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Nobody knows what changes will occur on the college football landscape in the coming years.

Conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision continue to realign to create a better power base, while some Football Championship Subdivision programs are intent on joining the party.

For now, the University of Maine feels secure in its affiliation with the Colonial Athletic Association.

The CAA held its annual football meetings last weekend at Hilton Head, S.C., where coaches and administrators discussed numerous issues pertinent to their member schools.

“Every school represents its own interests, but they all care deeply and sincerely about the best interests of the conference and the best interests of the member institutions, and that was very refreshing,” said UMaine athletic director Steve Abbott.

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/06/09/s ... uncertain/

I'm surprised that maine feels comfortable being in the CAA considering that Hofstra and Northeastern no longer have football and now URI is leaving for another conference.

To answer the thread's original question..........

In the CAA until there is no more CAA:

Delaware
Towson
Richmond
William & Mary

In the CAA through at least 2012:

Maine
UNH

In the CAA until invited to an FBS league or a new FBS league is formed:

JMU
ODU
Georgia State

Definitely gone:

UMass (after 2011)
URI (after 2012)

Who the F knows:

Villanova

After Richmond and East Carolina left the Colonial, JMU, GMU, W&M, UNCW and ODU signed a "death pact" to stay together come what may. Now I realize that these things are sometime not worth the paper that they are written on and that this was before football but I don't see anything today that makes them any less likely to stay together. Time will tell but I just wanted to get this fact on the table.

TheDancinMonarch wrote: Time will tell but I just wanted to get this fact on the table.

There's no room for facts here! Quick, throw out a big hypothetical conference alignment featuring move ups and move downs with little of any evidence to support them...otherwise be banished to a lifetime of rational thinking.

State Line Liquors wrote:

TheDancinMonarch wrote: Time will tell but I just wanted to get this fact on the table.

There's no room for facts here! Quick, throw out a big hypothetical conference alignment featuring move ups and move downs with little of any evidence to support them...otherwise be banished to a lifetime of rational thinking.

Yeah.......'cause none of that has been happening!

Where are UNH and Maine going to play after 2012?

Come to think of it, the only value Maine provides the CAA is their proximity to UNH. How about we just pre-emptively dump Maine and see how the dominoes fall?

It's not like any of the southern schools really cherish the $100k expense of going up to Maine every 2 or 3 years to beat their A$$ when we could bring on a Big South team or two.

Penthouse may be on to something here. How can we keep a conference asset like UNH around, but dump non competitive Maine? Is the $100k trip down the shitter to Maine the fabled 'Maine Black Hole' that gets brought up every so often?

Your $100K every 3 years is nothing compared to our $300K that we'll have to spend EVERY year to go play 4 times a year in the soggy craptastic South! Please, please, PLEASE dump us so that we can save some $$$! Don't expect UNH to stick around though........they are beleeding even MORE money than Maine.

mainejeff wrote:Your $100K every 3 years is nothing compared to our $300K that we'll have to spend EVERY year to go play 4 times a year in the soggy craptastic South! Please, please, PLEASE dump us so that we can save some $$$! Don't expect UNH to stick around though........they are beleeding even MORE money than Maine.

OK, so we realize there's no benefit to having Maine around. Maine doesn't want to be in the CAA.

How do we make this happen?

By the way, why are you bothering to waste your wind on the future of a conference you purportedly don't want to be a part of?

Reading a Maine fan's take on the CAA's future is akin to asking a homeless crackhead on a park bench how the USA should get out of its financial mess.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

mainejeff wrote:Your $100K every 3 years is nothing compared to our $300K that we'll have to spend EVERY year to go play 4 times a year in the soggy craptastic South! Please, please, PLEASE dump us so that we can save some $$$! Don't expect UNH to stick around though........they are beleeding even MORE money than Maine.

OK, so we realize there's no benefit to having Maine around. Maine doesn't want to be in the CAA.

How do we make this happen?

