Do you approve of the move to the Patriot League?

[GKiller]

They have told you WHY, you just don't accept it. They think it puts us with more peer schools and gives us a chance to win championships. I'm not endorsing, just responding.

Who said that re: more championships? Just curious if that was actually the WHY and explicitly stated or an assumption. I don't remember but could have missed. We have chance to win championships in CAA too, we've done so. Let's be honest if u watched that Huesman presser he's not exactly dripping w enthusiasm, tho part of that is his personality.

The peer thing they basically admitted to, but that is completely overblown for FCS football. To think FCS football is going to change your academic profile is just not a real thing imo. u can compete athletics & academics but each distinct. I've said b4 I think it only matters in IVY or non d1 ball. Now if u can get both at same time sure u take it & that's an advantage. But if W&M and Nova stay they r saying the complete opposite re: peer schools. They might not give a crap and then we actually look dumb trying to be "smart".

Now if they come to Patriot League u could definitely say the Richmond admin had right foresight. It's possible they want out too and CAA continues to weaken.

Overall tho I would not take what Richmond admin says at face value. Look what they said about A10 move. I'm not saying A10 was not right move for hoops, but the main reasoning was more postseason specifically more NCAA with an institutional committment to it (& it was actually said) but didn't happen.

 

[Gallipoli]

They have told you WHY, you just don't accept it. They think it puts us with more peer schools and gives us a chance to win championships. I'm not endorsing, just responding.

The article quoted above said
"The league this year grew to 16 teams, and as James Madison and Delaware moved to FBS (Delaware is in a transition year), UR wasn't encouraged by what remained in CAA Football and the scheduling rotation that would keep them from annually meeting preferred opponents. William & Mary evolves into a nonleague opponent, and both sides are committed to continuing the rivalry.

UR jumps to a more stable, smaller league with comparable schools and perhaps a clearer path to league titles and FCS postseason qualifications. "

This rationale is fallacious. We can't play the better rotation from the northern schools, so we switch into a different league, with a lower quality of play. We have no reason to complain about the quality of play in the CAA, until we dominate every team, including Hampton and Towson. Don't look now, but we could very easily lose to both Hampton and Towson.

For one, I will miss the competition the CAA offers- NOVA, W&M, New Hampshire, Albany, Elon, Rhode Island, Towson, Stony Brook, Maine and even Hampton.

 

[Gallipoli]

Listening to the Bryant-UR broadcast, the Bryant announcers kept talking about how the coaching staff was upgrading Bryant's talent to the "CAA level".

 

[whampas]

Listening to the Bryant-UR broadcast, the Bryant announcers kept talking about how the coaching staff was upgrading Bryant's talent to the "CAA level".

Because where they came from was barely a step above high school.

 

[Gallipoli]

Because where they came from was barely a step above high school.

Richmond definitely took its foot off the pedal in the 2nd half.

 

[SpiderRick]

Not much talk about how the switch to the Patriot League may affect recruiting. Sure, we may be "the big fish in the small pond" for a couple years, but what will happen after that as far as recruiting talent?

 

[Spiderwiz]

Just musing out loud here - was the wrong men's sport relegated to the Patriot? 🤔

 

[whampas]

Not much talk about how the switch to the Patriot League may affect recruiting. Sure, we may be "the big fish in the small pond" for a couple years, but what will happen after that as far as recruiting talent?

Winning cures all.

 

[Gallipoli]

Winning cures all.

Winning the Patriot is not the same as winning the CAA.

 

[whampas]

Winning the Patriot is not the same as winning the CAA.

Not the same as winning the SoCon, NEC, Southland or Big Sky either but it puts you in the same playoffs. That's the real prize. Some of these other conferences are going to start losing to the Patriot because we're going to kick their ass.

 

[KE Spider]

We are undefeated in the CAA against 7 foes with a combined record of 17 -32. Struggled to eek out a victory over a couple.
Let's stay humble. Will face no more teams with a losing record, neither next Saturday nor in the playoffs. Time to play our best ball, which despite our glitzy record, do not believe we have yet seen.

Go Spiders!

 

[Gallipoli]

Not the same as winning the SoCon, NEC, Southland or Big Sky either but it puts you in the same playoffs. That's the real prize. Some of these other conferences are going to start losing to the Patriot because we're going to kick their ass.

We have a lot to prove.

 

[whampas]

We have a lot to prove.

We are undefeated in the CAA against 7 foes with a combined record of 17 -32. Struggled to eek out a victory over a couple.
Let's stay humble. Will face no more teams with a losing record, neither next Saturday nor in the playoffs. Time to play our best ball, which despite our glitzy record, do not believe we have yet seen.

Go Spiders!

Totally agree. But we can only play who they put on the schedule. This is what you get when half the teams on the eastern seaboard are in one conference. It will be, if nothing else, somewhat refreshing to play in a conference where everyone plays the other and championships are decided on the field.

 

[Eight Legger]

For one, I will miss the competition the CAA offers- NOVA, W&M, New Hampshire, Albany, Elon, Rhode Island, Towson, Stony Brook, Maine and even Hampton.

Six of those 10 teams are not on our schedule THIS YEAR -- and we are still in the CAA! I think you're proving the administration's point about why we are leaving.

 

[Gallipoli]

Six of those 10 teams are not on our schedule THIS YEAR -- and we are still in the CAA! I think you're proving the administration's point about why we are leaving.

So, we have almost lost to both Campbell and Hampton. These teams are improving, which supports the point that there was no rush to leave the CAA. Campbell and Hampton played tougher schedules than just about every team in the Patriot.

The #2 team in the Patriot does not make the playoffs.