Just For Fun: Conference Realignment

[Mr. Tibbs]

This scenario is most likely not going to happen, or at least not to this scale!
But, I thought it would be fun to play around with what conferences might look like if there were to become a new division in college football. This thread is not about the possibility of that happening, or why it will or will not work to have a new division.

Here are the Rules:
1) Geography must be a factor ( No coast to coast conferences )
2) Size and scope of the schools needs to be as similar as possible
3) You can pick schools FBS, FCS, and DII to form your conferences.

Here is an example for West of the Mississippi:

Southwest:
NAU
SUU
New Mexico
New Mexico State
UTEP
West Texas A&M

Northwest:
PSU
EWU
Cal Davis
Cal Poly
Fresno State
SJSU
Sac State


Intermountain:
Montana
Montana State
Idaho
Idaho State
Wyoming
Colorado State
Utah State
Weber



Northern Plains:
SDSU
NDSU
USD
UND
UNI
UNO (if they brought football back)
Drake


Central:
MSU
SEMO
Arkansas State
CAU
SIU
Tulsa
Wichita State (See UNO)


Southland:
SHSU
ACU
SFA
UTSA
North Texas
Angelo State
Midwestern State


Delta:
McNeese
SELA
Tulane
UL-Lafayette
UL-Monroe
Louisiana Tech
Nicholls State
Northwestern State

[Mr. Tibbs]

****Forgot to mention the whole point of the thread: Post your own version!

[Cocky]

My dream for JSU
JSU
UAB
UNA
USA
Troy
GaSo
UTC
USM
Middle
Murray
WKU
EKU


Tried to keep travel down which I believe would increase attendance. Not a big believer in the media markets make great conferences theory.

[darell1976]

For UND:

UND
NDSU
USD
SDSU
UNI
UNO (if they brought football back)
MSU-Mankato (currently DII)
Montana
Montana State

All teams except the Montana's used to be in the NCC together so it would be great to see that, plus UND had great games in the 60's, and 70's with the Montana's so add them into the conference.

[kingranch]

For UND:

UND
NDSU
USD
SDSU
UNI
UNO (if they brought football back)
MSU-Mankato (currently DII)
Montana
Montana State

All teams except the Montana's used to be in the NCC together so it would be great to see that, plus UND had great games in the 60's, and 70's with the Montana's so add them into the conference.

The montanas would not want anything to do with that conference.

[clenz]

The montanas would not want anything to do with that conference.

Neither would UNI

Sent from my S4 using Tapatalk

[darell1976]

Let's see your conference so it can be critiqued.

[ngineer]

Eastern Dream Conference:

Lehigh
Lafayette
Colgate
Bucknell
Fordham
Holy Cross
Georgetown
Villanova
Richmond
William & Mary

[Cocky]

The montanas would not want anything to do with that conference.
Most of these teams wouldn't want anything to do with these conferences. I thought that was a given by looking at the title.

[Sammy94]

LONE STAR CONFERENCE

SOUTH
SHSU
Lamar
Rice
UH
UTSA

NORTH
SMU
SFA
Texas St.
North Texas
ACU

[BEAR]

Central:
MSU
SEMO
Arkansas State
CAU
SIU
Tulsa
Wichita State (See UNO)


Which conference does UCA go into? Is that the Bears as CAU?

[clenz]

Are we taking basketball into account in this?

I realize very few schools would care about that...but...

Are we also assuming that the teams would go fully funded and actually put support behind the program?

[BisonFan02]

Are we taking basketball into account in this?

I realize very few schools would care about that...but...

Are we also assuming that the teams would go fully funded and actually put support behind the program?

Fair questions. I would assume that basketball is being totally disregarded. Either way, wouldn't you want to leave SIU behind for the ol' NCC??? xlolx

[CID1990]

This scenario is most likely not going to happen, or at least not to this scale!
But, I thought it would be fun to play around with what conferences might look like if there were to become a new division in college football. This thread is not about the possibility of that happening, or why it will or will not work to have a new division.

Here are the Rules:
1) Geography must be a factor ( No coast to coast conferences )
2) Size and scope of the schools needs to be as similar as possible
3) You can pick schools FBS, FCS, and DII to form your conferences.

Here is an example for West of the Mississippi:

Southwest:
NAU
SUU
New Mexico
New Mexico State
UTEP
West Texas A&M

Northwest:
PSU
EWU
Cal Davis
Cal Poly
Fresno State
SJSU
Sac State


Intermountain:
Montana
Montana State
Idaho
Idaho State
Wyoming
Colorado State
Utah State
Weber



Northern Plains:
SDSU
NDSU
USD
UND
UNI
UNO (if they brought football back)
Drake


Central:
MSU
SEMO
Arkansas State
CAU
SIU
Tulsa
Wichita State (See UNO)


Southland:
SHSU
ACU
SFA
UTSA
North Texas
Angelo State
Midwestern State


Delta:
McNeese
SELA
Tulane
UL-Lafayette
UL-Monroe
Louisiana Tech
Nicholls State
Northwestern State


I was thinking this was just an elaborate troll of the GSU and ASU fans

[clenz]

Fair questions. I would assume that basketball is being totally disregarded. Either way, wouldn't you want to leave SIU behind for the ol' NCC??? xlolx
Errr.....

Leave behind a great rival of the last 10-15 years for someone that only the oldest of the fan bases remember being rivals the first time?


Honestly though, that's why I need to know if basketball matters. To a select few schools (namely UNI, SIU, MSU, ISUr, ISUb and Drake) it makes a huge difference in setting up a conference we actually want to be part of or a just for fun football conference.

Drake is also a perfect example of why I want to know if any school we pick is going to fully fund and stand behind their program. I also assume we are saying "They don't have football but I want them too so I'm going to pretend they have it - Wichita State and UNO...?

[Mattymc727]

Once again UNH and Maine are on an island of their own really. Unless the NEC wants to become full scholly. All of our old New England rivals dropped football or moved up.

I wish UNH and Maine would become full CAA members, but I suppose thats not happening anytime soon.

[darell1976]

Most of these teams wouldn't want anything to do with these conferences. I thought that was a given by looking at the title.

Some people missed the just for fun and must think this is actually going to happen.xrolleyesx

[clenz]

Okay...I'm just going to do a couple scenarios...

My dream conference - in which basketball and volleyball play an important role (As they do in the MVC) along with baseball. UNI doesn't have baseball but I understand how important it is to the conference. This conference will have all teams fully funded with great institutional support and assuming start up programs won't be complete dog ****...mostly respectable if not very good because of the money they'll be able to dump into it

Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Missouri State
Illinois State
Drake
Indiana State
Western Kentucky
Bradley - start up program
Wichita State - start up program

Next in line: in quasi-order
Butler
Belmont - adding football
Tulsa (I know you'll say "they don't fit" but they were with most of the previously mentioned schools until 1997 in the MVC)
Dayton
Northern Illinois (though some may want to say they don't fit the "profile" with the others mentioned)
Murray State


Okay...

