Conference Realignment

Discussion in 'College & Amateur Soccer' started by SammyP, Oct 22, 2021.

  1. jeffconn

    jeffconn Member

    Jul 25, 2004
    Norfolk, VA, USA
    Club:
    Hampton Roads Piranhas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
    fknbuflobo repped this.
  2. Benny Dargle

    Benny Dargle Member+

    Jul 23, 2008
    LA
    The Sun Belt is going to be a pretty strong conference and it's probably better than the ACC travel-wise.
     
  3. collegesoccer

    collegesoccer Member+

    Apr 11, 2005
    Maybe UIndy, Southern Indiana, Chicago State can save the MAC.
     
    fknbuflobo repped this.
  4. jeffconn

    jeffconn Member

    Jul 25, 2004
    Norfolk, VA, USA
    Club:
    Hampton Roads Piranhas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  5. gauchodan

    gauchodan Member+

    Oct 18, 2016
    ThePonchat, shizzle787 and TimB4Last repped this.
  6. gauchodan

    gauchodan Member+

    Oct 18, 2016
    Queens University of Charlotte will play in the ASUN going forward. Ninth soccer-playing school for that conference.
     
    shizzle787 repped this.
  7. jeffconn

    jeffconn Member

    Jul 25, 2004
    Norfolk, VA, USA
    Club:
    Hampton Roads Piranhas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  8. BigBear

    BigBear Member

    Apr 20, 2020
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  9. collegesoccer

    collegesoccer Member+

    Apr 11, 2005
    Not sure the NEC is a better conference than the MAAC. Probably a little bit of a step up to be honest.
     
    BigBear repped this.
  10. BigBear

    BigBear Member

    Apr 20, 2020
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
    collegesoccer and JoeSoccerFan repped this.
  11. collegesoccer

    collegesoccer Member+

    Apr 11, 2005
    Gotcha.
     
  12. IntoTouch

    IntoTouch Member

    Aston Villa
    United States
    May 3, 2022
    Why would Fairfield and Quinnipiac leave. Monmouth left because of football and neither of those schools have football?
     
  13. gauchodan

    gauchodan Member+

    Oct 18, 2016
    St. Thomas, Lindenwood and Southern Indiana are all transitioning and ineligible for the Summit League tournament/postseason play.
     
  14. ThePonchat

    ThePonchat Member+

    #ProRelForUSA
    United States
    Jan 10, 2013
    I've Been Everywhere Man
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is that new? Usually transitioning departments have been eligible for conference/league postseason play.
     
  15. BigBear

    BigBear Member

    Apr 20, 2020
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  16. gauchodan

    gauchodan Member+

    Oct 18, 2016
    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.
     
    ThePonchat repped this.
  17. IntoTouch

    IntoTouch Member

    Aston Villa
    United States
    May 3, 2022
    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.
     
  18. BigBear

    BigBear Member

    Apr 20, 2020
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  19. IntoTouch

    IntoTouch Member

    Aston Villa
    United States
    May 3, 2022
    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.
     
  20. shizzle787

    shizzle787 Member

    Apr 27, 2015
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They are absolutely trying to get into the WCC.
     
  21. IntoTouch

    IntoTouch Member

    Aston Villa
    United States
    May 3, 2022
    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.
     
  22. IntoTouch

    IntoTouch Member

    Aston Villa
    United States
    May 3, 2022
  23. shizzle787

    shizzle787 Member

    Apr 27, 2015
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  24. gauchodan

    gauchodan Member+

    Oct 18, 2016
  25. JoeSoccerFan

    JoeSoccerFan Member+

    Aug 11, 2000
    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.
     

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