CCU to SoCon?

[WacoKid]

I wouldn't mind seeing Coastal in the SoCon IF they expand or a school leaves. No South Carolina State. Liberty in the FBS? Yeah right....

I don't think you should write off Liberty so quickly. If look at the number of students they have, the money coming into the school, the upgrades to their facilities (both on going and planned), and their history of accomplishing goals set there is no reason why they can't make the move.

As far as Coastal vs Samford goes I don't see how facilities had anything to do with Samford getting the bid. Both had very similar stadiums, arenas, and practices/training facilities in place when Samford got the invite. The difference was about location and private/public issue. Samford was close to UTC AND a lot of SoCon schools didn't want another program so close to home to compete against. Also, the SoCon has made an effort to even the number publics and privates. I don't agree with the idea that it needs to be even, but that is what the old guard ie Furman, Citadel and the rest of the privates wanted.

With CCU vs SCSU goes it comes down to who has the better overall program . SCSU is the better option in football n doubt, but CCU has the advantage after that plus more potential to grow thanks to its location. If you were deciding between Orangeburg and Myrtle Beach which would you choose to visit? I personally would rather have SCSU since they have a better football program and thats what drive the bus in Div 1 athletics, but knowing the SoCon I just don't see it happening. Really I wouldn't be surprised if they went after Presby next. All of this depends on someone leaving which of course won't happen for a few more years at the earliest.

Being an App fan I just hope the debate is about who to replace ASU with in the SoCon. I would still love to see the most of the public Football schools from the SoCon and CAA South hook up for a new conference.

JMU, UD, ODU, ASU, WCU, UTC, GSU, G State and add in UNCC and Liberty. Would be an improvement for all of the schools listed above. The left over publics W&M and El Cid fit in better with privates as institutions. FU, Rich, Nova, Elon, W&M, El Cid, Wofford, Samford plus say VMI and Presby would make a nice league. Let Towson and SCSU join the Big South to fill to holes there.

[From the class of 09]

JMU, UD, ODU, ASU, WCU, UTC, GSU, G State and add in UNCC and Liberty. Would be an improvement for all of the schools listed above. The left over publics W&M and El Cid fit in better with privates as institutions. FU, Rich, Nova, Elon, W&M, El Cid, Wofford, Samford plus say VMI and Presby would make a nice league. Let Towson and SCSU join the Big South to fill to holes there.

make it happen

[DKHardee]

I don't see why CCU would want to go to SoCon now that the Big South has an Auto-Bid

[AppMan]

I don't see why CCU would want to go to SoCon now that the Big South has an Auto-Bid

Agreed. They have a far better shot at making the plyoffs in the Big South than the SoCon.

[bodoyle]

I don't see why CCU would want to go to SoCon now that the Big South has an Auto-Bid

Agreed. They have a far better shot at making the plyoffs in the Big South than the SoCon.

But in the BSC it's winner and that's all. In the SoCon it's a multi-bid conference.

[Saint3333]

I would argue that it is easier to win the Big South then to finish in the top three in the SoCon.

[elcid83]

Very interesting discussion. I will tell you that when CCU was looking for a new AD, there was a discussion about CCU wanting to join the Big East conference. I think that is far-fetched, but the proof is in the dollars. While there is no question that App. St. could play at a higher level, it does not appear that their athletic dept. budget will take them in that direction. Georgia Southern is probably the only other Southern Conf. school that has successfully fielded a team that could compete in FBS. I distinctly remember when Marshall dominated the Southern Conf and we [Citadel fans] were hoping, praying, wishing, etc... that they would leave and move up. Well, they did and I doubt very many Marshall fans would describe that as a desirable situation.

While CCU fans may think they could compete in the Southern Conference [and I don't doubt they could]. They are going to have to fight against App. St., Georgia Southern, Furman and Wofford every year. I still believe there are quality programs out there that can be added to the Big South to make our conference more competitive. Unfortunately, the management of the Big South seems to want us to be a basketball conference.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[DKHardee]

Very interesting discussion. I will tell you that when CCU was looking for a new AD, there was a discussion about CCU wanting to join the Big East conference.

THE BIG EAST!!!????

[chantzilla]

As of now, Coastal's biggest arch-rival is Winthrop. However, WU doesn't field a football team. We have developed rivalries with Liberty & Charleston Southern since we conceived football (2003), but I wouldn't classify these series' as "extremely heated" affairs. Just my humble opinion.