Pretending nothing other than football matters...but all programs will go full funded...using only existing FB teams...and pretending all schools are okay with the travel...still not coast to coast

Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Western Kentucky
Illinois State
Drake
Missouri State
South Dakota State
North Dakota State
Northern Illinois


One more right now.

Only football matters...as programs sit right now...

Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Western Kentucky
Illinois State
Missouri State
South Dakota State
North Dakota State
Northern Illinois
Murray State

[bostonspider]

Eastern Dream Conference:

Lehigh
Lafayette
Colgate
Bucknell
Fordham
Holy Cross
Georgetown
Villanova
Richmond
William & Mary

I think adding a couple more southern schools to get to 12 would be the best.

North
Holy Cross
Colgate
Fordham
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette

South
Villanova
Georgetown
Richmond
William & Mary
VMI
Davidson

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I think adding a couple more southern schools to get to 12 would be the best.

North
Holy Cross
Colgate
Fordham
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette

South
Villanova
Georgetown
Richmond
William & Mary
Delaware
Towson

Fixed it for you.

[bostonspider]

Fixed it for you.

I don't think either Delaware or Towson want to stay in FCS for the long haul. Smaller private schools are a better addition, along with W&M, which is as close to a private as a public can get. If you want to swap out VMI and Davidson for Furman and Wofford, that would be fine with me as well.. Play the 5 in your division, and alternate with 3 in the opposite division.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I don't think either Delaware or Towson want to stay in FCS for the long haul. Smaller private schools are a better addition, along with W&M, which is as close to a private as a public can get. If you want to swap out VMI and Davidson for Furman and Wofford, that would be fine with me as well.. Play the 5 in your division, and alternate with 3 in the opposite division.

That works for me. :)

[DFW HOYA]

For what it's worth, four Northeastern conferences at nine teams each:

Colonial:
Albany
Central Connecticut
Delaware
James Madison
Liberty
Maine
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Stony Brook


Ivy:
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Georgetown (FB only)
Harvard
Pennsylvania
Princeton
Yale

Northeast:
Bryant
Duquesne
Hofstra
Marist
Monmouth
New Haven
Sacred Heart
St. Francis
Wagner

Patriot:
Bucknell
Colgate
Fordham
Holy Cross
Richmond
Lafayette
Lehigh
Villanova (FB only)
William & Mary

[ccd494]

Without regarding any other school's feelings on the matter:

NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE ALL SPORTS:

Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont
Boston University
Northeastern
Massachusetts-Lowell
Central Connecticut State
Albany
Stony Brook
Binghamton
New Brunswick
McGill

NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL:

Maine
New Hampshire
Massachusetts (affiliate)
Rhode Island (affiliate)
Bryant (affiliate)
Central Connecticut State
Stony Brook
Albany
McGill

NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE HOCKEY:

Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont
Boston University
Northeastern
Massachusetts-Lowell
Boston College (affiliate)
Providence College (affiliate)
University of New Brunswick
McGill

[aceinthehole]

A totally hypothetical and unrealistic conference affiliation from this CCSU fan's perspective:

Albany
Central Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Stony Brook
Towson
Vermont (no football)

8-game football schedule; 18-game home/away basketball schedule

I prefer the true round-robin format for basketball, but if we need/wanted 12 teams, then I would add Binghamton and George Mason.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I am amused at how all these dream Big Northeast conferences exclude Holy Cross.

[clenz]

I am amused at how all these dream Big Northeast conferences exclude Holy Cross.
Makes you wonder if HC doesn't have the appeal that some seem to think they have/used to...doesn't it?

[melloware13]

"North Atlantic States Conference"
Connecticut (North)
Delaware (South)
James Madison (South)
Maine (North)
Massachusetts (North)
New Hampshire (North)
Old Dominion (South)
Rhode Island (North)
Rutgers (South)
Towson (South)
Vermont (North)

Besides JMU, ODU, and Towson, all are flagship schools in small states. Those three fit well in terms of being similar sized public schools. Vermont would add football, conference championship at the Meadowlands. Basketball tournament either at Izod Center (Meadowlands) or Prudential Center (Newark, NJ).

Another option replaces Vermont with Temple (puts Rutgers in North).

[ccd494]

"North Atlantic States Conference"
Connecticut (North)
Delaware (South)
James Madison (South)
Maine (North)
Massachusetts (North)
New Hampshire (North)
Old Dominion (South)
Rhode Island (North)
Rutgers (South)
Towson (South)
Vermont (North)

Besides JMU, ODU, and Towson, all are flagship schools in small states. Those three fit well in terms of being similar sized public schools. Vermont would add football, conference championship at the Meadowlands. Basketball tournament either at Izod Center (Meadowlands) or Prudential Center (Newark, NJ).

Another option replaces Vermont with Temple (puts Rutgers in North).

Yikes. We could call this one the "Maine never wins a conference game in any sport ever again" conference.

[clenz]

"North Atlantic States Conference"
Connecticut (North)
Delaware (South)
James Madison (South)
Maine (North)
Massachusetts (North)
New Hampshire (North)
Old Dominion (South)
Rhode Island (North)
Rutgers (South)
Towson (South)
Vermont (North)

Besides JMU, ODU, and Towson, all are flagship schools in small states. Those three fit well in terms of being similar sized public schools. Vermont would add football, conference championship at the Meadowlands. Basketball tournament either at Izod Center (Meadowlands) or Prudential Center (Newark, NJ).

Another option replaces Vermont with Temple (puts Rutgers in North).
I'm all for stretching the university profile requirement...but...

UCONN?

[aceinthehole]

I am amused at how all these dream Big Northeast conferences exclude Holy Cross.

I just think there is an desire (by both fans/alumni and the administration) for the profile of a conference to be either public or private. The New England flagships (Maine, UNH, UVM) much rather expand to other public universities, rather than stay "regional" and have privates.

Look at the evolution of America East over the years. In 1983 the league was 6 private and just 3 public schools. Today the league has 8 public universities and just 1 private (Hartford). Furthermore, the league never had more than 7 member sponsor football at the same time.

1983 (ECAC-North)
Boston Univ.*
Canisius
Colgate*
Holy Cross*
Maine*
New Hampshire*
Niagara
Northeastern*
Vermont

2014 (America East)
Albany*
Binghamton
Hartford
Maine*
Maryland-Baltimore County
Massachusetts-Lowell
New Hampshire*
Stony Brook*
Vermont

*Football

[ccd494]

I'm all for stretching the university profile requirement...but...

UCONN?

UConn was a member of the all sports Yankee Conference from 1947-1975. And football only for a long time after that.

[CFBfan]

I think adding a couple more southern schools to get to 12 would be the best.

