This Just In....

[AppMan]

Hot rumor circulating at SoCon Baseball Tournament. Lil Sammy & UTC said to be pondering a move to the OVC.

[The Cats]

Hot rumor circulating at SoCon Baseball Tournament. Lil Sammy & UTC said to be pondering a move to the OVC.


Guess what? I just heard ASU was pondering a move to the ACC. Wonder if they will hold out to take GSU with them?

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

With UTC and Chatty gradually moving towards relevance in football, why would they want to move to the OVC and commit suicide?

Correction: UTC and Sammy

[Apphole]

UTC AND Chatty?!??

[WUTNDITWAA]

UTC AND Chatty?!??

You're going to give Chattown a Viagra heart attack.

[dgtw]

First I've ever seen UTC and basball in the same sentence.

[ThompsonThe]

If UT-Chattanooga and Samford both went to the OVC, would make it interesting for the SoCon. Would imagine they would finally
take a longer look at Coastal Carolina, and Kennesaw State.
Coastal Carolina is near Conway and Myrtle Beach, SC and Kennesaw State is starting football and is twenty miles North of Atlanta.
ETSU , restarting football, will be pretty strong in the SoCon, VMI occasionally, with Sparky Woods as coach, and Mercer, with former Furman coach Bobby Lamb as coach, is just starting football. Going to be interesting, to say the least.

[walliver]

Hot rumor circulating at SoCon Baseball Tournament. Lil Sammy & UTC said to be pondering a move to the OVC.

Why would Sammy want to go to the OVC - they left that conference to go to the SoCon?

[Accelerati Incredibilus]

Why would Sammy want to go to the OVC - they left that conference to go to the SoCon?

The SoCon they left for no longer exists.

[walliver]

The SoCon they left for no longer exists.

I seriously doubt they joined the SoCon to be with ASU and GSU. They are a long way from Elon. The only real losses from a Samford perspective would be Davidson, and possibly CofC.
The OVC currently has only 1 private school. And no private schools playing football.

[Saint3333]

Yeah you're probably right they didn't consider joining two of the top five FCS programs when they came to the SoCon.

While I disagree with your post, I don't see Samford leaving, especially with the addition of Mercer.

[SU DOG]

Yeah you're probably right they didn't consider joining two of the top five FCS programs when they came to the SoCon.

While I disagree with your post, I don't see Samford leaving, especially with the addition of Mercer.

Agree Saint. Just goes to prove that old saying that: "you can hear anything, EXCEPT two things - meat frying and money rattling".

[AppMan]

I seriously doubt they joined the SoCon to be with ASU and GSU. They are a long way from Elon. The only real losses from a Samford perspective would be Davidson, and possibly CofC.
The OVC currently has only 1 private school. And no private schools playing football.

While I agree they probably didn't join simply to be aligned with ASU & GSU they did desire to be associated with one of the top FCS conferences in the nation in order to make their program better. Those making the case of adding of 2 start up football programs and a long time seller dweller in the Big South to replace the two most successful 1-aa / FCS programs in the country will make the SoCon better is comical. Replacing Davidson and Charleston's basketball programs with ETSU, Mercer and VMI is almost as funny. While ETSU brings a legit program with a good string of success since 2003, neither Mercer, who hasn't been to the NCAA's since 1985 or VMI, last time in the NCAA tournament was 1977 will help fill that void. Baseball is taking the biggest hit and losing 4 of its top 6 programs. IF UTC and Samford are in fact looking those are probably the contributing factors.

[Sandlapper Spike]

I was at the SoCon tournament and did not hear this rumor.

[SU_IT_able]

Pretty sure it's a baseless rumor.

[chattanoogamocs]

New AD David Blackburn flat out said in the TFP this week that he has talked to other conferences. But, it was no formal discussion, just informal calls to get a feel for what's out there (present and future). With the way things have transpired in the last 6 months, you can't blame someone for looking at their options. He is being pro-active (unlike the SoCon).

That being said, I think UTC will stick with the SoCon, at least for the near term. I won't lie though, all the upheaval and leaving has made UTC sit up and pay attention. If football continues to progress and Will Wade gets basketball back to where it should be (and Jim Foster continues on Wes Moore's great work in women's basketball), you might see UTC aiming higher in 5-7 years.

