mainejeff

I was thinking........if Bryant is really being considered seriously as #9 (and I think that they are)............that gives AE 5 football schools under its wing. There is some SERIOUS talk of Villanova dropping football now that it is leaving the Big East. I think that they will. Monmouth and Wagner are most likely leaving for the MAAC but need football homes. Those moves would kill Northeast Conference football which would free up Central Connecticut to join as an AE football affiliate:

Maine
UNH
Bryant
Albany
Stony Brook

*URI
*Central Connecticut
* Wagner
*Monmouth

* Football affiliates

Of course, this would only happen if CAA Football disintegrates..........could happen if Nova drops and JMU leaves.

Redwyn

The chance SBU would agree to this arrangement is below 0. The school has no intentions of remaining in FCS long enough to watch every chip fall, and has very little relationship with any of those programs (except Albany and maybe UNH) in terms of budget, market, and athletic commitment.

I think the speed of our move will heavily depend on the chips falling above. If SBU sees its window of opportunity for an FBS move closing (and it's nowhere near that yet), it will spend whatever possible to negotiate a way up. Even if it's the MAC, they will make that move (hell, I'd love to see us in a conference with Buffalo).

I doubt Albany would be very happy in that conference either, especially with the recent budget infusion and upgrade in football. All in all, it's a humongous step down for football for either program to accept that arrangement, even temporarily. By moving to the CAA both Albany and Stony Brook made the perfectly clear statement that their institutional priority is football. That's not the case for Maine, UNH, and URI. Even if the rest of the membership claim the same, their budgetary wherewithal doesn't come close to what either SUNY can put up.

Not being unreasonably arrogant about my school here...I just don't ever see us being happy in the same conference as Bryant, C Conn, Monmouth, and Wagner ever again.

mainejeff

The chances that CAA football stays intact or SBU is invited to an FBS league is below, below ZERO. Have fun being an FCS Independent!

ccd494

I'm with Redwyn. That conference is gross.

Redwyn

If you say so bro. I'd bet money on SBU to FBS way before they'd join that "dreamboat" conference of yours.

mainejeff

So is Maine.

mainejeff

So guys.........when Villanova drops football, JMU leaves for an FBS conference, and Richmond and W&M join the Patriot for football.........what exactly are your plans for Maine, UNH, Albany, Stony Brook, Delaware and Towson????

Aceinthehole

MJ - I don't think it is that dire, yet.

The best protection CAA Football has right now is that it is SEPERATE from the CAA. The last thing the AE wants to do now, is to sponsor football.

Think of Yankee/A-10/CAA Football just like you do Hockey East. It is independent and allows it to have a flexible membership.

Any future additions will likely be as football-only members, so this will remain the top Northeast/Mid-Atlantic FCS conference, period.

ccd494

How many bids does your league get? One, maybe two? 63 scholarships?

Drop the sport before wasting that money. Add lax, bring back men's soccer and women's volleyball.

Vermonster

Vermont football. Undefeated since 1974.

fast789

There's no way UNH would agree to that

__________________

According to UVM Hoop Cat, Jordan Clarke will have a better career than both Dane DiLiegro and Brian Benson... combined.

Career Stats (as of 3/28/12)
Points|Rebounds|Blocks
DiLiegro 795 | 854 | 34
Benson 525 | 626 | 81

TOTAL 1320 |1480 | 115

Clarke 304 | 329 | 21
UVM career:30 | 35 | 3
At Drake: 334 | 359 | 24

mainejeff

That might just happen at Maine........and I would be OK with that. Maine's future is in hockey and hoops (see: Vermont).........if they can ever get a clue up there.




God no........Maine doesn't need to be adding anymore sports. They can't take care of what they've already got!

mainejeff

What WOULD they "agree to" then if the CAA disintegrated????

TerrierNation

Villanova cancelling football is not imminent. Might happen within 8 years or something, but it's not going to happen for at least a few years, although I could see a Patriot League move sooner.

Urban Barrister

Bnghamton football. Undefeated since 1946, and we haven't lost a single game, ever!