North
Holy Cross
Colgate
Fordham
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette

South
Villanova
Georgetown
Richmond
William & Mary
VMI
Davidson

can't do this, Davidson and Gtown will NEVER win a game and the South Conf would have an unfair advantage with 2 cupcakes

[clenz]

UConn was a member of the all sports Yankee Conference from 1947-1975. And football only for a long time after that.
Their profile now compared to then though is...well...not the same.

Maybe I'm missing something there by being in Iowa vs. out east though

[ccd494]

Their profile now compared to then though is...well...not the same.

Maybe I'm missing something there by being in Iowa vs. out east though

It said to just set up your dream conference, I'd rather that UConn never left vs. playing schools like Elon that couldn't mean less to me.

[clenz]

It said to just set up your dream conference, I'd rather that UConn never left vs. playing schools like Elon that couldn't mean less to me.
I brought it up due to the parameters in the first post.

That's all.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Personally, my dream conference would include Delaware, because there is a sort-of rivalry there and it would be awesome to play them every year.

Lehigh
Lafayette
Bucknell
Delaware
Rutgers
Princeton
Fordham
Colgate
Georgetown
Holy Cross

[PAllen]

The new Ivy League:

Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Penn
Lehigh
Lafayette
Colgate
Cornell
Dartmouth
Holy Cross

If you have to stay with eight, drop the last two.

:)

[Cocky]

Maybe my true dream should be Ivy +JSU then my diploma might pay more. That would be a dream worth dreaming about.

[citdog]

The War League

The Citadel
vmi
hudson high
canoe u
colorado school of golf instruction
vpi
tx a @ m

[wmtribe1693]

Eastern Dream Conference:

Lehigh
Lafayette
Colgate
Duke
Bucknell
Fordham
Holy Cross
Georgetown
Elon
Villanova
Richmond
Wake Forest
William & Mary

[Sader87]

Eastern Dream Conference:

Lehigh
Lafayette
Colgate
Duke
Bucknell
Fordham
Holy Cross
Georgetown
Elon
Villanova
Richmond
Wake Forest
William & Mary

If you're going to throw Wake in there, I'd put BC in there as well.

It actually wouldn't surprise me if we see a league/conference like this (with the service academies as well) down the road i.e. a league comprised of mostly private, selective schools on/near the Eastern seaboard that still want to play football at a D1 level but not at a "crazy D1 level ala Penn St, Alabama etc."

[Go Green]

"Dream" Ivy League:

Brown
Cornell
Columbia
Dartmouth
Harvard
Penn
Princeton
Yale
Army
Navy

[superman7515]

Clemson
Delaware
Duke
Georgia
Florida State
Maryland
North Carolina
Penn State
Rutgers
Syracuse
Villanova
Virginia Tech

[Model Citizen]

Ivy:
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Georgetown (FB only)
Harvard
Pennsylvania
Princeton
Yale


Since we're being silly...might as well remove Georgetown and add San Diego. At least San Diego is a place the Ivies want to play.

[ST_Lawson]

Sounds like nobody wants us in their midwestern conferences.
Fine, I'll make my own....

Northern Iowa
Missouri State
Central Arkansas
Southeast Missouri State
Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Illinois State
Eastern Illinois
Northern Illinois
Indiana State

I love having NDSU and SDSU in the conference, but I think having the teams be able to drive to nearly all their opponents would save the athletic departments money as well as make it easier for fans to make away game trips.
For me, specifically, a 5 hour drive would get me to all but one of the teams in the conference.

Really though, I'd just love to see Eastern Illinois back in the MVFC (they were with us in the Gateway conference from '85-'95). Makes too much geographic sense.

[BisonFan02]

Sounds like nobody wants us in their midwestern conferences.
Fine, I'll make my own....

Northern Iowa
Missouri State
Central Arkansas
Southeast Missouri State
Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Illinois State
Eastern Illinois
Northern Illinois
Indiana State

I love having NDSU and SDSU in the conference, but I think having the teams be able to drive to nearly all their opponents would save the athletic departments money as well as make it easier for fans to make away game trips.
For me, specifically, a 5 hour drive would get me to all but one of the teams in the conference.

Really though, I'd just love to see Eastern Illinois back in the MVFC (they were with us in the Gateway conference from '85-'95). Makes too much geographic sense.

Truth, but to the point Clenz made, without NDSU and SDSU, forget about the Summit and WIU won't sniff the Valley. Personally, I would keep the Valley like it is sans Youngstown and plus EIU...maybe a few other additions to solidify the Summit as well (UNO adds football....etc.)

[BisonFan02]

Now...if you want to go "full retard"...this could happen...build the football conference around the Summit instead of the Valley (they don't like football anyway :D ):

Summit League Football and/or all sports

NDSU
UND
SDSU
USD
WIU
UNO

Then do a "pick em" of the following teams outside of MVC schools for all sports or some existing MVFC teams for just football...build the conference to whatever size after the above 6 for football...keeping the IPFW, IUPUIs of the world.

EIU
SE Mo St
Central Ark
SUU
UNC
MVFC teams for football only?

[clenz]

Sounds like nobody wants us in their midwestern conferences.
Fine, I'll make my own....

Northern Iowa
Missouri State
Central Arkansas
Southeast Missouri State
Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Illinois State
Eastern Illinois
Northern Illinois
Indiana State

I love having NDSU and SDSU in the conference, but I think having the teams be able to drive to nearly all their opponents would save the athletic departments money as well as make it easier for fans to make away game trips.
For me, specifically, a 5 hour drive would get me to all but one of the teams in the conference.

Really though, I'd just love to see Eastern Illinois back in the MVFC (they were with us in the Gateway conference from '85-'95). Makes too much geographic sense.
I left WIU off because UNI has no rivalry with them. The games traditionally aren't close and we have zero interaction with WIU in any other way shape and or form other than the 4 hours one Saturday a year. In my "dream" I left WIU off - just like the other Summits because of basketball. I left you off the others because I honestly forget WIU in the MVFC until I have to sit there and think for a couple seconds why I feel like I'm missing someone. It's not a shot at WIU by any means. I've been to games a WIU...met you actually (not that I expect you to remember). Had a good time. Just have no interest in being tied to WIU for all sports (I'm assuming these conferences are all sports).

If we are leaving the MVFC mostly as it is and just swap a team or two out...

YSU GONE! As if that's some big secret coming from me. I'd like to stay at 9 to keep a true round robin...we know UNI/USD/SDSU/NDSU/MSU are never going to get a 2 year break from each other...just the Indiana/Illinois schools. I know we have history with EIU but I'm not convinced they are going to stick around and be competitive without G at QB and replacing the coach that got them there.

I want no part of SEMO or any of the Big Sky teams...I don't think UCA would want to come north but if we *need* to replace YSU after forcing them out UCA would be a good option. They aren't *too far* from MSU or SIU. They are a good fit for the SLC though.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Hmm...

Youngstown
Robert Morris
Duquesne
St. Francis
Dayton
Akron
Kent State
Ohio U.

