If UMass Goes FBS

[UNHWildCats]

That would likely end UNH's run in the CAA. I dont see the CAA adding northern schools to make UNH and Maine happy so their departure would be very likely.

I would guess than a Northeast Conference looking like this.

North Division/New England Division
Central Conn State
New Hampshire
Maine
Bryant
Sacred Hert
Rhode Island

South Division/NY Penn Division
Robert Morris
St. Francis
Duquesne
Monmouth
Wagner
Albany


Of course for this to work I would imagine the NEC would need to up schollies because its doubtful UNH would want to lower the caliber of its team.

If the NEC wouldnt go to full schollies than we could possibly be looking at a new conference pushed by UNH and Maine where they would target NEC schools that want full schollies and possibly Fordham. America East or perhaps the resurrection of the Yankee Conference to play under. adding a auto bid shouldnt be difficult as the NCAA could give them and the Pioneer Conf autobids and up the field to 24 total teams which would be a better balance than if they only add the pioneer as autobid an dhas either a 11/22 oe 11/24 auto/atlarge split.

Do we know which NEC teams would move along for full schollies?

Also would Stony Brook leave the Big South if a new northeast conference were created?

[89Hen]

adding a auto bid shouldnt be difficult as the NCAA could give them and the Pioneer Conf autobids and up the field to 24 total teams

Awesome. Like 20 wasn't too many this year.

[State Line Liquors]

...
Also would Stony Brook leave the Big South if a new northeast conference were created?

I'd have to believe they'd find that a very desirable destination.

[danefan]

Albany
Robert Morris
Central Ct.
Monmouth

would all likely be on board for full scholarship football.

[UNHWildCats]

adding a auto bid shouldnt be difficult as the NCAA could give them and the Pioneer Conf autobids and up the field to 24 total teams

Awesome. Like 20 wasn't too many this year.

well the Pioneer is gonna get an auto sooner rather than later and the field will have to increase to atleast 22 anyway... and 24 is more balanced than 22 so adding a 12th auto wont be impossible. Of course if a new conference swallowed enough of the NEC they likely would lose their anyway.

[aceinthehole]

Albany
Robert Morris
Central Ct.
Monmouth

would all likely be on board for full scholarship football.

By all accounts, these 4 schools are the only ones currently funded at the NEC max (34 this year), and are the most willing and able to pony up 60+ scholarships. It has been reported that other schools are funding 20+ scholarships.

Adding Maine and UNH would bring NEC football to 12 members.

7 NEC members - Bryant, CCSU, Monmouth, RMU, SHU, SFPA, and Wagner
5 FB affiliates - Albany, Duquesne, Maine, UNH, and URI

Stony Brook would look much better here (Albany's decision to stay oin the NEC seems to look pretty good right now)

[BobbyMo]

Albany
Robert Morris
Central Ct.
Monmouth

would all likely be on board for full scholarship football.

I do not know about the others, but everything I have heard from RMU is that they are on board for full scholarship.

I do not know what to think of St. Francis, they have recently updated their stadium and have stepped up OOC games a lot, so perhaps they are on board as well.

Duq is also a bit of a mystery to me. They hung with the MAAC until the end, and I am not certain where they are with Scholarships now.

Would love to hear if any of you guys have insight on any of the other NEC teams.
----------
Edit
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Just saw Ace's post. Thanks.

[dbackjon]

Albany
Robert Morris
Central Ct.
Monmouth

would all likely be on board for full scholarship football.

Add UNH, Maine, Stony Brook. URI might be willing to, in a NE conference that reduces travel costs

[aceinthehole]

Outside of the 4 schools currently at the NEC max, it's hard to get a read on others.

I do think it is very tough for thoese smaller schools to get to 60, but honestly I wasn't sure they'd even get to 20+, so that's a positive sign. I think the NEC is stable, but there is clearly some pressure to add schollys.

SHU just sponsors so many teams (almost as many as Ivy League), so I can see them droping FB and focus on hoops and hockey (like QU).

SFPA is so small, but they keep grinding and need football to help with diversity and general recruitment, so I think they hang on.

Wagner is also tiny, but has lots of history at the lower level and the NYC location. They have active boosters nad think they will do what they can to compete.

Bryant and Duq are both building up slowly, but I think they have the institutional support to make the investments. It may take time and they may not be at the max, but I don't think FB is in doubt.

