OT: Conference Realignment

[GMUgemini]

So if JMU leaves for the SBC - that really hurts the CAA. There is not much left there - only one Virginia school remains.

Im sure they’d be looking to add a strong football member, but there are a few Virginia schools that might look to join (Radford and Longwood maybe?) not that either of those are very desirable, but at least Radford has been better from a basketball perspective lately.

 

[Walter]

Southern schools should rejoin the SoCon. Northern schools should rejoin the AE. CAA has outlived its usefulness.

 

[GMU79]

Im sure they’d be looking to add a strong football member, but there are a few Virginia schools that might look to join (Radford and Longwood maybe?) not that either of those are very desirable, but at least Radford has been better from a basketball perspective lately.

Longwood has been desperately to make a move to relevance over the last few years. The CAA would be a good move for them.

 

[mkaufman1]

So well said @Old Man . It wasn't just one thing, but it was our "special" place where you knew you'd walk in, see Mason athletics pictures, familiar faces, memorabilia etc before or after games.

Like everyone else has said, back to conference realignment versus writing our feelings for Brion's Grill closing.

 

[GMUgemini]

CAA eying expansion, two division setup. Possible targets, Monmouth and Fairfield for the north, UNC Greensboro for the south:

https://richmond.com/sports/college...52ab6de602.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Walter]

interesting

 

[Pikapppatri8]

The CAA is looking pretty bleak now.

 

[GMU79]

The CAA is looking pretty bleak now.

Holy ECAC South, Batman!

 

[Pablo]

Old Dominion approved to join Sun Belt no later than July 2023

ODU is the second of an expected four teams to join the SBC. Southern Miss made its official announcement on Tuesday.

theathletic.com

"The Monarchs will move to the Sun Belt from Conference USA. They were previously a member of the Sun Belt from 1982-91, before joining the Colonial Athletic Association and then C-USA. Southern Miss said it will begin play in the Sun Belt no later than July 1, 2023, and that’s the expected start date for ODU as well.

It’s been a quick rise for Old Dominion, whose football program was restarted in 2009, nearly 70 years after it was shut down in 1941. The Monarch football team then moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision level in 2014 as part of conference realignment. The team went 10-3 in 2016 but has struggled since. The Monarchs didn’t play in 2020 due to COVID-19, and this year’s team is 1-6 overall.

Its football stadium was essentially rebuilt prior to the 2019 season at a cost of nearly $70 million. The Monarchs’ $49 million athletic budget was easily the largest in Conference USA, though that is heavily subsidized by student fees."

 

[GMUgemini]

Old Dominion approved to join Sun Belt no later than July 2023

ODU is the second of an expected four teams to join the SBC. Southern Miss made its official announcement on Tuesday.

theathletic.com

"The Monarchs will move to the Sun Belt from Conference USA. They were previously a member of the Sun Belt from 1982-91, before joining the Colonial Athletic Association and then C-USA. Southern Miss said it will begin play in the Sun Belt no later than July 1, 2023, and that’s the expected start date for ODU as well.

It’s been a quick rise for Old Dominion, whose football program was restarted in 2009, nearly 70 years after it was shut down in 1941. The Monarch football team then moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision level in 2014 as part of conference realignment. The team went 10-3 in 2016 but has struggled since. The Monarchs didn’t play in 2020 due to COVID-19, and this year’s team is 1-6 overall.

Its football stadium was essentially rebuilt prior to the 2019 season at a cost of nearly $70 million. The Monarchs’ $49 million athletic budget was easily the largest in Conference USA, though that is heavily subsidized by student fees."

It'll be the largest budget in the Sun Belt too, unless JMU joins and then JMU's budget will be the highest in the Sun Belt.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

It'll be the largest budget in the Sun Belt too, unless JMU joins and then JMU's budget will be the highest in the Sun Belt.

I am surprised JMU has not finalized this.

 

[GMU79]

I am surprised JMU has not finalized this.

Don't take this as a criticism of your son or his friends, but when the "everybody" is other students, well.... Not saying it won't happen, but I'd be more convinced if the source came from higher up.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Don't take this as a criticism of your son or his friends, but when the "everybody" is other students, well.... Not saying it won't happen, but I'd be more convinced if the source came from higher up.

Well they are in the same meetings that ODU was. And there were also people in the Admin indicating it was going to happen.

So I could not see the Admin there not following through after so many false starts in the past.

