[thepostman]

haha, sorry BJ. I will leave the insulting up to the professionals!

Like you!

[RVAparks]

BJ, I'd guess that it's more of North Alabama holding out for the OVC and they likely have the Big South or others as a back up plan. NAU doesn't have to be in any hurry right now. Football is a valuable asset so it doesn't put them in a situation like Longwood was in or a school like NJIT is in right now.

OVC is solid at 12 right now, with the exception of Jacksonville State. Maybe when they leave NAU slips right in. I'd guess there back up plan would be Lipscomb since Belmont just joined.

[Sly Fox]

I get the impression that while the OVC is North Alabama's ideal destination, they would be thrilled to get a call from any DI league. The Big South certainly has experience with Alabama membership. And while financially BSU couldn't hang, they were extremely competitive between the lines. North Alabama would be even better suited to succeed IMHO.

[RVAparks]

But why rush at this point? They could have offers on the table. They are still in the transitional phase where they are playing a D2 schedule and eligible for the D2 postseason. They can't play a D1 conference schedule until 2014-15 and then they won't be eligible for postseason play until 2017-18. They could have an offer, but it may be contingent on some things over the next couple of years. Also, I'm not sure if they help keep an AQ to FCS Playoffs b/c they won't be eligible for five years. I assume that is the case.

UNA also has to add two sports before they can move to D1, which they have not done yet to my knowledge.

I think UNA can take their time at this point and look for the right home to develop within the next two years or so, as I said having football is a valuable asset.

[Sly Fox]

We went through the transitional school wait for eligibility with PC and the league could do it again. North Alabama wants to be DI and they need to get the clock ticking. KK had an opportunity this summer to capitalize on their predicament and in typical KK fashion the ball was dropped.

[RVAparks]

I'm not saying that from a Big South perspective that they shouldn't invite them, I'm saying perhaps NAU is waiting and being diligent in finding the right place for their school. They don't have to be in a rush right now. Clearly Presbyterian's best fit was with the Big South or SoCon and we all know a SoCon invite wasn't on its way.

[Blessed1]

I really like what Mercer is doing for their football program. Their new football/lacrosse complex will be finished in 2013... I hope they're on the Big South's radar.

http://www.mercer.edu/football/

[flamesfilmguy]

I really like what Mercer is doing for their football program. Their new football/lacrosse complex will be finished in 2013... I hope they're on the Big South's radar.

http://www.mercer.edu/football/

they are. if you want more info DM me. I doubt any of my bosses read this but just in case.

[Sly Fox]

Well played, FFG.

[TDDance234]

I really like what Mercer is doing for their football program. Their new football/lacrosse complex will be finished in 2013... I hope they're on the Big South's radar.

http://www.mercer.edu/football/

they are. if you want more info DM me. I doubt any of my bosses read this but just in case.

DM you? What do you think this is...Twitter?

[RVAparks]

Is Mercer's plan to play Pioneer football though?

[jcmanson]

Pioneer football league >>>> no football team

[Blessed1]

Is Mercer's plan to play Pioneer football though?

Yes. Mercer will be in the Pioneer Football League with Campbell. I have no idea if they plan to entertain scholarships in the near future. However, they're in the Big South's farm system... They call it the Atlantic Sun Conference.

[phoenix]

Officially Maryland was still in the Union, and I don't know anyone who would consider it a Southern state today.

Tennessee was also officially in the Union. Want to argue that it isn't a southern state?

Maryland's northern border is the Mason-Dixon Line. Geographically, it is southern. Culturally, it is mixed (Southern Md. is pretty southern, northern Md. is practically Pennsylvania). And there were Maryland regiments in the Confederate Army: 1st and 2nd Maryland Infantry, 1st and 2nd Maryland Cavalry, and 1st through 4th Maryland Artillery. The official state song is certainly anti-Union

</threadjack>

[jbock13]

Tennessee was a confederate state.

[phoenix]

Tennessee was a confederate state.

Yeah, I meant Kentucky, even thought Kentucky as I was typing the wrong state. (Even though Kentucky was officially neutral, there was still far more Northern sympathies there than Southern).

[jbock13]

Tennessee was a confederate state.

Yeah, I meant Kentucky, even thought Kentucky as I was typing the wrong state. (Even though Kentucky was officially neutral, there was still far more Northern sympathies there than Southern).

No worries. That's what I thought you meant but wasn't sure.

[Blessed1]

Looks like West Georgia is definitely in play...

West Georgia to explore Division I status

West Georgia has commissioned a study to explore the possibility of playing football on the Division I level.

The Wolves are currently Division II and play in the Gulf South Conference, but have asked Collegiate Consulting to analyze playing on the FCS level. Moving football would require moving all sports to Division I.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-georgia-sp ... -i-status/

[Blessed1]

With VMI being considered to return to the SoCon and the Sun Belt dragging their feet before naming a 12th football member, another school that could be considered for the Big South is Columbus State (GA) of the Peach Belt Conference. Just like West Georgia and North Alabama, they too are interested in moving up to D1...

Columbus State committee to consider adding football, moving to Division I

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/12/ ... -look.html