It will soon enough......all in good time. Maine officials have been a bit "slow" (to put it nicely) in realizing what is going on out there outside the state border.......but finally someone with some brains is in charge, so I expect to start seeing things progress.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:By the way, why are you bothering to waste your wind on the future of a conference you purportedly don't want to be a part of

Because we still are, it's the off-season and I'm bored.......good enough reasons for you?

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:Reading a Maine fan's take on the CAA's future is akin to asking a homeless crackhead on a park bench how the USA should get out of its financial mess.

Now you're just showing your true colors.........that you are a complete moron who is clueless.

JMU is going absolutely nowhere!...........

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote: OK, so we realize there's no benefit to having Maine around. Maine doesn't want to be in the CAA.

How do we make this happen?

By the way, why are you bothering to waste your wind on the future of a conference you purportedly don't want to be a part of?

Reading a Maine fan's take on the CAA's future is akin to asking a homeless crackhead on a park bench how the USA should get out of its financial mess.

No doubt... the CAA is starting to reek, especially with the impending addition of a slew of SOCON rejects. We'll be steppin' out when we're good and ready. In the meantime... you keep playin' the doosh.

mainejeff wrote:JMU is going absolutely nowhere!...........

Yeah, there's a program that doesn't have it's priorities in order.

biobengal wrote:

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote: OK, so we realize there's no benefit to having Maine around. Maine doesn't want to be in the CAA.

How do we make this happen?

By the way, why are you bothering to waste your wind on the future of a conference you purportedly don't want to be a part of?

Reading a Maine fan's take on the CAA's future is akin to asking a homeless crackhead on a park bench how the USA should get out of its financial mess.

No doubt... the CAA is starting to reek, especially with the impending addition of a slew of SOCON rejects. We'll be steppin' out when we're good and ready. In the meantime... you keep playin' the doosh.

Whoa, there's second Maine fan?

What's your opinion on Maine dropping to the NEC? You could keep your rivalry with Rhody and build one with Monmouth. Seems like a good fit.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

biobengal wrote:
No doubt... the CAA is starting to reek, especially with the impending addition of a slew of SOCON rejects. We'll be steppin' out when we're good and ready. In the meantime... you keep playin' the doosh.

Whoa, there's second Maine fan?

What's your opinion on Maine dropping to the NEC? You could keep your rivalry with Rhody and build one with Monmouth. Seems like a good fit.

What's your opinion of Richmond eventually joining the Patriot or SoCon in football???

mainejeff wrote:

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:
Whoa, there's second Maine fan?

What's your opinion on Maine dropping to the NEC? You could keep your rivalry with Rhody and build one with Monmouth. Seems like a good fit.

What's your opinion of Richmond eventually joining the Patriot or SoCon in football???

If the CAA implodes and the Patriot continues to not offer schollies, the SoCon would be a great option that would allow us to compete at the highest level of FCS football.

If the CAA implodes and the Patriot starts offering schollies, both are great options that would allow us to compete at the highest level of FCS football.

What are your thoughts on Maine de-emphasisizing football and building rivalries with Monmouth and Central Connecticut State? Please answer.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

mainejeff wrote:
What's your opinion of Richmond eventually joining the Patriot or SoCon in football???

If the CAA implodes and the Patriot continues to not offer schollies, the SoCon would be a great option that would allow us to compete at the highest level of FCS football.

If the CAA implodes and the Patriot starts offering schollies, both are great options that would allow us to compete at the highest level of FCS football.

What are your thoughts on Maine de-emphasisizing football and building rivalries with Monmouth and Central Connecticut State? Please answer.

I'll answer because FINALLY someone has their wits about them and is willing to discuss realistic possibilities (you should mentor W&M and Delaware fans ).

Regarding your question about Maine.......I don't think that they will "de-emphasize" football (cutting scholarships). The reason being that they would then lose their ability to play revenue (FBS) games. Cutting scholarships to join the NEC would be offset by losing 350-500K per year from their annual FBS game.

