Introducing, The Big Four

[Bearhof]

Valdosta would be a good candidate for the Southern Conference of FCS. What would really work is bringing back WGa, North Alabama and talk Mercer in to joining the new D-1 Gulf South. They would have great fill in games with the Southern Conference. They could also just have two devisions of a Southern Conference which is probably the best way to do it.

[Eagle74]

Valdosta would be a good candidate for the Southern Conference of FCS. What would really work is bringing back WGa, North Alabama and talk Mercer in to joining the new D-1 Gulf South. They would have great fill in games with the Southern Conference. They could also just have two devisions of a Southern Conference which is probably the best way to do it.

Good idea, if they have tons of 💰 💰 💰💰💰💰💰!!

[Matt Witwicki]

Good idea, if they have tons of 💰 💰 💰💰💰💰💰!!

They don’t. They aren’t close to fully funded in football for that matter. West Florida..I would suspect the D1 jump is all the more on the table now than it was previously. Their new stadium and such suggest such a move.

Some type of move are joining of the CC league seems more likely. The GSC teams are already having to pay $$ to the CC for those games that were aligned going forward..it would seem they might have to pay the fee a bit further to have a league home. These schools might not be totally welcome to leagues that don’t wanna have a fire breathing dragon entering the conference to take the title south, etc. This has been an ongoing thing that seemingly just got worse with MC leaving.

[D2Rover]

I think the GNAC had 5 for a few years after Dixie State left, and 4 for a year or two after Humboldt shut it down before APU followed. I don't recall what the rules around it were, I would guess there are CWU fans on here who do.

[UNALions]

There’s no way in h-e-double hockey sticks that the CC will want the remaining four GSC teams in their conference even as affiliates. Several of them just left the GSC to get away from the constant losses to VSU, UWF, UWA, and DSU! Lol. Those four would likely dominate the CC every season just as they have in the GSC.

The GSC schools have two more seasons to figure this out because of the schedule alliance with the CC. As was said earlier, most of these GSC teams will be eligible as an at-large each season anyway when auto-qualification begins for the playoffs especially because it is expected that the playoff field will expand when that change occurs.

They may have to play each other twice like the GNAC did for several seasons but I would assume they will do whatever it takes to make sure they are playoff eligible. That will likely include a lot of travel which also costs money.

At what point do these schools (yes, even DSU and UWA) weigh joining D1 just to have closer schools to play with at about the same cost? That will be the interesting development. I mean, if MVSU can afford D1 sports, so can DSU (and compete much better than Valley). There are a LOT of D1 schools the same size or smaller than DSU and UWA. Look at the SoCon. Will that happen? Who knows.

Also, I just read on another board that Keiser and other NAIA schools were mentioned as potentially joining the GSC by "a contact" at Valdosta State.

[Mule]

Valdosta would be a good candidate for the Southern Conference of FCS. What would really work is bringing back WGa, North Alabama and talk Mercer in to joining the new D-1 Gulf South. They would have great fill in games with the Southern Conference. They could also just have two devisions of a Southern Conference which is probably the best way to do it.

Aside from mere geography, Valdosta St does not fit the profile of the SoCon. If the SoCon didn't move to add NC A&T or Campbell when they had the chance, and if they aren't interested in adding Gardner-Webb or Charleston Southern now (or even UNA for that matter), why would one think that the SoCon would view Valdosta as a good add? Honestly, Lenoir-Rhyne would be a better SoCon addition than Valdosta. And if the SoCon was looking southward at D2 schools to move up, one would think West Florida would be in their sights before Valdosta.

No way Mercer is leaving the SoCon to join a start-up D1 Gulf South. Mercer exactly fits the profile of the SoCon, and they should be outright conference football champs for the first time by this Saturday evening. Mercer has no incentive to leave the SoCon.

The biggest hurdle Valdosta faces in moving up to FCS - if indeed that's the end run, regardless of what conference they might end up - is that all sports at Valdosta would have to move up to D1. Is that truly feasible? And if so, is it truly a wise move? Just because UNA and UWG moved up doesn't mean Valdosta can and should. The Blazers would do better to join Conference Carolinas and call it a day.

But the SoCon? Not plausible.

