Richmond Times-Dispatch:"It's Not 'business as usual' with Richmond and CAA Football"

[Go...gate]

Headline this morning. I am sorry, but I have not been able to share the link.

[Silenoz]

https://richmond.com/sports/college/schools/university-richmond/its-not-business-as-usual-with-richmond-and-caa-football/article_228bffe2-905d-11ee-8486-a758f41a7c94.html

[KPSUL]

Nothing much of substance in that article.

[caribbeanhen]

Nothing much of substance in that article.

No, he’s waiting on William & Mary to get off the pot

[Libertine]

Honest question for UR fans: do you feel like Richmond is starting to have more in common with the SoCon than with the CAA?

[TribeNomad1]

No, he’s waiting on William & Mary to get off the pot

Our Admin. moves very slowly, will be reactive, not proactive.

[KPSUL]

In the article I don't begin to understand why loosing JMU and Delaware would be so emotionally devastating to Richmond. Both of these schools had been resourcing their football programs well beyond the level of other CAA programs. The handwriting has been on the wall for years. So now the inevitable has happened. I don't see a move to FBS in the near future for any other CAA-F team, so let's pick up the pieces of your shattered psyche Richmond and find a way to play football with your remaining fourteen 2024 conference mates.

[FU_Paladin08]

On behalf of the SoCon we are only accepting two teams at a time. Get with W&M and come on home to the cozy confides of the Southern Conference.

[FUBeAR]

On behalf of the SoCon we are only accepting two teams at a time. Get with W&M and come on home to the cozy confides of the Southern Conference.If you'll bring NC A&T with you, FUBeAR will allow 3 at-a-time. We could do 12 and make it work.

Doesn't seem like those snooty Coastal Atheltic Association schools were too thrilled with having NC A&T come to dinner. FUBeAR (and he thinks all or most all of his SoCon friends) would love us some Aggies in our footprint! Let E*Loan stay with their 'peer' Northeastern schools. They all deserve each other.

[caribbeanhen]

If you'll bring NC A&T with you, FUBeAR will allow 3 at-a-time. We could do 12 and make it work.

Doesn't seem like those snooty Coastal Atheltic Association schools were too thrilled with having NC A&T come to dinner. FUBeAR (and he thinks all or most all of his SoCon friends) would love us some Aggies in our footprint! Let E*Loan stay with their 'peer' Northeastern schools. They all deserve each other.

this sounds like father like son tag team

[dbackjon]

this sounds like father like son tag team

FUBeAR approves of this message.

[centraljerseycat]

The Spiders are welcome to join Villanova in a newly formed FCS conference if they don't want the CAA or the Southern

[Go...gate]

A lot of nothing in that interview.

- - - Updated - - -

A lot of nothing in that interview.

[Tribe4SF]

On behalf of the SoCon we are only accepting two teams at a time. Get with W&M and come on home to the cozy confides of the Southern Conference.

Cozy confines? Even if Richmond came with us there would only be two SoCon football schools within 400 miles of Williamsburg. Tribe would be the geographic outlier just as it would in the Patriot.

[Catamount87]

If you'll bring NC A&T with you, FUBeAR will allow 3 at-a-time. We could do 12 and make it work.

Doesn't seem like those snooty Coastal Atheltic Association schools were too thrilled with having NC A&T come to dinner. FUBeAR (and he thinks all or most all of his SoCon friends) would love us some Aggies in our footprint! Let E*Loan stay with their 'peer' Northeastern schools. They all deserve each other.

The handful of A&T supporters I know all questioned the CAA move and have expressed that the SoCon felt like it would have been and would be a better fit if not their outright preference. Most all SoCon fans I know believe A&T would be a great fit.

Now, go back a couple of years, recall there were chatterings of A&T having long term FBS aspirations which rumor was kept the SoCon from showing interest. Remember Kennesaw St wanted in the SoCon but was rejected because of their long term FBS aspirations.

So, the question is, if the SoCon were to expand, did A&T burn that bridge?

[FUBeAR]

Cozy confines? Even if Richmond came with us there would only be two SoCon football schools within 400 miles of Williamsburg. Tribe would be the geographic outlier just as it would in the Patriot.