Blackburn was specifically brought in for his fundraising abilities (that was the only real knock on Rick Hart, he was a great administrator, but not a great salesman). Hart always "played with what he had" financially...Blackburn has said "we need to do this and it is going to cost this much to be successful" ...and then he goes out and get the money for it (which is why the mbb job got a significant bump from about $130K to about $220...plus more money for assts).

I will say this and hopefully people won't think I am being "chattownish", I am just repeating the general consensus seems to be with some of the bigger donors and some admins...the Mocs best move is to stick the SoCon, which will obviously be easier to win in (not saying "easy" as an insult to other schools, just easi-er when your top 2 for football and basketball programs are gone)...in all sports...build up the won/loss record, get attendance back up in basketball...then seriously consider a move up to FBS. Chattanooga has the components (good facilities, good overall program, a school that will be over 15,000 in 5 years, a good sized media market), they just need someone to bring in more money and they need the football team to make the playoffs and get their mbb team back in 80-120 range (which they pretty much were every year from the early 80's to late 90's).

Of course, as crazy as the last few months has been...who knows...I do know that Blackburn has done a good job of keeping things quiet until he is ready to make a move. Hiring Jim Foster (783 wins at St Joes, Vandy, Ohio State) came absolutely out of nowhere.

[chattanoogamocs]

Plus, I thought Samford never liked the OVC in the first place.

I have heard that Belmont isn't terribly excited there either (I would love to see them in the SoCon, that would take a lot of the sting out of Davidson leaving)

[walliver]

Plus, I thought Samford never liked the OVC in the first place.

I have heard that Belmont isn't terribly excited there either (I would love to see them in the SoCon, that would take a lot of the sting out of Davidson leaving)

I have heard that Samford approached the Southern Conference before joining the OVC, but there were no spots available. When VMI left and a spot opened up, Samford had just committed to the OVC and didn't feel they could walk away from that. With the dearth of private FCS schools in the deep/mid-south, the SoCon would appear to be the best fit.

[WestCoastAggie]

Belmont is primed to be the dominant OVC squad in basketball for the next few years.

[TTUEagles]

Plus, I thought Samford never liked the OVC in the first place.

I have heard that Belmont isn't terribly excited there either (I would love to see them in the SoCon, that would take a lot of the sting out of Davidson leaving)

I am an alumnus of both Tennessee Tech and Belmont, and from what I've heard this is 180 degrees from the truth. Belmont sought out to be in the OVC from day 1 in moving to Division 1.

[Accelerati Incredibilus]

With 9 football schools the OVC is at the perfect number. BUT... adding UTC, ETSU and Samford they could create two divisions and cut costs considerably. Add one additional basketball school for two 8 team divisions.

ETSU, Samford, Jax State, Tenn State, Tenn Tech, UTC
AP, E Ill, EKU, Murry, SEMO, UTM

[Accelerati Incredibilus]

New AD David Blackburn flat out said in the TFP this week that he has talked to other conferences. But, it was no formal discussion, just informal calls to get a feel for what's out there (present and future). With the way things have transpired in the last 6 months, you can't blame someone for looking at their options. He is being pro-active (unlike the SoCon).

That being said, I think UTC will stick with the SoCon, at least for the near term. I won't lie though, all the upheaval and leaving has made UTC sit up and pay attention. If football continues to progress and Will Wade gets basketball back to where it should be (and Jim Foster continues on Wes Moore's great work in women's basketball), you might see UTC aiming higher in 5-7 years.

Blackburn was specifically brought in for his fundraising abilities (that was the only real knock on Rick Hart, he was a great administrator, but not a great salesman). Hart always "played with what he had" financially...Blackburn has said "we need to do this and it is going to cost this much to be successful" ...and then he goes out and get the money for it (which is why the mbb job got a significant bump from about $130K to about $220...plus more money for assts).

I will say this and hopefully people won't think I am being "chattownish", I am just repeating the general consensus seems to be with some of the bigger donors and some admins...the Mocs best move is to stick the SoCon, which will obviously be easier to win in (not saying "easy" as an insult to other schools, just easi-er when your top 2 for football and basketball programs are gone)...in all sports...build up the won/loss record, get attendance back up in basketball...then seriously consider a move up to FBS. Chattanooga has the components (good facilities, good overall program, a school that will be over 15,000 in 5 years, a good sized media market), they just need someone to bring in more money and they need the football team to make the playoffs and get their mbb team back in 80-120 range (which they pretty much were every year from the early 80's to late 90's).

