Yeager: CAA realignment, expansion in next couple of weeks

[henfan]

I'm not sure why anyone believes that CAA FB will necessarily divide along North/South lines. IMO, it becomes more of a possibility if a bunch of teams are added but less likely and unnecessary if its only 2-3.

GF's right. VU-UD is a big rivalry for both FB programs. The league will make sure this game happens every year regardless of potential divisional splits.

[danefan]

I'm not sure why anyone believes that CAA FB will necessarily divide along North/South lines. IMO, it becomes more of a possibility if a bunch of teams are added but less likely and unnecessary if its only 2-3.

GF's right. VU-UD is a big rivalry for both FB programs. The league will make sure this game happens every year regardless of potential divisional splits.

If you add 1 southern team, 2 additional northern teams and convince URI to stay, its an easy setup with 6 in the north 6 in the south

North
New Team A
New Team B
URI
UNH
Maine
Villanova

South
New Team C
Delaware
Towson
JMU
W&M
Richmond

But even with this setup I agree the league would be smart to have 5 divisional games, 1 guaranteed cross-divisional game and 2 rotating cross-divisional games per year.

UD-Nova could still be the guarantee and the divisions don't matter really for playoffs anyway as we've seen in the past.

That league would probably get 3+ from the South regularly and 1-2 from the north.

[henfan]

If you add 1 southern team, 2 additional northern teams and convince URI to stay, its an easy setup with 6 in the north 6 in the south

But what does that sort of divisional split accomplish with only 12 supposed teams? There's still only going to be 1 NCAA automatic bid, which will be determined in the same ol' way. There's not much at all to be gained in terms of scheduling, especially if divisions allow less flexibility to preserve rivalries and doesn't add any real savings in terms of travel costs. Those two elements can be addressed with creative scheduling without having to resort to meaningless divisional splits. CAA FB has demonstrated a reluctance to do divisional splits in the past and will probably continue to do so, especially with so much uncertainty and movement among D-I members.

IMO, the league may have to swell to 16-18 teams before divisional splits would make any real sense. And, if it came down to it, I'd be surprised if Villanova didn't have something to say about being separated from their longest-termed FB rivals- UD, UR and W&M.

[danefan]

If you add 1 southern team, 2 additional northern teams and convince URI to stay, its an easy setup with 6 in the north 6 in the south

But what does that sort of divisional split accomplish with only 12 supposed teams? There's still only going to be 1 NCAA automatic bid, which will be determined in the same ol' way. There's not much at all to be gained in terms of scheduling, especially if divisions allow less flexibility to preserve rivalries and doesn't add any real savings in terms of travel costs. Those two elements can be addressed with creative scheduling without having to resort to meaningless divisional splits. CAA FB has demonstrated a reluctance to do divisional splits in the past and will probably continue to do so, especially with so much uncertainty and movement among D-I members.

IMO, the league may have to swell to 16-18 teams before divisional splits would make any real sense. And, if it came down to it, I'd be surprised if Villanova didn't have something to say about being separated from their longest-termed FB rivals- UD, UR and W&M.

If you can schedule into travel savings without having set divisions than I agree its worthless. Scheduling into travel savings will likely result in de facto divisions anyway.

[93henfan]

I'm not sure why anyone believes that CAA FB will necessarily divide along North/South lines. IMO, it becomes more of a possibility if a bunch of teams are added but less likely and unnecessary if its only 2-3.

GF's right. VU-UD is a big rivalry for both FB programs. The league will make sure this game happens every year regardless of potential divisional splits.

If you add 1 southern team, 2 additional northern teams and convince URI to stay, its an easy setup with 6 in the north 6 in the south

North
New Team A
New Team B
URI
UNH
Maine
Villanova

South
New Team C
Delaware
Towson
JMU
W&M
Richmond

But even with this setup I agree the league would be smart to have 5 divisional games, 1 guaranteed cross-divisional game and 2 rotating cross-divisional games per year.

