Charleston and Davidson Officially Invited To the CAA

[JMUSuperfan2000]

I like Charleston and Davidson for basketball, and I'm sure UNCW absolutely loves this idea. Charleston hasn't done much in actuality but both schools come with name recognition and are IMO great replacements for VCU and ODU. Obviously, neither of these do anything for football unless Davidson finally decides to start offering scholarships.

[Dukes09]

Here's my question, does anyone see any reason why either of these two schools would reject their invitation? I know that the CAA TV deal with NBC sports should be motivating enough if it's exposure that they seek. That's something the SoCon doesn't offer.

[dubbya]

Here's my question, does anyone see any reason why either of these two schools would reject their invitation? I know that the CAA TV deal with NBC sports should be motivating enough if it's exposure that they seek. That's something the SoCon doesn't offer.

I'm sure you can come up with some negatives (travel costs for example). But this is a no-brainer for CofC. Davidson has a few other things they might have to worry about such as being the smallest school in the CAA and likely having the smallest athletic budget. They do have other sports to consider besides basketball. However, the positives would still outweigh the negatives for them.

A CofC fan posted on their message board that he's hearing rumors of a press conference being scheduled for this week. CofC is basically a done deal if you start putting all the different puzzles pieces together.

[ATLJMUAlum]

Here's my question, does anyone see any reason why either of these two schools would reject their invitation? I know that the CAA TV deal with NBC sports should be motivating enough if it's exposure that they seek. That's something the SoCon doesn't offer.

There are a lot of reasons why either of them would reject the invite. I think the biggest risk of not accepting is Davidson for the following two reasons:

(1) increased travel for their entire athletics department -- 25% of their students are student-athletes, so this has a big impact;

(2) increased competition in getting to the NCAAs -- Davidson has been able to make it to the NCAAs pretty consistently in the one bid SoCon by winning the conference tourney. If they join the CAA, there is no guarantee that the CAA will be a multi-bid league (many believe it will be a one bid league w/o VCU and ODU), and they will have a tougher path to winning the conference with schools like GMU, Drexel, etc. in the mix. This could mean they make the tournament less often as opposed to more often.

[JMUAlumni2000]

Do we know if the CAA has had discussions with NBC Sports re potential additions to the conference?

[dunkanddukin]

Do we know if the CAA has had discussions with NBC Sports re potential additions to the conference?

I think it's only ESPN that requires their approval before a conference allows a school to move.

[Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuukes]

Ha, pathetic. Move up and get the hell out of the damn CAA.

[Big Tribe]

You can be pretty sure that NBC is involved in the expansion process (like offering national tv games) and, also, that the 5.5 million from VCU is playing a part in attracting new members like Davidson.

If the CAA expands to two divisions Davidson's travel costs for non-basketball sports would be no more than what they are now. Two divisions would mean few trips for minor sports outside their CAA division.

[hburg]

Not that I am a fan, bit what is the biggest reason for not inviting coastal Carolina?

[BSKB 24]

Not that I am a fan, bit what is the biggest reason for not inviting coastal Carolina?

You will hear academics. But, personally I would love for them to be a full member. They play 1AA football on a scholarship basis, have a great baseball program, respectable basketball and there is no place I would rather go for an away game!