I know that the SoCon isn't interested in adding anyone at this time. But if the conditions were right, would the SoCon take any one from the ASUN? Would Austin Peay or Eastern Kentucky be a valuable add in football? Would Lipscomb be a valuable add in basketball?

No

Nothing to be gained by Peay or Eastern Ky. Both are long drives for every school in the conference, 4-5 hrs on past Johnson City for most of the eastern schools, and while they have proximity to a larger media market, they just aren't there. When was the last time you decided to visit Clarksville TN or Richmond KY as a tourist? Wait, never.

Lipscomb is a different but only because of Nashville. That's a pretty nice weekend trip, a decent excuse to go to Nashville, and really only a big hike for VMI and Citadel.

(11-23-2022 09:35 AM)Buckyball Wrote:  Nothing to be gained by Peay or Eastern Ky. Both are long drives for every school in the conference, 4-5 hrs on past Johnson City for most of the eastern schools, and while they have proximity to a larger media market, they just aren't there. When was the last time you decided to visit Clarksville TN or Richmond KY as a tourist? Wait, never.

Lipscomb is a different but only because of Nashville. That's a pretty nice weekend trip, a decent excuse to go to Nashville, and really only a big hike for VMI and Citadel.

I didn't think a lot of ETSU fans would be keen on taking a road trip to Clarksville.

(11-06-2022 08:33 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  I know that the SoCon isn't interested in adding anyone at this time. But if the conditions were right, would the SoCon take any one from the ASUN? Would Austin Peay or Eastern Kentucky be a valuable add in football? Would Lipscomb be a valuable add in basketball?

That must be changing. I’m hearing lots of chatter about possible SoCon expansion.

(02-19-2023 01:38 PM)unalions Wrote:  

(11-06-2022 08:33 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  I know that the SoCon isn't interested in adding anyone at this time. But if the conditions were right, would the SoCon take any one from the ASUN? Would Austin Peay or Eastern Kentucky be a valuable add in football? Would Lipscomb be a valuable add in basketball?

That must be changing. I’m hearing lots of chatter about possible SoCon expansion.

If that's the case, who are they looking to add? My guess is that they're looking to add either Eastern Kentucky, Lipscomb, or North Alabama.

(02-20-2023 03:24 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(02-19-2023 01:38 PM)unalions Wrote:  

(11-06-2022 08:33 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  I know that the SoCon isn't interested in adding anyone at this time. But if the conditions were right, would the SoCon take any one from the ASUN? Would Austin Peay or Eastern Kentucky be a valuable add in football? Would Lipscomb be a valuable add in basketball?

That must be changing. I’m hearing lots of chatter about possible SoCon expansion.

If that's the case, who are they looking to add? My guess is that they're looking to add either Eastern Kentucky, Lipscomb, or North Alabama.

Or all three? Seems they are discussing whether they want 12 or 14 and what kind of mix they want between schools with and without football.

I also hear they are eyeballing the ASUN/WAC FCS to FBS situation as something they may also want to try to do if it’s successful.

Gardner-Webb would fit nicely in the Socon.

(05-18-2023 10:29 PM)Tigerblud Wrote:  Gardner-Webb would fit nicely in the Socon.

Would Charleston Southern be a nice fit as well?

The SoCon has been the model of stability. I'm sure whatever they do will be well thought out. I thought Campbell would have been a great pick, and then realized they accepted a CAA offer already.

(11-23-2022 09:35 AM)Buckyball Wrote:  Nothing to be gained by Peay or Eastern Ky. Both are long drives for every school in the conference, 4-5 hrs on past Johnson City for most of the eastern schools, and while they have proximity to a larger media market, they just aren't there. When was the last time you decided to visit Clarksville TN or Richmond KY as a tourist? Wait, never.

Lipscomb is a different but only because of Nashville. That's a pretty nice weekend trip, a decent excuse to go to Nashville, and really only a big hike for VMI and Citadel.

What about taking Peay as a travel partner for Lipscomb?,

(09-29-2023 01:03 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(11-23-2022 09:35 AM)Buckyball Wrote:  Nothing to be gained by Peay or Eastern Ky. Both are long drives for every school in the conference, 4-5 hrs on past Johnson City for most of the eastern schools, and while they have proximity to a larger media market, they just aren't there. When was the last time you decided to visit Clarksville TN or Richmond KY as a tourist? Wait, never.

Lipscomb is a different but only because of Nashville. That's a pretty nice weekend trip, a decent excuse to go to Nashville, and really only a big hike for VMI and Citadel.

What about taking Peay as a travel partner for Lipscomb?,

That would be am interesting pair, but I doubt it would happen. The only way the SoCon expands is if UNC-Greensboro leaves for the CAA, which will never happen because they don't want to pay the $2 million dollar exit fee. However, if they were to leave, the SoCon could potentially bring in Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky and either Gardner Webb or North Alabama.

Any interest in High Point? Great facilities. And finally, basketball is good. Just need to add football.

(02-01-2024 07:53 PM)Clueless Fan Wrote:  Any interest in High Point? Great facilities. And finally, basketball is good. Just need to add football.

Both mens and womens basketball have each made the tournament only once to my knowledge.

The lack of a football team is also a major issue. With all the constant realignment, conferences as high profile as the Pac 12 all but dead and the ACC possibly joining it, plus NIL issues in terms of finance, among other issues, if I was a university President and/or Chancellor or Athletic Director, the last thing I'd be looking at currently would be setting up a football program from scratch at a school without one.

That could easily be a $50 million to $100 million project between getting approval until the first game in a new built stadium. Not worth it right now when other existing programs that are already well established have issues ahead. Use the money to strengthen existings sports if they even have it or could get it.

As far as other SoCon teams, none of the Kentucky based FCS schools are really close to the other SoCon members. Personally, I like Murray State, especially for basketball, but they're just to far away.

Personally, I'd pick Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee. Their football and mens basketball are kinda meh, but womens basketball and the baseball team are fairly decent. The school isn't a long distance away, UTC or Samford could possibly reach Cookeville slightly faster then traveling to Johnson City. ETSU and UTC at least also tend to play them semi regularly in basketball, so fans and teams from those schools would be familiar with them.

(03-09-2024 09:17 AM)ETSUfan#2 Wrote:  

(02-01-2024 07:53 PM)Clueless Fan Wrote:  Any interest in High Point? Great facilities. And finally, basketball is good. Just need to add football.

Both mens and womens basketball have each made the tournament only once to my knowledge.

The lack of a football team is also a major issue. With all the constant realignment, conferences as high profile as the Pac 12 all but dead and the ACC possibly joining it, plus NIL issues in terms of finance, among other issues, if I was a university President and/or Chancellor or Athletic Director, the last thing I'd be looking at currently would be setting up a football program from scratch at a school without one.

That could easily be a $50 million to $100 million project between getting approval until the first game in a new built stadium. Not worth it right now when other existing programs that are already well established have issues ahead. Use the money to strengthen existings sports if they even have it or could get it.

As far as other SoCon teams, none of the Kentucky based FCS schools are really close to the other SoCon members. Personally, I like Murray State, especially for basketball, but they're just to far away.

Personally, I'd pick Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee. Their football and mens basketball are kinda meh, but womens basketball and the baseball team are fairly decent. The school isn't a long distance away, UTC or Samford could possibly reach Cookeville slightly faster then traveling to Johnson City. ETSU and UTC at least also tend to play them semi regularly in basketball, so fans and teams from those schools would be familiar with them.

Eastern Kentucky would make sense if they weren't trying to move up to FBS. Tennessee Tech would be a nice addition, but they haven't had much success athletically.