Who's Next? (America East Version)

[nj alum]

Youngstown State is a realistic football-only candidate if enough dominoes fall their way. They're the same distance from JMU as App State (each school's closest CAA neighbor), though the drive is longer. From YSU's perspective, there are 5 CAA Football members that are a shorter drive from Youngstown than any MVFC opponent, with W&M and likely addition Stony Brook closer than YSU's second closest MVFC opponent. Nevertheless, what would be considered a huge travel improvement for YSU would be considered a headache for CAA members. But if (1) the basketball-oriented CAA members block the admission of football-oriented members for all sports, (2) Albany can't add football scholarships on an acceptable timetable, and (3) Stony Brook decides to play hardball and insist on all sports membership to get the CAA out of its football jam, I'd say there's a solid argument that YSU becomes the #1 football option. A CAA basketball/football divide alone might get them to #3 after the SUNYs.

You use terms like "block", "acceptable timetable", "hardball", and "basketball/football divide". I disagree with your "doom and gloom" perspective.

There have been no leaks. There have been no complaints about the TV schedule. N'Eastern, Hofstra, Drexel, Towson, W&M, UNCW have all agreed to pay a $1 million penalty if they leave the CAA (schools that can't afford it), as have Delaware, JMU, and Mason (could afford it for the right offer only). None of the above would have occurred if there is a serious "divide".

The CAA has targeted the best of the SoCon and AE (and maybe the Patriot for all we know) in order to retain its status. The top tier targets appear to be CofC, App. St., Boston U., UNH, and Stony Brook (and Lehigh for all we know). If the CAA is going to consider those schools, for rivalry / ties reasons, Davidson, Maine, and Albany (and Lafayette for all we know) are also in play. As "safeties", Coastal and Elon are also in play (as is Liberty for football only). That's ten schools for 3-5 spots (and maybe 12 schools if Patriot schools are in play).

Now, Boston U. has joined the Patriot. That means Boton U. is not coming to the CAA. Conversely, does this put UNH (and Maine) really in play? And, are there Patriot schools that don't want to be associated with Boston U., and are they now in play?

I agree with most that CofC and Stony Brook are "in". That brings the CAA hoops to 11 and CAA football to nine. Not many spots left, and the fence-sitters are going to feel the pressure. I would be very surprised if the dominoes fell in such a way that Youngstown ended up in the CAA football league

[State Line Liquors]

Youngstown??

If UD's honchos weren't interested in the MAC, then there's no way they'd support the addition of Youngstown to the CAA.

[supertzar]

UNCW needs a travel partner. Ideally, it woulod be CoC. However, since SoCon changed some things, including CoC hosting the bball tourney; they are no guarantee.

The SoCon tourney is in Asheville. The Big South has CC hosting the tournament for the next three years.

[ODUAlum78]

The SoCon tourney is in Asheville. The Big South has CC hosting the tournament for the next three years.

That's right, my mistake. I got CC and CoC mixed up.

[B More]

Better basketball-wise but I feel like the Patriot is more prestigious overall. From that perspective I think it would make sense for them.

I am lucky to be connected with this conversation. I have friends in the athletic department and the Patriot League has been discussed frequently. The trade-off is men's basketball, potentially moving women's lacrosse out of the Big East to the lower Patriot League, and the ridiculous gap in funding between Loyola and the Patriot League. Helps with travel, profile of the school, and might be a nice trade for men's lacrosse.

[nj alum]

Andy Katz's post today says Yeager has visited Davidson, and says the list includes CofC, Davidson, Elon, and Furman.

All's I can say is that if you put together Towson AD's comments about going to 14-16, the failed AE merger from years ago, and the CAA-SoCon blockbuster from years ago that was scuttled by Richmond, one starts to get the feeling that Yeager is revisiting old plans, and is thinking "big", 16 teams, NBC contract,etc. to become the preeminent mid-major East Coast conference.

Katz's public naming of Furman, the Yeager visit to Davidson, and the total blackout (same thing occurred before Richmond upset the plans years ago) all lead me to conclude that the number one option is to go "larger" rather than "smaller", and that a lot of schools are in play.