[alabama24]

West Virginia isnt a big TV market... but you see their fans everywhere.

I have yet to meet a West Virginia fan… ever. I think they are a myth like leprechauns and unicorns.

[jbock13]

West Virginia isnt a big TV market... but you see their fans everywhere.

I have yet to meet a West Virginia fan… ever. I think they are a myth like leprechauns and unicorns.

Wrong!

I'm one... Liberty first of course.

[alabama24]

I'm one... Liberty first of course.

But how do I know that you exist… As far as I know, you are as make believe as the Kingdom that lies beyond Thaxton Mountain.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Trust me any one that lives near thaxton definately qualifies as a WVU fan. Banjos and all.

[Hold My Own]

oh, are those other maps using live data?

[TH Spangler]

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.co ... a.html?m=1

[ATrain]

Trust me any one that lives near thaxton definately qualifies as a WVU fan. BURNING COUCHES and all.

FTFY

[jbock13]

I'm one... Liberty first of course.

But how do I know that you exist… As far as I know, you are as make believe as the Kingdom that lies beyond Thaxton Mountain.

Haha fair enough

[phoenix]

The fact is, a large part of the academic world looks down on online learning,.

Tell that to MIT, Harvard, and Stanford.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I saw a rumor on another board tonight the the Patriot league wants W&M AND VMI? Really???

[LUGrad2000]

If New Mexico St. and Idaho want to keep the WAC alive by expanding eastward, could they invite 6 other schools (FCS)? Would that get around NCAA By-Laws prohibiting and new FBS conferences?

I have:
Appalachian St.
Liberty
Georgia Southern
James Madison
???
????

We know several schools have met to discuss a new Eastern FBS conference, but they decided not to because of the amount of time they would not be eligible for post-season play. Would this be an option?

[SumItUp]

If New Mexico St. and Idaho want to keep the WAC alive by expanding eastward, could they invite 6 other schools (FCS)? Would that get around NCAA By-Laws prohibiting and new FBS conferences?

I have:
Appalachian St.
Liberty
Georgia Southern
James Madison
???
????

We know several schools have met to discuss a new Eastern FBS conference, but they decided not to because of the amount of time they would not be eligible for post-season play. Would this be an option?

The 8 schools have to be for all sports.

[TH Spangler]

I saw a rumor on another board tonight the the Patriot league wants W&M AND VMI? Really???

[LUconn]

Hey! Did BJU just steal Maine's logo?

[ATrain]

Old Dominion must finesse the timing of a possible move to Conference USA to keep its football team eligible for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs this season. That's one of the reasons it's unlikely the Monarchs would announce any jump from the Colonial Athletic Association until next month.

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/monarch ... out-timing

If three of the Colonial Athletic Association's pillars are removed, what happens to the Virginia-based league in basketball?

Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University and Old Dominion University have claimed 12 of the CAA's 13 NCAA basketball tournament appearances since 2004.

VCU and Mason became national cover stories after going to the Final Four in 2011 and 2006, respectively, and the success of the trio has given each — and the league — momentum and a higher profile.

Both are weighing moves to the higher-rated Atlantic 10 Conference, which just added Butler to an already strong lineup and brings the possibility of more opportunities to get in the NCAA tournament. The A-10 has had 12 at-large teams in the past six years. The CAA has had four since 1987.

Old Dominion, pushed by the success of its three-year-old football program and a big TV market, is considering a fast-track jump to the highest level of football, the Bowl Subdivision, in Conference USA.

If those three pull out of the CAA, James Madison and William and Mary would be the state teams left in a league that would dwindle to eight teams in 2013, when Georgia State leaves for the Sun Belt Conference.

At that point, the CAA would either regroup or unravel.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/sp ... r-1906792/

The second article discusses a move by Richmond (football only) and W&M to the Patriot League.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I saw a rumor on another board tonight the the Patriot league wants W&M AND VMI? Really???

OK, what on earth is this and where did it come from?

[LUconn]

considering how some states are not tinted blue, Massachusetts is, and CCU is pointing to the wrong state I'd say he altered a current CAA map.

