|
Post by SixtiesAggie on Jan 4, 2020 0:39:00 GMT -5
Tenn. State was mandated by the state to be who they are today. When that happened, their white student population increased. What is it today? Have they increased their athletic attendance? Both are pretty much what they were before the state required changes. I would suspect that if Tenn. State could make their own independent choice today, they would choose to be in the SWAC. You do realize that they are no longer under that mandate, right? Tennessee State can move to another conference nowadays without repercussion.
Didn't remember that. Thanks for the reminder. So, are you saying that they have become acclimated to their present situation and are winning games, making lots of money and gaining lots of notoriety in the Ohio Valley conference? If so, kudos to them.
|
|
Maxell
Official BDF member
Director of BDF Marketing
Posts: 12,437
|
Post by Maxell on Jan 4, 2020 2:34:23 GMT -5
You do realize that they are no longer under that mandate, right? Tennessee State can move to another conference nowadays without repercussion.
Didn't remember that. Thanks for the reminder. So, are you saying that they have become acclimated to their present situation and are winning games, making lots of money and gaining lots of notoriety in the Ohio Valley conference? If so, kudos to them. Assimilation.
|
|
|
Post by aggierattler on Jan 4, 2020 11:17:56 GMT -5
You do realize that they are no longer under that mandate, right? Tennessee State can move to another conference nowadays without repercussion.
Didn't remember that. Thanks for the reminder. So, are you saying that they have become acclimated to their present situation and are winning games, making lots of money and gaining lots of notoriety in the Ohio Valley conference? If so, kudos to them. Not really.
I'm saying that:
- I don't know much about their present University Administration's views on their membership in the OVC;
- Their athletics program has been pretty much stuck spinning their wheels in a rut concerning overall victories, championships and big revenue home games;
- If we can get this Celebration Bowl contract renewed at the current or an elevated level, they might be ready to seriously consider a move to the MEAC;
I think that it's worth an effort to at least converse with them to see where their heads are on this.
|
|
|
Post by A&T AGGIE 96 on Jan 4, 2020 12:23:41 GMT -5
i'm not with this "we're better than thou" attitude. i mean, it wasn't that long ago that we were the laughing stock of all hbcu's, even including d2's. but now all of a sudden we're setting ourselves apart from our fellow hbcu's who held it down for us when we had the worst athletics department in the entire meac. be careful what you ask for, a lot of hampton alums are now saying their move to the big south was a mistake... Sent from my SM-G950U using proboards ^^^THIS^^^
|
|
|
Post by A&T AGGIE 96 on Jan 4, 2020 12:31:58 GMT -5
We’ll agree to disagree. It’s one thing for a non-HBCU school to change conferences...but when we do it, it’s as if your soul is taken from you. Your DNA changes with just this simple move. Say what you want, but Hampton just ain’t Hampton anymore. I wish them the best in their ventures....but even in the way they bolted; it didn’t seem appropriate. There was no tact in it....dare I say, it was tasteless. Maybe it would have been more palatable if they made the transition with better taste. To me, they did all of their previous brethren wrong (the CIAA and MEAC). Maybe there was no other way they could do it....but when you make a change like that, something within you changes as well. The way I feel about it is this. I don’t have to be around “them” 24/7/365 to beat them. Do you need to learn about them - yes. Do you need to beat them - yes. But when you’re with them 24/7/365, do you become them? Personally, there’s no way your DNA doesn’t change if you amongst “them” ALL THE TIME! Sorry, I don’t want any part of that. Didn’t need to join the Southern Conference to beat App St years ago. Didn’t need to join the Big South to beat Gardner Webb. Didn’t need to join the Colonial Conference to beat Elon. Didn’t need to join the AAC to beat ECU. Didn’t need to join the Ohio Valley to beat Jacksonville State (not sure how long it’s been since Tenn St has beaten those same folks- just saying). I like being a black school in a black conference. Our conference does not limit us from competing against and beating them. Hell, our next game is against North Dakota State. There are schools in their own conference who haven’t beaten them in years. There are top 10 schools from the Colonial, Big Sky, and Southland Conferences that can’t beat them. A&T doesn’t have go to any white conference to formulate a plan and accrue the talent necessary to beat North Dakota State. If we lose....how does that make us any different than anyone else? But oooooh....if we win - can’t nobody from FCSland coast to coast say anything. We have a brand. Our brand ain’t Elon. It ain’t James Madison. It ain’t Southern Conference-ish. It ain’t Colonial-ish. It ain’t Big South-ish. The MEAC is who we are....but not all we are. The sooner we get this in our heads, the better off we’ll be and the more we’ll continue to prosper. I’m not interested in being in any other conference in America. We have and will continue to achieve right where we are....without having to alter or erase our DNA in the process.... ^^^What he said^^^ The FCS is a ditch between FBS and D2. If you look at the leagues in the southeast and beyond none of them are kicking up much dust. For all the trash talk about the MEAC the conference is pretty stable with schools that have long running history and traditions of playing each other. No way would I want to give up our MEAC home and away schedule in exchange for what TSU and Hampton have.
|
|
|
Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 4, 2020 12:37:47 GMT -5
Just for the record, we are definitely better than thou.