[darell1976]

I left WIU off because UNI has no rivalry with them. The games traditionally aren't close and we have zero interaction with WIU in any other way shape and or form other than the 4 hours one Saturday a year. In my "dream" I left WIU off - just like the other Summits because of basketball. I left you off the others because I honestly forget WIU in the MVFC until I have to sit there and think for a couple seconds why I feel like I'm missing someone. It's not a shot at WIU by any means. I've been to games a WIU...met you actually (not that I expect you to remember). Had a good time. Just have no interest in being tied to WIU for all sports (I'm assuming these conferences are all sports).

If we are leaving the MVFC mostly as it is and just swap a team or two out...

YSU GONE! As if that's some big secret coming from me. I'd like to stay at 9 to keep a true round robin...we know UNI/USD/SDSU/NDSU/MSU are never going to get a 2 year break from each other...just the Indiana/Illinois schools. I know we have history with EIU but I'm not convinced they are going to stick around and be competitive without G at QB and replacing the coach that got them there.

I want no part of SEMO or any of the Big Sky teams...I don't think UCA would want to come north but if we *need* to replace YSU after forcing them out UCA would be a good option. They aren't *too far* from MSU or SIU. They are a good fit for the SLC though.

Ahh Clenz you don't want us in your conference? :(

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Ohh what the heck....

Temple
UMass
UConn
Delaware
Buffalo
Old Dominion
Charlotte
Memphis
James Madison
ECU

[clenz]

Ahh Clenz you don't want us in your conference? :(
Not in any way, shape, or form.

If NDSU wasn't good at football I'd want no part of them. The only reason I'm keeping them in my made up conferences is they are pretty damn good and good for the conference.

SDSU is their big rival and is a close game for UNI that is usually a good game and could be a good rivalry.

I really don't *like* USD in the same conference. However, much like SDSU they are within 4-5 hours and for pure numbers they are good to have.

A *realistic* conference I wouldn't hate...

Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
Missouri State - if they would dedicate the university to properly support both FB and BB they'd be real good. To be honest if they got rid of FB they could push WSU in BB in a lot of ways
Illinois State
Indiana State - best they can ever hope for is 6-7 wins...I'd take a consistent 4-5 from them
Some combo of 2 of these
Central Arkansas/Murray State/Western Illinois/EIU/USD

Heck...maybe put them all together and have us a nice little 12 team conference....5 division games and 3 cross overs with the ability to play the other 2 as an OOC - much like the Big Sky now.

Notice which direction I'm heading Darrell? It's not North...or really west...

[superman7515]

Ohh what the heck....

Temple
UMass
UConn
Delaware
Buffalo
Old Dominion
Charlotte
Memphis
James Madison
ECU

Geez you dream small, haha.

[darell1976]

Not in any way, shape, or form.

If NDSU wasn't good at football I'd want no part of them. The only reason I'm keeping them in my made up conferences is they are pretty damn good and good for the conference.

SDSU is their big rival and is a close game for UNI that is usually a good game and could be a good rivalry.

I really don't *like* USD in the same conference. However, much like SDSU they are within 4-5 hours and for pure numbers they are good to have.

A *realistic* conference I wouldn't hate...

Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
Missouri State - if they would dedicate the university to properly support both FB and BB they'd be real good. To be honest if they got rid of FB they could push WSU in BB in a lot of ways
Illinois State
Indiana State - best they can ever hope for is 6-7 wins...I'd take a consistent 4-5 from them
Some combo of 2 of these
Central Arkansas/Murray State/Western Illinois/EIU

I'll put together my massive conference (much like today's big sky) to play 5-6 division conference games and then 2-3 cross overs later

Notice which direction I'm heading Darrell? It's not North...or really west...



I see the direction, geography does make things easier to pick and choose teams and it's unfortunate that there isn't many choices in this neck of the woods (or farmland).

[clenz]

Not in any way, shape, or form.

If NDSU wasn't good at football I'd want no part of them. The only reason I'm keeping them in my made up conferences is they are pretty damn good and good for the conference.

SDSU is their big rival and is a close game for UNI that is usually a good game and could be a good rivalry.

I really don't *like* USD in the same conference. However, much like SDSU they are within 4-5 hours and for pure numbers they are good to have.

A *realistic* conference I wouldn't hate...

Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
Missouri State - if they would dedicate the university to properly support both FB and BB they'd be real good. To be honest if they got rid of FB they could push WSU in BB in a lot of ways
Illinois State
Indiana State - best they can ever hope for is 6-7 wins...I'd take a consistent 4-5 from them
Some combo of 2 of these
Central Arkansas/Murray State/Western Illinois/EIU/USD

Heck...maybe put them all together and have us a nice little 12 team conference....5 division games and 3 cross overs with the ability to play the other 2 as an OOC - much like the Big Sky now.

Notice which direction I'm heading Darrell? It's not North...or really west...

Actually...I rather like that conference. The geo mid point of them is a nice split between them 12 to do a solid E/W split...Now the West gets royally ****ed on travel compared to the East....but...still

18897

West
NDSU
SDSU
USD
UNI
MoSU
UCA

East
SIU
ISU
ISU
EIU
WIU
MurSU

Could go N/S with NDSU, SDSU, USD, UNI WIU, IlSU north and InSU, SIU, MSU, MSU, EIU, UCA south.

That evens the travel some though the Indiana/Illinois schools wouldn't go for it.

Could also set up a cross over rival...something like
West/East
NDSU/IlSU
SDSU/EIU
USD/WIU
UNI/SIU
MoSU/InSU
UCA/MurSU

I am guessing on all of those but it would be UNI/SIU no matter what the others look like

For N/S it could be
UNI/SIU
NDSU/MoSU
SDSU/UCA
USD/MurSU
WIU/EIU
IlSU/InSU

I actually don't hate that set up. Someone make that happen!

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I'm noticing that the dream conferences are involving:

1) like-minded schools (privates and publics grouped)
2) regional pods

Which makes sense.

Of course, FBS has pretty much gone the opposite route.

[major095]

Alabama State
Jackson State
Southern
Florida A&M
Tennessee State
Troy
Jacksonville State
UAB
UNA
Middle TN

[Tribal]

If I could go full monkey tilt...16 all-sports members, small schools, top academics. North Carolina to New York. 6 football games in your region, 5 to 6 in the other region.

South (NC-MD)
Wake Forest
Duke
W&M
Richmond
Georgetown
Johns Hopkins (make all their D3 programs move up)
USNA
Davidson (see JHU)


North (PA-NY)
Villanova
Lafayette
Lehigh
Penn
Fordham
Bucknell
USMA
Colgate

[superman7515]

Just thought this was kind of interesting considering this topic...