[UNHWildCats]

This would be a solid conference

Albany
Robert Morris
Central Ct.
Monmouth
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Maine
Stony Brook
Fordham

[danefan]

This would be a solid conference

Albany
Robert Morris
Central Ct.
Monmouth
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Maine
Stony Brook
Fordham

RMU is on an island out there in Pittsburgh by itself.

URI is out of this equation IMO. They want to decrease their scholarshps - everyone else would be increasing or staying the same.

This makes more sense to me:

Albany
Robert Morris
Duquesne
Central Ct.
Monmouth
New Hampshire
Maine
Stony Brook
Fordham (but only if the PL votes down scholarships)

[SuperHornet]

Solid conference? IMO, you're looking at UNH dominance there, with only RMU to have any sort of a challenge.

Of course, that's just for football. I have no idea how other sports would be affected.

[danefan]

Solid conference? IMO, you're looking at UNH dominance there, with only RMU to have any sort of a challenge.

Of course, that's just for football. I have no idea how other sports would be affected.

The teams would look completely different with a couple recruiting classes in that league then they look today.

The weaker ones would likely increase their competitiveness and the stronger ones would undoubtedly be reduced.

[SuperHornet]

Solid conference? IMO, you're looking at UNH dominance there, with only RMU to have any sort of a challenge.

Of course, that's just for football. I have no idea how other sports would be affected.

The teams would look completely different with a couple recruiting classes in that league then they look today.

The weaker ones would likely increase their competitiveness and the stronger ones would undoubtedly be reduced.

Au contraire, mon frere.

One would THINK so. But one need look no farther than UC Riverside, which has sucked in all sports (other than a recent uptick in baseball and girls hoops) since joining the Big West, and Northern Colorado, which has generally stunk in all sports (with a couple of notable exceptions that slip my memory banks at the moment) since linking up with the Big Sky.

I'm sure a few other Sky fans would dearly love to add Sac to the list, but those are football-only pervs that refuse to recognize volleyball and track.

[Dane96]

SuperHornet...talking out of his ass, yet again.

Clearly you havent paid attention much to the NEC. CCSU, Monmouth, Albany and RMU have all battled for the league since the arrival of Albany (and Stony Brook). All have had wins against bigger clubs (e.g. scholarship rides) that brought respect to the league.

Since UA has been in the league, this is the first real down year for Monmouth and Albany.

All four of those teams, with the addition of full rides (and a Stadium for Albany, which should be ready for the 2012 season...2013 the lates) will be able to compete.

[Seawolf97]

My gut feel is that StonyBrook stays in the Big South until the end of 2015 when thier new contract expires. The CAA would have been nice but looks very unstable right now especially in the Northeast. If the NEC goes to a full scholarship conference someday I could see us coming back. I doubt though the NEC wil upgrade anytime soon , given URI entering the picture and maybe Maine at some point. THose programs are looking to cut back rather maintain 63 schollies.
I have to feel for the fans at UNH and Maine but both those programs have major decisions to make with no real conference games north of Delaware. Also have to think the Southern CAA powers may start putting pressure on both schools to move on somwhere else. Georgia St. to Maine and UNH is a haul no matter how you cut it. As for both entering the Nec they would would be contenders until recruiting started to slow them down. NO FBS games, no big
venues to play in at the FCS level and of with 40 or less scholarships an uphill battle in the playoffs. Who would have thought?

[mainejeff]

I have to feel for the fans at UNH and Maine but both those programs have major decisions to make with no real conference games north of Delaware. Also have to think the Southern CAA powers may start putting pressure on both schools to move on somwhere else.

I agree with you that Maine and UNH have major decisions to make.......but why would a possible 7 member CAA be in a hurry to get rid of Maine and UNH at this point???? Are they in a hurry to have only 6 conference games? Or do they have 2 or 3 more new members lined up?

[henfan]

Organic growth. It was accounted for in the CAA's bylaws, which is why the 2017 deadline exists. That was NOT an arbitrary addition.

George Mason and VCU wait in the wings and, even still, conference expansion remains a distinct possibility should VU, UMass, UMaine and/or UNH leave in the next 3-5 years. The usual suspects come to mind as expansion candidates- UNCC, Liberty, Stony Brook, etc.

[UAalum72]

From Duquesne's game notes (page 4): "With the move to the NEC, Duquesne offered 18 scholarships beginning in February of 2008 and will increase that number by two through 2011"

So that doesn't sound like they're going to lead the charge to higher levels.