Future of CAA

[Ferrum Spider]

Since it's the offseason and not much is discussed I'd like to discuss a topic many Spiders have bristled at (including myself) over the last decade.

But the college landscape is rapidly changing and could see some other members jumping up again. IF JMU and Delaware leave for greener pastures whatdo you want to see? At that point we lose 2 major rivals but still have NOVA/WM.

Id like to see a power move to the Patriot league with WM/NOVA. We have more familiarity with some of these schools on the gridiron then some of our current conference members. Now that the PL offers 63 schollies I don't see it being so much of a downgrade. We're not going FBS so unless the G5 and conferences like the CAA, MVFC, Big Sky merge I feel this could be a decent option.

New Patriot League
Bucknell
Lafayette
Lehigh
Colgate
Holy Cross
Fordham
Georgetown
Richmond
William and Mary
Villanova

9 game conference schedule. One FBS game + VMI/MEAC school to round out the schedule.

 

[VT_Spider]

Since it's the offseason and not much is discussed I'd like to discuss a topic many Spiders have bristled at (including myself) over the last decade.

But the college landscape is rapidly changing and could see some other members jumping up again. IF JMU and Delaware leave for greener pastures whatdo you want to see? At that point we lose 2 major rivals but still have NOVA/WM.

Id like to see a power move to the Patriot league with WM/NOVA. We have more familiarity with some of these schools on the gridiron then some of our current conference members. Now that the PL offers 63 schollies I don't see it being so much of a downgrade. We're not going FBS so unless the G5 and conferences like the CAA, MVFC, Big Sky merge I feel this could be a decent option.

New Patriot League
Bucknell
Lafayette
Lehigh
Colgate
Holy Cross
Fordham
Georgetown
Richmond
William and Mary
Villanova

9 game conference schedule. One FBS game + VMI/MEAC school to round out the schedule.

Don't like it. The bottom line is it is a downgrade. The CAA will still be by far a better league than the patriot. Teams like Maine, New HAmpshire, Towson, Stony Brook and Albany will always be competitive and will sometimes have really good teams. Even Elon I think could be good in the future. The CAA is where we should stay for football.

 

[I-M-UR]

Since it's the offseason and not much is discussed I'd like to discuss a topic many Spiders have bristled at (including myself) over the last decade.

But the college landscape is rapidly changing and could see some other members jumping up again. IF JMU and Delaware leave for greener pastures whatdo you want to see? At that point we lose 2 major rivals but still have NOVA/WM.

Id like to see a power move to the Patriot league with WM/NOVA. We have more familiarity with some of these schools on the gridiron then some of our current conference members. Now that the PL offers 63 schollies I don't see it being so much of a downgrade. We're not going FBS so unless the G5 and conferences like the CAA, MVFC, Big Sky merge I feel this could be a decent option.



New Patriot League
Bucknell
Lafayette
Lehigh
Colgate
Holy Cross
Fordham
Georgetown
Richmond
William and Mary
Villanova

9 game conference schedule. One FBS game + VMI/MEAC school to round out the schedule.

No thanks
What is it with you foks and the Patriot league?

 

[Ferrum Spider]

No thanks
What is it with you foks and the Patriot league?

Ha right I said it for years myself. Just playing out a possible hypothetical in the future. I worry long term about the CAA and was just gauging other people's thoughts if something like that happens. I guess wouldn't need to expand CAA anymore since it would leave us at 10 teams anyway if jmu/UD left.

 

[wr70beh]

No thanks
What is it with you foks and the Patriot league?

If JMU and Delaware leave, I would think a jump to the PL with W&M & Villanova would be a comparable place than what's left in the CAA. UNH and Maine are still strong programs, but so are Colgate and Bucknell. Again, if you remove the name "Patriot League" from the marquee and look at the teams playing football on their own...would you rather play them each year (with W&M & Nova) or what the CAA would look like without Delaware and JMU? I think it's a valid comparison and worth consideration.