(Wilmington News Journal interviewing former UD Coach Steinwedel)
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/college/ud/2014/03/18/steinwedel-leaving-as-ud-coach-in-1995-not-my-choice/6591883/


"In hindsight, I could look back and there are many things that I could have done different that I didn't do," he said. "One of the big sticking points with me was we had a chance to get into the Atlantic 10 [Conference], and I felt like that was a no-brainer, and nobody else agreed with me. They thought that was absolutely the wrong thing. And we didn't even discuss it. And there were other things."

[IBleedYellow]

Actually...I rather like that conference. The geo mid point of them is a nice split between them 12 to do a solid E/W split...Now the West gets royally ****ed on travel compared to the East....but...still

18897

West
NDSU
SDSU
USD
UNI
MoSU
UCA

East
SIU
ISU
ISU
EIU
WIU
MurSU

Could go N/S with NDSU, SDSU, USD, UNI WIU, IlSU north and InSU, SIU, MSU, MSU, EIU, UCA south.

That evens the travel some though the Indiana/Illinois schools wouldn't go for it.

Could also set up a cross over rival...something like
West/East
NDSU/IlSU
SDSU/EIU
USD/WIU
UNI/SIU
MoSU/InSU
UCA/MurSU

I am guessing on all of those but it would be UNI/SIU no matter what the others look like

For N/S it could be
UNI/SIU
NDSU/MoSU
SDSU/UCA
USD/MurSU
WIU/EIU
IlSU/InSU

I actually don't hate that set up. Someone make that happen!

I actually really like this. That's about what I would want to do as well. Also, people keep talking about flights vs bus. I talk with athletes enough that they'd rather fly *as long as there are no delays*. Yes for costs it's more, but in the end it needs to still be about the athletes.

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

[Tribe93]

Just thought this was kind of interesting considering this topic...

(Wilmington News Journal interviewing former UD Coach Steinwedel)
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/college/ud/2014/03/18/steinwedel-leaving-as-ud-coach-in-1995-not-my-choice/6591883/

For the younger crowd, the A10 at that point is now the CAA.

[clenz]

I actually really like this. That's about what I would want to do as well. Also, people keep talking about flights vs bus. I talk with athletes enough that they'd rather fly *as long as there are no delays*. Yes for costs it's more, but in the end it needs to still be about the athletes.

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
Of course they prefer it, but the reality for the majority of the FCS bus trips are important ways to save money - especially in an all sports conference set up. Being able to bus womens volleyball, tennis, track/xc, womens basketball to as many places is a huge money saver.

I know for mens basketball at UNI the team buses to Drake (1.5 hours), Bradley (3.5 hr), St. Louis for the conference tournament. I'm not sure on Illinois State (4 hr). Everything else is a flight. WBB/VB buses to Drake, ISUr, Bradley, St Louis for the conference tournament. Both bused Creighton when it was still in conference. I don't know what the other teams do...though I'd imagine it's about the same.

Those of us that are in a conference used to being able to bus it's a "shock to the system" to have to fly everywhere. If it's a football only conference it doesn't make any difference though

[Franks Tanks]

Lafayette, Colgate, Holy Cross and Bucknell join the Ivy League for all sports!

Fordham to the CAA for all sports.

I don't care what Lehigh does.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Lafayette, Colgate, Holy Cross and Bucknell join the Ivy League for all sports!

Fordham to the CAA for all sports.

I don't care what Lehigh does.

Lehigh <-- kicks Lafayette's ass xlolx

[superman7515]

For the younger crowd, the A10 at that point is now the CAA.

The A-10 at that point was Temple, Rutgers, West Virginia, Duquesne, George Washington, UMass, St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, and St. Joes. Far and away better than the current, or any past incarnation of the CAA. The teams that came in around the same time as Delaware was offered were Virginia Tech, Xavier, Dayton, Fordham, and LaSalle. Again, far and away a better conference than anything the CAA has or will be.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The A-10 at that point was Temple, Rutgers, West Virginia, Duquesne, George Washington, UMass, St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, and St. Joes.

Interestingly, the A-10 was never really truly regional. Though most were in the Northeast corridor, it seems to have always had outliers (WVa, Duquesne, later Dayton, etc.)

[Mattymc727]

I guess if we are allowed to dream:

New Hampshire
Maine
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Boston College
Syracuse
Rutgers
Villanova
Pittsburgh

A combination of the old Yankee conference and Big East?

[Franks Tanks]

The A-10 at that point was Temple, Rutgers, West Virginia, Duquesne, George Washington, UMass, St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, and St. Joes. Far and away better than the current, or any past incarnation of the CAA. The teams that came in around the same time as Delaware was offered were Virginia Tech, Xavier, Dayton, Fordham, and LaSalle. Again, far and away a better conference than anything the CAA has or will be.

Penn State was also in the A-10 for nearly all the early years until they left for the Big 10. PSU men's basketball wasn't great, but they had some decent teams during their A-10 years.

[Tribe93]

The A-10 at that point was Temple, Rutgers, West Virginia, Duquesne, George Washington, UMass, St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, and St. Joes. Far and away better than the current, or any past incarnation of the CAA. The teams that came in around the same time as Delaware was offered were Virginia Tech, Xavier, Dayton, Fordham, and LaSalle. Again, far and away a better conference than anything the CAA has or will be.

The CAA was the Atlantic 10 up to 2005 or so. That was the point. Yankee Conference before that.

[superman7515]

The CAA was the Atlantic 10 up to 2005 or so. That was the point. Yankee Conference before that.

Well, only in the vaguest and most disingenuous of arguments. The CAA and the A-10 existed at the same time, and both continue to exist now, so clearly the CAA was not the A-10, and even then the vague argument people make is only speaking of football, whereas Delaware was invited as an all-sports member. The A-10 gave up football when the CAA began to poach all-sports teams, but not all of the teams jumped at once, there's a four year gap between Delaware/Hofstra (full CAA members with football in A-10) and the arrival of Northeastern that took down A-10 football. No one claims the SWC was the Big 8/12, but it was a very similiar situation in that teams leaving the SWC (A-10) for the Big 8 (CAA) is what ended the relationship.

[Sader87]

The A-10 was actually first the "Eastern 8" in hoops....actually predates the Big East.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_10_Conference

[ST_Lawson]

I left WIU off because UNI has no rivalry with them. The games traditionally aren't close and we have zero interaction with WIU in any other way shape and or form other than the 4 hours one Saturday a year. In my "dream" I left WIU off - just like the other Summits because of basketball. I left you off the others because I honestly forget WIU in the MVFC until I have to sit there and think for a couple seconds why I feel like I'm missing someone. It's not a shot at WIU by any means. I've been to games a WIU...met you actually (not that I expect you to remember). Had a good time. Just have no interest in being tied to WIU for all sports (I'm assuming these conferences are all sports).

If we are leaving the MVFC mostly as it is and just swap a team or two out...

YSU GONE! As if that's some big secret coming from me. I'd like to stay at 9 to keep a true round robin...we know UNI/USD/SDSU/NDSU/MSU are never going to get a 2 year break from each other...just the Indiana/Illinois schools. I know we have history with EIU but I'm not convinced they are going to stick around and be competitive without G at QB and replacing the coach that got them there.