[ATrain]

considering how some states are not tinted blue, Massachusetts is, and CCU is pointing to the wrong state I'd say he altered a current CAA map.

And Rhode Island is also headed for the NEC

[TH Spangler]

Just stirring the pot a little bit ........

[Rooster Cogburn]

From Brett McMurphy on Twitter just now:

George Mason not joining A-10 & will remain in Colonial, GMU AD tells Washington Post

[phoenix]

The fact is, a large part of the academic world looks down on online learning,.

Tell that to MIT, Harvard, and Stanford.

If you believe that because they marginally participate in online classes, that they don't in large part still look down on online education, then I have some bridges for sale you might be interested in...

Not sure the investment they've made in online could be considered marginal, but ok.

[4everfsu]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... teams-2013

[Humble_Opinion]

There's an article on ESPN entitled "Football's Next Wave of Expansion," but it's for Insiders only. Does anyone have that here? If so... post a transcript of it (if it has any good information/points).

[BJWilliams]

There's an article on ESPN entitled "Football's Next Wave of Expansion," but it's for Insiders only. Does anyone have that here? If so... post a transcript of it (if it has any good information/points).

College football is suffering from an identity crisis. Teams are choosing new conferences as if they were playing an advanced version of spin the bottle.

Nebraska opened the floodgates when it decided to make the leap to the Big Ten. Utah and Colorado quickly followed in the Pac-12. Texas A&M and Missouri will be welcomed to the SEC. BYU followed Notre Dame's path and proclaimed its independence. But, will even Notre Dame stay independent? Pitt and Syracuse leapt into the awaiting arms of the ACC. And a glut of programs comprise the Big East's last ditch effort to maintain viability in the sport of football.

This was merely the beginning. The trickle down effect of these moves would even make President Calvin Coolidge proud. College football's rendition of musical chairs is currently ongoing.

The next wave of expansion may hinge on a golden dome. Notre Dame is the key target for at least two conferences, and the hope of a third.

Upon the resignation of Big East commissioner John Marinatto, questions were raised if the basketball predominant portion of the league would splinter from the football side of things. If that became the case, Notre Dame's Olympic sports would likely be targeted by the ACC according to the Pete Thamel of the New York Times. And such a decision would start a tremendous shock wave throughout college football.

"If Notre Dame leaves for the A.C.C., its only realistic destination, the A.C.C. will take Connecticut or Rutgers to make it a 16-team league. And that would send all the Big East blocks tumbling," Thamel wrote.

The Big East would become unhinged to a degree as a football entity. But, it wouldn't destroy the league. Some of the conference's new members appear to be in the Big East for the long haul. Boise State will prove to be the key addition for the Big East if it's going to sustain its football identity.

"If TV money is there, and I suspect it will be, then I don't think Boise State is leaving the Big East," Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman tweeted. "And will find place for other teams."

But, the Mountain West Conference is holding out hope that both Boise State and San Diego State aren't happy with their new accommodations in the Big East. The Mountain West made a public overture which stated there is a spot open for both programs to return to their conference if not. And Boise State may still be considering the possibility.

"An industry source told CBSSports.com that Mountain West representatives met with Boise State officials earlier this week to persuade the Broncos to remain in the MWC. Adding to that possibility is that the Broncos still haven't formally notified the Mountain West they are withdrawing from the league," Brett McMurphy reported.

The Mountain West recently made moves to preserve it's current status. Both Utah State and San Jose State will be added to the conference in 2013. The league's ten teams will include: Utah State, San Jose State, Hawaii, New Mexico, UNLV, Colorado State, Fresno State, Wyoming and Air Force, Nevada. And Thompson's words plainly stated the league is still considering the possibility of adding two more programs. But we'll get to that later.

Let's backtrack for a moment. Notre Dame isn't just a key player in the current Big East drama. The Fighting Irish remain the apple of the Big 12's eye according to Randy Riggs of the Austin American-Statesman. And the Big 12 is appropriately thinking big. It's not just the Fighting Irish the league may be targeting. Florida State's name continues to percolate into the conversation.

