Is BSC going to accept the Alabama A&M offer? Still surprised auburn doesn't have interest in starting an Auburn-Birmingham campus.

Quote from: cush on May 19, 2024, 10:26:28 PMIs BSC going to accept the Alabama A&M offer? Still surprised auburn doesn't have interest in starting an Auburn-Birmingham campus.

Reports are there were multiple offers on the table, but only the A&M offer is only one we have heard a name with the offer.  A&M has made the offer, but I'm not sure they actually have the financing arranged to follow through. 

Berry coach Tony Kunczewski is interviewed (twice, LOL) on the latest ATN Podcast and one of the interesting things he said is that the SAA is working towards adding another member. 

Centenary College could work

Quote from: cush on May 22, 2024, 11:05:23 AMCentenary College could work

And *that* would throw a monkey wrench into the SCAC's football plans, almost certainly forcing them to align with the carcass of the ASC to have the sport.  Austin would also work (and throw a similar wrench), but the feeling I got in re-listening to the podcast is that it would be a school closer to Berry. 

Any or all from Centenary, Lagrange and Austin would be nice additions.

Quote from: cush on May 22, 2024, 12:13:42 PMAny or all from Centenary, Lagrange and Austin would be nice additions.

I can't imagine Lagrange wants to pay the travel bill. Maryville maybe? Again, the travel bill across all sports is brutal. Maryville at least would have Berry, Sewanee, and Rhodes in decent proximity.

Lagrange is a hike from all but Berry and Sewanee, and both of those are going to consist of going through Atlanta. But when you are looking from San Antonio to Arkansas, to Kentucky and across to Berry/Sewanee as your footprint, there just aren't many good options. Travel is going to be a bear regardless.

Huntingdon is no stranger to travel if you want to keep an Alabama presence, though I can't imagine that is really any sort of requirement. I'm not sure any of the schools in the Maryville, Lagrange, Huntingdon grouping, or any USASAC football schools, really meet the SAA's mission and values requirements (Belhaven, Brevard??).

I've never really looked in depth, but how far does the SAA want to stretch their image for the sake of easier football scheduling?

Let's be clear: in bringing in Southwestern and Trinity, no "stretching" of the academic image was involved.  I've heard this line before and both schools slot solidly into any metric you want to look at.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on May 22, 2024, 01:38:01 PMLet's be clear: in bringing in Southwestern and Trinity, no "stretching" of the academic image was involved.  I've heard this line before and both schools slot solidly into any metric you want to look at.

I'm not referring to them. I don't know much about Southwestern but I know enough about Trinity to agree there was no stretch. Southwestern and Trinity stretched the travel problem. When I mentioned stretching above, I'm referring to if they bring in someone else, because I don't really see another mission and values match in the area except Austin College, but that's not real close to Berry.

Southwestern is strong. My grandfather graduated from Southwestern in 1924.

Even tho' Centenary is a member of the ACS, they cannot handle the travel. Centenary's travel budget is better with the loss of SRSU. Now that LeTU has come on board, there is a travel partner. The school is only a shell of what it was 20 years ago. Endowment is down. Enrollment numbers "need football".

My concern for the SAA is Millsaps.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on May 22, 2024, 11:57:08 AM

Quote from: cush on May 22, 2024, 11:05:23 AMCentenary College could work

And *that* would throw a monkey wrench into the SCAC's football plans, almost certainly forcing them to align with the carcass of the ASC to have the sport.  Austin would also work (and throw a similar wrench), but the feeling I got in re-listening to the podcast is that it would be a school closer to Berry.

How many from the "ASC carcass" would be acceptable to the SCAC?

I imagine at least as many as they need to get to an AQ (six total teams) should they lose another school to the SAA.  Question would be if any of the four are willing to be the school that breaks away and causes the others to take actions (D2/NAIA/etc) they really don't want to take. 

Another question would be if the SCAC would take them in their entirety, or just offer an affiliate football spot.

It would be a meaningful budget increase for any SCAC football school to leave for SAA, not happening.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on May 22, 2024, 04:50:00 PMI imagine at least as many as they need to get to an AQ (six total teams) should they lose another school to the SAA.  Question would be if any of the four are willing to be the school that breaks away and causes the others to take actions (D2/NAIA/etc) they really don't want to take. 

Another question would be if the SCAC would take them in their entirety, or just offer an affiliate football spot.

I will say that I would be positively stunned if the SCAC loses any schools to the SAA at this point, based on conversations I've had with people who would know.