Zonid

It is absolutely a long shot but at the same time there is no other clear cut Conference that fits (football, geographics).

Rhett1

It's a shame really. Northern schools should have northern sports. AEC schools should have hockey and skiing and be great at them. Instead, they'll keep getting one low bid in a bunch of warm weather sports. UVM at least knows what part of the country they're in. I'm glad they were rewarded for it.

farfromtheshow

They've had that mind set ever since adding umbc... And they've already lost northeastern and bu while not adding a single school and the conference stability has been greatly compromised as a result... Waiting for the home run school doesn't work and the league he's weaker and weaker as a result. If Bryant wants to join they need to have been invited yesterday: the America east twice turned down quinnipiac in the past because they figured they'd always be there as a safety school - how good would they look in the league right about now.

MileHiCat

If there is any chance to add URI, then don't add Bryant. However, the league needs to figure this out quickly because it is not as if they are dealing from a position of strength. Either get URI or add Bryant and get stabilized immediately. And add Q-Pac in either event. (I am assuming that UMass has no interest whatsoever)

Aceinthehole

Can't be done - Quinnipiac is headed to the MAAC (with Monmouth) next year.

I have no doubt that Bryant would be listening to the AE offers, but it is a lateral move in hoops and they would have to keep football in the NEC although it would probably help Bryant MLax.

Not sure if the AE is seriously considering adding Bryant and CCSU right now, but both schools would have to leave football in the NEC and that makes accepting an offer more dificult. No AD really wants to split their athletic teams among multiple conferences. Sometimes it has to be done, but it is rarely an ideal situation. Stability is very important for all school - just look at BU's move to the Patriot.

I'm not really sure what's the best move for anyone right now, but I think it is a very longshot that anyone returns to the AE (UD, Towson, NU, Hof, etc) because of the $1 million CAA exit fee. It is more likely the CAA swallows up some AE teams if the CAA loses schools to the A-10.

mainejeff

I hope that all of you understand that certain moves are predicated on other conference moves and certain dominoes falling in place. America East has absolutely NO SHOT at URI if:

1. The Catholic 7 don't raid the A-10.......and more specifically VCU.
2. UMass doesn't leave the A-10
3. The CAA invites URI to join their league for all sports.

Those moves have not happened as of yet.......and might not for some time. And those are a lot "what-ifs" to be fulfilled.

Also........I don't think that there is any way possible for AE to get all 3 of URI, Delaware and Towson. The reason is this:

If URI leaves the A-10.......that most likely means that the CAA kept George Mason and remained intact. Delaware and Towson would stay in the CAA and the league would ultimately add at least 2 (3 if/when JMU leaves) members and URI would definitely be a CAA expansion candidate.

If URI stays in the A-10.........that most likely means that the A-10 kept VCU and most likely would attract George Mason into the fold.........pretty much sealing the fate of the CAA and possibly leading to Delaware and Towson rejoining America East.

MileHiCat

I missed that. There goes my ideas on the subject out the window. Maybe the conference ought to focus on SUNY Plattsburgh's and UMass Lowell's of the world.

RF1

Bryant has D1 lacrosse programs. It's men's team is coached by the former Duke Coach Mike Pressler who was forced out of Durham after the scandal.


http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mlax/index

TerrierNation

If the AE is waiting on URI, then they are completely delusional. The A10, at worst, will have 6-8 programs after conference realignment:

URI, Bonnie, Duquesne, St. Joe's, LaSalle, GW --- all of which are better than pretty much any program in the America East in basketball, the sport URI values most. And the league has a decent chance to keep: UMASS, Richmond, Fordham, VCU (if the C7 elects to get Creighton/St. Louis instead).

MaineJeff is right, the CAA could de-stabilize and they might have a shot at some of those schools, but waiting would be the wrong thing to do anyway. There are just too many schools in play and the AE is too far down the chain reaction.

TerrierNation

One other possibility too is the A10 reclaiming Temple for hoops. There have been lots of rumors that UCONN and Cincy may get an invite after all to a major conference.