I do think that somehow, someway.......Maine will join other Northeast programs to form some type of new set-up.......it's just a question of "who" and "when". They will hold out as long as they can in the CAA, but the day of reckoning (2013 IMO) is coming quickly.

mainejeff wrote: Regarding your question about Maine.......I don't think that they will "de-emphasize" football (cutting scholarships). The reason being that they would then lose their ability to play revenue (FBS) games. Cutting scholarships to join the NEC would be offset by losing 350-500K per year from their annual FBS game.

I do think that somehow, someway.......Maine will join other Northeast programs to form some type of new set-up.......it's just a question of "who" and "when". They will hold out as long as they can in the CAA, but the day of reckoning (2013 IMO) is coming quickly.

OK. Elsewhere you have written that CAA schools not named ODU, JMU and Ga State need to worry about their future. What in the hell do we have to worry about when we have at least 1 or possibly 2 suitable alternatives to CAA football?

Meanwhile, you are banking Maine's future on some new New England conglomeration of schools that have varying levels of commitment to football at present time?

I can already hear the conversation in Monmouth or Stony Brook or Albany or Central Connecticut State's Meeting of Trustees right now... "Well, we have a big budget hole but it would really help Maine out if we add football scholarships and fund 3 new women's programs. We should go ahead and do it because we'll have the opportunity to play with Maine in the new and exciting New England Football Conference."

Right.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

mainejeff wrote: Regarding your question about Maine.......I don't think that they will "de-emphasize" football (cutting scholarships). The reason being that they would then lose their ability to play revenue (FBS) games. Cutting scholarships to join the NEC would be offset by losing 350-500K per year from their annual FBS game.

I do think that somehow, someway.......Maine will join other Northeast programs to form some type of new set-up.......it's just a question of "who" and "when". They will hold out as long as they can in the CAA, but the day of reckoning (2013 IMO) is coming quickly.

OK. Elsewhere you have written that CAA schools not named ODU, JMU and Ga State need to worry about their future. What in the hell do we have to worry about when we have at least 1 or possibly 2 suitable alternatives to CAA football?

Meanwhile, you are banking Maine's future on some new New England conglomeration of schools that have varying levels of commitment to football at present time?

I can already hear the conversation in Monmouth or Stony Brook or Albany or Central Connecticut State's Meeting of Trustees right now... "Well, we have a big budget hole but it would really help Maine out if we add football scholarships and fund 3 new women's programs. We should go ahead and do it because we'll have the opportunity to play with Maine in the new and exciting New England Football Conference."

Right.

I thought that I liked you.......but obviously I was mistaken.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

mainejeff wrote: Regarding your question about Maine.......I don't think that they will "de-emphasize" football (cutting scholarships). The reason being that they would then lose their ability to play revenue (FBS) games. Cutting scholarships to join the NEC would be offset by losing 350-500K per year from their annual FBS game.

I do think that somehow, someway.......Maine will join other Northeast programs to form some type of new set-up.......it's just a question of "who" and "when". They will hold out as long as they can in the CAA, but the day of reckoning (2013 IMO) is coming quickly.

OK. Elsewhere you have written that CAA schools not named ODU, JMU and Ga State need to worry about their future. What in the hell do we have to worry about when we have at least 1 or possibly 2 suitable alternatives to CAA football?

Meanwhile, you are banking Maine's future on some new New England conglomeration of schools that have varying levels of commitment to football at present time?

I can already hear the conversation in Monmouth or Stony Brook or Albany or Central Connecticut State's Meeting of Trustees right now... "Well, we have a big budget hole but it would really help Maine out if we add football scholarships and fund 3 new women's programs. We should go ahead and do it because we'll have the opportunity to play with Maine in the new and exciting New England Football Conference."

Right.

With that information it looks like to me that there might have to be a meeting in the middle. With one side losing a bit and gaining a bit. Maine might have to get rid of some scholarships, and in turn those schools would have to create more scholarships, but then something else. I dunno much about New England football, sorry.

Or Maine, URI and UNH (cause if maine, UMASS, URI and maybe possibly kinda Villinova goes, then UNH's placement doesn't look good) could lobby NEC to allow for more scholarships. Not sure how that'd work though....