* With the current structure of the Tired Old Coastal Atheltic Association (Delaware removed, Football Members included, Associate Members excluded), the average distance from those 18 schools to Williamsburg is 368 miles.

* Under the FUBeAR NEW SoCon plan (Add W&M, Richmond, and NC A&T, Associate Members excluded), the average distance from those 12 schools to Williamsburg is 390 miles.


Are you gonna let 22 miles stand in the way of destiny? FUBeAR thinks not...


Oh...FUBeAR can show his work...y'all know that ish!



TIRED OLD COASTAL ATHELTIC ASSOC.




Institution
Location
Distance to W'Burg


College of William & Mary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_William_%26_Mary)
Williamsburg, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg,_Virginia)
0


Campbell University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_University)
Buies Creek, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buies_Creek,_North_Carolina)
210


College of Charleston (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Charleston)
Charleston, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina)
444


Drexel University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drexel_University)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia)
297


Elon University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_University)
Elon, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon,_North_Carolina)
212


Hampton University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_University)
Hampton, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton,_Virginia)
30


Hofstra University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofstra_University)
Hempstead, New York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hempstead_(village),_New_York)
408


Monmouth University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monmouth_University)
West Long Branch, New Jersey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Long_Branch,_New_Jersey)
370


North Carolina A&T State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_A%26T_State_University)
Greensboro, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro,_North_Carolina)
227


Northeastern University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_University)
Boston, Massachusetts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston)
599


Stony Brook University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stony_Brook_University)
Stony Brook, New York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stony_Brook,_New_York)
446


Towson University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson_University)
Towson, Maryland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson,_Maryland)
208


University of North Carolina Wilmington (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina_Wilmington)
Wilmington, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington,_North_Carolina)
277


University at Albany (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_at_Albany,_SUNY)
Albany, New York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany,_New_York)
523


University of Maine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Maine)
Orono, Maine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orono,_Maine)
833


University of New Hampshire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_New_Hampshire)
Durham, New Hampshire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham,_New_Hampshire)
655


University of Rhode Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Rhode_Island)
Kingston, Rhode Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston,_Rhode_Island)
544


University of Richmond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Richmond)
Richmond, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia)
51


Villanova University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villanova_University)
Villanova, Pennsylvania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villanova,_Pennsylvania)
294



AVERAGE DISTANCE
368


FUBeAR's NEW SoCon




Institution
Location
Distance to W'Burg


College of William & Mary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_William_%26_Mary)
Williamsburg, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg,_Virginia)
0


University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tennessee_at_Chattanooga)
Chattanooga, Tennessee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga,_Tennessee)
596


The Citadel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Citadel)
Charleston, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina)
444


East Tennessee State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Tennessee_State_University)
Johnson City, Tennessee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_City,_Tennessee)
409


Furman University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_University)
Greenville, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenville,_South_Carolina)
413


Mercer University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_University)
Macon, Georgia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macon,_Georgia)
583


Samford University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samford_University)
Homewood, Alabama (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homewood,_Alabama)
706


University of North Carolina at Greensboro (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Greensboro)
Greensboro, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro,_North_Carolina)
227


Virginia Military Institute (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Military_Institute)
Lexington, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Virginia)
187


Western Carolina University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Carolina_University)
Cullowhee, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullowhee,_North_Carolina)
448


Wofford College (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wofford_College)
Spartanburg, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartanburg,_South_Carolina)
386


University of Richmond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Richmond)
Richmond, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia)
51


North Carolina A&T State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_A%26T_State_University)
Greensboro, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro,_North_Carolina)
227



AVERAGE DISTANCE
390

[mainejeff]

Cozy confines? Even if Richmond came with us there would only be two SoCon football schools within 400 miles of Williamsburg. Tribe would be the geographic outlier just as it would in the Patriot.

Oh no....you'll be a geographic outlier in Virginia....poor baby!

It seems like many in the mid-Atlantic/Virginia area have a fetish about this "geographic outlier" stuff.

