[Jesus First]

Intresting Article saying that Stony Brook may look into moving to the CAA in the future because of the CAA expansion. I hope we consider moving to the CAA in the future. If Stony Brook left are conference that could affect are Conference Auto Bid into the playoffs in the future http://hamptonroads.com/2009/06/additon ... g-soon-caa

"We are so engrossed in the Big South that we haven't even looked at the idea of being in the CAA," Stony Brook athletic director Jim Fiore said. "But from an economic standpoint, I have to admit it makes sense. And right now, at every school across the country the No. 1 priority is cost-saving initiatives."

Then there is Stony Brook, whose entrance last season into the Big South Conference in football is anything but a natural fit. The school, which competes in the America East in 19 other sports, was having difficulty scheduling in football. Now, it finds itself in a league where the closest school (VMI) is 475 miles away.

[ToTheLeft]

This has been talked about for a while. There is going to be a lot of changes in a couple years when the NCAA allows teams to move around, and this will more than likely be a part of it.

[RagingTireFire]

That's a June opinion piece written by a guy who -- according to his bio -- graduated from a school which doesn't have a football program, has worked for the same paper for 22 years and now covers ODU football and golf. I don't know what he covered before ODU football started but I'm going to guess it was just golf. What he's suggesting -- expanding the CAA to 16 teams -- is just ludicrous.

In short, nothing to see here.

[ToTheLeft]

That's a June opinion piece written by a guy who -- according to his bio -- graduated from a school which doesn't have a football program, has worked for the same paper for 22 years and now covers ODU football and golf. I don't know what he covered before ODU football started but I'm going to guess it was just golf. What he's suggesting -- expanding the CAA to 16 teams -- is just ludicrous.

In short, nothing to see here.

Ahh, I didn't read the article. a 16 team CAA would be ludicrous.

However, SBU bolting for some northern based league in a couple years, not quite so ludicrous.

[g-webb1994]

SBU will be leaving when their contract runs out anyway.

North Alabama, West Georgia, and Valdosta State are the more than likely options for expansion in the next few years.

[Chris Lang]

The point of Stony Brook was always for Stony Brook to be around until 2011, when Presbyterian becomes fully eligible. The Big South's auto bid will not be affected, regardless of what Stony Brook does.

[JK37]

The point of Stony Brook was always for Stony Brook to be around until 2011, when Presbyterian becomes fully eligible. The Big South's auto bid will not be affected, regardless of what Stony Brook does.

But what do you make of a 16-team CAA, Chris? I font necessarily see why its impossible. If the current members want it, and other schools want in, what's to stop it. Why would that be so ludicrous?

[RagingTireFire]

[Why would that be so ludicrous?

Because a 16-team football league that stretches across half the country has never worked. If the WAC couldn't do it with their resources, what would make anyone think that the CAA could? Some of the big dogs (ie., Delaware and JMU) could pull it off and continue to thrive but it would put the smaller schools with limited resources (Northeastern, New Hampshire, Rhode Island) at an enormous disadvantage simply because of the rise in costs -- which, incidentally, is what led directly to the WAC/Mountain West split several years ago.

[Chris Lang]

The point of Stony Brook was always for Stony Brook to be around until 2011, when Presbyterian becomes fully eligible. The Big South's auto bid will not be affected, regardless of what Stony Brook does.

But what do you make of a 16-team CAA, Chris? I font necessarily see why its impossible. If the current members want it, and other schools want in, what's to stop it. Why would that be so ludicrous?

As some of the more learned CAA folks on AGS point out, the bigger problem down the line will come in basketball, not football. A lot of their membership is sick of having to, more or less, play on VCU's home floor every year with an NCAA bid on the line. (I know, it's the Coliseum, not the Siegel Center, but there's no denying VCU's home edge in that tourney...). A 16-team league could work for football, but I'm not sure why the northern schools would want to stay in that sort of conglomerate when they would only be playing one game against the southern schools.

I think the more likely scenario has Fordham and Stony Brook being used as bargaining chips for a new northeastern conference, whether the America East sponsors it or not. Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island aren't beholden to the CAA for anything but football, so it wouldn't be much of a stretch for them to jump ship. And Northeastern has to be bleeding money with travel for non-rev sports, seeing as the closest CAA school is Hofstra. The only question would be how the automatic bid to the playoffs would be affected. If a new league would have to wait two years to get a bid (not sure how exactly that works), that could be a stumbling point.

