(06-20-2018 08:24 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-20-2018 08:01 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(06-19-2018 09:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Geography probably keeps the SWAC together but the MEAC schools would be better served dropping to d2 or moving to regional conferences.

Delaware St, Coppin St, Morgan St, UMES, and SC St all need to move down.

The MEAC should sell the shell (by the seashore) of the conference to eight schools from C-USA. Keep Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman around for an extra year to keep the conference from being completely dissolved, then they head to the SWAC.

As far as the rest of the MEAC:

Coppin State - Division II
Delaware State - Division II
Howard - Atlantic Sun or America East
Maryland-Eastern Shore - Division II
Morgan State - Divsion II
Norfolk State - Division II
North Carolina A&T - Big South
North Carolina Central - Big South
South Carolina State - Division II

FAMU and B-C to the A-Sun would be brilliant. It puts them in a conference for Olympic sports with 4 other Florida schools and it means a ton of savings in travel. Big South football would have the following HBCUs:

Hampton
NC A&T
NC Central
FAMU
B-C

That could work as well. The Atlantic Sun would then have the following in football:

Florida A&M
Bethune-Cookman
North Alabama
Kennesaw State

Given that North Alabama will be in the OVC at first opportunity, and Kennesaw State could have higher aspirations, perhaps the Atlantic Sun could take in two more from the MEAC?

Big South would be down to three in football (not counting Presbyterian, who will eventually be in the Pioneer League) and affiliate Monmouth. At some point UNA and KSU will move on, so it may be wise to keep skimming from the top half of the MEAC.

(06-20-2018 08:37 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(06-20-2018 08:24 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-20-2018 08:01 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(06-19-2018 09:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Geography probably keeps the SWAC together but the MEAC schools would be better served dropping to d2 or moving to regional conferences.

Delaware St, Coppin St, Morgan St, UMES, and SC St all need to move down.

The MEAC should sell the shell (by the seashore) of the conference to eight schools from C-USA. Keep Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman around for an extra year to keep the conference from being completely dissolved, then they head to the SWAC.

As far as the rest of the MEAC:

Coppin State - Division II
Delaware State - Division II
Howard - Atlantic Sun or America East
Maryland-Eastern Shore - Division II
Morgan State - Divsion II
Norfolk State - Division II
North Carolina A&T - Big South
North Carolina Central - Big South
South Carolina State - Division II

FAMU and B-C to the A-Sun would be brilliant. It puts them in a conference for Olympic sports with 4 other Florida schools and it means a ton of savings in travel. Big South football would have the following HBCUs:

Hampton
NC A&T
NC Central
FAMU
B-C

That could work as well. The Atlantic Sun would then have the following in football:

Florida A&M
Bethune-Cookman
North Alabama
Kennesaw State

Given that North Alabama will be in the OVC at first opportunity, and Kennesaw State could have higher aspirations, perhaps the Atlantic Sun could take in two more from the MEAC?

Big South would be down to three in football (not counting Presbyterian, who will eventually be in the Pioneer League) and affiliate Monmouth. At some point UNA and KSU will move on, so it may be wise to keep skimming from the top half of the MEAC.

Not so sure that North Alabama would be interested in the OVC at this time. Yes, a few of the schools are closer for traveling. Still some hard feelings between what happen between 2011 & 2014.

(06-20-2018 09:16 PM)North Ala Supporter Wrote:  

(06-20-2018 08:37 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(06-20-2018 08:24 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(06-20-2018 08:01 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(06-19-2018 09:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Geography probably keeps the SWAC together but the MEAC schools would be better served dropping to d2 or moving to regional conferences.

Delaware St, Coppin St, Morgan St, UMES, and SC St all need to move down.

The MEAC should sell the shell (by the seashore) of the conference to eight schools from C-USA. Keep Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman around for an extra year to keep the conference from being completely dissolved, then they head to the SWAC.

As far as the rest of the MEAC:

Coppin State - Division II
Delaware State - Division II
Howard - Atlantic Sun or America East
Maryland-Eastern Shore - Division II
Morgan State - Divsion II
Norfolk State - Division II
North Carolina A&T - Big South
North Carolina Central - Big South
South Carolina State - Division II

FAMU and B-C to the A-Sun would be brilliant. It puts them in a conference for Olympic sports with 4 other Florida schools and it means a ton of savings in travel. Big South football would have the following HBCUs:

Hampton
NC A&T
NC Central
FAMU
B-C

That could work as well. The Atlantic Sun would then have the following in football:

Florida A&M
Bethune-Cookman
North Alabama
Kennesaw State

Given that North Alabama will be in the OVC at first opportunity, and Kennesaw State could have higher aspirations, perhaps the Atlantic Sun could take in two more from the MEAC?