Of course, as crazy as the last few months has been...who knows...I do know that Blackburn has done a good job of keeping things quiet until he is ready to make a move. Hiring Jim Foster (783 wins at St Joes, Vandy, Ohio State) came absolutely out of nowhere.

Have long thought UTC had a lot going for it to become a FBS program. Good sized city with a lot of industry, great tourist destination, located at the intersection of two major interstate highways, a major airport, in the heart of fertile recruiting areas and solid facilities. I know you guys fight the Big Orange menace to the north, but all in all the school has a lot going for it. The school would fit quite nicely in the SB.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I also heard that Nick Saban was going to be the next great assistant coach at App, and arrange to have them moved to their rightful place in the SEC.

[ASUMountaineer]

I also heard that Nick Saban was going to be the next great assistant coach at App, and arrange to have them moved to their rightful place in the SEC.

I heard that Lehigh...actually, I've heard nothing about Lehigh.

[Waco Kid]

I heard the same rumors but didn't know what to think at the time. Just a few weeks a go many of you were saying that Elon had no reason to join the CAA. At this point everyone should know better than to say a school would never move. If UTC is serious about leaving the SoCon then it is reasonable to think Samford would feel out of place. Supposedly UTC first talked to WCU about moving to the OVC with them but the Cats weren't interested.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Interesting that the only, and I mean the only, sources of these rumors are a bunch of fans of a school that is leaving the Socon.

[The Cats]

I heard the same rumors but didn't know what to think at the time. Just a few weeks a go many of you were saying that Elon had no reason to join the CAA. At this point everyone should know better than to say a school would never move. If UTC is serious about leaving the SoCon then it is reasonable to think Samford would feel out of place. Supposedly UTC first talked to WCU about moving to the OVC with them but the Cats weren't interested.

Of the remaining 7 schools, right now - there is not a reason to move. Without ASU/GSU, football will be more competitive, without Davidson/Charleston, basketball will be more competitive. I didn't say the conference would be better, but more competitive for the remaining teams. Now, UTC will have a legit shot at the auto bid, as will the other remaining teams. I think all the remaining schools will stick around, to see how it works out, there is no reason to make a lateral move right now, when the SoCon will be wide open. If UTC or someone decided they wanted to go FBS, we'll they'll just follow ASU and GSU - no FCS conference can help them in that respect.

Becoming a FCS power again - should come in time, a couple or three schools will step up. In the mean time, we'll just enjoy the football on Saturdays. As far as Elon goes, they felt out of place - just like UNCG does now. I have no problem with Greensboro remaining, but could understand if they moved to a basketball conference.

[ChetSteadman]

Interesting that the only, and I mean the only, sources of these rumors are a bunch of fans of a school that is leaving the Socon.

You know what's not interesting?

Your opinion.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

You know what's not interesting?

Your opinion.

... says the guy with Posts: 12.

[PaladinFan]

Of the remaining 7 schools, right now - there is not a reason to move. Without ASU/GSU, football will be more competitive, without Davidson/Charleston, basketball will be more competitive. I didn't say the conference would be better, but more competitive for the remaining teams. Now, UTC will have a legit shot at the auto bid, as will the other remaining teams. I think all the remaining schools will stick around, to see how it works out, there is no reason to make a lateral move right now, when the SoCon will be wide open. If UTC or someone decided they wanted to go FBS, we'll they'll just follow ASU and GSU - no FCS conference can help them in that respect.

Becoming a FCS power again - should come in time, a couple or three schools will step up. In the mean time, we'll just enjoy the football on Saturdays. As far as Elon goes, they felt out of place - just like UNCG does now. I have no problem with Greensboro remaining, but could understand if they moved to a basketball conference.

If someone can give me one good reason WCU would pay a couple hundred grand to leave the SoCon and play for a less impressive OVC, I'd be interested to hear it.

[ChetSteadman]

... says the guy with Posts: 12.

Ohhhh...you post counted me! Thatll really get me, wont it?!?!

I've been around these parts longer than my profile indicates, and I don't need 13 posts to know that your opinion about the SoCon or App State doesn't mean **** (but you'll still share it with everyone, regardless).

[ASUMountaineer]

... says the guy with Posts: 12.

You should start another Sun Belt thread to discuss how little you care about the Sun Belt. xthumbsupx

[Apphole]

... says the guy with Posts: 12.

I have 4,465 posts. I think you're a troll with an unhealthy obsession with the Sun Belt Conference.