The biggest benefit I see CCU gaining from entry into the SoCon would be annual games - in all sports - against the likes of programs such as Furman, The Citadel, Wofford, CofC, GA Southern, Appalachian St, etc. Most Coastal fans know more about these aforementioned schools compared to teams like Stony Brook, High Point, Radford, and on and on. If we ever gained admission into the SoCon, I guarantee ticket sales in all sports would escalate due to this perception.

Case in point > We play Georgia Southern at home this year. I bet there will be more fans at Brooks Stadium for that game than any other home contest this year (with the exception of the Liberty game). Furthemore, the attendence record for a CCU Football game was set back in 2006 against Furman - a Southern Conf school. Moving to the SoCon would bring in more money for Coastal.

Of course, I don't anticipate such a move any time soon. That is unless GSU/ASU departs for the FBS.

[JConnolly]

I don't see why CCU would want to go to SoCon now that the Big South has an Auto-Bid

In my personal opinion, a SoCon schedule would better prepare you for postseason play than a Big South schedule. I'd rather struggle to make it and have a good chance at winning in the playoffs, then have an easier road, but get blown out in the first game. If my goal was FCS Champion, I'd want the schedule to get me there, like in a conference with 2 or 3 playoff teams per year including at least one legitimate NC contender, instead of a conference with 1 playoff appearance in its history.

[Phoenix3]

With a little boost in academics, I would like to see CCU in the SoCon. I'm not sure about their basketball, but baseball is outstanding and football would, no doubt get a boost just by moving to the SoCon.

[DKHardee]

So... you SoCon members... would you rather have CCU or Samford in the SoCon?

[death dealer]

I just love the constant references to GSU and Appy going to FBS. I would love to watch them fuck up and pull that stunt. Let me tell you, you can say what you want about parity, but either of those teams would get there asses handed to them Saturday upon Saturday in any but the lowest level of the FBS. And at that level of play, they'd still struggle to make a bowl appearance every few years. AE is gone, that magic show has pulled it's last rabbit, and reality is reality. But good luck with that.

[Pwns]

I just love the constant references to GSU and Appy going to FBS. I would love to watch them **** up and pull that stunt. Let me tell you, you can say what you want about parity, but either of those teams would get there asses handed to them Saturday upon Saturday in any but the lowest level of the FBS. And at that level of play, they'd still struggle to make a bowl appearance every few years. AE is gone, that magic show has pulled it's last rabbit, and reality is reality. But good luck with that.

The conferences that GSU and ASU would be doormats in are out of reach. But I'd wager we could both have more success than schools like Troy, Middle Tennessee State and others that came from conferences not as good as the SoCon. In most of the non-BCS I'm confident that they could compete. I mean look how App. took the best CUSA team down to the wire with a freshman QB.

GSU in 1998-2001 and App. State from 2005-2009 have had teams that would kick the absolute sh*t out of the vast majority of teams the MAC and Sun Belt teams produced in that time. Now whether or not making the move would be a mistake is another matter entirely.

[OL FU]

So... you SoCon members... would you rather have CCU or Samford in the SoCon?

I may be the only one but I won't throw out the new kid. I like Samford in the conference. They have done much better than most would have suspected and probably better than some would admit. To ask fans which they preferred is really a moot point now, for certain, and even then.

[bucs90]

The Big South must stay ahead of the curve on this one. Losing Liberty and CCU would be a deathblow to that conference. SC State will not leave the MEAC for the Big South.

But I do think with the economy the way it is, schools are going to begin to consider travel costs a lot. And Jacksonville University travels a long way in it's conference. They desperately need a football stadium, but if they got one, would be a good fit for the Big South. A way to get into the FLA market.

And with UNC-Charlotte starting football, I wonder if UNC-Ashville of the Big South will ever follow? Doubtful when Ashville is surrounded geographically by a big circle of App St, Western Carolina, Gardner Webb, Furman, Wofford.

But the Big South must stay ahead of the curve. Winthrop should have a football team. And sometimes I think the Big South is stuck in old way thinking.

[bucs90]

I just love the constant references to GSU and Appy going to FBS. I would love to watch them **** up and pull that stunt. Let me tell you, you can say what you want about parity, but either of those teams would get there asses handed to them Saturday upon Saturday in any but the lowest level of the FBS. And at that level of play, they'd still struggle to make a bowl appearance every few years. AE is gone, that magic show has pulled it's last rabbit, and reality is reality. But good luck with that.