I want no part of SEMO or any of the Big Sky teams...I don't think UCA would want to come north but if we *need* to replace YSU after forcing them out UCA would be a good option. They aren't *too far* from MSU or SIU. They are a good fit for the SLC though.

Ah...ok. I wasn't considering anything outside of football actually. Western hasn't been in the same conference for football and other sports in a long time (since '84 in the Mid-Continent Conference, I believe), so for me, I just always assume one conference for football and a different conference for basketball and other sports. I completely understand us being left out at this point if you're considering an all-sports conference. We're not on the level of the Missouri Valley Conference with regards to many of our sports and facilities. We'd love to be there someday, but it won't happen for a long time with the current financial situation in Illinois.

Rivalries - so it's really more of a one-sided rivalry then. We consider UNI to be one of our primary football rivals (there's only 3 other schools we've played more games against, and they're all in IL, and only 2 are still in the conference), but a lot of that could be the years when I was in school. We actually won against UNI 3 out of 5 of those years, including a double overtime thriller in Macomb in '97 and the game in '00 that we won at the UNIDome in the last seconds on the Mike Scifres 56-yard field goal (his first FG attempt in college) to decide the conference championship. You're right though, historically, UNI has won 69% of the games against us.

I think I do actually remember meeting you. Last regular season game in '10 was it? Tailgating area probably?

[LeadBolt]

If I could go full monkey tilt...16 all-sports members, small schools, top academics. North Carolina to New York. 6 football games in your region, 5 to 6 in the other region.

South (NC-MD)
Wake Forest
Duke
W&M
Richmond
Georgetown
Johns Hopkins (make all their D3 programs move up)
USNA
Davidson (see JHU)


North (PA-NY)
Villanova
Lafayette
Lehigh
Penn
Fordham
Bucknell
USMA
Colgate

I'd substitue 2 of Delaware, Princeton or Rutgers for Fordham and Colgate.

[clenz]

Ah...ok. I wasn't considering anything outside of football actually. Western hasn't been in the same conference for football and other sports in a long time (since '84 in the Mid-Continent Conference, I believe), so for me, I just always assume one conference for football and a different conference for basketball and other sports. I completely understand us being left out at this point if you're considering an all-sports conference. We're not on the level of the Missouri Valley Conference with regards to many of our sports and facilities. We'd love to be there someday, but it won't happen for a long time with the current financial situation in Illinois.

Rivalries - so it's really more of a one-sided rivalry then. We consider UNI to be one of our primary football rivals (there's only 3 other schools we've played more games against, and they're all in IL, and only 2 are still in the conference), but a lot of that could be the years when I was in school. We actually won against UNI 3 out of 5 of those years, including a double overtime thriller in Macomb in '97 and the game in '00 that we won at the UNIDome in the last seconds on the Mike Scifres 56-yard field goal (his first FG attempt in college) to decide the conference championship. You're right though, historically, UNI has won 69% of the games against us.

I think I do actually remember meeting you. Last regular season game in '10 was it? Tailgating area probably?
It was 2010 when Rennie was about 60% healthy but had to play because out back up was/is a whiny little bitch and had quit on the team but wasn't going to turn his jersey in...he was just a cancer in the locker room. WIU crushed UNI that day. I was there with Bill (capn) and Rob...along with some others.

The thing with the vast majority of UNI fans is that we really only think we have 1 true rival - Southern Illinois. They are the only team that has a .500 record against UNI (historically). The games are always down to one possession. The games are always heated between players and fans...and that doesn't matter no matter how good or bad a team may be. Basketball plays a HUGE part of that. With the MVC schools you'll always see them consider each other rivals well before any Summit school. UNI will see SIU two (or three) times in mens basketball, volleyball, womens basketball, tennis, track, soccer, softball...That familiarity is something that WIU/NDSU/SDSU can't come close too.

I would put Missouri State second on UNI's rival list...and that is still a ways back. Now, UNI has completely dominated MSU in football, however, the basketball and volleyball play a huge part of it. Every week on UNI's fan site during the week we play MSU there is a "bear week" dedicated thread. Only MSU/SIU get those. Yes, there is game threads for every school but those two weeks have the most history and most fan hype for the entire base.

NDSU/SDSU games are heated between players and fans so it looks like a rivalry (and at this point it's probably close to being one) but there is nothing between the universities other than football. NDSU is probably about to take over MSU for second...and may have maybe.

WIU has a very brief history with UNI, during the time you mentioned. That's about it though. Forcing a rivalry because of geography would be about the only thing

That's why I asked what the guidelines were at the beginning - for schools like UNI/SIU/IlSU/InSU/MoSU and *maybe* a couple others like Murray State you're going to get a very different answer than someone like NDSU/WIU/SDSU/USD/UCA. For me to leave the other MVC schools out of any new conference would be almost impossible. There's just way to much history. Like I said with NDSU - if they weren't as good as they are I'd have less than zero interest in them (See me thoughts on them getting in the MVC for all sports). If SDSU wasn't tied to NDSU like they are (and a very close travel game) I'd have little interest in them. USD I still have no real interest in other than they are close and geography is a big deal to me because of the MVC background.

[Tribal]

Well, only in the vaguest and most disingenuous of arguments. The CAA and the A-10 existed at the same time, and both continue to exist now, so clearly the CAA was not the A-10, and even then the vague argument people make is only speaking of football, whereas Delaware was invited as an all-sports member. The A-10 gave up football when the CAA began to poach all-sports teams, but not all of the teams jumped at once, there's a four year gap between Delaware/Hofstra (full CAA members with football in A-10) and the arrival of Northeastern that took down A-10 football. No one claims the SWC was the Big 8/12, but it was a very similiar situation in that teams leaving the SWC (A-10) for the Big 8 (CAA) is what ended the relationship.

True. I guess UD could have pulled a Richmond. That said, I think the CAA has been pretty good to UD.

[Yotes]

Dakota Conference:

USD
UND
SDSU
NDSU
Northern State
Black Hills State
Minot State
Augustana
University of Sioux Falls

[superman7515]

With the exception of one season of women's basketball and one season of football, the CAA has been better for UD than UD has been for the CAA.

[Apps03]

I admit I haven't read every single reply on this topic but, one theme I've noticed is a desire for local/regional conference affiliations. We're obviously well beyond any of these becoming a possibility. I'm not sure what my point is other than to point out the people seem to want local opponents and rivalries while somehow big markets, "tv numbers" and other silliness seem to have dictated the changes.

As for my desired conference, I honestly don't know. While I would prefer more local options than what we have where we're headed, I'm not sure we fit with what local options there are. I like Furman, Western, GSU, ETSU (once they get up and running again), UTC. Can I just say somewhere in the middle?

