SAC Expansion

[Inkblot]

And that has happened only one other time since 2011. Northwestern Oklahoma State was denied in 2011 then was accepted in 2012 and played a full GAC schedule in 2012-13.

Yep. I think there's more incentive for a D3 team than for an NAIA team, since NAIA teams can still be eligible for NAIA championships in Year 1 whereas D3 teams are ineligible even if they play a D3 schedule (thanks to the McMurry rule).

[Tech Boys]

Not necessarily. Frostburg State played a full MEC schedule in their first year of provisional D2 membership.

And that has happened only one other time since 2011. Northwestern Oklahoma State was denied in 2011 then was accepted in 2012 and played a full GAC schedule in 2012-13.

[Inkblot]

E&H would have to apply for membership to join D2 by February 2021 in order to be on the SAC slate in 2022-2023, if I'm not mistaken.

Not necessarily. Frostburg State played a full MEC schedule in their first year of provisional D2 membership.

[ctrabs74]

E&H would have to apply for membership to join D2 by February 2021 in order to be on the SAC slate in 2022-2023, if I'm not mistaken.

[Dirty Harry]

If it is E&H, that will take them to 14 members with 11 playing football (Anderson, Carson-Newman, Catawba, Emory & Henry, Lenoir-Rhyne, Limestone, Mars Hill, Newberry, Tusculum, Virginia-Wise & Wingate). While not a fan of silo scheduling, I am also not a fan of an odd number of football teams. We know that both Chowan and North Greenville have applied for membership in the past. Also, it is my understanding, both Barton and Erskine would accept a membership invitation if it was extended. The issue is that the conference is trying to not only keep the overall conference footprint compact, but also to keep the divisional footprints compact.

But, the schools are out there to get to 16.

I would take Barton and Erskine if I was the SAC. Let E @H go to the MEC like Frostburg who moved up. Just my thoughts.

[cneagle99]

Ah, yes. I watched the Limestone-SAC press conference again and they start talking about membership numbers at the 10:18 mark. How likely is it that the SAC actually gets to 16 members. My preference is 14 conference members. I was looking at the Barton alliance as a solution to finish out the UNC-Pembroke alliance with it extended to a second year to give Barton a full home-and-home rotation.

If it is E&H, that will take them to 14 members with 11 playing football (Anderson, Carson-Newman, Catawba, Emory & Henry, Lenoir-Rhyne, Limestone, Mars Hill, Newberry, Tusculum, Virginia-Wise & Wingate). While not a fan of silo scheduling, I am also not a fan of an odd number of football teams. We know that both Chowan and North Greenville have applied for membership in the past. Also, it is my understanding, both Barton and Erskine would accept a membership invitation if it was extended. The issue is that the conference is trying to not only keep the overall conference footprint compact, but also to keep the divisional footprints compact.

But, the schools are out there to get to 16.

[Dirty Harry]

Ah, yes. I watched the Limestone-SAC press conference again and they start talking about membership numbers at the 10:18 mark. How likely is it that the SAC actually gets to 16 members. My preference is 14 conference members. I was looking at the Barton alliance as a solution to finish out the UNC-Pembroke alliance with it extended to a second year to give Barton a full home-and-home rotation.

There are 9 football 13 overall from what I see. Available schools sounds like Anderson who would be 10 in football. Barton, Erskine, Pembroke, Chowan and North Greenville are CC members. They need one more. In reality though, they really need more for a schedule.

[Tech Boys]

The goal was 14 now and 16 by 2024/2025. It appears that Barton only got a 2 year scheduling alliance as opposed to 4 in anticipation of a new SAC member in 2022.

Ah, yes. I watched the Limestone-SAC press conference again and they start talking about membership numbers at the 10:18 mark. How likely is it that the SAC actually gets to 16 members. My preference is 14 conference members. I was looking at the Barton alliance as a solution to finish out the UNC-Pembroke alliance with it extended to a second year to give Barton a full home-and-home rotation.

[cneagle99]

No inside information here, but Emory would be a good fit for the MEC as well. IF (again no inside information), the MEC brought on Bluefield State, that would give E&H four schools within 150 miles of them and would be a major step for the MEC to move to a N/S division break.

I would be shocked if E&H chose the MEC over the SAC if both conferences extended invitations and E&H actually wanted to move up. The SAC is a much better fit geographically and is made up of schools that are very similar to E&H.

[cneagle99]

My understanding is the goal for the number of SAC members is 14 and no more. It was mentioned during the press conference when Limestone announced joining the SAC. That means there is only one invitation left. Based on the hints in the other thread, the 14th member is a D3 VA football school. Since the SAC likes to keep a really tight footprint, Christopher Newport is probably not in consideration. I'm now believing it will be Emory & Henry.

The goal was 14 now and 16 by 2024/2025. It appears that Barton only got a 2 year scheduling alliance as opposed to 4 in anticipation of a new SAC member in 2022.

[Tech Boys]

Where is CC going to get enough teams for a conference?

CC has Barton, Chowan, Erskine, and North Greenville. UNC-Pembroke joins in 2021 to give the conference 5 teams. Only 1 more team is needed, maybe Bluefield State as an affiliate for team #6.

[Dirty Harry]

Barton has the SAC scheduling agreement for 2020 (whenever it gets played) and 2021. Both will likely remain Independents until CC starts football.

Where is CC going to get enough teams for a conference?

[Tech Boys]

So, where do you think Erskine and Barton are going to play?

Barton has the SAC scheduling agreement for 2020 (whenever it gets played) and 2021. Both will likely remain Independents until CC starts football.

[Dirty Harry]

Anderson is not returning to CC. They were once part of it, and left (not that long ago...).

So, where do you think Erskine and Barton are going to play?

[RedFromMI]

Erskine is CC member. Maybe Anderson would leave the SAC for CC. North Greenville leaving the GSC would lead to a dwindling GSC.

Anderson is not returning to CC. They were once part of it, and left (not that long ago...).