CAA - where do they go from here?

[dbackjon]

With only 11 teams next year?

[danefan]

I think they stay at 11 teams for the immediate future.

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.

http://www.gazettenet.com/node/251706

Matt Vautour (UMass writer) has some insight on scheduling:

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.

My personal opinion is that this is the beginning of the end for the CAA Football conference as we know it today.

CAA North breaks off in for the 2012 season with

Albany
CCSU
Fordham
UMass
Maine
UNH
URI
Stony Brook

Maybe add Monmouth.

Northeastern was a vital part of the CAA football conference happening. It's why they got their CAA all-sports bid in the first place.

I really think we'll see Northeastern in the Patriot League for all-sports very shortly. The Boston version of American U.

[fanofallthatisjmu]

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.”

http://www.caahoops.com/

[∞∞∞]

Is it tough replacin' NE with some OOC team in the middle of the season, maybe an independent? I keep readin' all these crazy scenarios, but my suggestion seems like a simple fix until ODU joins to bring it back to 12. Then move Towson North.

I'm personally interested to see if NE leaves the conference as an all-sports member. That could set a big domino effect with a lot of mid-major conferences on the east coast.

[kalm]

I think they should all go independent and based on their dominance apply for 11 seperate autobids.

[mcveyrl]

I think they should all go independent and based on their dominance apply for 11 seperate autobids.

12

Northeastern will apply and based strictly on their former affiliation with their former conference, be granted an AB. This will open the door to the new playoff only Northeastern Huskies.

[danefan]

You can listen to the CAA Commish (Tom Yeager) discuss it here:

http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/au ... EM_ID=8500

[JoltinJoe]

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.

I believe this is correct, from what I've heard.

[SpiderFan5]

ODU is coming the year after next
Then another team is coming the year after them

[danefan]

ODU is coming the year after next
Then another team is coming the year after them

Exactly.

The CAA has a problem in 2010, which it cannot avoid. There is no way to get a new team in 2010 to take NU's place. Yeager has said that they have already had a tentative schedule completed as he knew about this for "some time now".

2011 is not an issue because ODU becomes the 12th team. Its an easy fix to move Towson to the North for 2011.

The problem is really in 2012 when GSU starts CAA play. It was one thing to have 13 teams for one year, which is what would have happened in 2011 when ODU joined. Its a whole different animal to have 13 teams indefinitely, which is what will happen in 2012 now.

Yeager has said that he believes the long term plans include the potential to add another team into the mix. Which only makes sense.