[FU_Paladin08]

Cozy confines? Even if Richmond came with us there would only be two SoCon football schools within 400 miles of Williamsburg. Tribe would be the geographic outlier just as it would in the Patriot.
When the CAA starts pulling from the Patriot and NEC to back fill their losses you’ll realize it’s much nicer driving South during football and basketball season.

[Go Green]

Nothing much of substance in that article.

I was thinking the same thing. As others have said, it's not like the news was a shock to anyone paying attention.

If Richmond doesn't intend to do anything and is content to let others make decisions for them, they should say so.

[Tribe4SF]

* With the current structure of the Tired Old Coastal Atheltic Association (Delaware removed, Football Members included, Associate Members excluded), the average distance from those 18 schools to Williamsburg is 368 miles.

* Under the FUBeAR NEW SoCon plan (Add W&M, Richmond, and NC A&T, Associate Members excluded), the average distance from those 12 schools to Williamsburg is 390 miles.


Are you gonna let 22 miles stand in the way of destiny? FUBeAR thinks not...


Oh...FUBeAR can show his work...y'all know that ish!



TIRED OLD COASTAL ATHELTIC ASSOC.




Institution
Location
Distance to W'Burg


College of William & Mary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_William_%26_Mary)
Williamsburg, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg,_Virginia)
0


Campbell University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_University)
Buies Creek, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buies_Creek,_North_Carolina)
210


College of Charleston (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Charleston)
Charleston, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina)
444


Drexel University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drexel_University)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia)
297


Elon University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_University)
Elon, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon,_North_Carolina)
212


Hampton University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_University)
Hampton, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton,_Virginia)
30


Hofstra University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofstra_University)
Hempstead, New York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hempstead_(village),_New_York)
408


Monmouth University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monmouth_University)
West Long Branch, New Jersey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Long_Branch,_New_Jersey)
370


North Carolina A&T State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_A%26T_State_University)
Greensboro, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro,_North_Carolina)
227


Northeastern University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_University)
Boston, Massachusetts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston)
599


Stony Brook University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stony_Brook_University)
Stony Brook, New York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stony_Brook,_New_York)
446


Towson University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson_University)
Towson, Maryland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson,_Maryland)
208


University of North Carolina Wilmington (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina_Wilmington)
Wilmington, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington,_North_Carolina)
277


University at Albany (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_at_Albany,_SUNY)
Albany, New York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany,_New_York)
523


University of Maine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Maine)
Orono, Maine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orono,_Maine)
833


University of New Hampshire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_New_Hampshire)
Durham, New Hampshire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham,_New_Hampshire)
655


University of Rhode Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Rhode_Island)
Kingston, Rhode Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston,_Rhode_Island)
544


University of Richmond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Richmond)
Richmond, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia)
51


Villanova University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villanova_University)
Villanova, Pennsylvania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villanova,_Pennsylvania)
294



AVERAGE DISTANCE
368


FUBeAR's NEW SoCon




Institution
Location
Distance to W'Burg


College of William & Mary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_William_%26_Mary)
Williamsburg, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg,_Virginia)
0


University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tennessee_at_Chattanooga)
Chattanooga, Tennessee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga,_Tennessee)
596


The Citadel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Citadel)
Charleston, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina)
444


East Tennessee State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Tennessee_State_University)
Johnson City, Tennessee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_City,_Tennessee)
409


Furman University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_University)
Greenville, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenville,_South_Carolina)
413


Mercer University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_University)
Macon, Georgia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macon,_Georgia)
583


Samford University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samford_University)
Homewood, Alabama (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homewood,_Alabama)
706


University of North Carolina at Greensboro (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Greensboro)
Greensboro, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro,_North_Carolina)
227


Virginia Military Institute (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Military_Institute)
Lexington, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Virginia)
187


Western Carolina University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Carolina_University)
Cullowhee, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullowhee,_North_Carolina)
448


Wofford College (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wofford_College)
Spartanburg, South Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartanburg,_South_Carolina)
386


University of Richmond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Richmond)
Richmond, Virginia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia)
51


North Carolina A&T State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_A%26T_State_University)
Greensboro, North Carolina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro,_North_Carolina)
227



AVERAGE DISTANCE
390




Good old FuBear, always mixing his metaphors! I was talking football only and conceding Richmond went with us. SoCon also plays all schools every year while CAA has scheduling pods limiting travel. One conference flight per year. Probably minimum 2 to max 4 in SoCon.

