Any chance we poach the three Georgia Public Universities from the SIAC

[boyblue]

Fort Valley, Albany State and Savana State are all good football prospects for the GSC, I wonder why there's been no conversation about the possibility of them joining. I suggest that competitively speaking, these three schools are more aligned with the GSC in football and they would find more success in the GSC. I wonder if the fact that these schools are HBCU's, be an issue for our conference leadership?

Geographically speaking I can't see any better options. The GSC is in good shape in all other sports. Football is the only problem. The SIAC would still have 10 schools, and they would probably pay the others to leave in order to become more competitive among themselves. Savannah State left in search of stronger competition, but bit off a bit too much. The GSC would be the perfect fit.

Playing a tougher schedule has been good for former members of the GSC and I'd expect that they will get better as well. I'm not suggesting that they leave for all sports (although that would be cool if they wanted to). I understand the cultural implications and I'm not saying that self segregation is necessarily a bad thing (I'm not saying it's a good thing either), I'm simply trying to make a football argument. If there's an issue of long standing rivalries, as a football member of the GSC they would have 2 or 3 OC games which would allow them to continue rivalries with SIAC teams.

[Braves'86]

EXTREMELY unlikely they would leave an HBCU conference. Their games vs other HBCUs would draw much better attendance and alumni support. They're all in the top 20 of D2 attendance and there's probably another 1,000 that never leave the tailgate.

[Rational Observer]

Fort Valley, Albany State and Savana State are all good football prospects for the GSC, I wonder why there's been no conversation about the possibility of them joining. I suggest that competitively speaking, these three schools are more aligned with the GSC in football and they would find more success in the GSC. I wonder if the fact that these schools are HBCU's, be an issue for our conference leadership?

Geographically speaking I can't see any better options. The GSC is in good shape in all other sports. Football is the only problem. The SIAC would still have 10 schools, and they would probably pay the others to leave in order to become more competitive among themselves. Savannah State left in search of stronger competition, but bit off a bit too much. The GSC would be the perfect fit.

Playing a tougher schedule has been good for former members of the GSC and I'd expect that they will get better as well. I'm not suggesting that they leave for all sports (although that would be cool if they wanted to). I understand the cultural implications and I'm not saying that self segregation is necessarily a bad thing (I'm not saying it's a good thing either), I'm simply trying to make a football argument. If there's an issue of long standing rivalries, as a football member of the GSC they would have 2 or 3 OC games which would allow them to continue rivalries with SIAC teams.

Why would three HBCUs leave a solid HBCU conference to join a faltering conference?

[Finchwidget]

You'd probably have an easier time trying to convince one of the Peach Belt schools to start a football program from the ground up than you would getting any of the SIAC schools.

Geographically speaking though, I think someone on here has mentioned it before, but the NAIA Sun Conference wouldn't be a bad option. It's based in Florida, so not a complete slam dunk, but the GSC has had Florida Tech as a member, so they aren't a stranger to the region. They had two programs finish in the NAIA Top 25 last year as well, so the competition level is there. Whether or not any of them have the appetite to move up is another matter though, and maybe deserves it's own thread.

[FormerCrusader#84]

I agree that it seems unlikely that Savannah State, FVSU, and Albany State would leave an HBCU conference. It is not unprecedented as Tennessee State plays in the OVC and Hampton in the CAA instead of playing in any of the HBCU leagues at the FCS level. Nonetheless, I think the GSC would be better off poaching a selection of NAIA schools. I don't think the entire Sun Conference would be willing or able to move en masse. Southeastern, Ave Maria, Keiser, and St Thomas may be the most viable of the bunch. I would also argue for Reinhardt (Ga.), Faulkner (Alabama), Cumberland U. (Tenn.), and Bethel (Tenn.). I think the last four would be the best option for if/when UWF and Valdosta St. leave. The GSC footprint will likely move more to the west in my opinion, so having teams in the central and southern parts of Florida doesn't really make sense considering that 4 of the remaining 5 GSC football schools are all in the central time zone (UWF, UWA, MC, and DSU). FIT was pretty far down the coast when they played football in the GSC.

[Braves'86]

Tennessee State Uni is "only" 78% Black. They probably wanted more exposure than hbcu conferences bring.

[getnastyblazers]

EXTREMELY unlikely they would leave an HBCU conference. Their games vs other HBCUs would draw much better attendance and alumni support. They're all in the top 20 of D2 attendance and there's probably another 1,000 that never leave the tailgate.

This.

[Braves'86]

Someone posted a rumor on csnbbs.com that VSU may buy out the stadium and move up with UWF? This seems out of the blue....

[UNALions]

As long as teams can play 9 games and 8 of them being D2, it really doesn’t matter how many teams the GSC has for football. Just gotta find ways to fill out the schedule which might require some travel to random schools in other regions. UNA was flying to Central Washington and Western Oregon for non-conference games their last few seasons of D2.

[athensblazer]

As I understand it, Valdosta High (which has an amazing new campus) has a site in their master plan for a new stadium on their campus and there is a handshake agreement that VSU would purchase BH Stadium from Valdosta Schools in the next year or two, which would help with the funding of building the new Valdosta High stadium.

BH Stadium is essentially on the VSU campus and is a great place to tailgate and watch a game - it just needs some minor enhancements and some Blazerization (and a natural turf field).

VSU drew 5,782 for their week one game.

By comparison, FCS So Con Samford and FCS ASun West GA drew 4,329.

FCS ASun North Alabama AT SE MO drew 4,358.

FCS SoCon Citadel and FCS Big South Charleston Southern drew 5,831.

FCS SoCon Wofford and FCS Big South Gardner Webb drew 4,378


If VSU completes the acquisition of the BH Stadium it should only improve attendance and advance a move into FCS ASun, SoCon, or Big South. Regardless, Valdosta is a great place to go to a game and I like what VSU is doing with scheduling - playing at FCS Citadel next year - tailgating in Charleston!

[UNALions]

The UNA/SEMO game was at a neutral site in Montgomery. I’m surprised that many were there. UNA still draws 8-12k normally at home games.

[Rational Observer]

BH Stadium is essentially on the VSU campus and is a great place to tailgate and watch a game - it just needs some minor enhancements and some Blazerization (and a natural turf field).

The turf at BH is new this season. The announcers talked about it during the game this past week.

VSU buying the stadium is not going to boost VSU attendance. However, getting rid of all of the yellow will certainly improve the look from a VSU perspective.

[UNALions]

Keiser, the defending NAIA champs, just beat North Greenville by a FG as time expired. The GSC front office needs to heavily recruit them.

[Mule]

Keiser, the defending NAIA champs, just beat North Greenville by a FG as time expired. The GSC front office needs to heavily recruit them.

Actually won it in OT. But you are right - GSC should be on phone today to Keiser.

[boyblue]

Ft Lauderdale is a long way, has there been any indication that they may be planning to make the move