We been kicking thou's azz for a minute now.
|
|
|
Post by AggiePride on Jan 4, 2020 13:50:46 GMT -5
We’ll agree to disagree. It’s one thing for a non-HBCU school to change conferences...but when we do it, it’s as if your soul is taken from you. Your DNA changes with just this simple move. Say what you want, but Hampton just ain’t Hampton anymore. I wish them the best in their ventures....but even in the way they bolted; it didn’t seem appropriate. There was no tact in it....dare I say, it was tasteless. Maybe it would have been more palatable if they made the transition with better taste. To me, they did all of their previous brethren wrong (the CIAA and MEAC). Maybe there was no other way they could do it....but when you make a change like that, something within you changes as well. The way I feel about it is this. I don’t have to be around “them” 24/7/365 to beat them. Do you need to learn about them - yes. Do you need to beat them - yes. But when you’re with them 24/7/365, do you become them? Personally, there’s no way your DNA doesn’t change if you amongst “them” ALL THE TIME! Sorry, I don’t want any part of that. Didn’t need to join the Southern Conference to beat App St years ago. Didn’t need to join the Big South to beat Gardner Webb. Didn’t need to join the Colonial Conference to beat Elon. Didn’t need to join the AAC to beat ECU. Didn’t need to join the Ohio Valley to beat Jacksonville State (not sure how long it’s been since Tenn St has beaten those same folks- just saying). I like being a black school in a black conference. Our conference does not limit us from competing against and beating them. Hell, our next game is against North Dakota State. There are schools in their own conference who haven’t beaten them in years. There are top 10 schools from the Colonial, Big Sky, and Southland Conferences that can’t beat them. A&T doesn’t have go to any white conference to formulate a plan and accrue the talent necessary to beat North Dakota State. If we lose....how does that make us any different than anyone else? But oooooh....if we win - can’t nobody from FCSland coast to coast say anything. We have a brand. Our brand ain’t Elon. It ain’t James Madison. It ain’t Southern Conference-ish. It ain’t Colonial-ish. It ain’t Big South-ish. The MEAC is who we are....but not all we are. The sooner we get this in our heads, the better off we’ll be and the more we’ll continue to prosper. I’m not interested in being in any other conference in America. We have and will continue to achieve right where we are....without having to alter or erase our DNA in the process.... This is a word. Why do we always feel like after we attain success we have to leave? Big picture analogy: Look at DC it was ours, but black folks thought we were too good for DC, now look at DC now. The same thing is happening in the areas of PG close to DC. Why cant we build together? The MEAC is flawed but i largely enjoy playing MEAC schools. Let the MEAC land Tnsu in football or have hampton come crawling back abd we will be better.
|
|
|
Post by aggieforlife on Jan 4, 2020 15:03:02 GMT -5
Great points
|
|
|
Post by marchingband1969 on Jan 4, 2020 16:43:23 GMT -5
"What's best for "The Agricultural and Technical State University!" That's where I am. I love the HBCU culture but if there's another conference out there that will give "The Agricultural and Technical State University" a brighter future, I'm for it. That said, so far nobody has shown me that any of the other FCS Conference will give us that brighter future. And by "brighter future" I mean, bigger game revenue, more shared conference revenue, better quality athletes and greater regional and national exposure.
Those other conferences may give us a few more quality teams to compete with than the MEAC, but for me it's got to be more for "The Agricultural and Technical State University" than competition. Hell if we want competition, we can schedule more top tier FCS games.
I don't want "The Agricultural and Technical State University" to jump to another conference like Hampton did...without everyone (players, fans, alumni, and community) understanding the shortterm and longterm benefits. I learned long time ago that "white ice isn't colder than black ice." So unless there's a list of clear and obvious benefits to change conferences, I'm okay staying where we are. Until "The Agricultural and Technical State University" can get a brighter future!
|
|
Maxell
Official BDF member
Director of BDF Marketing
Posts: 12,437
|
Post by Maxell on Jan 4, 2020 18:14:32 GMT -5
I think sometimes we are only thinking about football. What is the best move for all sports? Two-thirds of our games in non-revenue sports are non-conference now. Would basketball benefit from a different conference in terms of better athletes?
