MBB: USA South Conference

[scottiedoug]

Without SU, could there be enough for two divisions...a north/south arrangement along the lines of the ASC's east/west?

[Ralph Turner]

I still wonder if the USAC is not vulnerable to Shenandoah's moving into a conference to the north for "Mission and Vision" reasons, maybe staying as a football affiliate, if necessary.

[cnufan]

So Fisk is leaving the GSAC?? Are they going independent then? I skimmed the article and didnt see anything about affiliating with another conference, of course I could have missed it too.

I heard CNU was asked to move to the CAC, but I think their intentions are if they do move, they dont want to leave any sport hanging, especially with a move to the CAC where there may not be enough schools with football to make the AQ. I think CNU wont make a move unless its to a conference where there is an AQ in every sport.

[wilburt]

Fisk will be a D3 independent for the time being.  Fisk will still be playing the GSAC schools in most sports so in many ways it won't change a thing. This is especially true since the GSAC didn't have an automatic bid anyway!

IMHO, the Fisk administration has to make some type of determination in the near future whether they will either try to rejoin the SCAC (not likely) or go D2 and rejoin the SIAC (likely). 

As for Shenandoah U. and CNU joining the CAC, what's the story behind that? 

[cnufan]

CNU isnt going anywhere in the time being, I can tell you that for sure. As for SU, I think they may have been asked too, but because of football, I doubt they will make that jump.

[Pat Coleman]

That would give the CAC the following football programs: Christopher Newport, Gallaudet, Salisbury, Shenandoah and Wesley. Villa Julie is deep into the process of investigating football. And Frostburg State could make seven. Even if Frostburg weren't invited into the league as a whole, it could be an affiliate member for football.

[CNU85]

Narch...Eric Maynor from Fayateville NC. Rising Sophomore. From the VCU website:

General: Talented point guard...Strong passer and shooter...Valuable leader on the floor.

Personal: Lettered for four years in basketball at Westover High School...State runner-up during senior season...Most Outstanding Player in state championship game...Eastern Regional MVP...District and conference player of the year...Averaged 18 points and nine assists during senior campaign...Undecided on major...Son of George Maynor and Barbara Johnson...Born June 11, 1987

You have no idea who he is??  How did you let this guy slip from your memory bank?

[narch]

'85 - maynor dropped off my radar screen...he's a legit d1 player and he won't end up at any d3...unless it's cnu - as an aside, fred mcdonald, mc rising soph, schooled him pretty good when they were seniors

the vcu guy enrolled at mc this spring, but didn't ball - he was a recruited walk-on at vcu...played some as a frosh, not at all as a soph before transferring after 3 semesters - unbelievably bright, but a bit small

ralph, i think the usasac would be ok with a su defection since they have 8, but my fear would be that a su defection would lead to a cnu defection...the cac that pat speaks of makes a lot of sense, and i think vjc will add football...then the usasac is vulnerable - i would speculate that if su and cnu left for the cac, you would see the usasac gobble up m'ville and lagrange, and probably piedmont, too (lots of ties to the usasac there, despite no football) - i think the usasac would be a stronger all-sports conference without su (can't say the same if cnu left) and with m'ville, lagrange and piedmont, but i'd hate to see su go

[Ralph Turner]

ralph, i think the usasac would be ok with a su defection since they have 8, but my fear would be that a su defection would lead to a cnu defection...the cac that pat speaks of makes a lot of sense, and i think vjc will add football...then the usasac is vulnerable - i would speculate that if su and cnu left for the cac, you would see the usasac gobble up m'ville and lagrange, and probably piedmont, too (lots of ties to the usasac there, despite no football) - i think the usasac would be a stronger all-sports conference without su (can't say the same if cnu left) and with m'ville, lagrange and piedmont, but i'd hate to see su go

Narch, let's put on our President/Athletic Director's hats.  Why not just take the entire GSAC?  You could have north and south divisions for the 9 (5 USAC + 4 GSAC) men's and 15 (8 USAC + 7 GSAC) women's schools after the departure of SU and CNU under this scenario.

The NCAA is now exploring AQ's for Cross Country, Tennis and Golf.  These numbers really strengthen all of the programs.  If you "choreographed" the additions and exits, the USAC might not lose its AQ in any season.

[cnufan]

I  hear tennis is already a go for next year for an AQ. USA South went to the team format this year in preparation for that AQ for 07.

