CAA schools merging into new FBS conference?

[jmu1-A]

So there has been a lot of talk (recently coming from JMU's AD) about JMU "very likely" moving to FBS within a few years. And Bourne (JMU AD) said he could see a few other FCS schools merging with some FBS schools to mark a possibly new FBS conference. This seems to be one of the only options that makes sense for a school like JMU. So if I could cherry pick from conferences, it would go something like this.
Eastern Athletic Conference:
Teams I could see joining:
JMU
Appalachian State
Old Dominion
Ohio
Marshall
Delaware
Richmond or UNC Charlotte (either team would have to upgrade their stadium)

Teams who could I possibly see joining (barring no better invites):
Temple
Eastern Carolina

Wishful thinking schools:
Cincinnatti
Louisville

If we could get a mixture of these teams, I could see JMU and some of the other FCS schools being competitive with some of these FBS schools. And regionally these schools are closer than some of the schools in the CAA now. Thoughts on the teams? Good or bad move for the CAA schools?

[SumItUp]

If such a conference were to be formed, I think Liberty would be in the mix.

I have not seen anything that shows Richmond desires to go FBS.

[clenz]

Can a new conference be formed? I know you can't move FBS without a conference invite....and I thought there was a thing about forming a conference as well.

[bluehenbillk]

So there has been a lot of talk (recently coming from JMU's AD) about JMU "very likely" moving to FBS within a few years. And Bourne (JMU AD) said he could see a few other FCS schools merging with some FBS schools to mark a possibly new FBS conference. This seems to be one of the only options that makes sense for a school like JMU. So if I could cherry pick from conferences, it would go something like this.
Eastern Athletic Conference:
Teams I could see joining:
JMU
Appalachian State
Old Dominion
Ohio
Marshall
Delaware
Richmond or UNC Charlotte (either team would have to upgrade their stadium)

Teams who could I possibly see joining (barring no better invites):
Temple
Eastern Carolina

Wishful thinking schools:
Cincinnatti
Louisville

If we could get a mixture of these teams, I could see JMU and some of the other FCS schools being competitive with some of these FBS schools. And regionally these schools are closer than some of the schools in the CAA now. Thoughts on the teams? Good or bad move for the CAA schools?

Wow - that's what I call a shot in the dark.

JMU - sure
App - sure
ODU - maybe
Ohio - doubtful to no
Marshall - marginal
Delaware - no
Richmond - no
UNC Charlotte - maybe
Temple - doubtful
East Carolina - doubtful (see how MWC/CUSA works out)
Cincy - doubtful to no
Louisville - no

That gives you at most....best case 5 teams

[slycat]

Can a new conference be formed? I know you can't move FBS without a conference invite....and I thought there was a thing about forming a conference as well.

Sounds right to me. Also theres a long period were all the schools in the conference where they have to play together before they can get an autobid to the bball tourney. I don't see schools giving that up. Schools like Marshal and ECU that are already set would not go for that until MAYBE after all the dust settled. Don't worry the MAC or Sunbelt will have an opening soon assuming the schools invited to the Big East decide to go. Of course that might not happen either. The WAC would happily add you if you were further west.

[mcveyrl]

So there has been a lot of talk (recently coming from JMU's AD) about JMU "very likely" moving to FBS within a few years. And Bourne (JMU AD) said he could see a few other FCS schools merging with some FBS schools to mark a possibly new FBS conference. This seems to be one of the only options that makes sense for a school like JMU. So if I could cherry pick from conferences, it would go something like this.
Eastern Athletic Conference:
Teams I could see joining:
JMU
Appalachian State
Old Dominion
Ohio
Marshall
Delaware
Richmond or UNC Charlotte (either team would have to upgrade their stadium)

Teams who could I possibly see joining (barring no better invites):
Temple
Eastern Carolina

Wishful thinking schools:
Cincinnatti
Louisville

If we could get a mixture of these teams, I could see JMU and some of the other FCS schools being competitive with some of these FBS schools. And regionally these schools are closer than some of the schools in the CAA now. Thoughts on the teams? Good or bad move for the CAA schools?

Wow - that's what I call a shot in the dark.

JMU - sure
App - sure
ODU - maybe
Ohio - doubtful to no
Marshall - marginal
Delaware - no
Richmond - no
UNC Charlotte - maybe
Temple - doubtful
East Carolina - doubtful (see how MWC/CUSA works out)
Cincy - doubtful to no
Louisville - no

That gives you at most....best case 5 teams

You obviously have better knowledge of the Delaware side of things, but why do you think they would be a no? I agree with everything else, but I would think they'd at least be a maybe.

[LeadBolt]

Don't forget Georgia State...

[GannonFan]

Wow - that's what I call a shot in the dark.

JMU - sure
App - sure
ODU - maybe
Ohio - doubtful to no
Marshall - marginal
Delaware - no
Richmond - no
UNC Charlotte - maybe
Temple - doubtful
East Carolina - doubtful (see how MWC/CUSA works out)
Cincy - doubtful to no
Louisville - no

That gives you at most....best case 5 teams

You obviously have better knowledge of the Delaware side of things, but why do you think they would be a no? I agree with everything else, but I would think they'd at least be a maybe.