Big South would be down to three in football (not counting Presbyterian, who will eventually be in the Pioneer League) and affiliate Monmouth. At some point UNA and KSU will move on, so it may be wise to keep skimming from the top half of the MEAC.

Not so sure that North Alabama would be interested in the OVC at this time. Yes, a few of the schools are closer for traveling. Still some hard feelings between what happen between 2011 & 2014.

Agree, UNA will be in the A-Sun for the foreseeable future, and if the time comes to move on, the OVC will not be UNA's first choice. I doubt they would entertain the OVC at all after the way it was handled the first time.

I feel like if A&T wants to get out of the MEAC, they would more than likely be the 10th in the A-Sun with football in the Big South. And please don't say travel would be an issue, look at the MEAC.

(06-19-2018 09:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Geography probably keeps the SWAC together but the MEAC schools would be better served dropping to d2 or moving to regional conferences.

Delaware St, Coppin St, Morgan St, UMES, and SC St all need to move down.

There really aren't many options if you are SWAC, especially in the west.

Coppin State and Norfolk State pulled 2 of the most stunning upsets in Ncaa history. Coppin State whipped a 2-seed by 13 and Norfolk State behind Kyle O’Quinn dethroned a popular national champion pick. A legendary upset should earn you an eternal stay in D1 imo - it’s like how if someone wins the Masters they get a lifetime invite (don’t watch golf but thought I heard that).

Plus Norfolk St gets big time fcs support and also followed up that upset with a 16-0 season. They’ve actually never fallen below .500 in their 20 years in the MEAC.

I doubt Hampton goes to bat for any MEAC members for Big South. Probably make any potential MEAC peel-off’s pay their dues in Atlantic Sun and still not support them fully after awhile.

While Big South is low in the pecking order, it’s still kind of a big deal for someone to leap past ASun. There may be decent programs in both MEAC and SWAC, and Hampton is one of them...overall, though, always took it as the two HBC conferences being < ASun. You don’t have schools on the brink of shuttering in ASun. CAA or SoCon may be the end games for these schools...Hampton placing out of ASun into the SoCon feeder is actually pretty significant.

It also doesn’t help NC A&T that BSC is largely private...a public school may find it more difficult to get there right off the bat more difficult anyway.

Coastal Carolina was a public in the Big South, and they didn’t seem to have a problem with the private schools in the Big South. The CAA and SoCon had issues with Coastal.

(06-21-2018 11:48 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I doubt Hampton goes to bat for any MEAC members for Big South. Probably make any potential MEAC peel-off’s pay their dues in Atlantic Sun and still not support them fully after awhile.

While Big South is low in the pecking order, it’s still kind of a big deal for someone to leap past ASun. There may be decent programs in both MEAC and SWAC, and Hampton is one of them...overall, though, always took it as the two HBC conferences being < ASun. You don’t have schools on the brink of shuttering in ASun. CAA or SoCon may be the end games for these schools...Hampton placing out of ASun into the SoCon feeder is actually pretty significant.

It also doesn’t help NC A&T that BSC is largely private...a public school may find it more difficult to get there right off the bat more difficult anyway.

4 of 11 are public in the Big South. Public USC-Upstate just joined, while Private Liberty just left (swapped with A-Sun)

Florida A&M had a shot at FBS last decade. They were approved to go D1, and in the transition year playing an FBS schedule, they got their butts handled to them. So, they went back down. Now, if the MEAC is going to lose schools? I wonder if they are regretting not staying in place to become a FBS program?

(06-21-2018 01:47 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Florida A&M had a shot at FBS last decade. They were approved to go D1, and in the transition year playing an FBS schedule, they got their butts handled to them. So, they went back down. Now, if the MEAC is going to lose schools? I wonder if they are regretting not staying in place to become a FBS program?

IMHO it was a huge mistake to go back. Every transition school takes their lumps before they adjust to a higher level of play. WKU had some pretty bad seasons early in their FBS era. Eventually they would be able to sell recruits on the unique experience of being the only FBS HBCU and they would be in the top half of the SBC every year and maybe even getting top 25 votes.

Coastal was there before the two shared football, and that sport drove some of its membership choices.

I don’t think the public/private schism is as pronounced in BSC as in other places, but I’d wager that a public school candidate have some killer upsides, like facilities and/or location.

NC A&T’s bigger BSC roadblock is probably High Point. I doubt they want a public member so close by.

(06-20-2018 10:45 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-19-2018 09:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Geography probably keeps the SWAC together but the MEAC schools would be better served dropping to d2 or moving to regional conferences.

Delaware St, Coppin St, Morgan St, UMES, and SC St all need to move down.

There really aren't many options if you are SWAC, especially in the west.

The SWAC is a tight-knit conference. I don't see that changing any time soon.