(02-21-2022 04:48 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 02:32 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 12:59 PM)dan10 Wrote:  Queens makes no sense now or ever.

Be that as it may....

The Big South and ASun don't need anymore non football schools. Only 1 conference needs a NC non football school to fill the slot.

Queens just had an affirmative D1 vote

The stars seem to be aligning

If UNC Charlotte can't get the "Charlotte" market, i'm certain Queens College is less well known than some of the local high schools. They would be an awful addition, especially as a brand new D1 school We have far too many options, including a skyrocketing High Point.

We'll see what happens. I don't disagree with you.

(02-21-2022 04:48 PM)82hawk Wrote:  If UNC Charlotte can't get the "Charlotte" market, i'm certain Queens College is less well known than some of the local high schools.

The whole idea that adding a school in a metropolitan mean suddenly getting sports fans in that area fixated on the adding conference's goings on never has made much, if any sense.

I doubt that adding, say, Hofstra made anyone in New York - other than true Hosftra fans - care a tiny bit more about the CAA. Same is true in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc.

Adding Queens University (how desperate can you get??) wouldn't get a single person in Charlotte excited about the CAA, other than die hard Queens fans (all 8 of them).

Talking about how "low level" Queens is, they were still limiting attendance at their basketball games to "pass list" for COVID as recently as last weekend! They just went to 50% capacity and gates open a scant half hour before tipoff.

NC A&T confirmed.
https://caasports.com/news/2022/2/22/foo...rence.aspx

I am guessing 14th should be announced soon. I hear two theories in these forums. Add a southern member and create N/S divisions. Add Fairfield to pair with Northeastern as travel partner. Each school will have a travel partner.

Besides Howard, from the schools that are being discussed, I think Fairfield aligns much better academically with CAA. It’s #3 North regional university ranking. Ahead of #4 Loyola MD from patriot league. Selfishly it’s close to Stony Brook… just a ferry ride.

(02-22-2022 03:51 PM)ibby10 Wrote:  NC A&T confirmed.
https://caasports.com/news/2022/2/22/foo...rence.aspx

I am guessing 14th should be announced soon. I hear two theories in these forums. Add a southern member and create N/S divisions. Add Fairfield to pair with Northeastern as travel partner. Each school will have a travel partner.

Besides Howard, from the schools that are being discussed, I think Fairfield aligns much better academically with CAA. It’s #3 North regional university ranking. Ahead of #4 Loyola MD from patriot league. Selfishly it’s close to Stony Brook… just a ferry ride.

The CAA has a problem with it's southern schools and soon to be southern division. Maybe the school president's up north don't care. Who knows? But I can assure you that adding another northern school and stopping at 14 is going to lead to the eventual departure of some southern schools, it will be just a matter of time. And the CAA IS going to divisions. Period. Also, adding another northern school pushes Towson in the southern division, and that move will piss them off as well. I just don't see any of that happening.

If Fairfield is announced next, that means we are going to 16 and already have the next two schools pretty much lined up.

(02-22-2022 03:51 PM)ibby10 Wrote:  NC A&T confirmed.
https://caasports.com/news/2022/2/22/foo...rence.aspx

I am guessing 14th should be announced soon. I hear two theories in these forums. Add a southern member and create N/S divisions. Add Fairfield to pair with Northeastern as travel partner. Each school will have a travel partner.

Besides Howard, from the schools that are being discussed, I think Fairfield aligns much better academically with CAA. It’s #3 North regional university ranking. Ahead of #4 Loyola MD from patriot league. Selfishly it’s close to Stony Brook… just a ferry ride.

Agree

(02-22-2022 05:03 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 03:51 PM)ibby10 Wrote:  NC A&T confirmed.
https://caasports.com/news/2022/2/22/foo...rence.aspx

I am guessing 14th should be announced soon. I hear two theories in these forums. Add a southern member and create N/S divisions. Add Fairfield to pair with Northeastern as travel partner. Each school will have a travel partner.

Besides Howard, from the schools that are being discussed, I think Fairfield aligns much better academically with CAA. It’s #3 North regional university ranking. Ahead of #4 Loyola MD from patriot league. Selfishly it’s close to Stony Brook… just a ferry ride.

The CAA has a problem with it's southern schools and soon to be southern division. Maybe the school president's up north don't care. Who knows? But I can assure you that adding another northern school and stopping at 14 is going to lead to the eventual departure of some southern schools, it will be just a matter of time. And the CAA IS going to divisions. Period. Also, adding another northern school pushes Towson in the southern division, and that move will piss them off as well. I just don't see any of that happening.

