SoCon Realignment

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

Article out of Savannah discussing SoCon realignment and today's SoCon media day at http://savannahnow.com/share/blog-post/ ... conference

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

Article out of Burlington with comments from SoCon Commish regarding league realignment at http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/sout ... opics.html

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:52 am

C of C considering starting football?

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12271864

Edit:This article is over TWO years old.

Thanks
Freaked

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

Article out of Chattanooga discussing possible future SoCon realignment at http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012 ... eakingnews

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

Article out of Charleston(previously posted in another thread)with comments from Socon Commish regarding Davidson deciding to stay in the Socon at http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2 ... y-in-socon

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

Andy Katz report(previously posted in another thread)that the College of Charleston BOT is expected to approve and announce it will be joining the CAA on Saturday.Link at http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... ssociation

fighting muskie · **Joined:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:47 am **Posts:** 389

Alright veteran realignment analyzers, who is most likely to get C of C's slot in the SoCon if they do indeed leave as Andy Katz has reported? I think the only real contenders are Jacksonville St and Coastal Carolina. Who do you give the edge to? Am I leaving anyone out?

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:02 am

fighting muskie wrote:

Alright veteran realignment analyzers, who is most likely to get C of C's slot in the SoCon if they do indeed leave as Andy Katz has reported? I think the only real contenders are Jacksonville St and Coastal Carolina. Who do you give the edge to? Am I leaving anyone out?

Well if they want to replace a bball school w/ another, you have to look at bringing ETSU back. CCU, Kennesaw St. and JSU would be the top 3 in my mind. If the privates win out then Gardner-Webb has a shot.

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

I think with CofC being the school leaving (public) and GA Southern and App St (publics) being the FBS flight risks...and with Davidson (private) staying, I'd think long term stability will be key in the next addition. And if the SoCon were to feel that adding a like minded private school as a replacement, I'd support that...would make a ton of sense.

Coastal Carolina has seemed like the likely addition, but GW might be a better fit.

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

We keep hearing that North Alabama & West Georgia want to move up to D-1 FCS FB.
They seem to be in the SoCon footprint.
Would they be likely replacements for Appalachian State & Georgia Southern ?

fighting muskie · **Joined:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:47 am **Posts:** 389

tute79 wrote:

We keep hearing that North Alabama & West Georgia want to move up to D-1 FCS FB.
They seem to be in the SoCon footprint.
Would they be likely replacements for Appalachian State & Georgia Southern ?

I really see North Alabama as an OVC school but I imagine the folks in Florence will take whatever DI offer comes there way. It's hard to be picky now that an upgrade requires an invitation. I don't know that much about Western Georgia but I am figuring they are in the same boat as N Alabama.

The thing about the SoCon replacing members is that as a very established conference they are really looking for pedigree when they are evaluating their membership candidates. I think a new member must either A) bring an excellent FCS football program and/or B) be an elite, private, southern institution. I'm going to guess the likes of Davidson and the Citadel and others are going to frown upon taking DII schools especially ones that are are former state teacher's colleges. These southern private schools are a bit snobby.

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

North Alabama was hoping to be invited to the OVC, but was turned down.
West Georgia isn't as far along, but they might accelerate their plans if an opportunity presented itself.

I hear what you ae saying about the SoCon. It is a mixture of public and private. Pretty sure UNCW and Appalachian State are public.
But their last expansion was Samford, so that's a good indicator of their "type" of candidate.

However, to keep SoCon football a a tier above Big South, wouldn't the SoCon want to take in some larger schools that may have a better chance of success ?

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Fri Oct 19, 2012 2:56 pm

tute79 wrote:

North Alabama was hoping to be invited to the OVC, but was turned down.
West Georgia isn't as far along, but they might accelerate their plans if an opportunity presented itself.

I hear what you ae saying about the SoCon. It is a mixture of public and private. Pretty sure UNCW and Appalachian State are public.
But their last expansion was Samford, so that's a good indicator of their "type" of candidate.

However, to keep SoCon football a a tier above Big South, wouldn't the SoCon want to take in some larger schools that may have a better chance of success ?

Elon was the last one, Samford just before them, I think. Both private.

gsohokiefan · **Posted:** Fri Oct 19, 2012 11:09 pm

Since the SoCon has said they prefer a 9-team football conference I would expect them to go after a non-football school.

ETSU is the obvious candidate (previous SoCon member).

I would not be surprised if High Point got some consideration. It would not add a new market (High Point is close to UNCG and Elon) but the school has lots of $$ and is throwing a lot of that money into it's sports programs. They are becoming a top-tier program in the Big South.

Winthrop would be another possible target.

fighting muskie · **Joined:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:47 am **Posts:** 389

To me it seems prudent to go ahead and grab a football school now and go to 10/12. The basketball schools will still be there to pick from in the event that Georgia Southern and/or App St leaves.

SoCon Realignment

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