Big South - It's Faaaantastic

[eddantes]

I was reading an article and I happened to catch a reference to the Big South conference...

Apparently, Savannah State - whose basketball team may go winless this year, and whose softball team did the same (and was outscored 166-0 in its last 20 games), whose football team lost 11 players (which may or may not be related to its coach, who distributing steroids to them) - is in talks to join a conference.

Now, don't get your hopes up yet - the article said that they're not saying exactly who... except to say that they'd fit best in the MEAC, Atlantic Sun, or the... you guessed it, Big South.

So... the Big South has difficulty getting decent seeds in the tournament, we have a problem getting respect from an athletic standpoint... Yeah, we're a perfect fit for Savannah State.

*Sigh*. Anyone who believes that LU is going to be a nationally prominent school better realize words that have been parroted here before - "it's not gonna happen in the Big South."

[Sly Fox]

Hey, its another automatic victory on the schedule. Who are we to complain?

You know the league is still looking for some more football-playing members. So nothing would surprise me. I would hope the league is aiming a little higher than Savannah. But this league has never aimed high.

I know the Big South has allowed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to compete in some non-revue sports. But the Islanders don't have football yet so they'll likely be a few years away from being a serious option for inclusion.

[WinthropEagleFan]

I seriously doubt the Big South would ever go for Savannah St., after all, if they were going to bring them in, they probably would have done so already (what would be holding it up? they desperately need another football school). Obviously it makes sense for SSU's leadership to mention the Big South as a possibility due to the geography, the need for a football team, and the conference's reletively low 'standing' in sports like basketball. But just because they are mentioning the league doesn't mean the league has any interest in them.

[V88]

eddantes,
You are correct in stating that Savannah St. is not good for the Big South. Also, Liberty needs to get serious about leaving the Big South because the talk is that Coastal Carolina is looking to leave in 2-3 years, most likely headed for the Southern Conference. Obviously that would weaken football even more. While Liberty still needs to prove they can win a football conference title(I think they will, even though that doesn't seem to be the popular opinion) ultimately the school needs to put it's team in a conference that has playoff options(2-3 teams per year in the playoffs). Honestly, it's going to take money for Liberty to to buy its way into a conference. That along with courting conference officials is how the move is made. Also, a conference move is desperately needed for the womens basketball program. The lack of conference competition is now beyond ridiculous and even when Feenstra is gone, LU will still be the strongest team. Concerning mens basketball, Coach Dunton has said he would like to be seriously considered by a top 25 recruit in the future. I would like to see that also, but there is no way whatsoever that a top 25 recruit is going to play in the Big South. It doesn't happen. With the growth of the school, new facilities for track and football, the Vines Center, their own tv and radio outlets, its time to make a move. Sorry for the long post.

[LUconn]

V88, I think I love you. I've said it again and again. This is a fun little conference to watch but it just strangles our future. Our biggest problem is to find the right fit. And out of those, how many are looking for us? I'm not sure if there is one. It's a catch 22 for us. On a side note, as bad as this conference is for being a doormat I don't think they would take Savanna St. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=1980454
Read that story, they are not good at anything. In fact, they are very bad at everything. Now Longwood on the other hand, they'll be here in 2 years as I see it.

[V88]

It's a shame what has happened at Savannah St. If there is any hint of that program coming into the Big South, current members need to be looking for the nearest exit. It's not just the losses, it's all of the problems Savannah St. seems to be having off the field. LuConn, your question of where would Liberty move to is a good one, and you are correct in stating that other conferences probably are not looking for LU. That's why it is important for Liberty to wine and dine(can I use the word wine on a Liberty forum? hmm..) other conference officials. From what I understand, there are agencies that assist schools looking to move to other conferences. They evaluate your program, staff needs, marketing, etc...but that costs money and so it comes back to how serious is the program about moving to a better 1-aa football conference and mid-major basketball conference? Personally, I would like to see LU play football in the A-10 and basketball and other sports in the Colonial. I like the idea of the Colonial because of the regional and in state rivalries that would be formed. A-10 football would be a serious step for the LU program, but I think it could help with recruiting. Or perhaps a more radical idea...Convince the Colonial to form a football conference with the exisiting 5 schools that play football in the A-10...and add Liberty, Hampton, and ODU if they do in fact start a football program. It would obviously effect A-10 football but it would instantly create a top 1-aa football conference that would be marketable in Virginia and add to regional basketball rivalries. Liberty could compete in basketball and other non-football sports and eventually, hopefully in football. Probably a pipe dream but from a fan perspective, it would be fun.

[PAmedic]

Sav State- UGH!

Longwood- what, may I ask, is (or who) is a Longwood? don't recall that school at all.

[Sly Fox]

V88 --- Believe it or not, we have been down many of the roads you are discussing. The A-10 seemed to be a perfect match a few years ago when all the mid-majors were scrambling during the last major round of realignment. But the league is made up nearly entirely of Catholic institutions. And it is the college presidents who make the calls on allowing in new member institutions. Do you think many Catholic bishops are ready to well Jerry Falwell to their club? That's a rhetorical question if I ever heard one. So despite overtures from Liberty that would have been welcomed save for our religious convictions, the A-10 isn't interested.

Now the idea of the Colonial abandoning their agreement with the A-10 to form their own league to support football is more intriguing. Having state schools involved changes the dynmic more in our favor. Those school presidents tend to be more focused on revenues than other factors. And since half the schools are in the Commonwealth, it wouldn't be a strain on travel. But since they are already at a round number of ten institutions, they would probably only want to expand two schools who play football to make it worth the hassle. Or they may only want to accept us for football only, which really wouldn't help us much. But this line of thinking would probably be our best hope of escaping the clutches of bottom-feeding conferences.