Not to steal his thunder, but you would have to have serious reservations about whether Delaware would want to or could support an FBS team, in light of recent events at UD. Granted the roll-out of the UDAF (UD Athletic Fund) with donation requirements for season tickets was handled poorly, but you're also seeing just simple sticker shock from the fanbase regarding the cost. Once you factor everything in, right now for a good seat you're looking at $35-$50 per ticket per game. And that would only increase if UD went to FBS. And it's not like the FBS they would be going to would be a BCS conference - while I have nothing against the teams that are listed there, none of those teams would be big enough draws to entice people to open their wallets even more to get to see play. What would be so much better, from a fan's viewing perspective, about that conference at the FBS level versus the conference UD currently plays in at the FCS level? It would be very hard to try to sell the justification for increased costs to the spectator across the board just to see the same type of teams they already see today for less money, just selling it on the facts that now everyone has more scholarships, we could get into a bowl at the end of the year, and that once or twice every ten years we could get a name FBS school (not a top notch one, but maybe a Maryland or someone like that) to play in Newark. I would have trouble seeing the incentive to Delaware playing at that level, for much more money, when there really isn't that much more to get excited about. It's like how Montana said no to the WAC - I mean, why spend all that extra money for very little return. If you're not a BCS school, or even have a chance to be a BCS school, why pay all that extra money? I think that's why UD would be an unlikely candidate to move up - I just don't see how the fanbase, current or future, would get excited about what that conference would be and would actually want to pay more money to be a part of it.

[bluehenbillk]

You obviously have better knowledge of the Delaware side of things, but why do you think they would be a no? I agree with everything else, but I would think they'd at least be a maybe.

Not to steal his thunder, but you would have to have serious reservations about whether Delaware would want to or could support an FBS team, in light of recent events at UD. Granted the roll-out of the UDAF (UD Athletic Fund) with donation requirements for season tickets was handled poorly, but you're also seeing just simple sticker shock from the fanbase regarding the cost. Once you factor everything in, right now for a good seat you're looking at $35-$50 per ticket per game. And that would only increase if UD went to FBS. And it's not like the FBS they would be going to would be a BCS conference - while I have nothing against the teams that are listed there, none of those teams would be big enough draws to entice people to open their wallets even more to get to see play. What would be so much better, from a fan's viewing perspective, about that conference at the FBS level versus the conference UD currently plays in at the FCS level? It would be very hard to try to sell the justification for increased costs to the spectator across the board just to see the same type of teams they already see today for less money, just selling it on the facts that now everyone has more scholarships, we could get into a bowl at the end of the year, and that once or twice every ten years we could get a name FBS school (not a top notch one, but maybe a Maryland or someone like that) to play in Newark. I would have trouble seeing the incentive to Delaware playing at that level, for much more money, when there really isn't that much more to get excited about. It's like how Montana said no to the WAC - I mean, why spend all that extra money for very little return. If you're not a BCS school, or even have a chance to be a BCS school, why pay all that extra money? I think that's why UD would be an unlikely candidate to move up - I just don't see how the fanbase, current or future, would get excited about what that conference would be and would actually want to pay more money to be a part of it.

Just because I'm feeling lazy, +1

[kuntryboimike]

Don't forget Georgia State...

Plus Liberty. With Liberty's facilities and revenue the CAA would be stupid not to bring them along. Plus Georgia State would give you 7. 1 more to give the conference 8?

[TheDancinMonarch]

Don't forget Georgia State...

They will not be available. They will be in the AFC South by then.

[jmu1-A]

I put Ohio in because JMU's AD specifically singled them out as a possible team for the merger. Temple is more doubtful than Ohio is, for sure. Liberty is certainly a strong pick as well as some on the forum have suggested. Delaware is definitely a maybe, not a no. Richmond is more "no" than Delaware because they just built a new facility that holds way under 17,000. Cinci and ECU are definitely doubtful, but not completely out of the realm.

Interesting points on what it would take to start up a new FBS league.

Wow - that's what I call a shot in the dark.


JMU - sure
App - sure
ODU - maybe
Ohio - doubtful to no
Marshall - marginal
Delaware - no
Richmond - no
UNC Charlotte - maybe
Temple - doubtful
East Carolina - doubtful (see how MWC/CUSA works out)
Cincy - doubtful to no
Louisville - no

That gives you at most....best case 5 teams[/quote]

[kuntryboimike]

Liberty would go. Theyd be dumb not to in my opinion. So thats 6 best case scenerio. Liberty would want to go caa in all sports not sure if the caa would allow that or not.

[ODUsmitty]

I'd trade Georgia State for Liberty without any hesitation or remorse. whatsoever.

[alvin kayak]

This would be a fun FBS conference:

HTT Conference (Holier Than Thou)

Mostly Holier Than Thou Division
Boston College
Fordham
Holy Cross
Dayton
Baylor
Presbyterian

Completely Holier Than Thou Division
Notre Dame
BYU
Texas Christian
Villanova
Liberty
Georgetown

[ODUalum11]

If such a conference were to be formed, I think Liberty would be in the mix.

I have not seen anything that shows Richmond desires to go FBS.

I agree, if Richmond desired to go to the FBS they would have built a much bigger on-campus stadium. See James Madison.