[Bisonator]

Dakota Conference:

USD
UND
SDSU
NDSU
Northern State
Black Hills State
Minot State
Augustana
University of Sioux Falls

:pumpuke:

You can't be serious!xlolx

[clenz]

:pumpuke:

You can't be serious!xlolxI thought the same thing....

Then I looked who posted it....I initially thought it was darrell.

That is about as ****ty as you can get for a conference in the upper midwest

[darell1976]

I thought the same thing....

Then I looked who posted it....I initially thought it was darrell.

That is about as ****ty as you can get for a conference in the upper midwest

Hey give me some credit. I didn't pick every college in the state plus a couple more from a border state like Yotes did. Or else my conference would look like this

UND
NDSU
Mayville St
Jamestown College
U of Mary
Dickinson St
Minot State
USD
SDSU

No way would I want this conference.

[Bisonator]

Hey give me some credit. I didn't pick every college in the state plus a couple more from a border state like Yotes did. Or else my conference would look like this

UND
NDSU
Mayville St
Jamestown College
U of Mary
Dickinson St
Minot State
USD
SDSU

No way would I want this conference.

Probably just replace USD & SDSU with Rasmussen and Josef's School of Hair Design to keep it all in ND.xlolx

[wapiti]

For the Big Sky:
MSU
UM
EWU
ISU
Idaho
Wyoming
Weber
Central Washington
Portland State
Washington State or Boise State

and revive the Great West:
Sac State
UC Davis
Cal Poly
NAU
SUU
Northern Colorado
UNLV
New Mexico State
Plus another (or two) Cali school(s) starting up football. (There are several to choose from.)

and North Dakota goes to the MVC.

[clenz]

and North Dakota goes to the MVC.
We all completely object.

[darell1976]

I completely object.

FIFY

[clenz]

FIFY

False.

The fight to keep USD out was very strong and it only passed by 1 vote thanks to the conference setting up a travel rotation keeping the Illinois schools and Indiana State from going west more than twice per season.

Und would have virtually no support except for usd at this point

Even in my expanded 12 team conference I don't see UND being a target...Other than NDSU and maybe the SD schools no one in the valley views SD/ND as vital/realistic recruiting ground. Even NDSU goes into the Twin Cities and Wisconsin more than anything it seems. However, Adding a team or two in SSE portion of the conference would be of some real interest for everyone except maybe NDSU

Sent from my S4 using Tapatalk

[darell1976]

False.

The fight to keep USD out was very strong and it only passed by 1 vote thanks to the conference setting up a travel rotation keeping the Illinois schools and Indiana State from going west more than twice per season.

Und would have virtually no support except for usd at this point

Sent from my S4 using Tapatalk

You think SDSU, NDSU, and even UNI would vote against UND joining? Maybe Missouri State or even YSU would object, but I doubt 3 schools (4 with USD) located within 500 miles of UND who has a ton of history would object. Just because you see UND as a thorn in your side doesn't mean those schools would see it that way. And for the record we are talking the MVFC not the MVC.

[clenz]

You think SDSU, NDSU, and even UNI would vote against UND joining? Maybe Missouri State or even YSU would object, but I doubt 3 schools (4 with USD) located within 500 miles of UND who has a ton of history would object. Just because you see UND as a thorn in your side doesn't mean those schools would see it that way. And for the record we are talking the MVFC not the MVC.
Did you read the part where I said USD almost didn't get in and the conference had to make guarantees that YSU, ISUb, ISUr, SIU, and WIU wouldn't be traveling west more than twice per year to make it happen.

Did you read the part where it was said that even with that it passed by only 1 vote?

Grand Forks isn't getting support.

Schools that would vote no
YSU
ISUb
ISUr
SIU
WIU
MSU

<95% chance of voting no
UNI
NDSU

Unknown
SDSU
USD


That **** isn't going to happen. If you'd take your homer glasses off you'd see that.

[darell1976]

Did you read the part where I said USD almost didn't get in and the conference had to make guarantees that YSU, ISUb, ISUr, SIU, and WIU wouldn't be traveling west more than twice per year to make it happen.

Did you read the part where it was said that even with that it passed by only 1 vote?

Grand Forks isn't getting support.

Schools that would vote no
YSU
ISUb
ISUr
SIU
WIU
MSU

<95% chance of voting no
UNI
NDSU

Unknown
SDSU
USD


That **** isn't going to happen. If you'd take your homer glasses off you'd see that.

What schools voted NDSU and SDSU in? I heard they wanted just SDSU but since NDSU was joined at the hip they wanted them in. You seem to know what schools voted what teams in, so I would assume you can enlighten me on this.

[clenz]

What schools voted NDSU and SDSU in? I heard they wanted just SDSU but since NDSU was joined at the hip they wanted them in. You seem to know what schools voted what teams in, so I would assume you can enlighten me on this.
SDSU was the only school that was wanted but they were joined.

At that time the MVFC had only 7 schools and the FCS/FBS moratorium was about to be lifted/was just lifted. The conference had just lost WKU to a move up. There is no secret that Missouri State and YSU would jump at an FBS move. Had the MVFC not acted and those two had moved it would have left the MVFC with 5 and no good options.

I don't know who voted what way in that one but I can bet YSU, ISUb, and maybe ISUr voted against them.

Again...take a step back from it and look what the situations around the conference at that time and how it is now. Another part of the reason USD was added as insurance in case someone left to keep it at a full 8 game conference schedule.

I can tell you that the MVC schools (sans UNI) are closer to the Atlantic ocean/gulf of mexico than NDSU from previous postings. Grand Forks is even more middle of no where....that's not going to help

[darell1976]

SDSU was the only school that was wanted but they were joined.

At that time the MVFC had only 7 schools and the FCS/FBS moratorium was about to be lifted/was just lifted. The conference had just lost WKU to a move up. There is no secret that Missouri State and YSU would jump at an FBS move. Had the MVFC not acted and those two had moved it would have left the MVFC with 5 and no good options.

I don't know who voted what way in that one but I can bet YSU, ISUb, and maybe ISUr voted against them.

Again...take a step back from it and look what the situations around the conference at that time and how it is now. Another part of the reason USD was added as insurance in case someone left to keep it at a full 8 game conference schedule.

I can tell you that the MVC schools (sans UNI) are closer to the Atlantic ocean/gulf of mexico than NDSU from previous postings. Grand Forks is even more middle of no where....that's not going to help

So even if YSU or MSU were to move to the FBS, there is still no guarantee UND would get in due to geography? That sucks, things would have been a mess if UND would have joined DI with NDSU, SDSU, and USD. I wonder where everyone would have ended up? I suppose the 4 wouldn't have gone to the MVFC at the same time?

[clenz]

So even if YSU or MSU were to move to the FBS, there is still no guarantee UND would get in due to geography? That sucks, things would have been a mess if UND would have joined DI with NDSU, SDSU, and USD. I wonder where everyone would have ended up? I suppose the 4 wouldn't have gone to the MVFC at the same time?
Exactly right. You also have to look at if the Summit would want to add you in.

