Charlotte to be FCS Independent

[mcveyrl]

I don't know. It makes sense and while they're an independent I think they can get 4-6 games from CAA/SoConish opponents, 4-6 games from Big South/MEACish opponents and then a couple of throw away games, either D2, Pioneer League or FBS. It's not impossible to think that they could create a schedule where they're playoff-worthy at 8-3. Plus, nobody else is doing that at our level, so there's not a lot of competition to lock up OOC dates with other teams.

I could see a schedule like this:

ECU
Wofford
Georgia State
Presby
William and Mary
Furman
Bethune
Davidson
ODU
Liberty
Savannah State

Obviously, there's a certain level of team that could be interchanged (i.e. JMU/Richmond for W&M), but they would have an opportunity to get some quality wins with this schedule and make the playoffs, which is the ultimate goal at this level and they could keep their A-10 status (for what that's worth). If anything drastic happens, they would be a program that could probably still get in either the CAA or SoCon based on their market.

I meant the gamble of being able to get a CAA invite again in a few years if they want one.

I agree that if anyone can go Indy, Charlotte is in the best position to do so.

Got it. That makes sense. I think that is a gamble.

[mcveyrl]

What CAA school will sacrifice a bye week in the middle of the conference schedule to play them? I'm saying it will be hard for them to get a CAA game after week 3.

You could be right, and they will have trouble the first few years, but I'm willing to bet that more than a few CAA and SoCon schools will do their best to work out an OOC game in Charlotte in a few years. That's a good market to be seen in. But I don't know what the CAA's OOC scheduling requirements are. Do we have to schedule OOC's around league play? That could be a real problem for them if that's the case.

Also keep in mind that this allows them to control travel costs completely, they can have 8 home games if they want to...

[henfan]

Once Oct. kicks in, the availability of OOC dates with CAA & MEAC schools is nil due to the start-up of conference schedules. In general, that's a rule with most conferences. And who on the Playoff Selection & Regional Committees will be lobbying for Charlotte's playoff participation, rather than teams that participate in their own conferences? Oh, and no pre- or post-season conference awards for 49er players.

It's a real stretch to think FB independence is something that can work for longer than a brief transitional period for UNCC. This is exactly why schools don't go this route without knowing their ultimate destination and why UNCC was extending its hand to any willing partner to begin with. They know it's a dead end.

Very risky move for a new FB program.

[mcveyrl]

Once Oct. kicks in, the availability of OOC dates with CAA & MEAC schools is nil due to the start-up of conference schedules. In general, that's a rule with most conferences. And who on the Playoff Selection & Regional Committees will be lobbying for Charlotte's playoff participation, rather than teams that participate in their own conferences? Oh, and no pre- or post-season conference awards for 49er players.

It's a real stretch to think FB independence is something that can work for longer than a brief transitional period for UNCC. This is exactly why schools don't go this route without knowing their ultimate destination and why UNCC was extending its hand to any willing partner to begin with. They know it's a dead end.

Very risky move for a new FB program.

I think most of the scheduling issues can be worked out, even if it's the same suspects. How does Notre Dame work it out? I'm not saying that UNCC is going to have the stature and pull of Notre Dame, but there's got to be a way around the "normal" conference scheduling model. They've got three ACC games in a row this year.

EDIT: Of course, FBS schools probably aren't as protective of bye weeks as playoff-bound FCS schools. That's probably part of the answer...

I hadn't thought about the lack of conference accolades. I would imagine that would hurt recruiting as much as anything else.

[CAA Flagship]

What CAA school will sacrifice a bye week in the middle of the conference schedule to play them? I'm saying it will be hard for them to get a CAA game after week 3.

You could be right, and they will have trouble the first few years, but I'm willing to bet that more than a few CAA and SoCon schools will do their best to work out an OOC game in Charlotte in a few years. That's a good market to be seen in. But I don't know what the CAA's OOC scheduling requirements are. Do we have to schedule OOC's around league play? That could be a real problem for them if that's the case.

Also keep in mind that this allows them to control travel costs completely, they can have 8 home games if they want to...

The league will work to manipulate the league schedule for certain games (See Towson-Maryland guarantee game this week). But someone will have to lobby hard to save the bye week and move a league game for UNCC.

[andy7171]

You could be right, and they will have trouble the first few years, but I'm willing to bet that more than a few CAA and SoCon schools will do their best to work out an OOC game in Charlotte in a few years. That's a good market to be seen in. But I don't know what the CAA's OOC scheduling requirements are. Do we have to schedule OOC's around league play? That could be a real problem for them if that's the case.