[Tribe4SF]

I was thinking the same thing. As others have said, it's not like the news was a shock to anyone paying attention.

If Richmond doesn't intend to do anything and is content to let others make decisions for them, they should say so.

Why? It's their business and how is anyone going to make their decisions for them? As far as change there are two choices. 1) go FBS and lobby for an invitation which ain't happening. 2) Look for a differen't FCS league which also probably ain't happening.

[WestCoastAggie]

The handful of A&T supporters I know all questioned the CAA move and have expressed that the SoCon felt like it would have been and would be a better fit if not their outright preference. Most all SoCon fans I know believe A&T would be a great fit.

Now, go back a couple of years, recall there were chatterings of A&T having long term FBS aspirations which rumor was kept the SoCon from showing interest. Remember Kennesaw St wanted in the SoCon but was rejected because of their long term FBS aspirations.

So, the question is, if the SoCon were to expand, did A&T burn that bridge?

Well, we are getting a new chancellor in 2024. It remains to be seen how the new Chancellor will view Athletics and our affiliation with the current CAA.

And when it comes to FBS, those were the goals of our soon to be departing Chancellor. The SoCon also has Western Carolina and UNC-Greensboro. UNCG, in particular, is loosing enrollment and may be cutting academic offerings because of the enrollment decline and decreased state funding as a result. With A&T's growing enrollment and presence in NC, Mid-Atlantic, and nationally (thanks to our Athletics and Research efforts), will UNCG be happy with us sharing a conference?

Lastly, how do the presidents really feel about A&T, Campbell, Elon, and even High Point (who's injecting millions into athletics and is rumored to be considering starting Football)?

[caribbeanhen]

Once

Twice

Three times an Aggie

Lionel Richie

[WestCoastAggie]

Once

Twice

Three times an Aggie

Lionel Richie

I tried to catch and edit it before someone saw that. LOL!

[caribbeanhen]

I tried to catch and edit it before someone saw that. LOL!

😂

[FUBeAR]

Good old FuBear, always mixing his metaphors! I was talking football only and conceding Richmond went with us. SoCon also plays all schools every year while CAA has scheduling pods limiting travel. One conference flight per year. Probably minimum 2 to max 4 in SoCon.
Metaphor?

But ... anyway ... anything you say about CAA, you need to say use past tense ... cuz you don't know what's gonna happen .... "CAA HAD scheduling pods..."

And, any obstacles you think of regarding FUBeAR's NEW SoCon are just opportunities awaiting creativity. We got you. It's all good.

[FUBeAR]

Well, we are getting a new chancellor in 2024. It remains to be seen how the new Chancellor will view Athletics and our affiliation with the current CAA.

And when it comes to FBS, those were the goals of our soon to be departing Chancellor. The SoCon also has Western Carolina and UNC-Greensboro. UNCG, in particular, is loosing enrollment and may be cutting academic offerings because of the enrollment decline and decreased state funding as a result. With A&T's growing enrollment and present in NC, Mid-Atlantic, and nationally (thanks to our Athletics and Research efforts), will UNCG be happy with us sharing a conference?

Lastly, how do the presidents really feel about A&T, Campbell, Elon, and even High Point (who's injecting millions into athletics and is rumored to be considering starting Football)?
UNC-G's opinion don't matter much. They don't even have Football...or a band!

* We HEART EMOJI A&T.

* Campbell's all right...close to some great BBQ. Cool mascot. They'll do.

* E*Loan - probably haven't been sufficiently humbled yet to be allowed to return...maybe after a few more moves leaves them totally twisting in the wind and they admit, apologize for, and promise never again to repeat their unwarranted arrogance.

* High Point seems like a 'poser.' We, in the SoCon, ain't too partial to 'posers.' Maybe even a bit of a cult. While we do have some peeps that are fond of cults, if they handle snakes and such, in general, most SoCon schools (except CIT) are anti-cult. Think we'll wait-a-while on HPU.

