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Post by retiredcat on Nov 24, 2023 8:34:56 GMT -5
For budget concerns, logic, rivalries and common sense, WCU is not going anywhere soon. We struggle financially to fund travel in the Soon footprint. I can't wrap my head around what it would cost in the CAA. The SoCon is GOOD for us. We just need to step up financially to become competitive. If the SoCon ever wishes to expand, which I can't forsee in the near future, I still think it will look a couple additions like ELON, NC A&T, NC CENTRAL CAMPBELL and even GARDNER-WEBB. They all fit in geographically and give us a mix of state and privates.
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Post by LCACAT on Nov 24, 2023 11:21:39 GMT -5
I guess everyone forgot about the SoCon buyout if you want to leave, we can't afford to leave. So that is the end of that!! Unless someone has $2,000,000.00 to give as an exit fee!!
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Post by Admin on Nov 27, 2023 11:50:56 GMT -5
When Delaware leaves, there will be an opening in the CAA, add WCU and the CAA has 8 northern and 8 southern teams - perfectly set for divisional play in ALL sports.
CAA North Maine New Hampshire Bryant Rhode Island UAlbany Stony Brook Monmouth Villanova
CAA South Towson Richmond Hampton William & Mary NC A&T Elon Campbell Western Carolina
CAA South - That's a better conference than the SoCon, IMO, with a good footprint. Plus CoC and UNCW for basketball...
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Nov 27, 2023 12:11:30 GMT -5
A couple things. I think the exit fee to leave the SoCon is a blocker and I believe that the conference footprint would make our travel costs increase and we would not be able to afford the travel costs. I think we are kind of stuck in the SoCon.
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Post by The Cats on Nov 27, 2023 12:32:44 GMT -5
A couple things. I think the exit fee to leave the SoCon is a blocker and I believe that the conference footprint would make our travel costs increase and we would not be able to afford the travel costs. I think we are kind of stuck in the SoCon. The South division is as compact as the SoCon is now, so I don't really see travel increases. The buy-out is the big thing, and maybe the CAA would help in that respect. These are much more attractive teams than who we are now playing, Richmond, William & Mary, NC A&T, Elon, Campbell - and add CoC & UNCW for the southern division in basketball. Much better conference...
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Post by wcugrad95 on Nov 27, 2023 13:02:15 GMT -5
Towson is not exactly "Southern" - it is something like 580 miles from Cullowhee to Towson, MD. I think VMI is our farthest trip in league now, and that is around 335 miles. All the others in division would be nice trips, including 3 in-state teams. But I would imagine you have to play at least a few crossover games (and a lot in basketball), and those would be very costly.
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Post by The Cats on Nov 27, 2023 14:33:53 GMT -5
Towson is not exactly "Southern" - it is something like 580 miles from Cullowhee to Towson, MD. I think VMI is our farthest trip in league now, and that is around 335 miles. All the others in division would be nice trips, including 3 in-state teams. But I would imagine you have to play at least a few crossover games (and a lot in basketball), and those would be very costly. Hard as it is to believe, but Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon line, so, it's southern (like it or not).
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Post by retiredcat on Nov 27, 2023 16:14:10 GMT -5
I have given my opinion on this subject before, but once I tell you WCU is NOT going anywhere unless the SoCon dissolves and then not to the CAA. First of all, I cannot see the CAA remotely interested in WCU. We offer nothing in the way of media market or prestige...and it would be a travel nightmare (logistically and financially) for most of the CAA schools. We not talking just about football...there would be at least a dozen other sports involved. Plus, we don't offer several of the sports that most CAA schools sponsor.
As I have stated before, the Southern Conference is a near perfect fit for WCU. Half of road trips are three hours of less and the other half are four to six hours. I enjoy the mix of publics and privates
Conferences were started for competition within reasonable travel boundaries for the student-athletes and fans benefit. I know the Power 5 conference have gone crazy to create revenue to pay coaches and players, but that is not who were are.
We are who we are. FSC playoff bids and NCAA at-large bids are granted on success. It's up to us (WCU) to reach that level.
I know all of this started because Cole was not voted all-conference by the SoCon football coaches. Think about this...he did not have all-conference games vs Furman, Mercer, VMI and Wofford. I am guessing that coaches only remember the games their teams play against a particular player and maybe lean towards players from the more successful teams. I'm not sure if they can vote for their own players now...back in the day they could not.
Regardless of what some of y'all think, WCU is generally respected by its fellow SoCon schools, coaches and league officials. That can probably be said for all the SoCon schools about their fellow members, coaches and administrators.
My opinions about the SoCon have been formed by my close affiliation with the league since 1976...that's 47 years. I have close friends associated with most of the member schools...even children that have attended a couple of those schools and are involved with their athletics programs...and, therefore, get some inside info.
CATAMOUNT SPORTS FORUM is a daily must-read for me and I thoroughly enjoy your opinions, thoughts, reactions and welcome response to mine.
GO CATS!
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Post by retiredcat on Nov 27, 2023 16:52:36 GMT -5
One more thing about the CAA...Back in 1975, Richmond and William & Mary were not happy about East Carolina's and App State's membership in the SoCon and when it appeared that WCU. Chattanooga and Marshall were getting enough votes for admission, they (Richmond and Bill & Mary) pulled out of the conference. Some of their heavy supporters called the new additions "Diploma Factories". They probably would not support our application if we did apply...which is not going to happen.
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Post by wcatradio75 on Nov 27, 2023 16:55:18 GMT -5
I agree with retiredcat on most of his points. Selfishly though, living in the Atlanta area, I am within a 3 hour drive of 6 of the 9 football schools, with the exception of The Citadel, ETSU and VMI. So I'd like to see us stay - which I think Steve points out, that we will.
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