Also keep in mind that this allows them to control travel costs completely, they can have 8 home games if they want to...

The league will work to manipulate the league schedule for certain games (See Towson-Maryland guarantee game this week). But someone will have to lobby hard to save the bye week and move a league game for UNCC.

Towson Maryland was supposed to be week 1, but was moved because Maryland-Miami was tapped to be the nationally televised game. So we dropped Coastal week 4 and Morgan added to week 1.

[CAA Flagship]

The league will work to manipulate the league schedule for certain games (See Towson-Maryland guarantee game this week). But someone will have to lobby hard to save the bye week and move a league game for UNCC.

Towson Maryland was supposed to be week 1, but was moved because Maryland-Miami was tapped to be the nationally televised game. So we dropped Coastal week 4 and Morgan added to week 1.

I'm missing something. Do you mean week 5 and game 4 instead of week 4? How did that affect the Villanova game that was played before all other CAA games?

[henfan]

Conferences will often try to work to accommodate members whenever money games are at stake. Revenue-neutral FCS home-homes aren't given the same consideration for obvious reasons.

Yeah, ND's, Navy's and Army's situations are much different than any FCS independent.

[49RFootballNow]

$6 million in revenue versus $3.6 million. That's why we'd rather stay A10/Independant than CAA all-sport. Quite possibly the BEST CAA showing in the NCAA Tournament, much better than what the A10 did in The Dance; and the A10 STILL made almost twice the revenue. Now, someone want to find a graph with the payout per conference from last year's FCS Playoffs?

[danefan]

I have a hard time believing $185k was the driving decision. It's going to cost Charlotte that much in guarantees to get home games as an Indy FCS team.

[49RFootballNow]

I have a hard time believing $185k was the driving decision. It's going to cost Charlotte that much in guarantees to get home games as an Indy FCS team.

It pays the bills!

[DaBigBlue]

$6 million in revenue versus $3.6 million. That's why we'd rather stay A10/Independant than CAA all-sport. Quite possibly the BEST CAA showing in the NCAA Tournament, much better than what the A10 did in The Dance; and the A10 STILL made almost twice the revenue. Now, someone want to find a graph with the payout per conference from last year's FCS Playoffs?

Those numbers are wrong. The three CAA teams with another Final Four appearance took in $12.6mil.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/2 ... /110409946" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There have been some good points made about conference affiliations, scheduling is a big one. ODU had a tough time filling a schedule, but we got some breaks. Getting Cal-Poly to play us at home for $57K was a great deal. ODU also had about $400k a home game coming in, so that gave us some cash to buy home games we had 7 the 1st year. There are many FCS independents who don't have those resources and hit the road for paydays. I think the 49'ers will have the resources to buy a few home games and that will help with scheduling.

I do think the CAA overall has better sports and think UNCC is a natural fit. Glad the conference said all or none.

[danefan]

I have a hard time believing $185k was the driving decision. It's going to cost Charlotte that much in guarantees to get home games as an Indy FCS team.

It pays the bills!

Spending $200k on guarantees to save $185k in ball money is pretty bad business.

[SDHornet]

Wow CP traveled to ODU for a meager 57k!?!?! Jesus did that even cover their travel?

[JoshuaTU]

I do think the CAA overall has better sports and think UNCC is a natural fit. Glad the conference said all or none.

This is what I pulled from this decision. Glad to see the CAA might be moving to an all sports conference instead of associate/football membership even though Nova, Richmond and UNH usually add to the ranking of the conference in a positive way.

[DSUrocks07]

I do think the CAA overall has better sports and think UNCC is a natural fit. Glad the conference said all or none.

This is what I pulled from this decision. Glad to see the CAA might be moving to an all sports conference instead of associate/football membership even though Nova, Richmond and UNH usually add to the ranking of the conference in a positive way.

Im a little surprised that their hasn't been much talk about Richmond moving to the CAA in all sports as well.

[JoshuaTU]

This is what I pulled from this decision. Glad to see the CAA might be moving to an all sports conference instead of associate/football membership even though Nova, Richmond and UNH usually add to the ranking of the conference in a positive way.

Im a little surprised that their hasn't been much talk about Richmond moving to the CAA in all sports as well.