If Fairfield is announced next, that means we are going to 16 and already have the next two schools pretty much lined up.

It sounds like the CAA has a problem with a few UNCW posters, maybe the University as well. I don’t really know.

Since the CAA lost Mason and ODU back in 2013, the league was down to 8 members. Only three were south of DC: JMU, W&M and UNCW. There was obviously an issue for UNCW and since that time, the CAA has added:
Charleston
Elon
Hampton
NC A&T
Monmouth
Stony Brook

So 4 schools have been added to buttress the southern end, primarily benefitting UNCW.

I don’t buy that Elon or Charleston have any remaining issues, particularly with the new adds. They both at Presidents level sound pleased. And I think they are on board with the CAAs efforts to bring in quality new members, even if north of Virginia.

So while UNCW concerns have been addressed - there’s another member who could use a hand and it’s Northeastern. You now have 5 members within a 5 hour drive. Northeastern has 2 - and that’s if traffic is moving. So I have no problem helping them as well in all this restructure which Fairfield does. I also think they are the highest quality option in the mix right now.

That’s just how I see it. If the staff at UNCW is as displeased as the posters, even after adding two more members in VA/NC, they really should be looking for a new home. But I don’t think anyone else would join you in an exodus.

(02-22-2022 06:36 PM)Sitting bull Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 05:03 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 03:51 PM)ibby10 Wrote:  NC A&T confirmed.
https://caasports.com/news/2022/2/22/foo...rence.aspx

I am guessing 14th should be announced soon. I hear two theories in these forums. Add a southern member and create N/S divisions. Add Fairfield to pair with Northeastern as travel partner. Each school will have a travel partner.

Besides Howard, from the schools that are being discussed, I think Fairfield aligns much better academically with CAA. It’s #3 North regional university ranking. Ahead of #4 Loyola MD from patriot league. Selfishly it’s close to Stony Brook… just a ferry ride.

The CAA has a problem with it's southern schools and soon to be southern division. Maybe the school president's up north don't care. Who knows? But I can assure you that adding another northern school and stopping at 14 is going to lead to the eventual departure of some southern schools, it will be just a matter of time. And the CAA IS going to divisions. Period. Also, adding another northern school pushes Towson in the southern division, and that move will piss them off as well. I just don't see any of that happening.

If Fairfield is announced next, that means we are going to 16 and already have the next two schools pretty much lined up.

It sounds like the CAA has a problem with a few UNCW posters, maybe the University as well. I don’t really know.

Since the CAA lost Mason and ODU back in 2013, the league was down to 8 members. Only three were south of DC: JMU, W&M and UNCW. There was obviously an issue for UNCW and since that time, the CAA has added:
Charleston
Elon
Hampton
NC A&T
Monmouth
Stony Brook

So 4 schools have been added to buttress the southern end, primarily benefitting UNCW.

I don’t buy that Elon or Charleston have any remaining issues, particularly with the new adds. They both at Presidents level sound pleased. And I think they are on board with the CAAs efforts to bring in quality new members, even if north of Virginia.

So while UNCW concerns have been addressed - there’s another member who could use a hand and it’s Northeastern. You now have 5 members within a 5 hour drive. Northeastern has 2 - and that’s if traffic is moving. So I have no problem helping them as well in all this restructure which Fairfield does. I also think they are the highest quality option in the mix right now.

That’s just how I see it. If the staff at UNCW is as displeased as the posters, even after adding two more members in VA/NC, they really should be looking for a new home. But I don’t think anyone else would join you in an exodus.

I have no problem if Fairfield is added, if we go to 16. Sorry, not getting hyped about adding Hampton even if they aren't that far away. Geography is only part of the equation. Monmouth and Stony Brook have athletic programs that are far superior to Hampton. NC A&T is a great football add, and I expect they will compete in basketball pretty quickly. Elon may get there, but haven't so far. And as much as I like William and Mary, basketball is struggling. The Southern division isn't looking very strong in the sports we care about which are basketball, baseball and soccer. That's the issue that is more important than travel. I suppose we could view the southern division as a place we could excel, but the bigger goal is multiple bids due to a strong conference.

Compare the southern division of the CAA in basketball and baseball to the SoCon if UNCW and CofC jumped ship. That's the discussion we are having on the UNCW board.

