tkalmus wrote:
fighting muskie wrote:
I don't get why football isn't the SoCon's priority--lets look at the favorite candidates:
ETSU--literally just voted to revive football, needs time to get it up and going
Mercer--non-scholarship team has yet to play a down
Kennesaw St--has't played a down, not sure if they are committed to scholarships or not
VMI--has been lousy against Big South teams
If they were focused on football they should be looking at schools like these after CAA options are exhausted:
Liberty--if the SBC doesn't take them this is a no brainer
Jacksonville St--gives Samford an instate rival and travel partner, don't have to worry about them going to the SBC
Coastal Carolina--this makes perfect geographic sense
Gardner-Webb--not quite as good as the other options but they will fit in culturally with nearby Furman and Wofford
I actually agree with you.
I know the four above is what's been reported but adding JAX St, Liberty, and Coastal Carolina makes a lot of sense...the fourth could be just about any of the 4 rumored ones or Gardner-Webb but those first three seem like the best options...
Then again, since JAX St & Liberty have expressed interest in FBS, maybe that's the reason WHY they aren't being pursued...
Still, even if that's the case, Coastal Carolina seems like a solid all-around pick above the other 4 being mentioned.
I looked into Gardner-Webb more and the more I looked the less excited I was about them as a possible SoCon member.
I have to think that the SoCon could have as many as 6 openings to fill (if they lose Davidson to the A-10 & UNC-G & Elon to the CAA). Here's the order I place the phone calls:
1. Jacksonville St
2. Liberty
3. Coastal Carolina
4. Mercer--huge endowment, hurry up with your fb program
5. Kennesaw St
6. VMI
Backups
7. Presbyterian
8. ETSU
9. Gardner-Webb
Campbell is another school I wonder about--big endowment, bigger enrollment than a lot of these other private southern schools, but no scholarship football--of they added scholarships they might be someone to consider.
Things could get dicey if the OVC is interested in inviting UT-C and Samford--this expansion game becomes a completely different animal.