VMI, ETSU and Mercer on their way to the SoCon

[CitadelGrad]

It looks like these three schools are already in the bag to replace Appy, GaSo and College of Charleston in the SoCon. Campus visits for all three are scheduled and that will probably be the final step before formal acceptance.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/colleges/ ... rence.html

[Ibanez]

VMI? I guess that's one less shitty school to bring down the Big South.

[CitadelGrad]

Almost everyone in the SoCon agrees that VMI is a more attractive addition than CCU.

[CID1990]

VMI was a long standing member of the SoCon. In a few years their hiatus in the BS will be just a blip on the radar.



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[catdaddy2402]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

[Ibanez]

Almost everyone in the SoCon agrees that VMI is a more attractive addition than CCU.

Yeah I've read the Citadel blog the blames academics not athletics on why SoCon ADs don't want CCU. We are highly competitive in 3 major sports.

[CID1990]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

Ok, and you are suggesting CCU and who else?

CCU would have been the #5 team in the SoCon in football this year, by the way.


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[Ibanez]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

Ok, and you are suggesting CCU and who else?

CCU would have been the #5 team in the SoCon in football this year, by the way.


Sent from the center of the universe.

So? AppState will not be in the top 3 when they start with the Sunbelt

[Grizalltheway]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

Ok, and you are suggesting CCU and who else?

CCU would have been the #5 team in the SoCon in football this year, by the way.


Sent from the center of the universe.

But #1 in STDs, amirite?

[CitadelGrad]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

Aside from raiding the CAA, what do you suggest?

[CID1990]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

Aside from raiding the CAA, what do you suggest?

Yeah I've asked that question several times here and on AGS and then of course..... crickets.


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[Ibanez]

Ok, and you are suggesting CCU and who else?

CCU would have been the #5 team in the SoCon in football this year, by the way.


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But #1 in STDs, amirite?

No. College of Charleston has higher rates of STDs. Probably because those chicks bang Citadel Keydets.

[Ibanez]

For me, CCU belongs in either CAA or SoCon.

[CitadelGrad]

For me, CCU belongs in either CAA or SoCon.

Neither conference would touch CCU with a ten-foot pole.

[Ibanez]

For me, CCU belongs in either CAA or SoCon.

Neither conference would touch CCU with a ten-foot pole.

Yet you fail to give a reasonable explanation.

[BlueHen86]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

Losing Georgia Southern and Appalachian St would be a big blow for any FCS conference. There are no equivalent schools out there to replace them with. VMI and two start-ups are about as good as you can ask for.

[Fresno St. Alum]

There's probably going to be a couple more openings in the SoCon, I hear Elon to the CAA and Davidson to the A-10. However the only name that have come up as replacements for those are Kennesaw St., UNCA, High Point.

[CID1990]

Neither conference would touch CCU with a ten-foot pole.

Yet you fail to give a reasonable explanation.

Well, leaving aside (for SoCon purposes) that CCU is in SC, and that the conference needs to glue down UTC, CCU loses in a head to head with ETSU on those reasons alone.

VMI beats out CCU for a couple reasons. They fit in terms of size and academics. They are also in Virginia, where the SoCon would benefit from having a footprint. If the CAA loses a couple football members, W&M could possibly be coaxed into the SoCon, and already having VMI could help with that.

Mercer is the Atlanta market, and they are good in baseball and better in basketball, and likely will commit to scholly football. The Atlanta market alone makes them more attractive than CCU.

I cannot speak to the CAA's priorities, but for sure Richmond and W&M would not go for CCU for the same reasons they left the SoCon when ASU came on board.


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[catdaddy2402]

The slow descent of the SoCon just got accelerated into overdrive. You lose two long time football powers and replace them with VMI and two start-ups?

Ok, and you are suggesting CCU and who else?

CCU would have been the #5 team in the SoCon in football this year, by the way.


Sent from the center of the universe.

I haven't suggested anybody, but if I were to make a suggestion the three schools being added would be well down the list.

Sad thing is Mercer is probably the best of the three and they have years of work to do before they are anywhere close to being SoCon worthy in football.

VMI was a doormat when they left the SoCon, they have been a doormat in the Big South, and they will be a doormat in the SoCon again.