Well I would say that Richmond is in a superior position compared to Charlotte, they have a national championship and their already in the CAA, no harm in asking a team to join the whole CAA if they arent part of it yet(no real risk). If a few more teams go full member I can see Richmond being a full increasing in likelihood.

[CatMom]

NOTE: there are currently 4 FCS Indys (not the "many" you stated) and 2 of those are transitioning to FBS.
TXST had no issues scheduling because we kept the same schedule we would have had this year anyway, we just added a 12th game. (Oh, and we got Wyoming in place of ....hell, I forget...but it was an OOC, regardless)

[rebla 49er]

Charlotte is too good for the CAA. Ask our leadership:

[henfan]

Glad to see the CAA might be moving to an all sports conference instead of associate/football membership even though Nova, Richmond and UNH usually add to the ranking of the conference in a positive way.

Understand that the CAA and CAA FB are two separate entities. No schools hold associate FB membership in CAA FB; UR, VU, UNH & UMaine are full members of that league.

I've not heard/read that the CAA's stated goal was to absorb CAA FB under it's umbrella. At some point, that might make sense and happen organically, if more of the group from among UR, VU, UNH & UMaine decided to leave.

It's very clear that there is little support among CAA schools to add non-CAA members to CAA FB. There will be no backdoor to CAA FB membership. In other words, if a potential member wants to be a member of CAA FB and gain the advantages of being a part of one of the best FCS leagues in the country, they have to demonstrate a long-term commitment to CAA member schools in the form of conference membership. It just makes good business sense.

UNCC was not extended a combined CAA/CAA FB offer because the CAA or CAA FB were necessarily interested in expanding. The CAA simply saw an opportunity to add a school inside the existing footprint that would help bridge the gap between UNCW & GSU, as well as realizing a chance to add another CAA member to CAA FB.

[henfan]

Well I would say that Richmond is in a superior position compared to Charlotte, they have a national championship and their already in the CAA, no harm in asking a team to join the whole CAA if they arent part of it yet(no real risk). If a few more teams go full member I can see Richmond being a full increasing in likelihood.

No chance of that happening, IMO. UR doesn't want to go backwards & the CAA wouldn't want and doesn't need them. Water under the bridge; too many hard feelings.

The Spiders were extended the courtesy of CAA FB membership because, when the CAA assumed administrative control of the league from the A-10, CAA league members had no desire to discontinue long-standing FB rivalries.

[mainejeff]

Charlotte isn't going to choose to go backwards when they have their eye on FBS football and membership in an FBS conference. Considering that they are located in the 2nd most important Southeast market (excluding Florida), they will be fine in the end. CAA fans need to get over it.......some of you are starting to sound like a jilted lover.

[Dukie95]

Charlotte isn't going to choose to go backwards when they have their eye on FBS football and membership in an FBS conference. Considering that they are located in the 2nd most important Southeast market (excluding Florida), they will be fine in the end. CAA fans need to get over it.......some of you are starting to sound like a jilted lover.

Nah, I didn't care one way or another if they came...Conference pride took a bit of a hit when a bottom team from a marginally better basketball conference rejected our offer.

[ODUalum11]

Charlotte isn't going to choose to go backwards when they have their eye on FBS football and membership in an FBS conference. Considering that they are located in the 2nd most important Southeast market (excluding Florida), they will be fine in the end. CAA fans need to get over it.......some of you are starting to sound like a jilted lover.

Nah, I didn't care one way or another if they came...Conference pride took a bit of a hit when a bottom team from a marginally better basketball conference rejected our offer.

I agree with Dukie, I don't care one bit. The CAA is still the best FCS conference with or without them. Also whats to say they will actually be successful when they start football? Not saying they will or won't be, also have to remember they turned down a SOCON offer as well, correct? Another top FCS conference. I think they are in for a major challenge with the market they are going to be located in with two professional sport franchises and numerous BCS and FBS schools nearby.

[Sly Fox]

Considering that they are located in the 2nd most important Southeast market (excluding Florida), they will be fine in the end.

Dude, have you ever been south of Boston? I have no idea how you can come up with Charlotte being the 2nd most important market in SE even excluding Florida. They are just 2nd largest in their own state behind the Triangle (check out the latest numbers).

I am still amazed at the incompetence of Kyle the Kommissioner in passing on grabbing the 49ers as associate members for the Big South. What could possibly be the downside for a league full of schools looking to move on? Something tells me we could draw more in Lynchburg with Charlotte in the house than Presby or Chuck South.