But I sincerely believe we have another round of major realignment on the way soon once the I-A refugees begin to fall for not meeting the new NCAA requirements. I would certainly rather be aligned with these schools.

[Sly Fox]

PAmedic --- You actually probably do remember Longwood. They were conference rivals of ours in the old Mason-Dixon Conference when we were Division II before stepping up to Division I-AA. Its a dumpy little school east Lynchburg that we continue to schedule as they do their best try and pretend their are D-I material.

Longwood's lone athletic claim to fame that I am aware of is it is where Jerome Kersey played college ball in the Early 80's before making his mark in the NBA.

[eddantes]

Longwood just joined Division I, so they must be a powerhouse. I don't think they have a football team.

They're only an hour away from Lynchburg, out in the bustling urban sprawl known as Farmville.

[Sly Fox]

I'm guessing Longwood is turning Division I because nearly all of the old Division II schools have already stepped up. I wonder if the Randy-Mac men are looking to move up as well.

[LUconn]

While SSU is the worst team in the country, you can't say they don't get coverage.
sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1969957
Espn has a permanent link to them on their basketball page right under the Bubble Watch. It's called the Winless watch.

[Coastal89]

Savannah State was an original member of the Big South, before the conferance sponsered football, but they pulled out after two ywars so I don't think an application to rejoin would get too much consideration.

[WinthropEagleFan]

Savannah State has never been in the league...Armstrong Atlantic College and Augusta State were both in the league when it started, and both moved down to D-II, but Savannah State has never been a league member, and hopefully never will.

[MDIVIVVY]

I don't know if anyone will agree, but the fact that our school has different goals then about 95% of the colleges out there (Christian stand and whatnot) effects our ability to get great players. I'm not saying that we don't have good players. What I am saying is that I doubt people like Redthingy or Braylon Edwards want to come here. And I don't know that I want people like that (not talentd people but people who aren't committed to Christ, please don't flame me for unsaved people coming here and getting saved because I really think that is great). That and you need to take into account that we're infants compared to some of these schools who have had time to build up following and rep with fans and leagues and such. Just my two cents... disagree if you like

[Sly Fox]

We all agree that its not in anyone's best interests to come play for LU if you aren't going to buy into the culture. But if JJ or Braylon happen to be committed Christians who want to play college ball in that type of an environment, then there's no reason it can't happen. I can tell you that there is a LARGE contingent of Christian athletes in the pro ranks who would've considered a Christian school if they would've known of a viable option.

[PAmedic]

and I firmly believe there are many very good Christian atheletes coming un-scouted out of little prep schools that can contribute. Even public schools will produce kids that are "playa's" and SEEK OUT LU because of the environment ( see the "signing day" football thread on the kid from Pennridge High in PA- hope he pans out now that I made a big deal of him!)

[ATrain]

Actually I think Savannah State may be more interested in the MEAC (one of the few weaker conferences) than the Big South. Go to the meac website, and there's something about it being a Historically Black University Conference or something in an article about the deal it struck with ESPNU. The way I see the Big South expanding, we add Central Arkansas for as the 6th football member, add Texas A&M CC for more depth in Basketball, and then Longwood comes in to give us 12 so we can have 2 divisions in BBall.

[Sly Fox]

I would love to see the A&M-CC Islanders join the Big South as full members so I could see them more often (as woud jacksparrow, I'm sure). But I just don't see it happening due to travel expenses. The Islanders are in the process of trying to raise money to start up football. But if they began a I-AA program then they would likely be invited into the Southland, They are wanting to go I-A. Again, I don't see it happening. They would come into Big South as a real player from the get-go in mens hoops.

The same goes foe Central Arkansas. The Southland is accpting applications for expansion thru March 1st. I'm sure Central Arkansas is quickly filling out the necessary paperwork as I type this.

[JackSparrow81]

Oh man, that would be awsome if they got a team. go to the LU games and go the Radford and HPU to heckle the players. Their a good team though. They've held their ground this year and i think beat some decent teams like Florida st. I dunno about football though. Not sure where they would put the stadium. There is no more room out there near the base. They should fill some of the bay off Ocean Ave, and make a tight stadium there that has the bay in the backdrop.

[Sly Fox]

If A&M-CC started football, undoubtedly they would lease Buc Stadium until they could arange some time of permanent setting. It would probably take more funding than the university is prepared to make with such a small alumni base to build one on their own. They'd need help from either the City or Nueces County to get it done. And Corpus Christi has a notorious reputation for not spending taxpayer money on athletic facilities. Although with the new arena and baseball park for the Hooks, that appears to be changing.

But again, I don't see it happening. Travel costs make it prohibitive. A&M-CC is a member of the Big South in softball. But they have a deal where they play doubleheaders in 6 of 7 days in Rock Hill, SC to get all of their conference dates in. Still, they are probably favorites to win the league nonetheless.

[Stevev]

I don't know a whole lot about TAACC but I do know that they have a very good softball team and dominant pitcher (Pauley). There basketball team beat Old Dominion (a very good mid-major program). I am sure that they would do very well in football if they went that route. But it seems like an awful long way to travel.

[PittLU]

I can agree with most of your points, but in this age of media and internet, you can build up a following more quickly than colleges who have been in existance for hundredes of years.

As Sly Fox said, we have been down this path many times on other threads. It all comes down to Liberty's commitment to athletics. There are many places that LU is lacking and there seems to be a laissez-faire attitude about aggressively building and marketing athletics. In my opinion, LU has succeeded despite itself, and if they threw any weight behind athletics, we would be attractive to new conferences and we would have better recruits.