FCS Conference Shuffling

Thu Jan 20, 2022 1:36 pm

A lot of the CAA restructuring, while prompted by JMU moving up, is driven more by basketball than by football. Here's a bit more info about the situation there: https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/ ... 1.50481959

sealhall74 · Thu Jan 20, 2022 2:11 pm

ST_Lawson wrote: ↑Thu Jan 20, 2022 1:36 pm A lot of the CAA restructuring, while prompted by JMU moving up, is driven more by basketball than by football. Here's a bit more info about the situation there: https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/ ... 1.50481959

CAA was once a really great basketball conference. I went to several conference tournaments in Richmond. So refreshing to see the the arena filled with many fans from most of the teams in the conference. Local VCU always drew well there of courese, so did Mason, JMU, UNCW, Old Dominion, and Bill and Mary. Also the battle of the pep bands during the conference tournament was a very special event. VCU and then Mason leaving left a huge void to fill, two of the best pep bands in the country and very strong fan bases. You had true rivalries going on that conference because several teams were all within a couple hours of driving time from each other. That situation is hard to find these days in any conference.

leatherneckcountry · Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:03 pm

wiu712 · Mon Jan 24, 2022 8:24 am

UIC to join Missouri Valley Conference in July, rounding out league's expansion effort at 12 teams
https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... -12-teams/

Tue Jan 25, 2022 11:08 am

CAA adding Hampton, Monmouth, and Stony Brook is now official:

leatherneckcountry · Tue Jan 25, 2022 1:55 pm

sealhall74 · Tue Jan 25, 2022 4:51 pm

leatherneckcountry wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 1:55 pm

leatherneckcountry

How does this usually work? Does the decision have to be a unanimous one for all current members?

Wed Jan 26, 2022 9:53 am

sealhall74 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 4:51 pm How does this usually work? Does the decision have to be a unanimous one for all current members?

From what I've heard, it's almost always "officially" a unanimous decision. What really happens is that all the negotiation and discussion is done privately, the minority opinion realizes they don't have the votes to make it happen and assuming they don't have the clout or influence to block things, they publicly go along with the majority opinion to show a unified front.

sealhall74 · Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:39 am

ST_Lawson wrote: ↑Wed Jan 26, 2022 9:53 am
sealhall74 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 4:51 pm How does this usually work? Does the decision have to be a unanimous one for all current members?

From what I've heard, it's almost always "officially" a unanimous decision. What really happens is that all the negotiation and discussion is done privately, the minority opinion realizes they don't have the votes to make it happen and assuming they don't have the clout or influence to block things, they publicly go along with the majority opinion to show a unified front.

MVC requires 3/4 current member approval for new membership. Per their consitution: http://www.mvc.org/manual/constitution.pdf
I wonder how Summit and OVC handle it. Also scratching my head over things like exit fees, eligibility in post-season tournaments after announcing exit, etc.

Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:22 am

Article about some of the history of the larger FCS conferences and where the restructuring might head: https://www.college-sports-journal.com/ ... onference/

The author proposes that having all-sports conferences spin off their football into "football superconferences" might be in the best interest of the sport. He mentions having the Big South and ASun (both at 5 football members each) merging football into it's own conference, and keeping all the other sports in their respective conferences. Ditto with the Southland and OVC, which I think would be the best situation for Western, because it would then allow us to join the OVC for all other sports, while keeping football in the MVFC (because the OVC would not sponsor football anymore).