• Conference Implications?

 #28232  by furpop16
 Fri May 22, 2020 1:39 pm
Following the "every crises presents opportunities" mantra, what opportunities (if any) are implied by abandoning baseball/lacrosse? Specifically, does the move provide FU with any leverage to improve the SoCon? For example, are we now in a position to insist on a SoCon TV contract with better/wider coverage? If the SoCon balks, would we be in a position to join W&M, Richmond, & JMU in the Colonial (assuming their TV contract is better … gotta think the Football gang would salivate at that possibility)? Other opportunities? I wonder what follow-on moves CBR & JD are thinking now that the cat's out of the bag?
 #28233  by Flagman
 Fri May 22, 2020 1:54 pm
Not sure which "cat" you're referring to, but it would be a mistake for Furman to move to the Colonial. Travel costs would double or even triple and would necessitate multiple FBS games each year just to balance the budget. Some games, even within the conference, would require air travel. This would not be a wise move on our part.
 #28237  by furpop16
 Fri May 22, 2020 2:14 pm
Flagman wrote:
Fri May 22, 2020 1:54 pm
Not sure which "cat" you're referring to, but it would be a mistake for Furman to move to the Colonial. Travel costs would double or even triple and would necessitate multiple FBS games each year just to balance the budget. Some games, even within the conference, would require air travel. This would not be a wise move on our part.

Understood regarding travel cost, esp. when dropping baseball was financially motivated. As COVID-19 only accelerated what we've heard was a foregone decision, announcing the decision now equates to the "cat's out of the bag".
 #28249  by FUBeAR
 Fri May 22, 2020 6:42 pm
furpop16 wrote:
Fri May 22, 2020 1:39 pm
would we be in a position to join W&M, Richmond, & JMU in the Colonial (assuming their TV contract is better … gotta think the Football gang would salivate at that possibility)
Think again
furpop16, Flagman liked this
 #28250  by Fessor
 Fri May 22, 2020 7:26 pm
Flagman wrote:
Fri May 22, 2020 1:54 pm
Not sure which "cat" you're referring to, but it would be a mistake for Furman to move to the Colonial. Travel costs would double or even triple and would necessitate multiple FBS games each year just to balance the budget. Some games, even within the conference, would require air travel. This would not be a wise move on our part.
Go big, or go home.
 #28256  by furpop16
 Sat May 23, 2020 12:02 am
Paul C wrote:
Fri May 22, 2020 11:43 pm
SoCon is a better basketball conference now than the Colonial.

By every objective measure I know of (Sagarin, KenPom) that’s true. I’m not as certain that’s reflected in TV / media contracts.