CAA South - CofC, UNCW, Elon, NC A&T, W&M, Hampton, Towson

SoCon potential - CofC, UNCW, UNCG, Furman, Wofford, Chattanooga, ETSU, Mercer, VMI, The Citadel, VMI

Who knows if the SoCon is even looking to expand or if UNCW would be invited, but looking at the conference that would be logical based on geography, it would make sense.

(02-22-2022 06:36 PM)Sitting bull Wrote:  It sounds like the CAA has a problem with a few UNCW posters, maybe the University as well. I don’t really know.

Since the CAA lost Mason and ODU back in 2013, the league was down to 8 members. Only three were south of DC: JMU, W&M and UNCW. There was obviously an issue for UNCW and since that time, the CAA has added:
Charleston
Elon
Hampton
NC A&T
Monmouth
Stony Brook

So 4 schools have been added to buttress the southern end, primarily benefitting UNCW.

I don’t buy that Elon or Charleston have any remaining issues, particularly with the new adds. They both at Presidents level sound pleased. And I think they are on board with the CAAs efforts to bring in quality new members, even if north of Virginia.

So while UNCW concerns have been addressed - there’s another member who could use a hand and it’s Northeastern. You now have 5 members within a 5 hour drive. Northeastern has 2 - and that’s if traffic is moving. So I have no problem helping them as well in all this restructure which Fairfield does. I also think they are the highest quality option in the mix right now.

That’s just how I see it. If the staff at UNCW is as displeased as the posters, even after adding two more members in VA/NC, they really should be looking for a new home. But I don’t think anyone else would join you in an exodus.

Charleston and Elon replaced Mason and ODU in the N/S balance
Same with Hampton for JMU

We have only had 1 true southern add this cycle....A&T. The north has had 2...Stony Brook and Monmouth. 1 more Southern addition is a perfectly fair ask

Charleston wants a southern division per the Charleston quotes from their AD and more southern adds

I'd have no problem with Farfield at #14 if Winthrop and High Point were #15 and #16

I just get the vibe the CAA won't go past #14 without Howard. So #14 now needs to be a southern school to keep things even. Tough break for Fairfield

If Northeastern wanted Farfield they should have done Fairfield for basketball and Olympic sports and Monmouth as football-only. Monmouth would have taken that deal.

I highly doubt Charleston and/or Elon will ever go back to SoCon. Going back to old conference rarely happens. Pride gets in the way to go back to where a school came from. And the old conference members also do not like extending invite to someone who thought less of them and has left. If there is a southern exodus in CAA, it will consist of UNCW only.

(02-22-2022 09:01 PM)ibby10 Wrote:  I highly doubt Charleston and/or Elon will ever go back to SoCon. Going back to old conference rarely happens. Pride gets in the way to go back to where a school came from. And the old conference members also do not like extending invite to someone who thought less of them and has left. If there is a southern exodus in CAA, it will consist of UNCW only.

Lol, pretty bold statements about an area, a conference and schools I doubt you spent more than two minutes of your life discussing or analyzing prior to the CAA smoke. When it comes to issues like this, there is no such thing as "never". The SoCon has its' own issues in holding together their conference. FCS football schools that are decent are always a flight risk, and the SoCon has a couple of flight risks. There is a reason they upped their exit fee. UNCW and CofC are two of the few growing basketball only schools in the South, it makes sense for them to move together. The package of the two schools could be enticing to the SoCon if they want to add members. There is safety in numbers, and all it would take is one defection from the SoCon and they would have to bring on members. As non football schools, they also don't pose flight risks to the FBS.

Rumors were flying about an expanded SoCon which included UNCW and CofC. There is usually some underlying cause of those rumors. The only reason the rumor was consdered plausible is because it made sense. And anything that makes sense lends itself to being possible. And this rumored expansion made sense.

I admit that I’m still learning about the southern schools, but my comment was less about south and more about NCAA conferences in general. Rarely schools go back to old conferences.

(02-23-2022 03:48 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 09:01 PM)ibby10 Wrote:  I highly doubt Charleston and/or Elon will ever go back to SoCon. Going back to old conference rarely happens. Pride gets in the way to go back to where a school came from. And the old conference members also do not like extending invite to someone who thought less of them and has left. If there is a southern exodus in CAA, it will consist of UNCW only.