[narch]

Narch, let's put on our President/Athletic Director's hats.  Why not just take the entire GSAC?  You could have north and south divisions for the 9 (5 USAC + 4 GSAC) men's and 15 (8 USAC + 7 GSAC) women's schools after the departure of SU and CNU under this scenario.

The NCAA is now exploring AQ's for Cross Country, Tennis and Golf.  These numbers really strengthen all of the programs.  If you "choreographed" the additions and exits, the USAC might not lose its AQ in any season.

i'm not really digging the imbalance in the north/south division with 9 & 15...how 'bout we leave the furthest gsac school to twist in the wind as an independent

[Ralph Turner]

Narch, let's put on our President/Athletic Director's hats.  Why not just take the entire GSAC?  You could have north and south divisions for the 9 (5 USAC + 4 GSAC) men's and 15 (8 USAC + 7 GSAC) women's schools after the departure of SU and CNU under this scenario.

The NCAA is now exploring AQ's for Cross Country, Tennis and Golf.  These numbers really strengthen all of the programs.  If you "choreographed" the additions and exits, the USAC might not lose its AQ in any season.

i'm not really digging the imbalance in the north/south division with 9 & 15...how 'bout we leave the furthest gsac school to twist in the wind as an independent

The negotiations with the GSAC then get interesting. I wonder if Maryville and/or LaGrange would bolt and break up the GSAC, with its women's AQ's, for the long travel to USAC venues.

Leaving out Huntingdon, gives 5 USAC men's and 8 USAC women's (if/when CNU and Shenandoah go separate ways) and only 3 men and 6 women's GSAC teams to join.  Does the GSAC hold with its solidarity and say "all or none"?

Does Maryville leave its dominant positions in the GSAC to travel long distances in the USAC for the non-football sports?  Maryville doesn't have golf.

Why would LaGrange give up its Pool B status in Golf for long travels in a single division men's USAC?  Of course, only 5 teams, the USAC men are no longer recognized as an official conference.  Of course the new Pool (AQ's) in golf should be very interesting!

Piedmont doesn't have football.  And you want them anyway?

The more I think about it, having the USAC Men's North with AU, FC, GC, Methodist and NCWC plus the new USAC South composed of HC, LaGrange, Murvul and Piedmont, and...

the USAC Women with Mary Baldwin, Meredith and Peace, plus  AU, FC, GC, Methodist and NCWC in the USAC North and Agnes Scott, Spelman, Wesleyan (GA), HC, LaGrange, Murvul and Piedmont in the new GSAC South makes sense.

With a similar compostion, the ASC takes the top half of the schools in each division into the conference championships.

[wilburt]

I keep saying that the USASouth would be hard pressed to take any team(s) out of the current GSAC except Maryville and Piedmont.  The key question is will the GSAC four (MC, HC, PC, LC) continue to stick together or will they begin to look out for their own interests?  It will be interesting to observe the dynamics

 

[narch]

Of course the new Pool (AQ's) in golf should be very interesting!

not sure what's happening with the aq's in golf, but i'll be willing to bet it has little impact on gc and mc getting invites to the national tournament...if it does, the system is SEVERLY flawed

Piedmont doesn't have football.  And you want them anyway?

yes...proximity, solid soccer, solid softball, solid baseball, solid hoops, solid tennis, solid golf (and women's golf, something no other usasac school has), solid academics...they would be a nice addition - the "new usasac" would have 7 football teams, anyway (au, fc, gc, mc, ncwc, m'ville, lc), so it wouldn't need another football school

The more I think about it, having the USAC Men's North with AU, FC, GC, Methodist and NCWC plus the new USAC South composed of HC, LaGrange, Murvul and Piedmont, and...

i'd be all for adding hc if you could find an answer to your... - do you have any suggestions, 'cause i don't see much that fits geographically and would be realistic - would oglethorpe leave the scac for this newly formed conference?

this is all great speculation, but somehow i just don't think that it will come to fruition...i could be wrong though

[Ralph Turner]

Narch, thanks for the responses.

It looks like the real answer is whether the GSAC can hold together, especially with the women and their AQ as the key feature.

I think that Oglethrope likes the company with which they are running, even tho' they are
(1) only one of 3 not playing football,
(2) the only non-Phi Beta Kappa school and
(3) the school with the lowest endowment (less than 50% of the endowment of the number 11 school).