UD-Nova could still be the guarantee and the divisions don't matter really for playoffs anyway as we've seen in the past.

That league would probably get 3+ from the South regularly and 1-2 from the north.

Just make Towson our rival. They're only 15 miles further away than Nova.

Spoiler: show

Fuck Nova.

[andy7171]

As long as Towson plays Delaware and JMU every year, I don't care how the divisions fall out.

[Ibanez]

I would like it if CCU left the Big South ad played in the CAA. think they are our best option and would really help improve our recruiting as well as the quality of the games.

[Seahawks08]

As for danefan's comment, the question should really be posed for nova fans, wherever they are.

[SENOREIDA]

I would like it if CCU left the Big South ad played in the CAA. think they are our best option and would really help improve our recruiting as well as the quality of the games.

That or SoCon
Just get us the hell out of the Big South

[Ibanez]

College of Charleston and Davidson have been invited to join the Colonial Athletic Association, according to the athletic director at a rival Southern Conference school.

“There’s been an invitation from the Colonial to Davidson and Charleston,” Georgia Southern AD Sam Baker

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2 ... al-ad-says" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[89Hen]

GF's right. VU-UD is a big rivalry for both FB programs.

You're a lot more in tune than I am, but I'm not seeing this as big for UD.

[93henfan]

College of Charleston and Davidson have been invited to join the Colonial Athletic Association, according to the athletic director at a rival Southern Conference school.

“There’s been an invitation from the Colonial to Davidson and Charleston,” Georgia Southern AD Sam Baker

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2 ... al-ad-says" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yawn.

Let me know when they start talking football.

[henfan]

You're a lot more in tune than I am, but I'm not seeing this as big for UD.

I really not any more in tune than you are, my friend. I'm pretty sure of that.

IMO, it's a big game for UD because of:
1) Geography (40 miles apart)
2) Familiarity (VU is UD's 3rd most played rival ever)
3) Competitiveness (the series is so closely divided & the scores are typically close)
4) Recruiting (VU & UD compete for many of the same recruits)
5) Conference Implications (UD & VU often compete for the conference crown)
6) Media Awareness (no other game on UD's & VU's schedules has consistently received TV coverage)

The league even recognizes this game a big rivalry by scheduling it as the final game of the season for both teams. All of that said, UD would survive without VU on the schedule regularly. I don't think that there's any D-I rivalry that's that dependent upon a single game.

[89Hen]

You're a lot more in tune than I am, but I'm not seeing this as big for UD.

I really not any more in tune than you are, my friend. I'm pretty sure of that.

IMO, it's a big game for UD because of:
1) Geography (40 miles apart)
2) Familiarity (VU is UD's 3rd most played rival ever)
3) Competitiveness (the series is so closely divided & the scores are typically close)
4) Recruiting (VU & UD compete for many of the same recruits)
5) Conference Implications (UD & VU often compete for the conference crown)
6) Media Awareness (no other game on UD's & VU's schedules has consistently received TV coverage)

The league even recognizes this game a big rivalry by scheduling it as the final game of the season for both teams. All of that said, UD would survive without VU on the schedule regularly. I don't think that there's any D-I rivalry that's that dependent upon a single game.

Not sure about 4-6. I think you'd be hard pressed to show that VU/UD are more competitive for recruits than JMU/UD, W&M/UD, TU/UD, and I can only recall one time when the game was for the conference crown (two years ago). Being the last game of the season, of course it's going to have playoff implications, but every last game for a 7-3 team will. The media has tried to make this a rivalry, but considering I'm not buying it, I'm not sure how effective that's been. Again, I would MUCH rather go to a game at TU, W&M, UR or JMU than Nova.

[State Line Liquors]

I think you'd be hard pressed to show that VU/UD are more competitive for recruits than ... TU/UD, and I can only recall one time when the game was for the conference crown (two years ago). .... Again, I would MUCH rather go to a game at TU, W&M, UR or JMU than Nova.

Towson competes with UD for recruits?