Lol, pretty bold statements about an area, a conference and schools I doubt you spent more than two minutes of your life discussing or analyzing prior to the CAA smoke. When it comes to issues like this, there is no such thing as "never". The SoCon has its' own issues in holding together their conference. FCS football schools that are decent are always a flight risk, and the SoCon has a couple of flight risks. There is a reason they upped their exit fee. UNCW and CofC are two of the few growing basketball only schools in the South, it makes sense for them to move together. The package of the two schools could be enticing to the SoCon if they want to add members. There is safety in numbers, and all it would take is one defection from the SoCon and they would have to bring on members. As non football schools, they also don't pose flight risks to the FBS.

Rumors were flying about an expanded SoCon which included UNCW and CofC. There is usually some underlying cause of those rumors. The only reason the rumor was consdered plausible is because it made sense. And anything that makes sense lends itself to being possible. And this rumored expansion made sense.

Davidson did it, as did ETSU.

However, I don't think there is a lot of fan sentiment in most SoCon schools to bring back Charleston or Elon. But one never knows what the thoughts of the presidents and chancellors of the conference are, so anything could happen.

For all the rumors, I don't think the SoCon will add members, as the current10 works well for basketball, and 9 football schools seem to be the perfect number for football.

(02-23-2022 09:23 AM)The Cats Wrote:  Davidson did it, as did ETSU.

Interesting. We don’t have to go far to find examples!

ODU is another example. They were in the ECAC South which was the league which became the CAA. They left for the Sun Belt, then returned to the CAA in the early 90s I think. They left again in 2013, went to the CUSA and ironically, now going into the Sun Belt. So technically they have done it twice. I’m not sure in retrospect it has really helped any of their basketball programs. They pale compared to their CAA days.

This discussion on whether the So Con would even consider Charleston or Elon is just swagger. Neither have any remorse coming into the CAA. Their reasons for shifting were to align their programs up the East coast, not deeper south or west into AL and TN. They’re not going back and the only “rumor” I ever saw was based back to an assistant basketball coach at Western Carolina. I doubt he even understands why the two schools shifted in the first place, obviously not.

Not to derail the conversation focused around the revenue sports but I too am excited about divisions in non-revenue too. 3/4 of the new additions have baseball teams. Hopefully the next schools sponsors baseball too...
South
UNCW
CoC
A&T
W&M
Elon
Towson

North
SB
Monmouth
Northeastern
Delaware
Hofstra

and I believe all 4 field softball and volleyball too.

Lastly, the announcement regarding A&T joining the conference also mentioned the CAA sponsoring an indoor track and field championship in the near future.

(02-23-2022 11:00 AM)AGGIE2039 Wrote:  Not to derail the conversation focused around the revenue sports but I too am excited about divisions in non-revenue too. 3/4 of the new additions have baseball teams. Hopefully the next schools sponsors baseball too...
South
UNCW
CoC
A&T
W&M
Elon
Towson

North
SB
Monmouth
Northeastern
Delaware
Hofstra

and I believe all 4 field softball and volleyball too.

Lastly, the announcement regarding A&T joining the conference also mentioned the CAA sponsoring an indoor track and field championship in the near future.

Great point Aggie.

I bet #14 will have baseball and Towson can be moved North.

Softball, W Soccer, and W Volleyball will also be able to have divisions

M Soccer does not look like it will be able to do so

(02-23-2022 11:00 AM)AGGIE2039 Wrote:  Not to derail the conversation focused around the revenue sports but I too am excited about divisions in non-revenue too. 3/4 of the new additions have baseball teams. Hopefully the next schools sponsors baseball too...
South
UNCW
CoC
A&T
W&M
Elon
Towson

North
SB
Monmouth
Northeastern
Delaware
Hofstra

and I believe all 4 field softball and volleyball too.

Lastly, the announcement regarding A&T joining the conference also mentioned the CAA sponsoring an indoor track and field championship in the near future.

Baseball is almost as important to UNCW as Basketball, so i'd be surprised if a southern addition school didn't have baseball. Softball has jumped up at UNCW as well, with a huge upgrade to facilities that are better than our baseball facilities. One of the reasons i'd like to see Campbell come on board is their baseball team is top notch. They'd be a great add for football, basketball and baseball.

(02-22-2022 08:43 PM)solohawks Wrote:  If Northeastern wanted Farfield they should have done Fairfield for basketball and Olympic sports and Monmouth as football-only. Monmouth would have taken that deal.

I prefer Monmouth over Fairfield, and IMO Fairfield is far enough from Northeastern that it isn't a big deal that they're closer to Northeastern than Hofstra is.

Monmouth does nothing really. Fairfield or Quinnipiac would have made far more sense. But if it was Monmouth that got the ball rolling on everything else, then so be it.