Chip Brown of OrangeBloods.com argued Florida State has legitimate reasons to consider the Big 12. The main reasoning falls on the program's ability to start its own network to curb monetary concerns the athletics department is currently experiencing.

"Still, two sources indicated that Florida State's name has not yet been mentioned in expansion talks among Big 12 athletic directors," Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News reported. "One source also wondered about the rumor's resiliency and what it said about legitimate Florida State discontent."

If neither Notre Dame nor Florida State are in the conversation, the two Big East programs -- Louisville and Cincinnati -- which are pining to join the Big 12 may be left in the wreckage of the Big East.

"I was also told that studies had been done looking at what value might be added if any of the original members of the Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati, etc.) would bring to the Big 12, and that report did not come back favorably," sources told Brown.

Even Clemson's name has been pulled into the conversation regarding the Big 12 as a potential travel partner for Florida State -- if the Seminoles do become serious about such a move.

The waves of change continue to ripple.

Conference USA had to keep up with the Mountain West once the two leagues decided a full blown merger wasn't viable.

Conference USA also expanded in recent weeks, but not without headaches of its own. Louisiana Tech, Floria International and North Texas were poached from the Sun Belt Conference. The University of Texas-San Antonio will become a full fledged member of the league once it makes a permanent leap to the FBS level of play. Also, C-USA was able to lure a new program -- Charlotte, which begins play in 2013 -- as an eventual full member. Yet, one school was invited and didn't immediately accept.

Old Dominion has yet to decide if it wants to become a FBS level football program. If the Monarchs do not choose to make the transition, Conference USA is expected to look elsewhere for its 14th member.

Adam Sparks of the Tennesseean says that if Old Dominion waits much longer, then CUSA could add MTSU for 2013. "MTSU could also be chosen outright over Old Dominion for the 14th overall spot," he writes. "And if CUSA further expands to 16 teams, MTSU would likely be chosen."

Appalachian State also remains in the mix until ODU makes its choice. The Mountaineers have been left without a dance partner despite wanting to make the same transition the Monarchs currently appear unwilling to do. Both Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference passed on Appalachian State as a potential member. The Mountaineers are doing everything in their power to find a FBS home.

Appalachian State isn't the only program to be left in the cold. The WAC conference is crumbling. Only two football programs, Idaho and New Mexico State, remain in the league. Neither seems able to find a new home.

Idaho appears to have three options once this final year of WAC football plays itself to completion. The Vandals can plead to the the Mountain West, Conference USA or Sun Belt to accept its football program. Coach Rob Akey's team could become an independent until a suitable conference fit is found. Or Idaho could return to the FCS level of play. And the Big Sky Conference already stated the league would welcome Idaho with open arms.

"I think I could sit at a debate table and be able to convince an awful lot of people that the Big Sky will be the best option (for Idaho)," Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton told told Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman

New Mexico State, meanwhile, has similar options. The Aggies may eventually find a partnership with the Mountain West, because it's the most logical fit. Plus, New Mexico already lobbied for New Mexico State's inclusion. Otherwise, the Aggies will be facing the same decisions Idaho is currently considering.

Finally, the Sun Belt also needed to add programs as three of its teams left for greener pastures. The Sun Belt was able to quickly acquire Texas State due to the WAC's unstable nature. The Sun Belt was also proactive in acquiring Georgia State as it enters the FBS level of play, while South Alabama will make the same leap this season. The Sun Belt's new look going forward includes those three aforementioned teams, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Western Kentucky and Troy. Middle Tennessee State is still a part of the conference, but -- as mentioned earlier -- Conference USA is lurking.

And the carousel continues to spin.

College football's next step in expansion may reach to the level of football's elite and has now worked its way into FCS consideration for some programs. This is the backlash seen once a handful of prolific programs decided one league was better than another and change was needed.

[LUconn]

If the WAC ends in implosion it will be a huge waste. And it won't make any sense. Who is in charge of that league? The 2 remaining school presidents and the commish? As bad as it is to have your entire conference picked apart, the advantage is you only have to convince 1 other school on how to go about saving yourself.