[The Cats]

I have 4,465 posts. I think you're a troll with an unhealthy obsession with the Sun Belt Conference.


Nobody has an obsession with the Sun Belt.

Yeah, it's FBS, I know.

[ASUMountaineer]

Nobody has an obsession with the Sun Belt.

Yeah, it's FBS, I know.

I don't think LFN is obsessed with the Sun Belt Conference. I do think it provides him trolling opportunities that he just finds too enticing to let pass. He's essentially becoming chattown, but with a website.

[The Cats]

I don't think LFN is obsessed with the Sun Belt Conference. I do think it provides him trolling opportunities that he just finds too enticing to let pass. He's essentially becoming chattown, but with a website.

Is that any different than what you guys do on the Catamount Pride board. Kettle, meet Pot.

[Saint3333]

No, App actually plays WCU in every sport. In the last 14 days we've played you 4 times in baseball, there was something to talk about.

[ChetSteadman]

Is that any different than what you guys do on the Catamount Pride board. Kettle, meet Pot.

Totally different. App fans don't hijack every thread until App is brought up. This moron injects his opinions constantly.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Totally different. App fans don't hijack every thread until App is brought up. This moron injects his opinions constantly.

...


Hot rumor circulating at SoCon Baseball Tournament. Lil Sammy & UTC said to be pondering a move to the OVC.

Wow. Appman really bringing something up that concerns App in any way. xrolleyesx

Congratulations. 3 of your 14 posts in two years have been concerning me. How does it feel?

[Apphole]

...
Wow. App fan really bringing something up that concerns them in any way. xrolleyesx

Well, it was a conference we're just now leaving and one in which we have one more year to compete.

App and the SBC have no connection to Lehigh or the ACC in any way whatsoever. Your website blows by the way.

[ChetSteadman]

...



Wow. Appman really bringing something up that concerns App in any way. xrolleyesx

Congratulations. 3 of your 14 posts in two years have been concerning me. How does it feel?

Keep trolling App threads and that ratio will grow.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Well, it was a conference we're just now leaving and one in which we have one more year to compete.

App and the SBC have no connection to Lehigh or the ACC in any way whatsoever. Your website blows by the way.

Not in football. Thanks for visiting.

http://www.college-sports-journal.com
http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Keep trolling App threads and that ratio will grow.

This is an App thread how? "Lil Sammy & UTC said to be pondering a move to the OVC" is the completely unsubstantiated rumor, brought up by AppMan apparently only for the viewership of other App fans, which is the basis of this entire thread.

[ASUMountaineer]

Is that any different than what you guys do on the Catamount Pride board. Kettle, meet Pot.

Yes. None of those guys have a website. xlolx Keep trying.

[ASUMountaineer]

This is an App thread how? "Lil Sammy & UTC said to be pondering a move to the OVC" is the completely unsubstantiated rumor, brought up by AppMan apparently only for the viewership of other App fans, which is the basis of this entire thread.

xlolx

[TheRevSFA]

Children, play nice.

[Apphole]

Not in football. Thanks for visiting.

xconfusedx

2013 App Football Schedule

Sat, Aug 31 Montana at Missoula, Mont. TBA

Sat, Sep 07 NORTH CAROLINA A&T BOONE, N.C. 6 p.m.

Sat, Sep 21 Elon * at Elon, N.C. TBA

Sat, Sep 28 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (Family Weekend) BOONE, N.C. 3:30 p.m.

Sat, Oct 05 The Citadel * at Charleston, S.C. 2 p.m.

Sat, Oct 12 SAMFORD (Homecoming) * BOONE, N.C. 3:30 p.m.

Sat, Oct 19 Furman * at Greenville, S.C. TBA

Sat, Oct 26 GEORGIA SOUTHERN (Black Saturday) * BOONE, N.C. 3:30 p.m.

Sat, Nov 02 CHATTANOOGA * BOONE, N.C. 3:30 p.m.

Sat, Nov 09 Georgia at Athens, Ga. TBA

Sat, Nov 16 Wofford * at Spartanburg, S.C. 1:30 p.m.

Sat, Nov 23 WESTERN CAROLINA * BOONE, N.C. 3:30 p.m.

[ASUMountaineer]

Children, play nice.

