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For the past 24 hours this has been mentioned several times...any SoCon fans have any insight?

Why? Why would the CAA want them?

I haven't heard anything, but that doesn't mean it's not true. It would be a strange choice for the CAA if you're going to handpick SoCon teams.

Well, good football schools, they fit the profile of other conference members like Richmond and William and Mary, and they wouldn't be candidates to bail on the league and move to FBS in a couple of years. I mean, what are the negatives?

And heck, if this goes through, Furman will have to come and play in Newark after all - what's not to like about that??

If this is true (which I don't think it is), then my guess is that Davidson and CoC agreed to join only if the CAA agreed to invite some fellow schools to alleviate travel and keep some SoCon familiarity for their fans.

Not going to happen. CofC and Davidson are not going to break any hearts if and when they leave, and Furman will stay put. If anything, there will be a school or two from the CAA looking to move in the future.

IMO, what Furman does will depend on what Davidson, CofC, and Elon do. I don't think the Furples will be really happy if those 3 leave and you're looking at some subset of Coastal, UTM, Tennessee Tech, VMI, Belmont, and Liberty (yes, I think that could happen) coming in.

I've heard the following scenario on Twitter (take it for whats its worth)

Elon, Charleston, Davidson, Furman and Stony Brook


That coupled with BU to the Patriot League will for all intents and purposes destroy both the SoCon and America East as we know them today.

I can imagine there will be a trickle down from that as well to the NEC and the Big South. I'll put more money on the NEC surviving than the Big South. Especially for football.

I cannot understand why everyone thinks Furman is tied to what two non-football members are going to do.

Saw this on appstatenation

Davidson & Furman & Charleston & Stony Brook & Elon

GASP

Fun fact: Southern Conference was founded in 1921 and included schools like Georgia Tech and Clemson.

We don't need any more small privates.

I guess anything is possible and have no inside knowledge. It seems as if it would be difficult to leave a conference that you have been in since 1936 but I guess the times they are a changin'.

As to Davidson, it is a long time rival although we haven't given them much competition in basketball in 20 years. Still there are long term connections between the two schools in sports and a lot of similarities academically.

The College of Charleston and Elon are rather new participants in SoCon sports. I would imagine that we would be concerned about Charleston leaving mainly if Davidson leaves and the two best bball schools depart the conference. Elon would be another school similar to Furman in size and academics.

It seems to me that Furman's main concern might be the impending departure of ASU and GSU (assuming it ever happens). IF ASU and GSU pull off the move up (the two best football teams leave) and if Davidson and Cof C leave (the two best basketball teams leave), the SoCon might have a real difficult time repairing itself. So, depending on how certain those departures are, Furman might be protecting itself by considering the CAA.

The toughest thing about the move other than travel costs would be the Citadel rivalry. While it has lost some of intensity, it is still one of the best small school rivalries in the country. Lots of history in that rivalry. The other is the future rival, Wofford. I know that Wofford folks hate Furman's guts but that is mainly because of years of their participation in lower divisions while Furman has always been D1. Furman folks still have a difficult time mustering the hate, but that is changing. Happens when your former little sister beats you.

BDKJMU wrote:We don't need any more small privates.

ASUG8 wrote:I haven't heard anything, but that doesn't mean it's not true. It would be a strange choice for the CAA if you're going to handpick SoCon teams.

A possible explanation could be that they quietly offered App and Wofford and were shot down.

danefan wrote:I've heard the following scenario on Twitter (take it for whats its worth)

Elon, Charleston, Davidson, Furman and Stony Brook


That coupled with BU to the Patriot League will for all intents and purposes destroy both the SoCon and America East as we know them today.

I can imagine there will be a trickle down from that as well to the NEC and the Big South. I'll put more money on the NEC surviving than the Big South. Especially for football.

I would say that we could see the breakup of the HBCU conferences if it comes to that. SoCon, America East, NEC, and Big South all have autobids to the NCAA tournaments.

DSUrocks07 wrote:

danefan wrote:I've heard the following scenario on Twitter (take it for whats its worth)

Elon, Charleston, Davidson, Furman and Stony Brook


That coupled with BU to the Patriot League will for all intents and purposes destroy both the SoCon and America East as we know them today.

I can imagine there will be a trickle down from that as well to the NEC and the Big South. I'll put more money on the NEC surviving than the Big South. Especially for football.

I would say that we could see the breakup of the HBCU conferences if it comes to that. SoCon, America East, NEC, and Big South all have autobids to the NCAA tournaments.

If Stony Brook leaves AEast for all sports, the AEast loses its AQ in field hockey, M/W Lax, Baseball, and Softball.

And the Big South football AQ is in serious jeopardy with Liberty having already announced a desire to leave.

SuperHornet wrote:

ASUG8 wrote:I haven't heard anything, but that doesn't mean it's not true. It would be a strange choice for the CAA if you're going to handpick SoCon teams.