You must've missed the game at PPL Park last year. The venue, the tailgating, the concessions I thought were all first rate as far as 1AA football is concerned. Several steps above what happens in Radnor. Hopefully they have every VU home game versus UD there going forward.

[89Hen]

I think you'd be hard pressed to show that VU/UD are more competitive for recruits than ... TU/UD, and I can only recall one time when the game was for the conference crown (two years ago). .... Again, I would MUCH rather go to a game at TU, W&M, UR or JMU than Nova.

Towson competes with UD for recruits?

You must've missed the game at PPL Park last year. The venue, the tailgating, the concessions I thought were all first rate as far as 1AA football is concerned. Several steps above what happens in Radnor. Hopefully they have every VU home game versus UD there going forward.

I'm sure it was nicer than a game in Radnor, but it drew a similar sized crowd and probably just brought it up to par with a game at TU, RU or W&M and still below JMU.

[State Line Liquors]

Weather was of course worse in Towson last year, but having been to both games, I'd say PPL has a pretty comfortable margin over Unitas for every possible sporting event besides a track meet.

[Seahawks08]

I'm sure it was nicer than a game in Radnor, but it drew a similar sized crowd and probably just brought it up to par with a game at TU, RU or W&M and still below JMU.

LOL we moved there just to get more UD fans to the game. It was basically a home game for UD last year. At least at nova, we could limit your numbers.

[93henfan]

I didn't go to Chester last fall, but I watched on TV and it looked like a fun atmosphere. Were there any shootings after the game? Or drunken pr...

..let bygones be bygones. Right!

[bluehenbillk]

I went to the Chester U game last year - it was a pretty decent place to watch a game - far better than Nova's on-campus craphole. I hope they play there again next season.

[89Hen]

Weather was of course worse in Towson last year, but having been to both games, I'd say PPL has a pretty comfortable margin over Unitas for every possible sporting event besides a track meet.

Again, I'm sure PPL is probably nicer than every stadium in the CAA, but that doesn't make/break a rivalry for me.

[bluehenbillk]

There's no hate in other CAA games for UD except maybe for JMU. Towson has been a doormat way too long for UD to get too jazzed about them & while there is a rivalry with W&M I certainly wouldn't call it heated. People just don't like 'Nova, they're easy not to like.

[89Hen]

There's no hate in other CAA games for UD except maybe for JMU. Towson has been a doormat way too long for UD to get too jazzed about them & while there is a rivalry with W&M I certainly wouldn't call it heated. People just don't like 'Nova, they're easy not to like.

Is the UD/VU game televised this year?

[BDKJMU]

You're a lot more in tune than I am, but I'm not seeing this as big for UD.

I really not any more in tune than you are, my friend. I'm pretty sure of that.

IMO, it's a big game for UD because of:
1) Geography (40 miles apart)
2) Familiarity (VU is UD's 3rd most played rival ever)
3) Competitiveness (the series is so closely divided & the scores are typically close)
4) Recruiting (VU & UD compete for many of the same recruits)
5) Conference Implications (UD & VU often compete for the conference crown)
6) Media Awareness (no other game on UD's & VU's schedules has consistently received TV coverage)

The league even recognizes this game a big rivalry by scheduling it as the final game of the season for both teams. All of that said, UD would survive without VU on the schedule regularly. I don't think that there's any D-I rivalry that's that dependent upon a single game.

Well, not anymore. The 2 CAA games set to be televised so far Nov 17:
Sat, Nov 17 UNH Towson Durham, N.H. 12:00 p.m. COMCAST SPORTSNET REGIONAL
Sat, Nov 17 JMU ODU Harrisonburg, Va. 7:00 p.m. NBC SPORTS NETWORK

Apparently the media thinks not only will ODU/JMU but even UNH/TU will be bigger.

[bluehenbillk]

I can't remember the last VU/UD game that wasn't televised - not that it mattered to me because I goto that game every year regardless of venue. Maybe a local Philly station picks it up, maybe not....