Why do you have to ruin the fun?!?


xlolx

[TheRevSFA]

Why do you have to ruin the fun?!?


xlolx

Someone has to keep you all in check.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

xconfusedx

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/28/socon-must-look-at-football-scheduling-concerns/


Officials from all 11 2013 SoCon members will take part in meetings today. Among the topics they will discuss is whether to allow the departing schools to be eligible for SoCon titles in 2013-14. Georgia Southern and App State already will not be in football because they will be above the 63-scholarship limit in the Football Championship Subdivision.

They will be FBS independents in football, so there are no * next to the games against the SoCon opponents.

[Apphole]

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/28/socon-must-look-at-football-scheduling-concerns/



They will be FBS independents in football, so there are no * next to the games against the SoCon opponents.

And how exactly does that make SoCon football more relevant to you, a Lehigh fan, than it does to me, an App fan when App plays a full SoCon schedule this year?

Do you ever get dizzy from talking in circles on AGS all day every day?

[ASUMountaineer]

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/28/socon-must-look-at-football-scheduling-concerns/



They will be FBS independents in football, so there are no * next to the games against the SoCon opponents.

http://www.goasu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=206946378&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=21500&DB_LANG=C&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=


In the first year of the reclassification process (2013), Appalachian State will play a full Southern Conference schedule but will be ineligible for participation in the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Appalachian will also be ineligible to officially win the Southern Conference title, as the league would forfeit its automatic berth in the Division I Football Championship if its champion were ineligible to participate in the postseason.

xconfusedx

[ASUMountaineer]

And how exactly does that make SoCon football more relevant to you, a Lehigh fan, than it does to me, an App fan when App plays a full SoCon schedule this year?

Do you ever get dizzy from talking in circles on AGS all day every day?

Like I said in another thread, he just can't help himself.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

And how exactly does that make SoCon football more relevant to you, a Lehigh fan, than it does to me, an App fan when App plays a full SoCon schedule this year?

Do you ever get dizzy from talking in circles on AGS all day every day?

Unlike App, Lehigh might need to play against a SoCon school on their path to the FCS National Championship.

[Apphole]

Unlike App, Lehigh might need to play against a SoCon school on their path to the FCS National Championship.

xlolx That's quite the stretch.

So since there is a small potential for Lehigh to meet a SoCon team in the FCS playoffs, it not only makes the SoCon a relevant topic to a Lehigh poster, but causes the VAST majority of his posts to be centered around the Southern conference and it's current and former members. Meanwhile, a team that plays every single SoCon school in the coming season has no business talking about the Southern Conference, as that particular school is ineligible for a SoCon championship.

xrotatehxxrotatehxxrotatehxxrotatehxxrotatehxxrota tehxxrotatehxxrotatehxxrotatehxxrotatehxxrotatehxx rotatehxxrotatehx

xlolx

How many hits does your blog get a day? 4? 5? I bet those few folks are just reading it for a laugh.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

How many hits does your blog get a day? 4? 5? I bet those few folks are just reading it for a laugh.

You forgot the link.

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com

And rest assured that I'm not worried about hit counts.

[cmaxwellgsu]

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/28/socon-must-look-at-football-scheduling-concerns/



They will be FBS independents in football, so there are no * next to the games against the SoCon opponents.


Yet we'll both still have better shots of making the FCS playoffs than LeHigh.....

[Apphole]

Does the Patriot League even have an autobid anymore?

[Sandlapper Spike]

I think App would probably be more accurately described as an FCS independent in football next season, rather than FBS, primarily because of its schedule.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I think App would probably be more accurately described as an FCS independent in football next season, rather than FBS, primarily because of its schedule.

No, they're FBS transitional, not the same thing. They will be carrying greater than the "63 or below" limit of scholarships that defines FCS schools. Scheduling has nothing to do with it, it's more about the timing of the move.

I realize it's confusing.

[Sandlapper Spike]

I understand that. However, App isn't eligible for FBS bowl consideration or anything like that, either. It's a never-never land situation.

[walliver]

Does the Patriot League even have an autobid anymore?

Come on ... everybody gets a bid now (except for the 2 conferences that refuse them).

Leaving FCS means you are giving up a first round game against the Pioneer champions.

[AppMan]

Interesting that the only, and I mean the only, sources of these rumors are a bunch of fans of a school that is leaving the Socon.

That is where you are wrong, as you so often are. I am not the source of the rumor. I simply stated what I heard at the baseball tournament.

[walliver]

That is where you are wrong, as you so often are. I am not the source of the rumor. I simply stated what I heard at the baseball tournament.

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?132543-Samford-and-UTC-Are-On-The-Clock
This is probably where it started.