SoCon Realignment

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7063

Article out of Winston-Salem with comments from Appalachian State AD regarding conducting a FBS move up feasibility study.If they can swing a move,the SoCon will likely be looking for a replacement down the road.Link at http://www2.journalnow.com/sports/2010/ ... -ar-428516

Quinn · **Joined:** Thu Oct 17, 2002 8:05 am **Posts:** 3757

freaked4collegefb wrote:

Article out of Winston-Salem with comments from Appalachian State AD regarding conducting a FBS move up feasibility study.If they can swing a move,the SoCon will likely be looking for a replacement down the road.Link at http://www2.journalnow.com/sports/2010/ ... -ar-428516

They'll actually have a few choices from the OVC and Big South if that happens...nice situation to be in.

sec03 · **Joined:** Sat May 20, 2006 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1231

The Appalachain State to FBS study (9 to 12 months) is getting mentioned elsewhere:
http://www.centredaily.com/2010/10/01/2 ... sible.html

Look for more updated information soon on prior/current studies & potential implementations from Georgia Southern University and the University of Montana.

wbyeager · **Posted:** Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:06 pm

If Georgia Southern and/or Appalchian State move out (especially Georgia Southern), I'd think this would be Kennesaw State's best chance to get into an FCS conference. Their proximity to Chattanooga, Samford, and Western Carolina makes them an ideal fit geographically. The SoCon would also have a presence in Greater Atlanta.

Quinn · **Joined:** Thu Oct 17, 2002 8:05 am **Posts:** 3757

wbyeager wrote:

If Georgia Southern and/or Appalchian State move out (especially Georgia Southern), I'd think this would be Kennesaw State's best chance to get into an FCS conference. Their proximity to Chattanooga, Samford, and Western Carolina makes them an ideal fit geographically. The SoCon would also have a presence in Greater Atlanta.

State schools would lose some power. Wouln't be shocked to see replacements that were private schools.

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7063

TimesFreePress article with comments from SoCon Commish and others regarding league realignment situation at http://timesfreepress.com/news/2011/mar ... s-decision

accseahawk · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:06 pm

Big South Schools with football would be the likely pool from which expansion candidates come from since the Socon likes the 9-12 model they currently have. Liberty would seem to be the most likely choice.

Davidson may want a more southern school added in order to get back into the north division with all the other North Carolina school so Kennesaw or even Coastal (very unlikely right now) may have a chance but I definitely think it will be a private school. An OVC school may be pursued in order to keep UTC happy, who almost bolted to the OVC after ETSU left due to the conference becoming Carolina dominated.

A school like W&M would be a dream school for the private oriented Socon but that is definitely going to be a long shot for them

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:45 pm

So did the Sun Belt say they want App St. or if they say yes, they'll just wait until someone wants them.

Quinn · **Joined:** Thu Oct 17, 2002 8:05 am **Posts:** 3757

Fresno St. Alum wrote:

So did the Sun Belt say they want App St. or if they say yes, they'll just wait until someone wants them.

Nothing on the record. Doubt they'd be arrogant enough to decide to upgrade and then expect someone to take them. If CUSA is a no-go, then make the MAc or Sunbelt is an option they expect will open up.

accseahawk · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:20 pm

The Sunbelt is probably their only option. I doubt the MAC would want them all sports and I don't believe the SoCon would want them for football only. An App St. Georgia St (or Southern) combo might be appealing to the Sunbelt.

tute79 · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:25 pm **Posts:** 1493

In the article, the App.St. President or AD indicated that he hadn't had any dialogue with any FBS conference yet.
He mentioned Sun-Belt and C-USA as possible landing spots, but denied having talked to either of them at this point, as though that would be pre-mature.
He said right now App. St. is doing a feasibility study, and it isn't even clear that IF FBS is affordable it makes sense for them to proceed iwth the jump.

So I gather from this, that any announcements are far from imminent.

Quinn · **Joined:** Thu Oct 17, 2002 8:05 am **Posts:** 3757

accseahawk wrote:

The Sunbelt is probably their only option. I doubt the MAC would want them all sports and I don't believe the SoCon would want them for football only. An App St. Georgia St (or Southern) combo might be appealing to the Sunbelt.

There's always the longshot that Tempe is out, an Umass and app St. join the MAC

accseahawk · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:35 pm

app would have to join for all sports because i doubt the socon would let them stay w/o football. umass does not want to join in all sports and wants a temple like deal. i don't think a umass app st combo is likely for the mac.

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7063

Article out of Watauga with update on Appalachian State to FBS situation at http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/story/A ... _id_005274

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7063

ESPN article with update on Appalachian State FBS upgrade situation at http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6570586

SoCon Realignment

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