A possible explanation could be that they quietly offered App and Wofford and were shot down.

I'm not sure they'd invite Appy nor would Appy even accept - it's been pretty clear that Appy wants to move to FBS so why would another FCS conference, intent on staying together, invite a school that seems so likely to leave soon? I mean, we did that with Georgia St so why would we do that again?

Pwns wrote:I don't think the Furples will be really happy if those 3 leave and you're looking at some subset of Coastal, UTM, Tennessee Tech, VMI, Belmont, and Liberty (yes, I think that could happen) coming in.

There is ZERO chance that Liberty goes to the SoCon. Nunca. The Flames have absolutely no desire. We've moved on in a major fashion.

I have been wrong on things before, and I am by no means an insider, but I highly doubt Furman wants to move to the CAA, especially based on the moves of 2 non-football schools. they have too much tradition in the Socon right now, between App/GSU/The Citadel, and Wofford is almost there. I just have a hard time thinking they would want to move to the CAA, which may me a slight step up from a competitive standpoint, but travel expenses would probably be a little bit higher (Furman is probably smack-dab in the middle of the socon geographically), and they have little to no tradition (or current tradition at least) with any of the CAA members. I mean, sure, add Davidson and CofC, but that won't do much to the only sport that really counts-Football. It makes money, it's what gets the fanbase interested, I just don't see why Furman would leave or even want to, at least as long as GSU and App are still in conference.

youngterrier wrote:I have been wrong on things before, and I am by no means an insider, but I highly doubt Furman wants to move to the CAA, especially based on the moves of 2 non-football schools. they have too much tradition in the Socon right now, between App/GSU/The Citadel, and Wofford is almost there. I just have a hard time thinking they would want to move to the CAA, which may me a slight step up from a competitive standpoint, but travel expenses would probably be a little bit higher (Furman is probably smack-dab in the middle of the socon geographically), and they have little to no tradition (or current tradition at least) with any of the CAA members. I mean, sure, add Davidson and CofC, but that won't do much to the only sport that really counts-Football. It makes money, it's what gets the fanbase interested, I just don't see why Furman would leave or even want to, at least as long as GSU and App are still in conference.

I agree with you but there in lies the issue, GSU and ASU want to leave. So are we being pro-active? I have no clue. but as I said, it only makes sense if Furman thinks they are leaving in the next five years or so.

danefan wrote:

DSUrocks07 wrote:
I would say that we could see the breakup of the HBCU conferences if it comes to that. SoCon, America East, NEC, and Big South all have autobids to the NCAA tournaments.

If Stony Brook leaves AEast for all sports, the AEast loses its AQ in field hockey, M/W Lax, Baseball, and Softball.

And the Big South football AQ is in serious jeopardy with Liberty having already announced a desire to leave.

DSU has three of those five (with Women's Lax starting up next year), and if an invite to the AEast hinged on us adding field hockey and Men's Lacrosse, I don't see how we can turn that down. A lot of the smaller conferences are soon to be up against the wall on this. DSU to the AEast in 2015?

As for the Big South, I personally believe that NC Central, Savannah State, and Norfolk State would all listen to an offer if contacted.

Being that the MEAC has 13 total members at the moment, and the idea of a MEAC Championship Game not taking hold amongst the members like the Commish and the MEAC Office has hoped, having some members leave the MEAC fold isn't out of the question. Along with Alabama State of the SWAC as well. Since I'm throwing names out there.

From the comments I have heard by our AD if Stonybrook does go to the CAA it will be football only. He seems pretty strong about keeping all our other sports in the America East. Which is fine by me. The AE is at 8 teams come 2013 with Boston Univ. announcing they are gooing to the PL. Wouldn't be surprised if the AE stays at 8 schools and doesnt invite anyone else. Least that is the message that seems to be out there.

Of the schools discussed, I think that only CoC and Elon would seriously consider making a move to the currently configured CAA. Neither have that much time invested in the SoCon, and it could be a good move for both. It would put Elon more in the footprint of their student population, and it would give the Cougars a new conference to bitch about, I have no doubt that CoC would have moved IF, VCU and ODU were still in the conference, now it's pretty much a lateral move for both.

Both could easily be replaced, so I hope it's limited to one or both of these schools, IF the SoCon loses anyone to the CAA.

The Cats wrote:Of the schools discussed, I think that only CoC and Elon would seriously consider making a move to the currently configured CAA. Neither have that much time invested in the SoCon, and it could be a good move for both. It would put Elon more in the footprint of their student population, and it would give the Cougars a new conference to bitch about, I have no doubt that CoC would have moved IF, VCU and ODU were still in the conference, now it's pretty much a lateral move for both.

Both could easily be replaced, so I hope it's limited to one or both of these schools, IF the SoCon loses anyone to the CAA.

Who would be a good replacement in your opinion? Liberty? Gardner Webb? Coastal?