Apparently, the SoCon is looking at VMI, ETSU, and Mercer as replacements for departing schools.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/colleges/ ... rence.html

That's just sad. But at the same time, not surprising at all. It follows the trend the SoCon has been making.

ASU-FTW wrote:That's just sad. But at the same time, not surprising at all. It follows the trend the SoCon has been making.

Of course, VMI and ETSU are both former members of the SoCon. VMI, in fact, was a long time member before departing for the Big South. When they made the move, it was met with a lot of criticism from many of their alums who had many ties to SoCon schools.

ETSU and Mercer make sense. VMI is Citadel shoving a terrible athletic program down the other members' throat.

Why not take CCU instead?

Losing Marshall was masked by adding GSU a couple years before they left. These three adds will maybe keep basketball where it currently is and kill football. The SoCon will be the 4th best FCS conference at best after this.

What's the latest word on Davidson?

Saint3333 wrote:ETSU and Mercer make sense. VMI is Citadel shoving a terrible athletic program down the other members' throat.

Why not take CCU instead?

Losing Marshall was masked by adding GSU a couple years before they left. These three adds will maybe keep basketball where it currently is and kill football. The SoCon will be the 4th best FCS conference at best after this.

What's the latest word on Davidson?

Actually, outside of football VMI's athletic program is not that out of step with the rest of the SoCon. I actually would like to see them return to the conference fold.

Mercer brings good baseball, good basketball and football potential that gets the SoCon back in Georgia. ETSU will also be competitive in baseball and basketball. If they can get an outdoor stadium built, football potential is there for them as well.

VMI is just the conference obliging The Citadel. Coastal would provide much more than any other realistic candidate out there but Furman/Cid will thumb their noses and never let that happen. CCU would provide solid basketball, competitive football and top-notch baseball that would be at or near the top of the SoCon every year.

I'll be very interested to see where the conference goes. After very little turnover in the past 30 years, the past year has been rough for the SoCon and will get even worse if/when Davidson heads to the A-10. If Iamarino loses his favorite pet and McKillop U heads for the exit, it will take a while to recover.

That would mean the loss of the top two football schools (App/GSU), top two basketball schools (CofC/Davidson) and two of the top baseball programs (GSU/CofC). The SoCon needs to make the right choices here. VMI has strong academics and a long history with the conference but add little athletically. They've been decent in basketball recently but not good enough to make the conference any better, while their football and baseball would both struggle to compete.

If they brought in Mercer, ETSU and Coastal, football would take a while to catch up but other sports would be just fine. Basketball wouldn't be quite as strong at the top without Davidson but depth would arguably be better with as inconsistent as App/GSU have been and baseball might even be better with Coastal and Mercer in the fold. ETSU isn't a baseball power but they are a heck of a lot better than Davidson.

I have given this a great deal of thought and would like to report that I don't give a fat rat's fanny who goes into or comes out of the SC. Screw Iamamoron and his "small privates."

Appsolutely wrote:I have given this a great deal of thought and would like to report that I don't give a fat rat's fanny who goes into or comes out of the SC. Screw Iamamoron and his "small privates."

Exactly! Who cares what this joke of a league does? The SoCon has always had a history of losing its best programs, but now it is to the point where there aren't any replacements to fill the void left behind. The transformation to the SmallCon is almost complete.

The future SoCon will be a private college league with fewer scholls. Elon and UTC will be the next to jump ship....mark my word....just remember this post on May 3, 2013.

JTApps1 wrote:

Appsolutely wrote:I have given this a great deal of thought and would like to report that I don't give a fat rat's fanny who goes into or comes out of the SC. Screw Iamamoron and his "small privates."

Exactly! Who cares what this joke of a league does? The SoCon has always had a history of losing its best programs, but now it is to the point where there aren't any replacements to fill the void left behind. The transformation to the SmallCon is almost complete.

Sorry, but that seems a bit harsh. This league has served our athletic program well for the past 40+ years. It is time for us to move and I'm glad that we are. However, I don't wish any ill will toward those who remain. One should never forget their roots. I would never wish to live in my original hometown but I still have fond memories of growing up there and still try to keep up from time to time. I feel the same about the SoCon. I won't follow them closely but I'll be interested in how things pan out.

AppState89 wrote:The future SoCon will be a private college league with fewer scholls. Elon and UTC will be the next to jump ship....mark my word....just remember this post on May 3, 2013.

