(06-08-2020 06:45 AM)solohawks Wrote: He also was very clear that while 12 was nice it was not a priority and 11 would work. To me that indicated that Buthene Cookman was a no go
The only reason the SWAC would consider B-C is if FAMU had insisted on B-C as a partner in order for FAMU to join the SWAC. In the HBCU world, FAMU is akin to a Texas or a USC or a Michigan, they are a blue-chip brand name, so well worth pursuing even if it means a tagalong. And that's what B-C would be, because there's nothing about B-C that is inherently appealing to the SWAC. While B-C is in Florida, they are 240 miles east of FAMU and thus far outside the SWAC footprint. They are also in peninsular, east-coast beach Florida, which is culturally quite different from the SWAC profile, and they aren't large enough or brand-big enough to overcome that.
Since FAMU obviously was willing to join the SWAC without B-C, this means that didn't happen and so B-C will not be joining.
Really, Tennessee State is the only needle-mover. They are also a blue-chip HBCU football brand, and while they are outside the SWAC footprint they are only 115 miles from the nearest SWAC school so not egregiously so, and they play a traditional Classic game vs Jackson State and also often play another SWAC school, Mississippi Valley State. This past season they played games versus three SWAC teams.
Tennessee State is IMO unlikely to leave the OVC for the SWAC. They seem to like having feet in both worlds - playing about three fellow HBCUs each year OOC but playing in a non-HBCU conference. In a way, they already have what Hampton and NC A&T are trying to reach with their recent moves. Plus, as you mentioned, being a northern Tennessee school, the OVC offers better travel, which is the big thing these days. But the SWAC would welcome them.
Still, don't expect the SWAC to be publicly overt about pursuit of Tennessee State. Not only did the SWAC commissioner mention tampering, but you have to remember that just nine or so years ago, during the 2010/2011 year, the SWAC invited Tennessee State to join and nothing came of it, so the SWAC doesn't want to be embarrassed like that again.