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Post by The Cats on Nov 21, 2023 22:22:25 GMT -5
Folks, we have a Walter Payton Award finalist, one who was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year by the media, and of course, a first-team all-conference selection.
This same player did not even make the coach's all-conference roster, neither 1st or 2nd team. Now think of that, a Walter Payton Award finalist & the Offensive Player of the Year by the media, that does not even make the 2nd team on the coaches all-conference selections. Something is wrong here, we all realize (or should realize if you think back) the shaft we get in home football games and basketball games from the SoCon officials.
I've been thinking for the last several years, that WCU gets the shaft by the headquarters in Spartanburg, it seems that their attitude is, "If you are not a private school, you ain't much". I think the powers that be would prefer for the public schools to go away, so the SoCon can become an all-private conference.
I've never thought much good about the other conference options available to WCU, I'd say no way for the Big South or the OVC, and the ASun/UAC doesn't seem to fit. In the past, the CAA was too northern "top-heavy", and travel would have been prohibitive. But, over the course of the last few years, they have taken in several southern schools to add to UNCW, Elon, and Charleston. With the addition of NC A&T, Campbell, & Hampton, combined with William and Mary, and Richmond, there is a nice southern tier to the conference, and with a divisional set-up, I think WCU would fit in nicely for both basketball and football.
I think it's time we consider a change, as I don't think our future is in the SoCon, why stay where we're not wanted, and don't get a fair shake from the conference?
Thoughts?
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Post by wcu77 on Nov 21, 2023 22:30:22 GMT -5
It is worth considering.
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Post by catamountalum04 on Nov 22, 2023 8:21:58 GMT -5
We never get a fair shake from the coaches or main office of the SoCon. We bring the crowds which means we bring the money. Once we get the athletic upgrades we will be on a whole different level compared to the rest of the SoCon
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Catback
Redshirt Freshman
The 2022-23 SoCon Football Pick'em Champion
Posts: 471
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Post by Catback on Nov 22, 2023 11:05:36 GMT -5
This is a great conference for us geographically. We can use buses to travel to most games. Our fans travel great to Wofford and Furman and even Citadel. If we want respect, let earn it and win! Let's win on a regular basis and we can't be ignored.
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Post by wcugrad95 on Nov 22, 2023 13:02:08 GMT -5
For me, I think it is time for us to start competing and winning SOCON championships in the major sports. I can't really see a move to any of the other FCS leagues that would be a geographic fit. Had some of these schools mentioned headed to the Big South it could have been a good match, or if the CAA wanted to look at a North and South division it would be nice. But right now we are on the verge of being a top-half football and men's basketball team with 2 good head coaches, so let's just take the SOCON by storm.
If we are routinely at the top, my bet is we will routinely get more calls. Kind of human nature.
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Post by The Cats on Nov 22, 2023 13:42:53 GMT -5
This is a great conference for us geographically. We can use buses to travel to most games. Our fans travel great to Wofford and Furman and even Citadel. If we want respect, let earn it and win! Let's win on a regular basis and we can't be ignored. It may be a good fit geographically, but it's not a "great fit" based on membership and the prevailing attitude from the conference office toward WCU. A divisional set-up with the CAA would be as good if not better for Western in basketball and football... WCU, ETSU, and UTC are not wanted in this conference, period.
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Catback
Redshirt Freshman
The 2022-23 SoCon Football Pick'em Champion
Posts: 471
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Post by Catback on Nov 22, 2023 14:38:26 GMT -5
Then beat them all....regularly..Wofford and Furman have looked down these noses because for years they dominated us and others in football. Just beat them and win the SoCon in football a few times before we leave if ever.
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Post by The Cats on Nov 22, 2023 14:50:44 GMT -5
Then beat them all....regularly..Wofford and Furman have looked down these noses because for years they dominated us and others in football. Just beat them and win the SoCon in football a few times before we leave if ever. So then, you don't think Samford, Mercer, VMI, and The Citadel look down on Western, along with Furman and Wofford? Just because VMI and Citadel are public, doesn't mean they are on our side, they always side with the privates (they think they are privates). Just because we are "in" the SoCon, does not mean we are actually part of the conference. Us, ETSU, and Chattanooga are all three in the same situation, stranglers that the conference would rather do without... You say, just beat them. But I say, why stay in the SoCon if there is someplace better? Some place better, that may actually want us...
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Post by wcugrad95 on Nov 22, 2023 16:22:36 GMT -5
The time to make drastic moves was probably one of the last two major realignments. Given teams like NC A&T and Campbell jumped, that would have probably been the opportunity to try and figure out a way to do something with ETSU and UTC. I could think of a pretty good grouping of schools in NC, VA, and TN that would have made a pretty awesome league, but that kind of thing takes so much coordination that it is tough to pull off (especially when schools like UTC would probably rather evaluate a move up vs to another FCs conference). Seems like now we will be back to single schools working to get into new spots.
Of course it all can (and has) changed quickly and drastically in the last 3 years. The next huge change will be whenever the big boys decide to create their own thing. Then the trickle-down will probably have lots of schools reconsidering where they are at.
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Post by wcu77 on Nov 22, 2023 16:50:49 GMT -5
Then beat them all....regularly..Wofford and Furman have looked down these noses because for years they dominated us and others in football. Just beat them and win the SoCon in football a few times before we leave if ever. So then, you don't think Samford, Mercer, VMI, and The Citadel look down on Western, along with Furman and Wofford? Just because VMI and Citadel are public, doesn't mean they are on our side, they always side with the privates (they think they are privates). Just because we are "in" the SoCon, does not mean we are actually part of the conference. Us, ETSU, and Chattanooga are all three in the same situation, stranglers that the conference would rather do without... You say, just beat them. But I say, why stay in the SoCon if there is someplace better? Some place better, that may actually want us... I agree that we missed the boat on this with that least big realignment but that doesn't mean we should not start looking and making some plans for another time. I had not really thought about it before, but VMI and Citadell do tend to act like they are private and I sort of see why. We should involve ETSU and UT-C in some talks now and see where there thoughts are should other opportunity arrive again. The rest of the schools all see this hick mountain school up in the sticks and have always been arrogant and looked down their noses. We have not helped matters any by not being serious about succesful athletics in the past. Now we have the chance to become really good and win some titles so while waiting for a chance to jump let's concentrate on beating them regularly and wipe some of that smugness and arrogance off their faces.
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