[RVAparks]

Haha I completely understand man, no worries at all. So far the worst fans have been from Coastal, they are blowing up the Big South FB page with a ridiculous elitist attitude.

I think there just jealous that Liberty is headed for bigger and better things and they can't find a way out, haha.

I think VMI and Radford stay put now, especially from a state government point of view. I still think Coastal gets into the CAA at some point b/c of other moves around the college landscape. The days of the football AQ in the Big South may be very brief.

[ballah09]

i have nothing against Longwood either. great school.

i kinda of wanted a football school.

but i wonder since KK got his 12th school, he'll extend an invite to UNCC for football??

probably not

[jcmanson]

i have nothing against Longwood either. great school.

i kinda of wanted a football school.

but i wonder since KK got his 12th school, he'll extend an invite to UNCC for football??

probably not

Yeah I don't understand that. You'll let in Longwood with no football, but won't even entertain the idea of UNCC for football only

[RVAparks]

Football schools have nearly dried up, the BSC wasn't preemptive enough in my opinion. This almost seems like kind of a white flag. Unless they have a plan to immediately replace Liberty (when they leave) with someone like Kennesaw State, then football is in serious trouble.

[Chris Lang]

Not sure what the conference will do in regards to divisions, but the travel partners are pretty clear cut:

Liberty/Longwood
VMI/Radford
Asheville/GWU
Winthrop/Presby
Coastal/CSU
High Point/Campbell

[Chris Lang]

And more pure speculation, since there's a lot of that out there:

If Georgia Southern and App bolt to FBS, I wouldn't be surprised if VMI went back to the Southern, especially when Liberty leaves.

Picking up Longwood was a safety move. Good people over at Longwood, though, and I'm glad that they found some place to land. Independence is a black hole for a school like that.

[RVAparks]

If Georgia Southern and App bolt to FBS, I wouldn't be surprised if VMI went back to the Southern, especially when Liberty leaves.

I'd be surprised if the state permitted the move unless there was clear fiscal value involved. I would think they like all their public institutions being in the similar situations.

From a SoCon point of view I would think there would be more viable candidates available. It'll be interesting to say the least.

[bigsmooth]

the blue hairs in lex-vegas would love that. the back in the day stories of the SoCon will be revisited. Great move for Longwood and congrats to them. They are a perfect fit for the Big South and will be competitive in every sport.

[ATrain]

If Georgia Southern and App bolt to FBS, I wouldn't be surprised if VMI went back to the Southern, especially when Liberty leaves.

I'd be surprised if the state permitted the move unless there was clear fiscal value involved. I would think they like all their public institutions being in the similar situations.

From a SoCon point of view I would think there would be more viable candidates available. It'll be interesting to say the least.

I think the only time the state has intervened in college athletics was when UVA was blocking VT into the ACC. Otherwise it seems there has pretty much been a hands-off approach.

[RVAparks]

I think the only time the state has intervened in college athletics was when UVA was blocking VT into the ACC. Otherwise it seems there has pretty much been a hands-off approach.

You mean the only time that you know of...

[lynchburgwildcats]

Not sure what the conference will do in regards to divisions, but the travel partners are pretty clear cut:

Liberty/Longwood
VMI/Radford
Asheville/GWU
Winthrop/Presby
Coastal/CSU
High Point/Campbell

Why not do three divisions? The Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina divisions? Not sure how that would work for sports with less than 12 participating teams, but makes sense to me for basketball.

Independence is a black hole for a school like that.

I you folks are going to "face palm" me, got to face palm Chris Lang here. Or are some of you afraid to admit when you are wrong?

[jcmanson]

Not sure what the conference will do in regards to divisions, but the travel partners are pretty clear cut:

Liberty/Longwood
VMI/Radford
Asheville/GWU
Winthrop/Presby
Coastal/CSU
High Point/Campbell

Why not do three divisions? The Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina divisions? Not sure how that would work for sports with less than 12 participating teams, but makes sense to me for basketball.

Independence is a black hole for a school like that.

I you folks are going to "face palm" me, got to face palm Chris Lang here. Or are some of you afraid to admit when you are wrong?

Some? That would be Beej only

[kdinva]

Not sure what the conference will do in regards to divisions, but the travel partners are pretty clear cut:

Liberty/Longwood
VMI/Radford
Asheville/GWU
Winthrop/Presby
Coastal/CSU
High Point/Campbell

agree, can't do any better than that. Divisions, to me, are fairly easy to assemble:

North, or west; division:
Liberty/Longwood
VMI/Radford
Asheville/GWU

South, or east, division
Winthrop/Presby
Coastal/CSU
High Point/Campbell

For baseball, I say play each team in your division, plus 3 cross over series, total of 24 games. Same for basketball, round robin w/in division, one game w/ other div., 16 total league games. AND, each team agree to no more than two non D-1 OOC basketball games (fat chance though).

