CAA, Big South, Monmouth

[Affirm]

Monmouth is leaving Big South Football and MAAC other sports in order to join CAA for all sports.
Would CAA be a better place for Furman than SoCon?
I am not saying it would be, but I would like to hear any advantages if anyone knows any.
I just know we frequently have some negative thoughts about SoCon and about it being a “hindrance” to Furman getting some regular season and post-season opportunities, as well as about some other weaknesses of the SoCon.

[Furmanoid]

Those CAA schools are too far away.

But I get what you are saying. There seems to be agreement that the SoCon is badly treated by selection committees. I’m just not so sure there is a great option.

But I do sometimes wonder why the FCS is such a great home if the football selection is rigged against us, the basketball selection is rigged against us and b-ball games against P5 schools are rigged against us. Maybe we have Stockholm Syndrome.

[Flagman]

Those CAA schools are too far away.

But I get what you are saying. There seems to be agreement that the SoCon is badly treated by selection committees. I’m just not so sure there is a great option.

But I do sometimes wonder why the FCS is such a great home if the football selection is rigged against us, the basketball selection is rigged against us and b-ball games against P5 schools are rigged against us. Maybe we have Stockholm Syndrome.

I agree with each point, but point #1 is something we can control. Presently, every conference game is within a six hour drive. We’re still able to schedule P5 games in football and basketball. I would think if we lower our expectations, we could get some money (albeit with lower payouts) from some G5 teams. Citadel is playing Appy this year. I’m not ready to add Appy or Gus, but others may be willing to give us some games. Perhaps we can add Florida on a future schedule, given their new coach.

[Affirm]

Pondering a merger

[FurmAlum]

Furman, Wofford, Citadel, Western Carolina, Gardner Webb, Winthrop, South Carolina State, Charleston, Mercer, and Samford would make a good SoCon.

Maybe Kennesaw State and Campbell.

Low travel budgets and lots of potential rivalry games.

I guess we would have to figure out what to do with Chatty, ETSU, UNCG, and VMI.

Chas Southern would be the odd man out.

[Affirm]

After some pondering, here’s my suggested merger/expansion:
SoCon add UNCW, Elon, CofC, Richmond, W&M. This makes SoCon a 12-team FB conference.
It makes it a 15-team basketball conference (soon as we pry Richmond from A-10 basketball).
Stronger conference overall (even if UR won’t come in for basketball).
Still keeps all of Furman’s travel to away conference games under 6.5 hours max.

[Flagman]

This thread should be moved to General Idiocy.

[Affirm]

This thread should be moved to General Idiocy.

Truth to Power Flagman. I realize YOU are Power. But you are wrong. This thread, in Miscellaneous Sports, is not General Idiocy. We often have discussed, and will continue to discuss, opinions and facts on UFFP about how Furman Athletics could potentially be improved by strengthening the conference that we belong to; and about how Furman athletics is hindered or disadvantaged by the conference. This thread is in the correct place.
(At least I DID NOT proceed to post the thoughts that I had pondered about most of the existing SoCon joining with the CAA to make a 17-20 team super conference, with Furman being in the southern division thereof ALONG WITH some combination of Wofford, Citadel, CofC, WCU, Mercer, Elon, UNCG, UNCW, VMI, Richmond, W&M. I know that would be much harder to achieve than what I suggested instead.). I just want Furman to be in the best possible conference. We are OK for now, but what about in the future when one or several existing members move to a new conference? Not a General Idiocy discussion Flagman.

[Roundball]

This discussion is appropriate. If the SoCon does nothing, it will die. The conference needs to be ready for when the P5 schools break away from the NCAA.

[apaladin]

Furman, Wofford, Citadel, Western Carolina, Gardner Webb, Winthrop, South Carolina State, Charleston, Mercer, and Samford would make a good SoCon.

Maybe Kennesaw State and Campbell.

Low travel budgets and lots of potential rivalry games.

I guess we would have to figure out what to do with Chatty, ETSU, UNCG, and VMI.

Chas Southern would be the odd man out.

ETSU, UNCG, are closer than most of the “new” ones you menntionef. All are closer than Sammy. No sense in lowering the quality of the SoCon with the teams you mentioned just to be doing something. I would not trade any of the SoCon schools for GW, SCS, Winthrop or Charleston.

[FurmAlum]

Furman, Wofford, Citadel, Western Carolina, Gardner Webb, Winthrop, South Carolina State, Charleston, Mercer, and Samford would make a good SoCon.

Maybe Kennesaw State and Campbell.

Low travel budgets and lots of potential rivalry games.

I guess we would have to figure out what to do with Chatty, ETSU, UNCG, and VMI.

Chas Southern would be the odd man out.

ETSU, UNCG, are closer than most of the “new” ones you menntionef. All are closer than Sammy. No sense in lowering the quality of the SoCon with the teams you mentioned just to be doing something. I would not trade any of the SoCon schools for GW, SCS, Winthrop or Charleston.

I wouldn't either but the SoCon would need to add somebody if they left. I don't want them to leave.

[apaladin]

The CAA today added Stonybrook, Hampton and Monmouth. Not exactly a big boost to the prestige of the CAA.

[Furmanoid]

Nope, nobody in that group matches the prestige of household names like WCU, ETSU or UTC.

[Affirm]

The CAA today added Stonybrook, Hampton and Monmouth. Not exactly a big boost to the prestige of the CAA.

Furman WOULD be a boost to the prestige of the CAA. (Note: I did not suggest for Furman to move to the CAA, although it is an interesting thought to ponder.)
Stony Brook, Hampton, and Monmouth all have been MUCH more successful than Furman getting into the NCAA Basketball Tournament in multiple years much more recently than Furman.
Similarly, those 3 schools have been as successful or more successful getting in the FCS postseason.
If the prestige of the CAA has been reduced in any way due to the addition of those 3 schools (I do not agree that it has been, but I said “if it has”), then it would seem to strengthen the SoCon’s chances to bring in Richmond and W&M as well as Elon and UNCW and CofC.

[tya1]

Nope, nobody in that group matches the prestige of household names like WCU, ETSU or UTC.

ETSU and UTC each picked up wins against SEC teams this season. How many P5 wins did those new CAA teams get this year. How about the past 30 years combined.