I wont argue with you.

hapapp wrote:

JTApps1 wrote:

Appsolutely wrote:I have given this a great deal of thought and would like to report that I don't give a fat rat's fanny who goes into or comes out of the SC. Screw Iamamoron and his "small privates."

Exactly! Who cares what this joke of a league does? The SoCon has always had a history of losing its best programs, but now it is to the point where there aren't any replacements to fill the void left behind. The transformation to the SmallCon is almost complete.

Sorry, but that seems a bit harsh. This league has served our athletic program well for the past 40+ years. It is time for us to move and I'm glad that we are. However, I don't wish any ill will toward those who remain. One should never forget their roots. I would never wish to live in my original hometown but I still have fond memories of growing up there and still try to keep up from time to time. I feel the same about the SoCon. I won't follow them closely but I'll be interested in how things pan out.

Well I am sure things will not pan out well. They will have to dissolve the league. How could they possibly exist without us. I mean really, NO APP NO LEAGUE. We were their existence. No league could possibly go on without us. I mean really, you have to look at the Sun Belt. That league was ready to fold until after month and months of begging us to join them we finally caved, saving them from going out of business. No, the SOCON is finished. They can not possibly exist without us. Fact is, I have heard rumors that the schools that are left in the conference are just going to shut down every campus and send their students off to find other places for an education. It is a fact that you just can't exist without us.

Who can honestly say they would rather be in the SoCon now? If that lineup of prospective teams (mainly VMI and Mercer) comes to fruition, then I shudder to think of that schedule. We would have no peers left once GSU departed.

ASU-FTW wrote:Who can honestly say they would rather be in the SoCon now? If that lineup of prospective teams (mainly VMI and Mercer) comes to fruition, then I shudder to think of that schedule. We would have no peers left once GSU departed.

That's not the point. I wouldn't want to remain in the SoCon with the departure of GSU, Charleston, and Davidson either. But that doesn't mean I don't care where the conference goes from here. I hope that they can find replacements that continue to make it a viable home for those who remain.

hapapp wrote:

ASU-FTW wrote:Who can honestly say they would rather be in the SoCon now? If that lineup of prospective teams (mainly VMI and Mercer) comes to fruition, then I shudder to think of that schedule. We would have no peers left once GSU departed.

That's not the point. I wouldn't want to remain in the SoCon with the departure of GSU, Charleston, and Davidson either. But that doesn't mean I don't care where the conference goes from here. I hope that they can find replacements that continue to make it a viable home for those who remain.

Wasn't really directing it at you, but to the plenty of anti FBS individuals whose knowledge of college football consists of the SoCon and nothing but the SoCon. You can find penty if them on Facebook whenever App Football makes a status.

ASU-FTW wrote:Who can honestly say they would rather be in the SoCon now? If that lineup of prospective teams (mainly VMI and Mercer) comes to fruition, then I shudder to think of that schedule. We would have no peers left once GSU departed.

I think that there are some that would still rather be in the SoCon. They would be happy with such close games, and they couldn't care less who the opponent will be. I am glad we're moving on, but there are some that will never support the move.

UTC will stay as long as Samford and, looks like, ETSU are in the conference. Elon I can see bolting but where? The CAA is in worse shape than the SoCon. I just want to know who is going to replace WKU in the Sun Belt? Go App!

Seems very likely that VMI will be rejoining the SoCon.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/colleges/ ... re-by.html

hapapp wrote:

JTApps1 wrote:

Appsolutely wrote:I have given this a great deal of thought and would like to report that I don't give a fat rat's fanny who goes into or comes out of the SC. Screw Iamamoron and his "small privates."

Exactly! Who cares what this joke of a league does? The SoCon has always had a history of losing its best programs, but now it is to the point where there aren't any replacements to fill the void left behind. The transformation to the SmallCon is almost complete.

Sorry, but that seems a bit harsh. This league has served our athletic program well for the past 40+ years. It is time for us to move and I'm glad that we are. However, I don't wish any ill will toward those who remain. One should never forget their roots. I would never wish to live in my original hometown but I still have fond memories of growing up there and still try to keep up from time to time. I feel the same about the SoCon. I won't follow them closely but I'll be interested in how things pan out.

Ill will? I didn't say I want the schools left to suffer or shut down their programs. The SoCon is losing its relevance in D1 with each defection. The commish has done nothing to improve the league and most remaining members seem to be happy with the direction he is leading it. if that's what they want then fine, but it has no impact on ASU so I don't care anymore than I would about the Big South or OVC.

They better hope DC stays, of not they will be the Big South with better academics.