Tourneys for both sports: top 4 teams from each division, period.

[RVAparks]

Are division really necessary? I can't think of a conference that still does them (outside of football). It seems like creating divisions would just create a headache for when someone like Liberty departs.

[jbock13]

I would put High Point and Campbell in the North. They are much more interconnected with the northern schools than say Asheville (the southern schools could just hop on I-26, whereas from Liberty its a very long drive.

So in my scenario GW and UNCA in the south.

[Chris Lang]

Not sure what the conference will do in regards to divisions, but the travel partners are pretty clear cut:

Liberty/Longwood
VMI/Radford
Asheville/GWU
Winthrop/Presby
Coastal/CSU
High Point/Campbell

Why not do three divisions? The Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina divisions? Not sure how that would work for sports with less than 12 participating teams, but makes sense to me for basketball.

Independence is a black hole for a school like that.

I you folks are going to "face palm" me, got to face palm Chris Lang here. Or are some of you afraid to admit when you are wrong?

Some? That would be Beej only

I honestly have no idea why BJ gave you the face-palm treatment. Your point was solid.

I almost say stick with one division for the standings but do a three-division setup for scheduling purposes only. ... You'd play everyone in your division twice, everyone in one of the other divisions twice and everyone in the third division once for a total of 18 games. One year, the Virginias would face the North Carolinas twice, the next year, the South Carolinas twice, and so on.

[kdinva]

I would put High Point and Campbell in the North. They are much more interconnected with the northern schools than say Asheville (the southern schools could just hop on I-26, whereas from Liberty its a very long drive.

So in my scenario GW and UNCA in the south.

upon further review,,,,,,,,,I agree

from lynchburg to High point is only about 135 miles, from farmville to buies creek, about 160 miles. From lexington to buies creek, only 210 miles.

[kdinva]

I almost say stick with one division for the standings but do a three-division setup for scheduling purposes only. ... You'd play everyone in your division twice, everyone in one of the other divisions twice and everyone in the third division once for a total of 18 games. One year, the Virginias would face the North Carolinas twice, the next year, the South Carolinas twice, and so on.

makes sense to me.

[BJWilliams]

my use of the double facepalm photo was to add to the single facepalm that ballah posted just above mine

[lynchburgwildcats]

Are division really necessary? I can't think of a conference that still does them (outside of football). It seems like creating divisions would just create a headache for when someone like Liberty departs.

SEC uses divisions for all their head-to-head sports other than basketball. Other conferences that use it for at least men's basketball: Mid-American, Southland, SoCon, and Sun Belt

[Cider Jim]

Does anyone know if Longwood has a QUIZ BOWL team?

The Big South Quiz Bowl tournament is next weekend (7 teams including in-state VMI and Radford) at Winthrop.

[g-webb1994]

Good move for Longwood.

As far as Big South football, I wonder if Campbell will ever play scholly football? If Mercer ever plans to, you can add them in as a possibility with Kennesaw.

With Belmont and Lipscomb still looking to bolt the Atlantic Sun for the OVC, A-Sun teams like ETSU and USC-Upstate would be ripe for the picking as well.

[RVAparks]

As far as Big South football, I wonder if Campbell will ever play scholly football? If Mercer ever plans to, you can add them in as a possibility with Kennesaw.

Campbell is a client of mine and I've been told more than once that they have zero interest in scholarship football. But they are doing a lot of exciting things down in Buies Creek, including opening up a full blown medical school in 2013, so who knows what's on the horizon for the Camels?

[Chris Lang]

I almost say stick with one division for the standings but do a three-division setup for scheduling purposes only. ... You'd play everyone in your division twice, everyone in one of the other divisions twice and everyone in the third division once for a total of 18 games. One year, the Virginias would face the North Carolinas twice, the next year, the South Carolinas twice, and so on.

makes sense to me.

Actually, that won't work. I screwed it up, since there are only three pods. Either way, you should play all of your state rivals twice and then play the other eight teams a total of 12 games -- four opponents home and away, four once, on a rotating basis.

[Sly Fox]

If it means keeping the AQ, I have a feeling that Kyle would be cool with letting the Camels play football sans scholarships.