If that happens, I can certainly see Temple fighting to get back into the A10/MAC arrangement. Otherwise, they are stuck in a very bad spot with only one decent hoops program (Memphis) amongst a huge geographic conference and ever-increasing travel costs.

Aceinthehole

Even if UConn and Cincy left the “current” Big East, wouldn't the leftovers just invite UMass, Marshall, etc. from C-USA or even Buffalo from the MAC?

I think the last thing Temple wants is to go back to a A-10/MAC hybrid with UMass. It is much easier to "rebuild" the BE as an East Coast version of the MWC. Once the C-7 raids the top of the A-10, why would Temple even want to go back? For URI, VCU, George Mason? The remaining Big East would still have programs like Memphis, Houston, SMU.

VCU is an unknown, but it probably doesn’t matter. If they leave the A-10 to join the C-7, that might change the schools that the A-10 invites/accepts, but I doubt it. George Mason is probably leaving the CAA for the A-10 if VCU is there, or isn't. I think the lure or join the leftovers - URI, GW, Richmond, and St. Joes - is enough of a draw. Mason will still schedule some of those CAA teams in non-conference

IMO, URI isn't going from the A-10 down to the AE no matter what happens. The things that have to fall in place are unlikely, even in these unpredictable environment. The AE’s expansion candidates remain from the NEC, Indy or D-II, some of those CAA are possible, but a very longshot.

TerrierNation

I agree with the entire bottom portion of your post, but regarding the BE remnants, if UCONN and Cincy leave, all bets are off. Temple probably stays put because of exit fees or legal reasons.

But on a purely objective basis, I think their AD and alumni would rather remain in the A10, especially if VCU is still there. Overall, Temple would have better basketball in the A10 and lower travel costs. Football? It's frankly about the same in the MAC as it would be in this BE 5.0. I guess the Florida directional schools make it a bit better, but not all that much.

Aceinthehole

I agree. While, on the surface the A-10/MAC may look better for Temple, it is probably impractical for budgetary/contract reasons. Playing hoops with FBS schools rather than in the A-10 2.0 is probably better in the long run, not to mention the Florida exposure for football.

An East/South "mid-major" FBS conference isn't that horrible of an idea for Temple or potentially UMass. Clearly, UConn and Cincy don't want to be there and rather be in a "major" conference, but until they get the call they're stuck.

I don't like what conference realignment has done to college rivalries, but the seperation into major "football" and "basketball" conferences is probably good for mid-major hoops.

umainealum

I wonder what the deal is with all these teams regarding the exit fees...I mean, Temple obviously signed on expecting a certain lineup of schools and if that lineup changes that dramatically, I wonder what the legalities are of the contract. As it is, they have already lost the Boise/San Diego State schools thereby decreasing the competition level of the football league and I'm guessing the anticipated TV deal is going to be significantly less than was hoped for or talked about.

I would love to know that kind of info on so many of these universities that are on the potential movement list...

__________________
UMaine - the epitome of mediocrity

Proud supporter of an AMERICA EAST team that made a coaching change...

TerrierNation

Yeah, actually Temple's decision may be based on UMASS. Long-term this conference may want Charlotte and ODU and if they are in the plans along with UMASS, then it's more palatable for Temple. Some decent hoops and shorter trips and thrown in a northern division with ECU. I'm not even sure UMASS leaves for this league though without Cincy and UCONN.

The Tulsa, Tulane, Houston, SMU thing is going to SUCK for Temple for quite some time until the above schools join. And no one cares that Houston and SMU are improving their product. That will be very expensive and have the same perception around campus and with fans, with the exception of Houston hoops I suppose.

I don't think Temple is going to have much success recruiting Florida regardless so not sure the exposure is going to win them many battles. They're actually probably better off playing the MAC Ohio schools for recruiting purposes being an adjacent state.

Again and like you said, they'll stay because they are poised to make money on exit fees and don't want to pay any additional ones.