Rumor Has It Towson to the ACC

[ramnation]

If you believe that you're more foolish than you already present yourself on here as being. That's saying a lot.

A million dollars will not be a deterrent to anyone who wants to leave.

[Beenjammin More]

If you believe that you're more foolish than you already present yourself on here as being. That's saying a lot.

A million dollars will not be a deterrent to anyone who wants to leave.

The thinking behind the $1M exit fee was supposedly to make any new members view the CAA as secure. I believe that it may be counter-productive in that it may give schools like App. St., and SBU, who may be looking to move up in the short term, an extra line in the "cons" column. I have seen some ASU fans speculate that the CAA might be willing reduce the exit fee for them, but I doubt that would sit well with current members who just voted for it, especially UD, JMU, GMU.

[ramnation]

Exactly. It was a show of strength from the remaining members to show security. Nothing less, nothing more.

A million dollars is a drop in the bucket of an athletics department budget if the move is worth it. It's not going to stop anyone from leaving, Beenjamin More is absolutely right that it could be a deterrent, especially for schools like App State who have next to no incentive to move considering they are actively looking to move to FBS asap.

People will tout the NBCSports contract and a hypothetical monetary benefit that no one here knows actually exists, but I don't see much else to draw a school like that or small niche schools like Davidson that are already in a great position with no desire to move beyond a regional bus league with traditional rivalries and less competition towards NCAA bids.

[TheGoldCrotchPiece]

Exactly. It was a show of strength from the remaining members to show security. Nothing less, nothing more.

A million dollars is a drop in the bucket of an athletics department budget if the move is worth it. It's not going to stop anyone from leaving, Beenjamin More is absolutely right that it could be a deterrent, especially for schools like App State who have next to no incentive to move considering they are actively looking to move to FBS asap.

People will tout the NBCSports contract and a hypothetical monetary benefit that no one here knows actually exists, but I don't see much else to draw a school like that or small niche schools like Davidson that are already in a great position with no desire to move beyond a regional bus league with traditional rivalries and less competition towards NCAA bids.

ok well thanks for the negativity but what WOULD you recommend towson and the rest of the caa do?

[ramnation]

No negativity, just realism.

The CAA will be fine going forward. It's a great league with strong institutions across the board. It's just ridiculous to think that a 1 million dollar exit fee is stopping anyone who is looking to leave. I wasn't trying to piss on the CAA at all, but any discussion should be balanced and it doesn't make sense for schools like App State or Davidson to leave their current situations for a marginal upgrade with limited benefit to them. That's not true of all schools, but certainly those 2.

You really don't even have to worry about adding too many teams. Conferences are so huge nowadays and it would be nice to see a conference that is less unwieldy for a change. I think College of Charleston wants in and that's a great addition for basketball and baseball. I think it's a realistic add since they probably aren't a flight risk to leave the CAA and aren't looking to go higher/lack the opportunity. That brings the league to 10, which is actually a fine number. Let's face it, football is what's going to drive the bus for realignment and there are schools in the CAA who will be interested in leaving sooner or later. You can't stop that. As long as the CAA can't offer the highest level of football, schools who can move up will be exploring that possibility. There isn't enough of a revenue stream from FCS football to keep those teams from moving when the opportunity arises.

With that in mind, I don't see why adding another football-only affiliate like Stony Brook would be an issue. They don't seem to be jumping up and down to join the league for all-sports and America East has instituted a similar bylaw to the CAA that bans them from post-season tournaments upon moving. Considering their football is played in the Big South, that's not an issue and works nicely for all parties involved. Adding schools like Elon and Furman with good FCS programs are also possibilities for all-sports if they are inclined to move. They wouldn't be looking to leave and so the 1 million dollar exit fee may not be as much of a deterrent for them.

If the CAA got Davidson and App State that would be great for the CAA. It just doesn't seem to make much sense for them looking at it from the outside. I have no ill-will for the CAA, it was great to us. It'll be interesting to see how it all works out. Either way, the CAA does have a good core already in both football and basketball. The league will be fine.

[ODUAlum78]

ok well thanks for the negativity but what WOULD you recommend towson and the rest of the caa do?

Each school needs to create a vision and define their goals.

Starting with the football schools that are thinking about FBS; make a determination if it is, in fact, financially feasible. Create a business plan that defines the steps that assist in achieving that goal; including a tentative timeline (I would suspect that increasing the success of the other revenue sport, men's basketball, would be a HUGE plus in enhancing your conference marketability. Hint: JMU).
MAKE IT KNOWN that you are actively seeking FBS.

Look; we all laughed at Ga.St. for stating their FBS intentions early on, yet who got the first offer? ODU stated a timeline of about 5 years, but jumped at the early offer. Offers don't come that often, and moratoriums do occur, so flexibility is necessary.

If you are not planning FBS, then decide what level of commitment you want to make to FCS.
For example; the University of Richmond seems to have determined that FBS is NOT in it's future, and has taken steps to maximize their FCS presence.

The same applies for hoops only schools.
VCU was ready when the call came to go.

Some might consider a lateral conference move or even a move "down" to their advantage.

A lot of board rhetoric has been devoted to joining conferences of like minded schools (whatever THAT means) or schools with similarly high academic standards.
Crap.........unless you are in the Ivy League, this should not be an issue, whether you are leaving or considering a new member.
If like academics mattered so much in an athletic conference, W&M would not be in the CAA. Tulane and Rice would not be in CUSA. Stanford and Berkley would not be in the PAC 12. Vanderbilt would not be in the SEC. In fact, the SEC would be 3 or 4 different conferences based on academics.

Hint: UNCW needs a travel partner. If the SoCon teams don't work out, Coastal Carolina needs to be an option.

The CAA is going to be fine, just different.

[JonP]

A million dollars is a drop in the bucket of an athletics department budget if the move is worth it.

But doesn't it stop the downgrades? W&M isn't gonna go to the Patriot for $1M (not that they ever would). And I can't see UNCW ponying up $1M to go to a more Southern-based conference.

So, yeah, I totally agree that it does nothing to stop any school with FBS ambition or any school eyeing the A-10. But I do think it puts a stop to some of the nonsense about schools making lateral or downward moves.

[ramnation]

I agree with that. I was thinking more towards schools like JMU, UD, and possibly Towson down the road that seem to be linked with future FBS expansion.

I don't see anyone moving downwards voluntarily anyway, but I agree with you.