Is the CAA a stronger conference than 2-3 years ago?

[ODUalum11]

Was thinking about it earlier today, does the CAA miss Hofstra and Northeastern at all? The two schools obviously dropped football but added ODU who has appeared to be and will be a very competitive team in the CAA. While they lose both the NYC and Boston markets they add Georgia State so they will pick up the Atlanta market and adding Charlotte is still a possibility. Now UMass leaving for the MAC will hurt, don't know who can replace them. URI leaving won't hurt the conference...in terms of competiton I think GSU might replace them for a little bit. I hope GSU can start living up to the expectations of their fans. Also it does in fact seem like it will be a reality that Towson will "Restore the Roar". Now I realize the CAA might not have that signature or great team this year as in year's past, but is this a stronger conference from top to bottom compared to 2-3 years ago when HU and NU still had football? A Maine fan over on CAAZone actually stated the two schools dropping football might have helped Maine and UNH a little bit in regards to recruitment. Also as far as this year is concerned you have a winless team in the CAA have a win over a BCS opponent as well as having wins over the top 2 teams in the conference...one of them a team picked 11th in the preseason. A 1-win team giving probably the best team in the Big East all they can handle at their place. Another top CAA team giving a Big East team all they can handle as well. Any thoughts?

[Screamin_Eagle174]

[ODUalum11]

wow, very creative. in case you're wondering it was a legit question.

[uofmman1122]

[BlueHen86]

wow, very creative. in case you're wondering it was a legit question.

Let it go. Be happy that your team is doing well and don't worry about who the best conference is, it isn't that important.

The cartoon is funny.

[andy7171]

FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC!!!!!

[kalm]

So the power shifts a little, some new teams are having excellent seasons. I think this thread is clearly smack aimed at Towson and Maine. Wait till all their fans come on here and start pushing you around, noob.

[bluehenbillk]

That's a great picture!!

To answer the original question - you never know that till December.

[LeadBolt]

That's a great picture!!

To answer the original question - you never know that till December.

I agree on both of your points, Bill!

I'll treat 11's question as serious and give benchmarks.

In both 2008 and 2009 (2-3 years ago) the CAA had 4 of the final 8 quarter final playoff teams, 2 of the 4 semifinalists and the national champion. If the CAA has more than 4 quarter finalists and 2 semifinalists, then yes it is stronger. If it has less it is weaker, imo.

If the CAA doesn't have the NC, then there is not the one dominant team.

[93henfan]

It can be debated until the cows come home, but my opinion is that the CAA is way, way down this year.

I think eventually we'll look back and say that the apex of CAA power was the 2003-2010 timeframe, with CAA representation in 7 of those 8 national championship games and championships won by four different CAA schools. It was an incredible accomplishment, unmatched by any other conference. At any given time, you had five or six teams that had a real shot at winning it all. The rotation of Delaware, JMU, Richmond, Villanova, William & Mary, New Hampshire, and UMass were a force to be reckoned with and even Maine had a playoff appearance in there.

Who knows, maybe this era continues and Maine, Towson, and ODU rise up to continue the run, but this is an opinion column and my gut feel is that the CAA has taken a pretty steep step down this year and than the SoCon in particular, and the BigSky have stepped it up a bit.

Also the MVFC and sodomy.

[bluehenbillk]

If I was asked to try to answer the question now I'd say that the depth of decent teams is consistent but there are no special teams in the CAA this year.

In the end it's how many teams make the quarters & semi's.

[ODUalum11]

So the power shifts a little, some new teams are having excellent seasons. I think this thread is clearly smack aimed at Towson and Maine. Wait till all their fans come on here and start pushing you around, noob.

How is this smack aimed at Towson or Maine? FWIW and you have the choice to believe me or not when I say this but looking at the big picture I have absolutely nothing against either of those schools. Maine because we avoid having to play them this year and pretty much the whole ODU coaching staff either once played and coached at Maine and they aren't a full CAA member...so we don't compete against them in anything else. Towson I have nothing against because ODU owns them in everything else that isn't football....now if you want you can consider that last part as smack. Anyway all the points I have made so far in this thread are legit and relevant points.

