Yep, looks like i posted the CUSA and Sun Belt lineups ONE DAY TOO EARLY! https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2022...nnounces-return-of-mens-soccer-this-fall.aspx FYI, this leaves CUSA with 4 men's soccer schools this fall, and 2 soccer playing schools in 2023. The MAC will have 4 men's soccer schools this fall also: Akron Bowling Green Northern Illinois Western Michigan More changes to come, obviously.
The Sun Belt is going to be a pretty strong conference and it's probably better than the ACC travel-wise.
The Sun Belt will have some good rivalries. A West Virginia/Marshall match is always a big deal in any sport. And i know us Old Dominion fans are looking forward to renewing our old rivalry with James Madison.
Welcome to The @American_Conf! We've announced @UAB_MSOC, @CharlotteMSoc, @FAUMSoccer and @FIUMensSoccer as new affiliate members. pic.twitter.com/P0Ps1SI6MJ— American Men's Soccer (@American_MSoc) May 4, 2022
Queens University of Charlotte will play in the ASUN going forward. Ninth soccer-playing school for that conference.
Lindenwood and Southern Indiana become affiliates of the Summit League this fall. https://thesummitleague.org/news/20...-for-mens-soccer-and-swimming-and-diving.aspx This will change the Summit to nine soccer playing members: Denver Kansas City Omaha Oral Roberts St. Thomas Western Illinois Eastern Illinois (A) Lindenwood (A) Southern Indiana (A)
Been out there for a while but not mentioned here yet, The Mount (Mount Saint Mary's) is moving from NEC to the MAAC, replacing Monmouth. Bit of a downgrade, but do what ya gotta do to survive.
Not sure the NEC is a better conference than the MAAC. Probably a little bit of a step up to be honest.
I meant for the MAAC….going from Monmouth to MSM. But if you’re the MAAC, you have to add teams because Quinnipiac and Fairfield won’t be far behind Monmouth, imo.
Why would Fairfield and Quinnipiac leave. Monmouth left because of football and neither of those schools have football?
St. Thomas, Lindenwood and Southern Indiana are all transitioning and ineligible for the Summit League tournament/postseason play.
Is that new? Usually transitioning departments have been eligible for conference/league postseason play.
Facilities and investment - from what I've seen on paper and in person at a few different MAAC schools, no one else comes close to what Fairfield and Quinnipiac have. They are much more on par with Monmouth than the other MAAC schools.
Almost all conferences do not allow transitioning teams to play in conference tournaments until they have completed their elevation to Division I. A few years back Merrimack ran the table in the Northeast Conference but did not compete in the conference tournament. The ASUN is the only conference I know that allows it.
If they have the besr facilities, that is a recruiting advantage. Why would an advantage cause a jump. Usually, schools jump for sports purposes or financial purposes. GCU has THE best facilities in the WAC for all sports the represent but you do not see them leaving to try and get in a larger conference.
Fair...but you know what they say, if you're the best (or the worst) in the room, you're in the wrong room. I'm just saying they are outliers in the conference and should want to be in a conference that reflects their own commitment to athletics.
That is an opinion for sure and a solid one but the historical movement reflects differently. Now if there is $$$ or say a move for a sport then the arguement is stronger is all I am saying. Leaving the MAAC now leaves dollars on the table after Saint Peters run ib basketball.
WCC is not a larger conference and actually has less revenue than their current conference and as far a facilities GCU would have the best basketball and baseball facilities and they would not compete with the Zags or Gaels in Basketball. But it does have better name recognition. The Mountain West is a better fit for them but no football hurts.
And there is this.. https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...13-school-wac-expansion-mid-major/6646759002/
The WAC has definitely improved as a mid-major basketball league but NMSU and Sam Houston State are leaving in 2023. Also, Lamar is heading back to the Southland, and Incarnate Word may stay in the Southland. The league is going to have 11 or 12 teams as of 2023.
Note. Hampton is moving to BS but they don't have men's soccer. Note. Dixie State (in southern Utah near Zion) is "rebranding" to Utah Tech.