Elon to join CAA

[bcoach]

How would you combat the loss of APP and GAS? That is pretty tough to overcome. If you were Elon and had the opportunity to join the CAA is there anything the SOCON could do to keep you? If we had intentions on staying FCS and got an invite from the CAA could the SOCON keep us? I feel bad that this is happening to the SOCON. They have been the incubator for some programs that are in the big time today. A lot of schools including us really owe them some gratitude. We may be glad we have moved on but we should also be thankful that we spent time there. Many of us have some great memories that we would not have had otherwise. I truly wish them luck.

Furman and The Citadel are the only schools we owe any gratitude towards since they are the only members left that voted us into the league. We sure dont owe the current administration in the SoCon office anything since their policies have done nothing to help App. They got themselves into this mess with busch league decision making.

I don't want to argue with you I want to understand. what decision that they made caused this mess? As I see it APP and GAS leaving caused the mess. That does not mean we should take some blame or that we should be ostracized for it but that is what started the problem. Is there something they could have done to keep us? I don't think so. That is why I don't get it. Who is out there that they can get who would replace the two of us.

[AppinVA]

How would you combat the loss of APP and GAS? That is pretty tough to overcome. If you were Elon and had the opportunity to join the CAA is there anything the SOCON could do to keep you? If we had intentions on staying FCS and got an invite from the CAA could the SOCON keep us? I feel bad that this is happening to the SOCON. They have been the incubator for some programs that are in the big time today. A lot of schools including us really owe them some gratitude. We may be glad we have moved on but we should also be thankful that we spent time there. Many of us have some great memories that we would not have had otherwise. I truly wish them luck.

Furman and The Citadel are the only schools we owe any gratitude towards since they are the only members left that voted us into the league. We sure dont owe the current administration in the SoCon office anything since their policies have done nothing to help App. They got themselves into this mess with busch league decision making.

I don't want to argue with you I want to understand. what decision that they made caused this mess? As I see it APP and GAS leaving caused the mess. That does not mean we should take some blame or that we should be ostracized for it but that is what started the problem. Is there something they could have done to keep us? I don't think so. That is why I don't get it. Who is out there that they can get who would replace the two of us.

Riiiight. I follow you.

[8993]

According to CSNBBS, Furman is also looking to bolt for CAA, meaning The Citadel would be the only school left that was there when we joined. Wow. What a difference a year can make.

[AppStateNews]

I don't want to argue with you I want to understand. what decision that they made caused this mess? As I see it APP and GAS leaving caused the mess. That does not mean we should take some blame or that we should be ostracized for it but that is what started the problem. Is there something they could have done to keep us? I don't think so. That is why I don't get it. Who is out there that they can get who would replace the two of us.

You mean besides changing the overall environment and goal of the conference? The conference very quickly became the "Southern Small Private School Conference" and shared absolutely nothing in common with the missions of App, Georgia Southern, and even CofC.. You can also argue they had nothing in common with UTC and WCU -- if those programs didn't take a hit in football (performance and academic issues), I am confident they would be bolting too.

Add in the lack of any media coverage, and it is just a perfect equation for failure of an NCAA conference. When the absolute best you can get is PBS and ESPN3 (which isn't even available to everyone) to show one of the best FCS conferences, its a problem.

Bottom line is the leadership of the SoCon made too many poor decision which ultimately killed it. When a conference that prides itself on small private schools loses the likes of Davidson and Elon, you know it's a bad situation all the way around. The athletic departments at these school have seen the writing on the wall for a while now and the realignment is just now catching up -- hence the SoCon sinking.

[8993]

Stuff is starting to get kind of nasty.

http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticle. ... EM_ID=4000

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino released the following statement regarding Elon University:

“In recent years, it became increasingly evident that Elon’s negative view of the diversity in the Southern Conference was not shared by the majority of the membership. Our core group remains firmly committed to each other and to the academic and athletic success of the Southern Conference. We are preparing specific initiatives to achieve that success.”

[moehler]

wow, what a statement by the Commissioner, did not know Elon and the conference were at such a disagreement about the direction , and the future of the conference, though, got to believe that part of this is the Commissioner's frustration at everyone leaving a sinking ship.

[AppStateNews]

So the core of the conference was on the same page about diversity and direction of the conference, but 5 schools are leaving (with rumored Furman heading out too)? hmmmm... seems like it may be a case of poor leadership and thinking everyone is on the same page when in fact, they were not.

[CVAPP]

Furman is not going to leave the SoCon, ever. Even if it's just them, El Cid, Woffy, Sammy, Mercer, VMI and whatever others they cling to or bring in to maintain their AQ status.

[GoAppsGo92]

I don't want to argue with you I want to understand. what decision that they made caused this mess? As I see it APP and GAS leaving caused the mess. That does not mean we should take some blame or that we should be ostracized for it but that is what started the problem. Is there something they could have done to keep us? I don't think so. That is why I don't get it. Who is out there that they can get who would replace the two of us.

You mean besides changing the overall environment and goal of the conference? The conference very quickly became the "Southern Small Private School Conference" and shared absolutely nothing in common with the missions of App, Georgia Southern, and even CofC.. You can also argue they had nothing in common with UTC and WCU -- if those programs didn't take a hit in football (performance and academic issues), I am confident they would be bolting too.