CAA without JMU and Delaware:
W&M
Villanova
New Hampshire
Maine
Albany
Stony Brook
Towson
Elon
URI

Or this league (I'm leaving out the name because it is prejudicial):
W&M
Villanova
Lehigh
Fordham
Colgate
Bucknell
Holy Cross
Lafayette
Georgetown

 

[MolivaManiac]

There has been talk of JMU and Delaware leaving for years. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Ulla1]

If JMU and Delaware leave, I would think a jump to the PL with W&M & Villanova would be a comparable place than what's left in the CAA. UNH and Maine are still strong programs, but so are Colgate and Bucknell. Again, if you remove the name "Patriot League" from the marquee and look at the teams playing football on their own...would you rather play them each year (with W&M & Nova) or what the CAA would look like without Delaware and JMU? I think it's a valid comparison and worth consideration.

CAA without JMU and Delaware:
W&M
Villanova
New Hampshire
Maine
Albany
Stony Brook
Towson
Elon
URI

Or this league (I'm leaving out the name because it is prejudicial):
W&M
Villanova
Lehigh
Fordham
Colgate
Bucknell
Holy Cross
Lafayette
Georgetown

wr, like the Patriot League a lot with those teams.

 

[VT_Spider]

Maine and New Hampshire are much better than Colgate and bucknell. It's all about playoff appearances. Both programs go a lot more than Colgate and bucknell. The patriot league would be a major step down in my opinion. If we were to change conferences for some reason we should go to the SoCon or even the Ohio valley before we even think about the patriot league.

 

[WebSpinner]

if umwcah and the hens move to fbs and UR, w&m and nova move to patriot, any schools left in the caa would have an awful schedule and a tremendously weaker conf, thus probably not making as many playoff slots. would not be against it as long as we did not have to move basketball there and not sure if patriot wants partial members as opposed to full members. think about it, who would the caa add if those two departed, cannot think of any strong teams and don't want any nobodies and that is what they would be. sooner or later the pukes are going, delaware, another story, not sure they want that fbs deal.

 

[VT_Spider]

Not sure about Delaware moving up. jmu definitely will very soon, I would say within the next two years. Their egos won't be able to stand Liberty being at that level before them and as we all know jmu believes they are the best football program in the state. It's more likely that Delaware stays and we along with William and Mary and Villanova would too in the case. When jmu leaves a good replacement for them would be the citadel or Chattanooga or maybe even EKU.

 

[WebSpinner]

not interested in any of those at all, there are no teams to add which would enhance the conf. would add, a road trip to charleston every other year would be a plus but not chatty or ky, NO

 

[32counter]

If JMU hits the road,the CAA commish will have to find a school which offers a cross section of D1 sports not just football which is our only involvement in the CAA.There will be a viable choice from the SoCon,Big South or NEC.

 

[VT_Spider]

If JMU hits the road,the CAA commish will have to find a school which offers a cross section of D1 sports not just football which is our only involvement in the CAA.There will be a viable choice from the SoCon,Big South or NEC.

The Citadel or Chatanooga would be a great addition.

 

[Eight Legger]

Yeah I actually think UTC would make sense as a JMU replacement.

 

[MolivaManiac]

Given the new lack of TV exposure, I'm not sure what benefit any of the schools listed would get out of CAA membership. More travel expense.

 

[I-M-UR]

The CAA will be fine without JMU and Del. In fact maybe we can get back to more balanced scheduling. With 12 teams who you happen to be playing in the 8 conference games in any given year really makes the conference title not a true measure of performance.

Oh and by the way we lost to Stony Brook last year.

 

[VT_Spider]

Umass could also come back soon. They might drop down from the FBS, it has been a failed experiment for them.

 

[ur2K]

Where's Delaware going?

 

[whampas]

Where's Delaware going?

Back to the drawing board after we kick their ass all over the field.