Elon to the CAA. Albany expected to follow.

[OL FU]

While Elon leaving doesn't depress me ( no offense Elon fans you just weren't around that long for someone with a long memory like me) their departure, along with the 4 others, is thoroughly depressing. and the proposed additions don't perk me up one bit.

[Ibanez]

The commish isn't happy.

After losing five of his schools in recent months, Southern Conference commissioner John Iamarino sounds like he’s fed up.

Typically, the commish has greeted these departures with corporate-speak about what “valuable partners” the schools have been, yada, yada. Not so with Elon, which left for the Colonial Athletic Association on Thursday:


“In recent years, it became increasingly evident that Elon’s negative view of the diversity in the Southern Conference was not shared by the majority of the membership,” the commish said. “Our core group remains firmly committed to each other and to the academic and athletic success of the Southern Conference. We are preparing specific initiatives to achieve that success.”

The beleaguered Iamarino was in Johnson City, Tenn., on Thursday to check out ETSU, the third of three campus visits to prospective members Mercer, VMI and ETSU. With his “core group” down to seven — The Citadel, Wofford, Furman, Chattanooga, Western Carolina, Samford and UNCG — Iamarino needs some good news fast.

But apparently, we’ll have to wait until the SoCon’s meetings next week in Hilton Head for any formal invitations. These other leagues seem to be able to move more quickly, for whatever reason.

Adding those three will still leave the SoCon down two, and of course the rumors are swirling — Belmont, UNC Asheville, Winthrop, Coastal Carolina, almost any school in the Big South or Atlantic Sun could be a candidate.

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