 

[GMU79]

Well they are in the same meetings that ODU was. And there were also people in the Admin indicating it was going to happen.

So I could not see the Admin there not following through after so many false starts in the past.

Gotcha!

 

[Pablo]

Sources: Marshall's move to Sun Belt 'imminent'

HUNTINGTON — Conference USA’s dominoes are falling and there aren’t many left to stand after Old Dominion announced Tuesday that it would leave the league for the Sun Belt Conference.

www.wvgazettemail.com

"Just as Marshall’s timeline involves some administrative decisions that have to be finalized, James Madison’s process also has its own to-do list due to the Dukes moving from FCS to FBS.

In Virginia, such a move has to be approved by the state commission due to a 2014 bill that limits the amount of student fees that can be used for athletics within divisions.

'The commission is made up of General Assembly members, so they’ve got to go to this committee and get anointed,' a source said. 'Their board also has to meet, but they are absolutely committed to this.'

James Madison has called an emergency meeting for Friday morning, expected to be on the topic of joining the Sun Belt Conference.

While the moves seem like formalities at this point, another sticking point Marshall fans have questioned about a potential move to the Sun Belt was the uncertainty surrounding men’s soccer, which is currently not offered by the Sun Belt Conference.

Solidifying a home for Marshall’s national championship program was imperative if a move was to be made.
Clarity in that situation also came on Wednesday during Old Dominion’s announcement. ODU announced all sports would compete in the Sun Belt Conference except for rowing, lacrosse (AAC) and field hockey (Big East).

That means the Sun Belt Conference, which did not offer men’s soccer in 2021, will reinstate the sport after reaching the minimum number of teams for a conference to sponsor a sport (six)."

 

[Pablo]

Chris Vannini

@ChrisVannini
·
1h

SOURCE: Conference USA is in negotiations with New Mexico State, Liberty and UConn (football only),
@TheAthletic has learned.



theathletic.com
Conference USA in negotiations with New Mexico State, Liberty, UConn: Source
The potential additions come as C-USA is down to six current members. Six C-USA schools are set to join the American Athletic Conference in the coming years and two more are set to join the Sun Belt,...

 

[Pablo]

Va.'s Gubernatorial Election Impacts JMU-Sun Belt Timeline

Virginia’s gubernatorial election is one of the reasons why James Madison’s timeline for entrance into the Sun Belt Conference is behind others like Southern Miss and Old Dominion, which announced

www.dnronline.com

"Over the last few days, sources have told the Daily News-Record that JMU will not be able to present to and seek approval from the General Assembly in Richmond until after Tuesday’s election. So, that would set the Dukes up, if they are approved, for a potential announcement late next week.

The General Assembly’s Intercollegiate Athletics Review Commission is scheduled to meet on Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m., according to Virginia’s Legislative Information System website.

Of course, JMU needs approval from its own Board of Visitors first and a meeting is scheduled for Friday morning at 10 a.m. on campus, but the following step is to earn state approval. Then, finally, JMU would be in a position to accept a formal invitation from the Sun Belt Conference.

Virginia HB1897 requires all four-year public institutions to earn approval from the state when any of its sports are moving up in division level – including from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

DN-R sources have indicated the school is working diligently to ensure its presentation for the General Assembly highlights that it can meet the financial requirements – specifically the ones in the Cox Bill – to make a jump to the FBS."

 

[Pablo]

Chris Vannini

@ChrisVannini
·
24m

James Madison takes another step toward the Sun Belt. Final resolution could come later next week.

Quote Tweet

Greg Madia

@Madia_DNRSports
· 28m

Breaking: JMU's BOV has approved its move from the FCS to the FBS and pursue membership into the Sun Belt Conference. Next step is for JMU to present its plan to the state.

 

[Pablo]

Marshall to join Sun Belt after Old Dominion, Southern Miss approved

Marshall's move will get the Sun Belt to 13 football-playing schools, and James Madison is expected to join the conference from FCS later next week.

theathletic.com

"Marshall will join the Sun Belt, the school announced Friday, becoming the third program to move to the conference this week.

The move will get the Sun Belt to 13 football-playing schools. James Madison is expected to join the Sun Belt from FCS later next week, pending state approval. Southern Miss and Old Dominion officially joined the Sun Belt earlier this week, with plans to start in the league no later than July 1, 2023."

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Pouring one out for the CAA if it leaves this world.