Dream conference - Just for fun

[LetsGoRoMo]

Just for fun, and I am unsure of the future of the NEC, has become a stepping stone league with the departures of Monmouth, Albany and SBU. I thought I would come up with an ideal, dream conference for football. ** AGAIN FOOTBALL ONLY** I know there are many problems with it, but I just thought it would be fun. If anyone else has thoughts that would be great.

If I could make a dream football only conference, full FCS scholarship, I would do this, other than Youngstown and EKU I think fairly realistic, would be much better for travel. Also, I think Youngstown will be a much different (worse) team next year and in the future, this is the best they have been in awhile, and best they will be for at least for 4 years, Bo is out of there after this year I think.

1. RMU
2. Duq
3. St. Francis
4. Youngstown
5. Dayton
6. Butler
7. Morehead
8. Valpo
9. EKU

Again, YSU and EKU probably not realistic, and maybe the Pioneer schools would not want to up the scholarship money. Travel wise, this would be great. The Pioneer schools would not have to make the trip to SD and FLA. Morehead and EKU would be great travel partners, same with Butler and Valpo.

Maybe NKU could take EKU's spot if they moved up, and another Ohio or WV D2 team that wants to move up could fill in for YSU.

1. RMU
2. Duq
3. St. Francis
4. D2 from Ohio or WV
5. Dayton
6. Butler
7. Morehead
8. Valpo
9. NKU

Would love to have a more PA centric dream conference, but no way in hell the Patriot leauge guys leave there. Though, with RMU's new academic rating, maybe RMU goes patriot league ha! That would be something else.

 

[Original_RMC]

I like this topic and I think in the coming years, it will be a top topic. I could see other NEC schools leaving the conference. Like Bryant. Perhaps CCSU or Wagner.
SHU...perhaps but not 100% sure.

The retain their automatic bid for the playoffs the conference needs to grow.
Adding the Dukes helped locally.

So lets say some of the school leave. Let's pick Bryant & CCSU.

Right away I'm reaching out to Marist and Georgetown. I don't pick we could really pull many from the Pioneer league. Not sure Dayton would move or Butler. But you can try.

YSU is too big for the NEC. Now if some earlier rumors are true and they are hurting financially and look to cut back scholarships then sure, why not. They would roll the NEC teams for years until the rest of the conference catches up.

If you lose 1-2 teams then you reload. Try to add a Marist, Georgetown, Butler...etc.

Now if you lose Wagner, SHU, CCSU and Bryant or they pick out the PA schools to decrease travel cost.
Then you must rebuild the NEC and if I'm rebuilding, I'm starting in my own backyard.
I ping the DII schools in the PSAC.
Schools like Slippery Rock, IUP, Edinboro, Mercyhurst, Steon Hill....etc.

I found out what teams are interested in stepping up.

Reloading the NEC:
1. RMU
2. Duq
3. St. Francis
4. Wagner
5. Marist
6. Butler
7. Valpo

Rebuilding the NEC and maybe a rebrand as well.
1. RMU
2. Duq
3. St. Francis
4. Slippery Rock
5. IUP
6. Butler
7. Valpo

If I had a dream for RMU football it would be to expand Joe Walton stadium. Put additional seats in the end zone. Get capacity to at least 5,000.

 

[LetsGoRoMo]

I think the likelihood of the PSAC public schools moving is low, but I like the idea and could solve lots of problems. However with teachers strike and enrollment shrinking at many of those schools, spending more on athletics might be an issue. Maybe a better chance of Seton hill and mercyhurst making the move.

1. RMU
2. Duq
3. SFU
4. Dayton
5. Butler
6. Valpo
7. Mercyhurst
8. Seton Hill
9. Morehead
10. NKU

Again, only thinking football, know BBall would create a lot of issues. If YSU was somehow in play, they could take the place of any of the D2. Know what is a lot to happen to make work. It would be great to part of stable conference though, with 10 teams, if one leaves, still no problem. Issue with NEC now is, if one leaves, could be trouble.

Who knows, but hopefully Dr Coleman is keeping his fingers on the pulse of this, as I think it is only a matter of time.

As far as Joe Walton stadium, with its location on campus the amount of expansion is fairly limited, unless the would spend an extraordinary amount of money on the visitors side, not even sure if that would be possible. As ORMC said, getting to 5k would be great the stadium.

** EDIT TO ADD: I think it would great if Mt. St Mary would add football **

 

[Original_RMC]

You could expand seating at the stadium in one of the end zones. And not temporary stands but connected the current stadium to the new addition. So blow away the hillside by the locker room and have the new stadium area wrap around to the end zone.

 

[LetsGoRoMo]

There are always options, money talks though. I would love to hear the Presidents thoughts on the future of NEC, where he sees RMU athletics in 5-10 years. I really this RMU hit a homerun with him.

 

[Original_RMC]

The direction will be against this new arena and perhaps where the basketball program will land. Can RMU afford having the football program go independent while looking for a home? Would the NEC kick out football if basketball left.
The NEC needs to grow the conference.

 

[LetsGoRoMo]

Would the NEC kick out football if basketball left? My thought is yes they will, but I think the NEC sees itself as a BBall conference first, and perhaps they are right. Also, it is growing as a lacrosse conference.

The NEC does need to grow, and fast I think. I thought Rhode Island was going to join a couple years ago, do not know what happened with that.

Just curios what you think ORMC, or anyone, It was my feeling that they could have kept Albany, SBU, Monmouth if they would have gone full scholly. I think the NEC members are going to have to decide if they want to S or get off the pot. Either go full scholly or go back to non scholarship. This middle ground is not a great model in my opinion.

 

[LetsGoRoMo]

Do not know if many hear check out Anygivensaturday.com, but there is talk on there about University of North Dakota joining the MVFC. If this were to happen, this would continue to make YSU an outlier geographically.

They would probably again be an outlier in CAA, though not as far. So maybe they would think OVC, if money was not an object, I am sure they would think MAC. If NEC was full scholarship, might be a real option.

 

[LetsGoRoMo]

Just saw this on AGS. Merrimack is looking to go D1. Kind of the wrong direction geographically for RMU, but seems like they would be a good fit for the NEC who I believe is only one team defecting away from losing their playoff bid in football.