Dane96

Your source needs checking.

I rarely call you out...but on this one...I am 99.999999999999999999% sure it is wrong.

farfromtheshow

I don't think that people get where the America East stands right now in the landscape of college athletics and Men's Basketball in specific. There is a prevalent theme among many fans on here (and god do I wish it were the case) that the America East is still a step above the NEC and very attractive to those programs. 5 years ago Qpac and CCSU would have jumped at the opportunity. Now, they are not interested: The AE has fallen BELOW the NEC (just typing that makes me sick, remembering when the AE could look down a ways at the NEC).

Why are people scoffing at Qpac aiming higher than the AE? CCSU? Forget a lateral move, moving to the AE right now would be a half-step down. Unless the AE does become a football conference (far from penciled in), why would CCSU join it?

Seriously, the AE has been surpassed by its former peer conferences, and conferences like the NEC are not only a bit above the AE in terms of where they stand in conference rankings, but they are also much more stable.

While the AE released their prepared statements about conference unity, privately, some of the schools talking the biggest are shopping themselves around the most to other conferences. Scarano is NOT foaming at the mouth or making wild accusations when he says its every school for itself, it really is: Literally every school in the league is exploring and pursuing other options.

Sad, sad times for me... I hope that the storm passes and the league not only retains all of its remaining members, but adds some more, but I am seriously worried...

farfromtheshow

I'd trust my source on this one at Qpac... they are involved in the decision making so to speak... And I would LOVE Qpac in the America East - be ecstatic. Their venue is FANTASTIC and would be a great spot to host the AE tournament.

Urban Barrister

I have no inside track on anything, but I would guess Q-PAC would jump to the AE for the same reason I believe BU jumped to the Patrtiot, and that's the chance to associate with schools they would like to view as their peers (albeit aspirational peers).

Q-PAC wants to be taken seriously as an academic institution. What better way to do that than to join a league where every school is stronger than you are academically?

Aceinthehole

Again, althought the AE is stronger than the NEC academically, who is QU's "peer" in the AE - Hartford? They just don't compete for students against any current AE school.

Let's also not forget, academics isn't their only goal. They use athletics, just like the QU Poll, to gain market exposure and increase enrollment. They could join the MAAC and have "peers" in Fairfield and Loyola. They may also set their goals for the Patriot League like BU just did. They want out of the NEC for sure, but what does the AE really offer them that other conferences can't? I'm not suggesting that QU is happy in the NEC, but the MAAC and potentially the PL likely offer better options for them.

Under our old AD, CCSU probably wouldn't have even applied to the AE (because we've already been turned down at least twice). But our new AD is the former #2 guy at Stony Brook and I think he knows the pros/cons of this league as good as any current member. If we aren't interested (and yes, that is very likely), it is for a good reason. The recent comments out of BU and UNH don't bode well for the league - stability is a huge concern.

Put yourself in our shoes for just a second. Why should CCSU put its entire athletic program at risk just to join UVM or Albany in hoops? Athletically, the move to the AE is a step back because we'd have to ask to keep Football and M/W Golf in the NEC. Both are 1-bid hoops leagues and get similar seeds in the NCAA tourney. We play many AE teams in non-conference play already, so I'm not sure what we really gain by joining (other than association with NE/NY public universities).

Looking at Men's hoops only, honestly who has a better program - RMU and LIU or UNH and Maine? The fact is the names, enrollment, and academics of NEC schools may be inferior to those in the AE, but basketball-wise our programs are just as good.

Aceinthehole

Serious question - If Quinnipiac announced they were joining the MAAC and Stony Brook announced they were joining the CAA for all sports, how many AE schools would consider joining the NEC?

I would think that UMBC and Hartford would probably inquire about the opening.

Dane96

Check your PM.

umainealum

First, I am one that thinks the AE is definitely in a tough position at the moment...however, that said, let me be devil's advocate for a second: I would think that the schools we are talking about also know that. Their thought process could also be that "you know what, if we both (or 3 or 4 or however many) join that conference, it instantly becomes very stable."