[kalm]

So the power shifts a little, some new teams are having excellent seasons. I think this thread is clearly smack aimed at Towson and Maine. Wait till all their fans come on here and start pushing you around, noob.

How is this smack aimed at Towson or Maine? FWIW and you have the choice to believe me or not when I say this but looking at the big picture I have absolutely nothing against either of those schools. Maine because we avoid having to play them this year and pretty much the whole ODU coaching staff either once played and coached at Maine and they aren't a full CAA member...so we don't compete against them in anything else. Towson I have nothing against because ODU owns them in everything else that isn't football....now if you want you can consider that last part as smack. Anyway all the points I have made so far in this thread are legit and relevant points.

Actually I agree with the it remains to be seen. But if Towson and Maine finish strong with one of them being seeded and at least a couple more getting at large bids I'm not seeing much of a decline.

[ODUalum11]

wow, very creative. in case you're wondering it was a legit question.

Let it go. Be happy that your team is doing well and don't worry about who the best conference is, it isn't that important.

The cartoon is funny.

So you're pretty much saying all I can talk about is ODU on these forums and nothing else?

[grizzaholic]

Let it go. Be happy that your team is doing well and don't worry about who the best conference is, it isn't that important.

The cartoon is funny.

So you're pretty much saying all I can talk about is ODU on these forums and nothing else?

Well, we would prefer you only post pics of scantily clad ladies and talk about tailgating...but...

[AZGrizFan]

Let it go. Be happy that your team is doing well and don't worry about who the best conference is, it isn't that important.

The cartoon is funny.

So you're pretty much saying all I can talk about is ODU on these forums and nothing else?

What we'd PREFER is more pics of your avatar.

[mainejeff]

Delaware sucks this year..........the CAA MUST be in decline!

[Silenoz]

Probably not, or at least not at the top. 08 JMU and Richmond and 09 W&M and Nova would handle any of today's teams

Top to bottom? Who knows, I didn't/don't follow Hofstra or Rhode Island close enough

[mainejeff]

Probably not, or at least not at the top. 08 JMU and Richmond and 09 W&M and Nova would handle any of today's teams

Top to bottom? Who knows, I didn't/don't follow Hofstra or Rhode Island close enough

And any of today's top CAA teams would handle Montana......easily.

[grizcountry420]

Probably not, or at least not at the top. 08 JMU and Richmond and 09 W&M and Nova would handle any of today's teams

Top to bottom? Who knows, I didn't/don't follow Hofstra or Rhode Island close enough

And any of today's top CAA teams would handle Montana......easily.

Your wrong.. Go piss in the wind!!

[Grizalltheway]

Probably not, or at least not at the top. 08 JMU and Richmond and 09 W&M and Nova would handle any of today's teams

Top to bottom? Who knows, I didn't/don't follow Hofstra or Rhode Island close enough

And any of today's top CAA teams would handle Montana......easily.

We'll find out in due time.

[grizzaholic]

And any of today's top CAA teams would handle Montana......easily.

We'll find out in due time.

Don't put the cart ahead of the horse here. Gotta make the playoffs first.

[kalm]

Probably not, or at least not at the top. 08 JMU and Richmond and 09 W&M and Nova would handle any of today's teams

Top to bottom? Who knows, I didn't/don't follow Hofstra or Rhode Island close enough

And any of today's top CAA teams would handle Montana......easily.

We've heard that before.

[∞∞∞]

If Maine is seeded, I pity any team that has to play there. I could see them reaching the semifinals if the path ends up through Orono.

[Silenoz]

Probably not, or at least not at the top. 08 JMU and Richmond and 09 W&M and Nova would handle any of today's teams

Top to bottom? Who knows, I didn't/don't follow Hofstra or Rhode Island close enough

And any of today's top CAA teams would handle Montana......easily.

Bring it on. Our team sucks (relative to our program), and you're talking about the best Maine team in program history, and yet I'd still like our chances