Whatever happens, hope the best for y'all.

mainejeff wrote:

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:
OK. Elsewhere you have written that CAA schools not named ODU, JMU and Ga State need to worry about their future. What in the hell do we have to worry about when we have at least 1 or possibly 2 suitable alternatives to CAA football?

Meanwhile, you are banking Maine's future on some new New England conglomeration of schools that have varying levels of commitment to football at present time?

I can already hear the conversation in Monmouth or Stony Brook or Albany or Central Connecticut State's Meeting of Trustees right now... "Well, we have a big budget hole but it would really help Maine out if we add football scholarships and fund 3 new women's programs. We should go ahead and do it because we'll have the opportunity to play with Maine in the new and exciting New England Football Conference."

Right.

I thought that I liked you.......but obviously I was mistaken.

So there's your proverbial 'Stand up, Stomp away and Slam the bedroom door behind you' because you didn't like hearing the truth, huh?

You must be a chick, a liberal, or both.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

mainejeff wrote:
I thought that I liked you.......but obviously I was mistaken.

So there's your proverbial 'Stand up, Stomp away and Slam the bedroom door behind you' because you didn't like hearing the truth, huh?

You must be a chick, a liberal, or both.

Don't mean to take this off topic, but looks like an all-sports CAA move is more likely in our future.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/0 ... ndary.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mainejeff wrote:

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:
If the CAA implodes and the Patriot continues to not offer schollies, the SoCon would be a great option that would allow us to compete at the highest level of FCS football.

If the CAA implodes and the Patriot starts offering schollies, both are great options that would allow us to compete at the highest level of FCS football.

What are your thoughts on Maine de-emphasisizing football and building rivalries with Monmouth and Central Connecticut State? Please answer.

I'll answer because FINALLY someone has their wits about them and is willing to discuss realistic possibilities (you should mentor W&M and Delaware fans ).

Regarding your question about Maine.......I don't think that they will "de-emphasize" football (cutting scholarships). The reason being that they would then lose their ability to play revenue (FBS) games. Cutting scholarships to join the NEC would be offset by losing 350-500K per year from their annual FBS game.

I do think that somehow, someway.......Maine will join other Northeast programs to form some type of new set-up.......it's just a question of "who" and "when". They will hold out as long as they can in the CAA, but the day of reckoning (2013 IMO) is coming quickly.

Don't think you've heard any W&M fan pooh-pooh the Patriot if it goes full scholarship, or the SoCon, which we were part of for many years. The more likely future scenario for the Patriot is that its football league disintegrates, and schools like Fordham (already out the door), Lehigh and Colgate consider a jump to the CAA as full scholarship football programs. Georgetown, Bucknell and Holy Cross don't appear close to being willing to make that move, and Lafayette seems lukewarm.

If we look at the facts of what's happened so far, the fears for the future of CAA football are nothing more than speculation, and fan delusion. Schools like App State, and Montana have kept their feet firmly on the brake as they've considered FBS moves, and the CAA schools who are the focus of speculation either haven't even begun to explore the options, or (with the exception of UMass) have run into major roadblocks (Villanova). Finding an FBS home ain't easy, and when the all-sport implications are considered, the picture tends to get very murky. The shifting in FBS currently involves the power conferences picking off the better programs from lower level FBS conferences, and the bottom feeders are already adding to their rolls with schools like UMass, UTSA, Texas State, and South Alabama.

JMU has a stadium plan in place, but where would they go, and would it justify the additional investment to complete the plan? ODU may be the most attractive target, but would they trade a future as a profitable FCS program for anything less than the Big East, or the ACC? Georgia State's future may be in the Sunbelt, but they aren't beating down the Panthers' door with an invite. Talk is cheap, and that's all the fans of those three schools have so far.

Change will surely be part of the future for the CAA, but the league has alot going for it, and doomsday speculation from you, or Chuck Burton won't alter the fact that it's schools like Maine, and Lehigh who need to figure out where they're going to land in the short term. As VCU explores City Stadium, and a possible football future, the rest of the league remains an FCS power. If the CAA weren't so attractive, UNH and Maine would already be on the move.