I don't know...this whole situation is very fluid at the moment and I have no clue how things will turn out in the near future.

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ecasadoSBU

Is there any need to make it public that you sent him a PM???

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Dane96

Yeah...so he can go check it. If I had his e-mail, I would have sent him an e-mail. Both he and I owe you no explanation. This is a common message board practice.

Now go mind your P's and Q's.

UVM Hoop Cat

Old Vermont would stay in the AE until the plugged gets pulled and turns out the lights. They still might.

With BU now gone, I can see New UVM as being more aggressive about looking around for a new home.

__________________
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- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

Aceinthehole

True, and this remains a very fluid situation, so things can change quickly.

But who holds the high cards right now - QU and others - because they are wanted/needed. NEC schools don't have to do anything - a 12-team status quo is perfectly acceptable and stable. Of course, if any NEC school has a MUCH BETTER opportunity they will leave and grab it. I just think that the risks (long-term stability, compatable sports sponsorship) outweigh any benefits (academics) that the AE can offer.

I also wonder if that MAAC statement really meant something else is going on, because I could see how QU might have more interest in that opportunity. Don't forget, most NEC schools moved on to the MAAC - Siena (yes, they first went to the NAC, but eventally moved to the MAAC), Loyola, Marist, and Rider.

And we all know that CCSU, Bryant, and Monmouth must address FOOTBALL before leaving the NEC. So if UNH and Maine are sticking with the CAA long-term, then it is very hard to see how you can persuade these 3 to join the AE as a group.

mainejeff

I'm usually a glass half empty type of guy (surprise!).........but IF Stony Brook doesn't go to the CAA for all sports, I actually feel pretty positive about the league.

Yeah, yeah........we can worry about UNH going to the Patriot. That would take a MAJOR shift in league philosophy for that to happen.........and usually leagues don't do that unless they are unstable/desperate. The Patriot doesn't strike me as either. Or you can worry about Stony Brook being in the "next wave" of CAA expansion. The only way that the CAA goes through another wave of expansion is if they lose JMU and Delaware. And if that happens, NO WAY Stony Brook is leaving AE for what remains of that league.

One thing everyone needs to do is look at the remaining members of all of these leagues and analyze if they are on the same page athletically and academically. I'd say that everyone in AE is.........yeah, some want to advance quicker than others (Stony Brook) and all members want to be more successful in hoops (although I'd question Maine's commitment to tat with the continued reign of Woodward)..........but overall, I'd say that the fans are a bit more cynical, demanding, and hysterical about this whole conference expansion stuff. I'm guessing as far as Stony Brook goes, that Fiore knows he can achieve what he wants to do with CAA Football membership.........and he also knows that Stony Brook will be right in the thick of things (and a few other AE schools could be as well) when the sh*t REALLY hits the fan. BCS conference expansion to 16 members a piece (it's coming!) will kill entire conferences and shake up the rest (Big East, A-10, CAA) so a waiting game in AE for the next 3-5 years isn't such a bad thing as SB (and others) can continue to build a resume of NCAA appearances and facility construction.

mainejeff

If Q wants to snub their nose at AE then Bryant is waiting in the wings. NEC can't stop them........the Albany football precedent is in place. And I would argue that other than basketball, Bryant is actually better in other AE sports and they bring the same sport additions to the league (baseball, lacrosse, softball, field hockey). Too bad Q!

UNHFan

Jeff I think you make some good points but I would not worry about UNH leaving for the Patriot League that is not going to happen. It really does appear now that SBU will be staying in the Aeast and most likely joining the CAA for football only which is a great move for their football team. You keep the Brook and you add 2 schools you now have ten schools and some stability in the conference. I like it and want to see it happen sooner than later. Is there any idea when we would hear about schools being invited and joining the Aeast? Would this be an after July 1st thing?