If all 4 moved at once the two most likely situations is all in Big Sky due to being travel partners for all sports, the GWC still exists, or you're GWC for all sports except football which folded into the Big Sky.

Most likely the GWC still exists, then a big sky all sports, then a GWC football folding into the Big Sky. I put that one third only because of how big the football conference would be at that point.

[Yotes]

:pumpuke:

You can't be serious!xlolx
Just having fun. Division-1 is just asking for a conference of Dakota schools.

[darell1976]

Exactly right. You also have to look at if the Summit would want to add you in.

If all 4 moved at once the two most likely situations is all in Big Sky due to being travel partners for all sports, the GWC still exists, or you're GWC for all sports except football which folded into the Big Sky.

Most likely the GWC still exists, then a big sky all sports, then a GWC football folding into the Big Sky. I put that one third only because of how big the football conference would be at that point.

Even that one is questionable with the icy road between UND and SL President Tom Douple. I think if it wasn't for some FBS teams there would be more DII teams moving up and even keeping football like Omaha, St. Cloud State and Minnesota St-Mankato. Those teams with the Dakota 4 would've probably solidfied the GWFC even if the BSC would have taken Cal Poly, UC Davis, SUU, and UNC. Geography is not our friend up here unless the Big 10 wants us. xsmiley_wix

[IBleedYellow]

Darell, we don't want UN_.

If it means we keep the MVFC and no UN_, we take the conference. You guys picked your bed, lay in it. The summit is thankfully getting more schools now, so we have that going for us, and with the Valley falling away, maybe one day we'd get an invite there (.0000001% chance, SHUT UP CLENZ)

[BluBengal07]

not so much of a dream, but just being creative. it became a stretch with Delta State and West Alabama since i wanted to stick to the coast or the river states as one of the common denominators. This kind of presents South as a stronger conference with 3 (slightly larger)FBSs. this took longer than i expected. lol

Big Gulf Conference

North
Jackson State
Delta State
Alabama State
Jacksonville State
West Alabama
Louisiana Tech

South
Southern University
Southeastern Louisiana
Tulane
Univ South Alabama
Northwestern State
Southern Miss

[Cocky]

not so much of a dream, but just being creative. it became a stretch with Delta State and West Alabama since i wanted to stick to the coast or the river states as one of the common denominators. This kind of presents South as a stronger conference with 3 (slightly larger)FBSs. this took longer than i expected. lol

Big Gulf Conference

North
Jackson State
Delta State
Alabama State
Jacksonville State
West Alabama
Louisiana Tech

South
Southern University
Southeastern Louisiana
Tulane
Univ South Alabama
Northwestern State
Southern Miss


Minus UWA and Delta
Add Troy, UNA, Memphis, ULL or McNeese
Would be a fun conference

[superman7515]

I guess if I were going to do one that was made up of only FCS schools it would be...

For UD:
North
Fordham
Harvard
Lehigh
Maine
New Hampshire
Stony Brook

South
Delaware
James Madison
Towson
William & Mary
Villanova
Youngstown State


For Delaware State:
North
Bryant
Central Connecticut State
Monmouth
Sacred Heart
St. Francis
Wagner

South
Delaware State
Duquesne
Hampton
Georgetown
Robert Morris
VMI

[344Johnson]

NDSU
K State
KU
Iowa st.
OU
OSU
UT
T tech
TCU
West Virginia
Baylor



See what I did there? Lulz

[BluBengal07]

Minus UWA and Delta
Add Troy, UNA, Memphis, ULL or McNeese
Would be a fun conference

i really tried to replace those two but the conference started looking like bama vs. LA and MS. lol. i thought about Memphis but, their enroll was slightly too large to support the rules of the thread. if it could slide, i would add. UNA and Delta State was a toast up for me. same level in my book (decent teams), but i could of replaced UWA with UNA. Troy was stretching it to the east for my LA schools.
thanks for you input though Cocky.

[IBleedYellow]

NDSU
K State
KU
Iowa st.
OU
OSU
UT
T tech
TCU
West Virginia
Baylor



See what I did there? Lulz

I was going to do this, but with the B1G, but I really don't want to be in the B1G.

[Sitting Bull]

Magnolia League

W&M
Navy
Army
Wake Forest
Duke
Vanderbilt
Tulane
Rice
SMU

[BisonFan02]

Bison to Big 12 :D TROLOLOLOLOLOLO

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24495371/north-dakota-states-big-success-leading-toward-a-big-decision

[BluBengal07]

^^^^ interesting. i would suggest Big 10 as a better conference due to regional flow, but it's becoming now or never for Bison nation though.

[Cocky]

i really tried to replace those two but the conference started looking like bama vs. LA and MS. lol. i thought about Memphis but, their enroll was slightly too large to support the rules of the thread. if it could slide, i would add. UNA and Delta State was a toast up for me. same level in my book (decent teams), but i could of replaced UWA with UNA. Troy was stretching it to the east for my LA schools.
thanks for you input though Cocky.

Imagine how fat you could get tailgating and eating out in this set up.

[Bisonator]

Heck since we are just throwing **** out there I would like to see this:

The Midwest Conference

NDSU
SDSU
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Nebraska
Iowa
Iowa State
UNI
Kansas
Kansas State

Now where did I leave those shrooms??? xlolx

[BluBengal07]

Imagine how fat you could get tailgating and eating out in this set up.

we'll setup cook-off before the games in a section of the tailgating area. LOL. most games will be at night due to heat. however, you must have gameday tickets to join into the festivities. every football game in the conference will be a day long event which will host the local foods as the competition item. LOL.

[813Jag]

not so much of a dream, but just being creative. it became a stretch with Delta State and West Alabama since i wanted to stick to the coast or the river states as one of the common denominators. This kind of presents South as a stronger conference with 3 (slightly larger)FBSs. this took longer than i expected. lol

Big Gulf Conference

North
Jackson State
Delta State
Alabama State
Jacksonville State
West Alabama
Louisiana Tech

South
Southern University
Southeastern Louisiana
Tulane
Univ South Alabama
Northwestern State
Southern Miss
Nice set up, all of Southern's divisional opponents are in a good driving distance. Longest trip would be to NSU.

[iBOsbu]

North:
Maine
UNH
URI
Albany
Stony Brook
Nova

South:
Delaware
Towson
JMU
Richmond
W&M
Elon

Not bad xsmiley_wix

[IBleedYellow]

Heck since we are just throwing **** out there I would like to see this:

The Midwest Conference

NDSU
SDSU
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Nebraska
Iowa
Iowa State
UNI
Kansas
Kansas State

Now where did I leave those shrooms??? xlolx

Don't need Minnesota.

[frozennorth]

Neither would UNI

Sent from my S4 using Tapatalk
i could see how you wouldn't want to be with your betters.