Lets not forget some of the conquests the SoCon has had over 1-A (FBS) teams in the past:

App St over Michigan
Furman over UNC
Citadel over South Carolina, Arkansas
^^First few wins I can recall

Then the games where SoCon took a 1-A team to the wire:

GSU vs Oregon State
Wofford vs Marshall, South Carolina
Citadel vs Wisconsin

The SoCon has proven it can hang with teams from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and put up a respectable fight, and even win one here and there. To say they couldn't do the same against Sun Belt, WAC, C-USA teams is absurd. The top 3 of the SoCon is as good as the bottom 3 in the Sun Belt, WAC, C-USA.

[DKHardee]

The top 3 of the SoCon is as good as the bottom 3 in the Sun Belt, WAC, C-USA.

I agree

[death dealer]

I just love the constant references to GSU and Appy going to FBS. I would love to watch them **** up and pull that stunt. Let me tell you, you can say what you want about parity, but either of those teams would get there asses handed to them Saturday upon Saturday in any but the lowest level of the FBS. And at that level of play, they'd still struggle to make a bowl appearance every few years. AE is gone, that magic show has pulled it's last rabbit, and reality is reality. But good luck with that.

The conferences that GSU and ASU would be doormats in are out of reach. But I'd wager we could both have more success than schools like Troy, Middle Tennessee State and others that came from conferences not as good as the SoCon. In most of the non-BCS I'm confident that they could compete. I mean look how App. took the best CUSA team down to the wire with a freshman QB.

GSU in 1998-2001 and App. State from 2005-2009 have had teams that would kick the absolute sh*t out of the vast majority of teams the MAC and Sun Belt teams produced in that time. Now whether or not making the move would be a mistake is another matter entirely.

Yeah, but who the fuck wants to be in the MAC or the SunBelt. Hell, most of the FBS fans I know around here have way more respect for FCS teams than they do for their own weak ass bottom feeder conferences. I had a long conversation with a big USC fan this past week while we were surf fishing right next to each other about the game btw. us and them. He may have been just being nice, but he was suprisingly up to date with our team and obviously wasn't just looking at it as a auto-W. He brought up the app win and our play against Pitt and UNC in the recent past as reasons to worry. I get so fucking sick of the fans from the two schools that have such hard-ons for the FBS. I mean if you so want to pull for an FBS team, go find one and pull for them. But this fucking fantasy world where things are going to be so awsome when their team finally gets to go play in the FBS just makes me laugh. So Appy beat Michigan one Saturday when nobody was looking. Reality is, that shit wouldn't happen twice, and one win seasons in even the weakest BCS conference would be wishful thinking most years for either GSU or Appy, and in the FBS world way of thinking anything less than BCS might as well be FCS.

[death dealer]

I just love the constant references to GSU and Appy going to FBS. I would love to watch them **** up and pull that stunt. Let me tell you, you can say what you want about parity, but either of those teams would get there asses handed to them Saturday upon Saturday in any but the lowest level of the FBS. And at that level of play, they'd still struggle to make a bowl appearance every few years. AE is gone, that magic show has pulled it's last rabbit, and reality is reality. But good luck with that.

Lets not forget some of the conquests the SoCon has had over 1-A (FBS) teams in the past:

App St over Michigan
Furman over UNC
Citadel over South Carolina, Arkansas
^^First few wins I can recall

Then the games where SoCon took a 1-A team to the wire:

GSU vs Oregon State
Wofford vs Marshall, South Carolina
Citadel vs Wisconsin

The SoCon has proven it can hang with teams from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and put up a respectable fight, and even win one here and there. To say they couldn't do the same against Sun Belt, WAC, C-USA teams is absurd. The top 3 of the SoCon is as good as the bottom 3 in the Sun Belt, WAC, C-USA.

Don't forget Furman beating USC and Ga. Tech., taking Pitt and UNC down to the wire, missing a last minute field goal that would have put us ahead of Clemson with seconds on the clock, and playing Ga Tech to a tie in what was supposed to be their revenge game against us. Furman has a storied history against the ACC. The only ACC team we have never beaten, excluding the newer additions, since the ACC was formed (I think, but I could be wrong) is Clemson.

I feel what you are saying, but do you really want to move up to a level where you are just as good as the bottom three teams in the conference? And besides, as has been stated so many times before it has become a little absurd to even bring it up, even if you win the WAC or SunBelt, who fucking cares? What do you get? To go play in a bowl game that noone in the rest of the country gives a flying fucking goose shit about? At least in the FCS you get to play a few post season games if you are lucky and make the playoffs. Appy and GSU would be smart to stay right where they are. That's just my opinion, and that isn't worth much, so there.

[DKHardee]

I would love to see Coastal in the SoCon but if that means App St moving up to FBS, i'd rather them stay in the Big South. Although I would love to play Furman and Wofford on a yearly basis for a good in state rivalry.