[getnastyblazers]

Aside from mere geography, Valdosta St does not fit the profile of the SoCon. If the SoCon didn't move to add NC A&T or Campbell when they had the chance, and if they aren't interested in adding Gardner-Webb or Charleston Southern now, why would one think that Valdosta would be a good add? Honestly, Lenoir-Rhyne would be a better SoCon addition than Valdosta. And if the SoCon was looking southward at D2 schools to move up, one would think West Florida would be in their sights before Valdosta.

No way Mercer is leaving the SoCon to join a start-up D1 Gulf South. Mercer exactly fits the profile of the SoCon, and they should be outright football champs by this Saturday evening. Mercer has no incentive to leave the SoCon.

The biggest hurdle Valdosta faces in moving up to FCS - if indeed that's the end run, regardless of what conference they might end up - is that all sports at Valdosta would have to move up to D1. Is that truly feasible? And if so, is it truly a wise move? Just because UNA and UWG moved up doesn't mean Valdosta can and should. The Blazers would do better to join Conference Carolinas and call it a day.

But the SoCon? Not plausible.

It isn't in the plans to move up at least not anything that I have heard.

[Eagle74]

It isn't in the plans to move up at least not anything that I have heard.

Hey, nothing at all wrong with remaining a big fish in a small pond. Much better than being a little fish in a big lake. 😉

[CalifOKRA]

Hey, nothing at all wrong with remaining a big fish in a small pond. Much better than being a little fish in a big lake. 😉

The problem is, that small pond is beginning to dry up in some locations.

[CalifOKRA]

At what point do these schools (yes, even DSU and UWA) weigh joining D1 just to have closer schools to play with at about the same cost? That will be the interesting development. I mean, if MVSU can afford D1 sports, so can DSU (and compete much better than Valley). There are a LOT of D1 schools the same size or smaller than DSU and VSU. Look at the SoCon. Will that happen? Who knows.

How the heck does MVSU afford to stay D1?

I still think a merger between MVSU and DSU would benefit both institutions.

I fear DSU may go the route of MC in the near future.
I hope I’m wrong.

[UNALions]

How the heck does MVSU afford to stay D1?

I still think a merger between MVSU and DSU would benefit both institutions.

I fear DSU may go the route of MC in the near future.
I hope I’m wrong.

Exactly! I hope you’re wrong, too. And, I meant smaller than DSU and UWA. Of course, MV isn’t competitive especially outside their conference. But, from what I just found online, their athletic budget is at $4M, while DSU’s is $5.7M and UWA’s is $8.2M.

[Eagle74]

There’s no way in h-e-double hockey sticks that the CC will want the remaining four GSC teams in their conference even as affiliates.

NGU has been a long time member of Conference Carolinas (for their other sports) and has been becoming more and more competitive against GSC teams in football. UNC Pembroke played the last half of their season like a D2 playoff program racking up 357 points while giving up 108. I believe (with their new coaches) their team will be very good moving forward. Some of the other CC teams have a lot of potential, and from what I hear, they would welcome the opportunity to play the remaining 4 GSC teams, on a regular basis.

[UNALions]

NGU has been a long time member of Conference Carolinas (for their other sports) and has been becoming more and more competitive against GSC teams in football. UNC Pembroke played the last half of their season like a D2 playoff program racking up 357 points while giving up 108. I believe (with their new coaches) their team will be very good moving forward. Some of the other CC teams have a lot of potential, and from what I hear, they would welcome the opportunity to play the remaining 4 GSC teams, on a regular basis.

If they welcome the opportunity, then I’m sure the scheduling alliance will continue past 2026. There is no need to join the conference, even, as an affiliate, if they help fill out GSC schedules.

[Eagle74]

If they welcome the opportunity, then I’m sure the scheduling alliance will continue past 2026. There is no need to join the conference, even, as an affiliate, if they help fill out GSC schedules.

That would be a win-win, especially if in the coming years the GSC picks up a few more teams ( like Keiser and some other Sun Conference teams) to solidify the conference.

[crashandannie]

I think at this point it is up in the air; we are all going to be scrambling to fill out the schedule.

The GSC has an agreement to play Conference Carolina schools, I think for 2 years.