. Plus the trip wouldn't be too bad from the Virginia schools, definitely not as bad as it was to Birmingham-Southern (I HATED THAT TRIP)

[flames1971]

West Georgia could actually be a good one to add to the Big South: football school, and not too far from WU, UNCA, GW, and PC. Plus the trip wouldn't be too bad from the Virginia schools, definitely not as bad as it was to Birmingham-Southern (I HATED THAT TRIP)

Isn't B-Southern back in Div. 3?

[ATrain]

West Georgia could actually be a good one to add to the Big South: football school, and not too far from WU, UNCA, GW, and PC. Plus the trip wouldn't be too bad from the Virginia schools, definitely not as bad as it was to Birmingham-Southern (I HATED THAT TRIP)

Isn't B-Southern back in Div. 3?

Yep, I'm just happy I only had to make that trip once

[flames1971]

West Georgia could actually be a good one to add to the Big South: football school, and not too far from WU, UNCA, GW, and PC. Plus the trip wouldn't be too bad from the Virginia schools, definitely not as bad as it was to Birmingham-Southern (I HATED THAT TRIP)

Isn't B-Southern back in Div. 3?

Yep, I'm just happy I only had to make that trip once

I wonder why they got all the way up to D1 but then moved back to D3. Was it because we beat them too much and they got tired of it?

[olldflame]

Isn't B-Southern back in Div. 3?

Yep, I'm just happy I only had to make that trip once

I wonder why they got all the way up to D1 but then moved back to D3. Was it because we beat them too much and they got tired of it?

It was almost totally financial. Scholarships are expensive.