CAA - where do they go from here?
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:37 am
With only 11 teams next year?
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My personal opinion is that this is the beginning of the end for the CAA Football conference as we know it today.In the short term the CAA will have to figure out scheduling for next season. My understanding from a couple of league sources is that Old Dominion, which is joining the CAA in 2011 will not join a year early. So more than likely every one will play eight of the 10 teams, while missing two. So UMass which was scheduled to play Villanova, Towson and William & Mary as its CAA South opponents next year would now face one of James Madison, Richmond or Delaware as well, the league tries to keep its interdivision schedule pattern as intact as possible.
On CAA reaction: “…disappointed, but we understand the study and the analysis that the university went through. (The problem) is in part the success of our programs made the challenges Northeastern was facing even more daunting. We’re working with them to try to accommodate the student athletes.”
As for transfers: “In light of discontinuation of sport we are waiving that (rule about transferring intraconference). No impediments on a transfer if the young men want to transfer.” (Note: this is Article III, section 3.05 of the CAA bylaws. It states a student-athlete must fulfill two years of academic residence in order to transfer. Sadly I knew of its existence.)
As for ODU being allowed into the conference early: “ODU has a schedule in place and I don’t forsee them, in essence, dropping 8 games. I’m not looking at that as an option. We’ll be unbalanced with 11 teams for one year and there are some alignment and scheduling questions.”
On if the CAA was consulted about the decision, or informed as the process played out: “We’ve had ongoing discussions for quite awhile that it was going to be a concern. There were growing concerns even within the league regarding facilties and minimum standards.”
As for adding a new school to replace NU: “We’re going have a conference call with the ADs tomorrow and that’s one of the long range planning discussions as we go forward. The issue staring us right in the face in the schedule–8 institutions lost a conference game.”
Yeager noted that next year they will lose one game in the south in order to make it work: “One series in the south will have to take a year off.”
kalm wrote:I think they should all go independent and based on their dominance apply for 11 seperate autobids.
I believe this is correct, from what I've heard.danefan wrote:Very reliable word is that the Fordham board of trustees will not approve a move out of the Patriot league to anywhere but Indy status right now for football.
Exactly.SpiderFan5 wrote:ODU is coming the year after next
Then another team is coming the year after them