[Catamount87]

Well, we are getting a new chancellor in 2024. It remains to be seen how the new Chancellor will view Athletics and our affiliation with the current CAA.

And when it comes to FBS, those were the goals of our soon to be departing Chancellor. The SoCon also has Western Carolina and UNC-Greensboro. UNCG, in particular, is loosing enrollment and may be cutting academic offerings because of the enrollment decline and decreased state funding as a result. With A&T's growing enrollment and present in NC, Mid-Atlantic, and nationally (thanks to our Athletics and Research efforts), will UNCG be happy with us sharing a conference?

Lastly, how do the presidents really feel about A&T, Campbell, Elon, and even High Point (who's injecting millions into athletics and is rumored to be considering starting Football)?

+1 on what FUBeAR said.

Add to that, a common feeling amongst SoCon fans, HPU is just another Elon. So, no thank you ma'am.

[Go Green]

Why? It's their business and how is anyone going to make their decisions for them?

Most of the former Pac-12 members were forced into places they didn't want to be because of decisions made by others.

[wcugrad95]

For the SoCon conversation, there are plenty of teams that could be a good fit. I agree that if we grow, we need to grow by 3 schools to give us 12 football teams (two divisions with 6 teams, 5 regular games and rotate the other 3 so you play everybody over every 2 years). In addition to Richmond from this thread and William & Mary (both used to be in the league), we have NC A&T, Elon, Campbell, or Gardner-Webb in the state of NC (mostly privates); then others like North Alabama, a whole bunch of the Tennessee schools (preferably the ones Nashville or East) or even EKU. It would not be hard to get 3, but I really don't know if the SoCon wants to expand - they have seemed pretty content with our 9 football teams so we have balanced schedules, reasonable travel, and long-term stability.

A&T, Campbell, and either Gardner-Webb or North Alabama (to be good partners with Samford and UTC) would be really good geographic fits.

[caribbeanhen]

For the SoCon conversation, there are plenty of teams that could be a good fit. I agree that if we grow, we need to grow by 3 schools to give us 12 football teams (two divisions with 6 teams, 5 regular games and rotate the other 3 so you play everybody over every 2 years). In addition to Richmond from this thread and William & Mary (both used to be in the league), we have NC A&T, Elon, Campbell, or Gardner-Webb in the state of NC (mostly privates); then others like North Alabama, a whole bunch of the Tennessee schools (preferably the ones Nashville or East) or even EKU. It would not be hard to get 3, but I really don't know if the SoCon wants to expand - they have seemed pretty content with our 9 football teams so we have balanced schedules, reasonable travel, and long-term stability.

A&T, Campbell, and either Gardner-Webb or North Alabama (to be good partners with Samford and UTC) would be really good geographic fits.

ain’t Northern Alabama a lil bit to far south for the “Yankee” Southern Conference …. Lots of Yanks heading South these days

[wcugrad95]

I now live in Orlando. I moved 600 miles South from NC about 12 years ago and I am frequently the only Southerner around these parts :)

[caribbeanhen]

I now live in Orlando. I moved 600 miles South from NC about 12 years ago and I am frequently the only Southerner around these parts :)

Many Boriqua have moved north to the south too, but I hear ya

Orlando ain’t the South

[The Cats]

You guys are just wasting your time talking about teams for SoCon expansion. The privates and military schools don't want it, that's 6 votes no to maybe 3 votes yes (no idea how UNCG would vote on this topic)...

[ElCid]

You guys are just wasting your time talking about teams for SoCon expansion. The privates and military schools don't want it, that's 6 votes no to maybe 3 votes yes (no idea how UNCG would vote on this topic)...

Not sure about that. I think if it were the right teams, (1 private, 1 public) it might be ok. That would maintain the existing balance. But having 11 teams for football is icky. Currently with four privates, four public, and two military (who are public in reality, private in nature), the apple cart can't be knocked over. If we added three football schools to be 12 and 13 overall, it would be 6 public, 5 private, and two military. I don't know the reality of the intricate political details of the conf workings, but it could possibly make for an unbalanced power situation. Nobody wants that.