Post by aggiejazz on Oct 1, 2007 9:49:45 GMT -5
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thetandd.com/blogs/?p=328
The grass is not always greener
September 28th, 2007 by Following the Bulldogs
By Thomas Grant
Could South Carolina State depart the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the Southern Conference?
Apparently, SCSU chairman Maurice Washington believes the school should take a serious look into such a possibility. At Thursday’s board meeting, Washington brought up the issue in suggesting the move would reduce travel costs for the athletics department in allowing SCSU to play teams closer to home.
“We need to make a prudent examination into this,” Washington said.
SCSU President Andrew Hugine provided a rebuttal, stating the MEAC plans to expand in future years and this could divide the conference into two separate subdivisions like the Southeastern Conference. This would allow SCSU to schedule more non-conference opponents which could also allow games taking place closer to Orangeburg.
Considering both the MEAC and the NCAA for that matter currently have moratoriums in place preventing further conference expansions, such a prospect could be years in the making if ever.
But back to Washington’s proposal. On the surface, it looks like a good idea for both revenue-making sports like football and basketball. The football team would get to compete in one of the best Football Championship Subdivision conferences in America, one with a significantly higher power ranking in the MEAC and face teams geographically close like Furman, Wofford, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. SCSU would also bring a loyal fan following to these venues, insuring higher gate attendance for the SoCon teams they face on the road.
For[get]sic the positives for the revenue-sports, there are several unspoken negatives about making such a move. Number one, none of the non-revenue sports are in position right now to even compete in the SoCon with exception to tennis. Track and field, cross-country, softball, volleyball and soccer have all performed poorly in recent years not only in the MEAC, but outside the conference against teams from the SoCon and even Big South. Those same schools also even a major advantage in recruiting since - let’s be honest - it’s easier to recruit a white student-athlete who’s only at an FCS level to attend a Furman or Wofford than it is to attend SCSU. Unless the current coaches or administration at SCSU are willing to expand their reach, such a development will not change anytime soon and they can count on being one of the bottom-feeders for years to come in the SoCon or Big South.
There’s also another unspoken truth which applies to football and basketball and it pertains to attendance. While SCSU will bring a crowd to a road stadium, it’s been shown that those same fans at Wofford, Furman and Georgia Southern will not return the favor and flock to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. SCSU football has accounted for two of the four largest crowds at Wofford College and one of the largest in Coastal Carolina’s school history, but only the game against Coastal Carolina drew well over 10,000 fans in Orangeburg. ...
thetandd.com/blogs/?p=328
The grass is not always greener
September 28th, 2007 by Following the Bulldogs
By Thomas Grant
Could South Carolina State depart the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the Southern Conference?
Apparently, SCSU chairman Maurice Washington believes the school should take a serious look into such a possibility. At Thursday’s board meeting, Washington brought up the issue in suggesting the move would reduce travel costs for the athletics department in allowing SCSU to play teams closer to home.
“We need to make a prudent examination into this,” Washington said.
SCSU President Andrew Hugine provided a rebuttal, stating the MEAC plans to expand in future years and this could divide the conference into two separate subdivisions like the Southeastern Conference. This would allow SCSU to schedule more non-conference opponents which could also allow games taking place closer to Orangeburg.
Considering both the MEAC and the NCAA for that matter currently have moratoriums in place preventing further conference expansions, such a prospect could be years in the making if ever.
But back to Washington’s proposal. On the surface, it looks like a good idea for both revenue-making sports like football and basketball. The football team would get to compete in one of the best Football Championship Subdivision conferences in America, one with a significantly higher power ranking in the MEAC and face teams geographically close like Furman, Wofford, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. SCSU would also bring a loyal fan following to these venues, insuring higher gate attendance for the SoCon teams they face on the road.
For[get]sic the positives for the revenue-sports, there are several unspoken negatives about making such a move. Number one, none of the non-revenue sports are in position right now to even compete in the SoCon with exception to tennis. Track and field, cross-country, softball, volleyball and soccer have all performed poorly in recent years not only in the MEAC, but outside the conference against teams from the SoCon and even Big South. Those same schools also even a major advantage in recruiting since - let’s be honest - it’s easier to recruit a white student-athlete who’s only at an FCS level to attend a Furman or Wofford than it is to attend SCSU. Unless the current coaches or administration at SCSU are willing to expand their reach, such a development will not change anytime soon and they can count on being one of the bottom-feeders for years to come in the SoCon or Big South.
There’s also another unspoken truth which applies to football and basketball and it pertains to attendance. While SCSU will bring a crowd to a road stadium, it’s been shown that those same fans at Wofford, Furman and Georgia Southern will not return the favor and flock to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. SCSU football has accounted for two of the four largest crowds at Wofford College and one of the largest in Coastal Carolina’s school history, but only the game against Coastal Carolina drew well over 10,000 fans in Orangeburg. ...
