Below is an excerpt from a Q&A between Western's fan and Randy Eaton, Western's AD.
Jim asks: With Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and College of Charleston leaving the SOCON, where does this leave WCU’s football program for the future? Is this the death nail for the Southern Conference? Will WCU now look to the future of moving up to the FBS? Also, Elon is rumored to be looking at the Colonial Athletic Conference, so why would we want to remain FCS and not join the in-state FBS schools such as Appalachian, UNCC, Wake Forest, NC State and UNC?
Where does this leave WCU’s football program is dependent on how the Chancellors and Presidents of current member institutions vote on expansion. Losing ASU as a rival does sting, but fifteen years ago when Marshall left for “bigger and better”, the same fear of a weaker SOCON was prevalent. However, I would argue the SOCON is stronger today than when Marshall was a member. Do I think the SOCON will die? No. It’s probably older than either you or I, and if you will do some homework, you will see many ACC and SEC members are SOCON alum, so I do believe the SOCON is here to stay. Will we look to the FBS? No, why would we? ASU and Georgia Southern will now play New Mexico State, Idaho and North Texas, among others, on a regular basis. Is that really who you want to watch? I would much prefer to have strong, regional competition to which our fans and families can travel. Ask a Marshall fan how they feel fifteen years later, the vast majority of them I spoke with at last year’s game still long for the days of SOCON membership! As far as joining the in-state FBS, remember, you must be asked to join, we as an institution cannot simply decide to invite ourselves. And finally, let’s not forget the all important dollar. Georgia Southern is estimating an additional $6 million in expenses associated with joining the Sun Belt. Trust me when I tell you they will receive a fraction of that amount from the Sun Belt, the balance will be paid by the institution or placed on the backs of the students in the form of higher fees. In a time when Athletics has been tasked with helping the University grow its’ undergraduate enrollment, increasing fees is counterproductive to that goal.
I'll give him props for attempting to spin our move into a negative, and portray Western's inability to make such a move as a positive. But, I would have much rather enjoyed him flat out saying "Jim, what are you smoking? There is no way in hell we can move up!" Possibly file this response with the Delawhere? AD's in the sour grapes category.