My ultimate answer continues to be an HBCU super-conference of eight teams. Build that conference with different leadership, different vision, and different financial commitment.
|
|
|
Post by bseballaggie on Jan 4, 2020 19:00:15 GMT -5
If CB is not re up do we ask for our Automatic Qualifier Back or jet to another Conference It was announced during the SWAC Hall Of Fame inductions that the MEAC has signed another 5 year deal with ESPN and the CELEBRATION BOWL.
|
|
|
Post by aggierattler on Jan 4, 2020 19:28:04 GMT -5
If CB is not re up do we ask for our Automatic Qualifier Back or jet to another Conference It was announced during the SWAC Hall Of Fame inductions that the MEAC has signed another 5 year deal with ESPN and the CELEBRATION BOWL. IF THAT IS TRUE, that should've been a joint announcement from all parties involved. I don't like the SWAC making announcements/proclamations on our behalf!
Did the SWAC say that they signed the 5-year deal, too??
|
|
Maxell
Official BDF member
Director of BDF Marketing
Posts: 12,437
|
Post by Maxell on Jan 4, 2020 19:28:31 GMT -5
If CB is not re up do we ask for our Automatic Qualifier Back or jet to another Conference It was announced during the SWAC Hall Of Fame inductions that the MEAC has signed another 5 year deal with ESPN and the CELEBRATION BOWL. Terms?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2020 19:55:25 GMT -5
If CB is not re up do we ask for our Automatic Qualifier Back or jet to another Conference It was announced during the SWAC Hall Of Fame inductions that the MEAC has signed another 5 year deal with ESPN and the CELEBRATION BOWL. That wasn’t announced at the ceremony.
|
|
oleschoolaggie
Official BDF member
2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,188
|
Post by oleschoolaggie on Jan 5, 2020 1:11:47 GMT -5
well, how much has tennessee state advanced since joining the ovc? when is the last time tsu played postseason football? we don't need to join another conference to advance a&t to a higher level. just because you join a stronger conference doesn't in and of itself elevate that school. elon is in one of the strongest fcs conferences in america (caa), yet we've beaten them the last 3 or 4 games in a row. to me, its beneficial for us to be in the meac because we can advance to postseason play much easier than in a stronger conference. check hampton out, their women dominated the meac in basketball. but now, they struggle just to win a conference championship and haven't seen any postseason play since joining the big south. ya'll may think joining another conference will elevate a&t but neither tennessee state nor hampton have proven that. matter fact, quite to the contrary. other than track, none of their teams are advancing to postseason play... We are not Tennessee State nor Hampton. I would have to believe that our administration has an entirely plan than both of those schools. There's the old adage "iron sharpens iron." Now again no disrespect to the other member institutions, but we need to compete against the best more than just 1 or 2 games a season. Athletically, Let's be realistic a lot of the players that we graduate have a tough time making the league unfortunately because of our league. I do believe they will find you if you can play, but they are at an immediate disadvantage because of the level of competition. I'm not saying we should or could even join the ACC but a non P5 conference garners a little more respect that FCS. That alone will get you that extra look you may need. Maybe we should just reach our ceiling and be satisfied being thethe3q big fish in a little pond. No need to broaden our horizons and expand our footprint. Stay inside this neat little box. I saw a an HBCU Gameday from football season about Savannah state football getting a big win at Morehouse. They talked to some fans who said they were excited that SSU went back to SIAC because now they can travel to just about all the games. We, NCAT are a different breed of travelers, I personally attend just about every game, but if you're willing to sacrifice a potential financial windfall and more competitive athletics just to be able to drive to more games than let's just stay where we are and keep beating up on the sisters of the poor. can you "guarantee" that a&t will always be a football powerhouse? can you "guarantee" that dr. martin will always be our chancellor? these cycles don't last "forever", don't believe me ask wssu football about that. scsu by far has been the most "dominant" meac football program since the league was created, yet they're struggling now just to become relevant again. yes, we're riding high right now. but what's the guarantee it'll last forever? what's the guarantee that we won't digress just as famu has? what's the guarantee that dr. martin will always be our chancellor? no other a&t chancellor during my lifetime has prospered a&t like dr. martin has. who's to say that our next chancellor will keep it going? so we join a stronger conference, dr. martin leaves or retires, then what?
|
|