You could have an America East with -- UNH, UMass, Maine, Rhody, Fordham, Stony Brook, Hofstra, Northeastern

And a revamped CAA with -- Towson, Villanova, Delaware, JMU, ODU, Georgia State, W&M, Richmond

You combine the leagues for all sports, and it would be an economic disaster. Miami and Boston College have the football revenues to help pay for all that ridiculous non-rev travel. Northeastern and Rhody don't.

I think those two leagues would be fairly stable, as really, only UMass has ever been seriously in the FBS discussion. Can't imagine any other school would try to move up.

[Eagle Ed]

"...And a revamped CAA with -- Towson, Villanova, Delaware, JMU, ODU, Georgia State, W&M, Richmond"

Chris,
Just thinking about that statement.

Pull out Ga. State (which is sooooooo far away from the other 7 geographically --- and slide in one LU (when we get our football stadium up to seating standards) ... and I, for one, would like it.

Did that cross anyone else's mind?

[ToTheLeft]

Yes, the idea of us joining a southern CAA contingent has crossed a lot of minds.

[rogers3]

"...And a revamped CAA with -- Towson, Villanova, Delaware, JMU, ODU, Georgia State, W&M, Richmond"

Chris,
Just thinking about that statement.

Pull out Ga. State (which is sooooooo far away from the other 7 geographically --- and slide in one LU (when we get our football stadium up to seating standards) ... and I, for one, would like it.

Did that cross anyone else's mind?

Check out the current CAA stadiums. I think Williams fits the seating bill, as is. With the seating added during last years season, LU would have had the 2nd or 3rd highest seating cap. in the CAA.

The stadium isn't and won't ever be the issue.

[Chris Lang]

No, the old school "I hate Jerry Falwell" thinking that permeates a lot of the higher-ups at some of the CAA schools -- *cough* ODU *cough* -- is and will always be the issue.

[SuperJon]

You should see the faces and hear the comments from CAA coaches when they see our facilities. Our facilities wouldn't be the issue.

[Ed Dantes]

No, the old school "I hate Jerry Falwell" thinking that permeates a lot of the higher-ups at some of the CAA schools -- *cough* ODU *cough* -- is and will always be the issue.

ODU just got a new president within the last year. Plus, they're starting a football program in the fall... I'm wondering if any of that softens their long-held stance.

[SuperJon]

No. Their AD is the reason we're not playing them in football anytime soon.

[flamesfan30]

i look forward to crushing them in the playoffs in the coming years then.

[thepostman]

I can't believe there is really such a hatred there...its so sad...

i mean I believe it...its just sad, thats all

[Ed Dantes]

No. Their AD is the reason we're not playing them in football anytime soon.

He just announced his retirement today.

[ATrain]

Here's a question: Would Georgia State ever leave the CAA for the SoCon?

[JK37]

Here's a question: Would Georgia State ever leave the CAA for the SoCon?

SoCon would have to want them. Same issue as with other conferences right now: taking them in football might be possible, but it creates headaches for everything else. And, they're not necessary for football right now, so...why?

Besides, don't most CAA'ers consider the SoCon a step down? (Now, obviously, I'm not allowed to agree!)

[flamesbball84]

Why in the world would Villanova leave the Big East for the CAA? There are some out there that thinks Villanova could contend for a national championship in mne's basketball this year. Them going to the CAA is a huge downward move that makes no sense.

[ATrain]

Why in the world would Villanova leave the Big East for the CAA? There are some out there that thinks Villanova could contend for a national championship in mne's basketball this year. Them going to the CAA is a huge downward move that makes no sense.

Nova is in the CAA for football, which is what we're discussing here. Some of the fulltime CAA members have issues with the bball tourney being in Richmond, which cause a split of the full CAA.

I know you're from a Division III institution, but please, if you're going to post on a Division I board, bring some Division I knowledge with you.

[flamesbball84]

Why in the world would Villanova leave the Big East for the CAA? There are some out there that thinks Villanova could contend for a national championship in mne's basketball this year. Them going to the CAA is a huge downward move that makes no sense.

Nova is in the CAA for football, which is what we're discussing here. Some of the fulltime CAA members have issues with the bball tourney being in Richmond, which cause a split of the full CAA.

I know you're from a Division III institution, but please, if you're going to post on a Division I board, bring some Division I knowledge with you.

I thought they were referring to the entire athletic department moving to the CAA.