ETSU dropped football because it wasn't working. The only reason they are contemplating adding it back is because the resulting eviction from the SoCon hurt basketball.

Adding these three schools simply ensures that the SoCon is a one bid, probably a first round playoff league from here on out.

[BlueHen86]

Ok, and you are suggesting CCU and who else?

CCU would have been the #5 team in the SoCon in football this year, by the way.


Sent from the center of the universe.

I haven't suggested anybody, but if I were to make a suggestion the three schools being added would be well down the list.

Sad thing is Mercer is probably the best of the three and they have years of work to do before they are anywhere close to being SoCon worthy in football.

VMI was a doormat when they left the SoCon, they have been a doormat in the Big South, and they will be a doormat in the SoCon again.

ETSU dropped football because it wasn't working. The only reason they are contemplating adding it back is because the resulting eviction from the SoCon hurt basketball.

Adding these three schools simply ensures that the SoCon is a one bid, probably a first round playoff league from here on out.

What would your list be then? You are trashing the three schools that the SoCon added, bit you aren't adding any substitutions.

[CID1990]

Ok, and you are suggesting CCU and who else?

CCU would have been the #5 team in the SoCon in football this year, by the way.


Sent from the center of the universe.

I haven't suggested anybody, but if I were to make a suggestion the three schools being added would be well down the list.

Sad thing is Mercer is probably the best of the three and they have years of work to do before they are anywhere close to being SoCon worthy in football.

VMI was a doormat when they left the SoCon, they have been a doormat in the Big South, and they will be a doormat in the SoCon again.

ETSU dropped football because it wasn't working. The only reason they are contemplating adding it back is because the resulting eviction from the SoCon hurt basketball.

Adding these three schools simply ensures that the SoCon is a one bid, probably a first round playoff league from here on out.

Sounds a lot like the Big South with CCU.

If the SoCon added nobody they would still be a 2 bid conference. The 2013 champs might even be someone other than ASU or GSU.

Some folks are starting to sound like the ASU - GSU crowd on the SunBelt BBS- "you need to invite us or your conference will die"

Folks need to give it up. CCU is not going to the SoCon. Look on the bright side. Being in the Bug South gives CCU a much better yearly chance id getting to go to the playoffs.


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[catdaddy2402]

I haven't suggested anybody, but if I were to make a suggestion the three schools being added would be well down the list.

Sad thing is Mercer is probably the best of the three and they have years of work to do before they are anywhere close to being SoCon worthy in football.

VMI was a doormat when they left the SoCon, they have been a doormat in the Big South, and they will be a doormat in the SoCon again.

ETSU dropped football because it wasn't working. The only reason they are contemplating adding it back is because the resulting eviction from the SoCon hurt basketball.

Adding these three schools simply ensures that the SoCon is a one bid, probably a first round playoff league from here on out.

What would your list be then? You are trashing the three schools that the SoCon added, bit you aren't adding any substitutions.

Jacksonville State would be at the head of my list. They should have been added ahead of Samford last time around.

If getting into VA is that important I would have looked at Liberty well before VMI. FWIW I would have approached some of the VA DII and DIII schools before I would have approached VMI. VMI is a lost cause in FCS football at this point, and the rest of their athletic programs don't move the needle enough to over come that.

[catdaddy2402]

OK. Wofford and who?

[CID1990]

OK. Wofford and who?

UTC is going to be the strongest team in the conference, and will probably beat ASU as well. Wofford will not be the champs. That will be Samford or The Citadel this year.


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[CID1990]

What would your list be then? You are trashing the three schools that the SoCon added, bit you aren't adding any substitutions.

Jacksonville State would be at the head of my list. They should have been added ahead of Samford last time around.

If getting into VA is that important I would have looked at Liberty well before VMI. FWIW I would have approached some of the VA DII and DIII schools before I would have approached VMI. VMI is a lost cause in FCS football at this point, and the rest of their athletic programs don't move the needle enough to over come that.

Thus is what I mean when I say people can't offer realistic alternatives.

BOTH teams you named have well known FBS aspirations. JSU won't make a lateral move to another FCS conference. You might as well say the SoCon should be going after JMU.


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