Add in the lack of any media coverage, and it is just a perfect equation for failure of an NCAA conference. When the absolute best you can get is PBS and ESPN3 (which isn't even available to everyone) to show one of the best FCS conferences, its a problem.

Bottom line is the leadership of the SoCon made too many poor decision which ultimately killed it. When a conference that prides itself on small private schools loses the likes of Davidson and Elon, you know it's a bad situation all the way around. The athletic departments at these school have seen the writing on the wall for a while now and the realignment is just now catching up -- hence the SoCon sinking.

It is truly amazing what has happened since we made our formal announcement to leave the conference. I really don't mean this in a egotistical way when I say that AppState to a great extent legitimized the league and the proof is there for all to see. Having earned the most men's and women's all sports trophies, traveled with the most fans, and our unquestionable football prowess we were the superglue that held the modern SoCon together. Now, it is clear there were deep divisions and with the best marquee sports schools gone (AppState, GSU, CofC and Davidson) the SoCon only now should see the error of its ways.

But somehow, they do not. The commissioner and the teams that are left look at one loss after the other like that scene in from Monty Python's Holy Grail: "It's just a flesh wound". 5 schools gone, and you are better off without them? Time to look in the mirror and take a REAL good look.

[AppinVA]

I don't want to argue with you I want to understand. what decision that they made caused this mess? As I see it APP and GAS leaving caused the mess. That does not mean we should take some blame or that we should be ostracized for it but that is what started the problem. Is there something they could have done to keep us? I don't think so. That is why I don't get it. Who is out there that they can get who would replace the two of us.

You mean besides changing the overall environment and goal of the conference? The conference very quickly became the "Southern Small Private School Conference" and shared absolutely nothing in common with the missions of App, Georgia Southern, and even CofC.. You can also argue they had nothing in common with UTC and WCU -- if those programs didn't take a hit in football (performance and academic issues), I am confident they would be bolting too.

Add in the lack of any media coverage, and it is just a perfect equation for failure of an NCAA conference. When the absolute best you can get is PBS and ESPN3 (which isn't even available to everyone) to show one of the best FCS conferences, its a problem.

Bottom line is the leadership of the SoCon made too many poor decision which ultimately killed it. When a conference that prides itself on small private schools loses the likes of Davidson and Elon, you know it's a bad situation all the way around. The athletic departments at these school have seen the writing on the wall for a while now and the realignment is just now catching up -- hence the SoCon sinking.

It is truly amazing what has happened since we made our formal announcement to leave the conference. I really don't mean this in a egotistical way when I say that AppState to a great extent legitimized the league and the proof is there for all to see. Having earned the most men's and women's all sports trophies, traveled with the most fans, and our unquestionable football prowess we were the superglue that held the modern SoCon together. Now, it is clear there were deep divisions and with the best marquee sports schools gone (AppState, GSU, CofC and Davidson) the SoCon only now should see the error of its ways.

But somehow, they do not. The commissioner and the teams that are left look at one loss after the other like that scene in from Monty Python's Holy Grail: "It's just a flesh wound". 5 schools gone, and you are better off without them? Time to look in the mirror and take a REAL good look.

Alright, we'll call it a draw.

[Appsolutely]

Stuff is starting to get kind of nasty.

http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticle. ... EM_ID=4000

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino released the following statement regarding Elon University:

“In recent years, it became increasingly evident that Elon’s negative view of the diversity in the Southern Conference was not shared by the majority of the membership. Our core group remains firmly committed to each other and to the academic and athletic success of the Southern Conference. We are preparing specific initiatives to achieve that success.”

Iamamoron sucks. Elon sucks audibly. This we already knew. Glad to be rid of both of them...

[JTApps1]

How would you combat the loss of APP and GAS? That is pretty tough to overcome. If you were Elon and had the opportunity to join the CAA is there anything the SOCON could do to keep you? If we had intentions on staying FCS and got an invite from the CAA could the SOCON keep us? I feel bad that this is happening to the SOCON. They have been the incubator for some programs that are in the big time today. A lot of schools including us really owe them some gratitude. We may be glad we have moved on but we should also be thankful that we spent time there. Many of us have some great memories that we would not have had otherwise. I truly wish them luck.

Furman and The Citadel are the only schools we owe any gratitude towards since they are the only members left that voted us into the league. We sure dont owe the current administration in the SoCon office anything since their policies have done nothing to help App. They got themselves into this mess with busch league decision making.

I don't want to argue with you I want to understand. what decision that they made caused this mess? As I see it APP and GAS leaving caused the mess. That does not mean we should take some blame or that we should be ostracized for it but that is what started the problem. Is there something they could have done to keep us? I don't think so. That is why I don't get it. Who is out there that they can get who would replace the two of us.

AppStateCentral pretty much summed it up. Bringing in teams we didn't and don't have anything in common with, and steady decline in media exposure are the main issues.

[goapps93]

I wonder if Elon has already created their CAA Football Conference Champions page/poster.

[AppState89]

I think I posted this seveal weeks ago about Elon going to the CAA. I believe you will see UTC leaving soon....