I liked Delaware better in the CAA (FCS).

Problem is, Hampton & NC A&T need to go back to the MEAC to make the Celebration Bowl (Black National Championship) better.

(01-12-2024 11:14 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  I liked Delaware better in the CAA (FCS).

Problem is, Hampton & NC A&T need to go back to the MEAC to make the Celebration Bowl (Black National Championship) better.

I think most probably liked the distribution of schools in college sports better 5-10 years ago, Delaware included. But they don’t fit in that conference anymore, not with JMU gone and Bryant and Campbell on the way. Delaware is a highly respected national university and with the investments they’ve made in their programs recently sticking it out in the new and not-exactly-improved Coastal probably wouldn’t have made much sense.

(01-12-2024 11:29 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(01-12-2024 11:14 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  I liked Delaware better in the CAA (FCS).

I think most probably liked the distribution of schools in college sports better 5-10 years ago, Delaware included.

Except, notably, Jacksonville State.

We won't go back to the OVC. We won't ever go back.

And we will fight anyone who tries to make it happen.

(01-12-2024 02:53 PM)whupemall Wrote:  

(01-12-2024 11:29 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(01-12-2024 11:14 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  I liked Delaware better in the CAA (FCS).

I think most probably liked the distribution of schools in college sports better 5-10 years ago, Delaware included.

Except, notably, Jacksonville State.

We won't go back to the OVC. We won't ever go back.

And we will fight anyone who tries to make it happen.

Definitely some exceptions, a few schools made it out feeling better including a handful here, clearly some might’ve outgrown their old conferences, from the top of the FBS (Texas and OU in XII) to the G5 and FCS (JSU in OVC, NMSU in WAC, Sam in SLC, etc).

Correct me if I’m wrong, as I likely am, but I’m not sure JSU has ever been in a D1 conference with “peer schools”? The early 2000s TAAC/ASUN was loaded with private schools but okay I guess? And Southland Football, with Troy State, SWT, a then-elite McNeese program, and the Piney Woods schools was a competitive fit, at least? Undoubtedly, you all were stuck tangling with OVC football programs for a decade too long.

I think Delaware was more than content with their situation up until pretty recently. Regardless, that Colonial is dead as we know it, literally and so CUSA provides a better home for UD as a university. That’s all I meant.

(01-12-2024 11:14 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  I liked Delaware better in the CAA (FCS).

Problem is, Hampton & NC A&T need to go back to the MEAC to make the Celebration Bowl (Black National Championship) better.

Hampton and A&T are fine right where they are. Let's see how many of those UD fans actually travel to Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas or Florida though. Or vice versa for that matter.

(01-14-2024 02:54 PM)AlwaysSunny Wrote:  

(01-12-2024 11:14 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  I liked Delaware better in the CAA (FCS).

Problem is, Hampton & NC A&T need to go back to the MEAC to make the Celebration Bowl (Black National Championship) better.

Hampton and A&T are fine right where they are. Let's see how many of those UD fans actually travel to Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas or Florida though. Or vice versa for that matter.

I'm looking forward to it, but how many others, IDK.

Speaking of Hampton, they are probably the least athletically qualified to have been added to the CAA. Currently 0-12 in WBB, 4-12 in MBB, 2-12 in MLAX in 2023, 0-18 in WSOC in 2023, 15-31 in SB in 2023, 5-6 FB, 0-18 VB. I have no idea why they were added, but another reason for UD to CUSA.

(01-14-2024 03:43 PM)Info Hound Wrote:  

(01-14-2024 02:54 PM)AlwaysSunny Wrote:  

(01-12-2024 11:14 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  I liked Delaware better in the CAA (FCS).

Problem is, Hampton & NC A&T need to go back to the MEAC to make the Celebration Bowl (Black National Championship) better.

Hampton and A&T are fine right where they are. Let's see how many of those UD fans actually travel to Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas or Florida though. Or vice versa for that matter.

I'm looking forward to it, but how many others, IDK.



Speaking of Hampton, they are probably the least athletically qualified to have been added to the CAA. Currently 0-12 in WBB, 4-12 in MBB, 2-12 in MLAX in 2023, 0-18 in WSOC in 2023, 15-31 in SB in 2023, 5-6 FB, 0-18 VB. I have no idea why they were added, but another reason for UD to CUSA.

I'm not even sure what the folks in Richmond were thinking with this add but the point is moot. UD is moving on and I'm looking forward to new rivals and a new conference!!

(01-12-2024 06:44 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  Correct me if I’m wrong, as I likely am, but I’m not sure JSU has ever been in a D1 conference with “peer schools”? The early 2000s TAAC/ASUN was loaded with private schools but okay I guess? And Southland Football, with Troy State, SWT, a then-elite McNeese program, and the Piney Woods schools was a competitive fit, at least? Undoubtedly, you all were stuck tangling with OVC football programs for a decade too long.

Other than troy state, who was with us in the TAAC/SFL for about 10 years before moving up to FBS, no. That is, there WERE some "peer" schools in the SFL and OVC with us, but most of them were too far away for our fans to notice, especially at the FCS level. So we had a handful of peers but no real rivals to speak of. (EKU came close, and they were never more than a minor rival due to distance. Peay didn't turn things around with their program until very late in the game.)

Things looked a lot more promising when the ASUN football league formed -- UNA was a historical rival, KSU was there, EKU came along for the ride, and even Peay and UCA looked like they'd be similar philosophically. But Jax State got the call from CUSA before we were able to develop any kind of history as ASUN conference mates.

So yeah... we've been starved of in-conference peers and rivals since we left the old D-II Gulf South Conference way back in 1993.

(01-16-2024 11:49 AM)whupemall Wrote:  

(01-12-2024 06:44 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  Correct me if I’m wrong, as I likely am, but I’m not sure JSU has ever been in a D1 conference with “peer schools”? The early 2000s TAAC/ASUN was loaded with private schools but okay I guess? And Southland Football, with Troy State, SWT, a then-elite McNeese program, and the Piney Woods schools was a competitive fit, at least? Undoubtedly, you all were stuck tangling with OVC football programs for a decade too long.

Other than troy state, who was with us in the TAAC/SFL for about 10 years before moving up to FBS, no. That is, there WERE some "peer" schools in the SFL and OVC with us, but most of them were too far away for our fans to notice, especially at the FCS level. So we had a handful of peers but no real rivals to speak of. (EKU came close, and they were never more than a minor rival due to distance. Peay didn't turn things around with their program until very late in the game.)

Things looked a lot more promising when the ASUN football league formed -- UNA was a historical rival, KSU was there, EKU came along for the ride, and even Peay and UCA looked like they'd be similar philosophically. But Jax State got the call from CUSA before we were able to develop any kind of history as ASUN conference mates.

So yeah... we've been starved of in-conference peers and rivals since we left the old D-II Gulf South Conference way back in 1993.

Totally agree, having Kenny, Middle and WKU gives us a great chance to develop some rivalries . Best arrangements we have had since joining DI.