Another CAA potential

[danefan]

http://www.dailynews-record.com/sports_det...7115&CHID=3

 

One possibility would be for Georgia State to play in the North. While that sounds like a geographically flawed solution, Yeager pointed out that teams would have to fly to Georgia State either way, and the school is located close to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.A second option would have Villanova slide into the North Division, with Georgia State and ODU both playing in the South. That, however, would break up Villanova's longtime rivalry with Delaware and other southern schools.

 

A third scenario has the CAA splitting into three divisions - a north, central and south - with five teams in two divisions and four in the third.

 

That is the only sliver of hope left to get into the CAA for football.

 

If the league splits into three divisions you could end up with the following:

 

North

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Maine

Northeastern

Rhode Island

 

Central

Hofstra

Villanova

Delaware

Towson

[ ]

South

Georgia State

Old Dominion

William & Mary

James Madison

Richmond

 

 

That leaves a natural place for a football-only affiliate (Albany or Stony Brook) in the Central Division.

If Fordham leaves the Patriot League (we'll know that in June) they will get that spot over Albany. If not, then it could be Albany's.

However, if we don't make some progress on stadium and scholarships before then, that spot, if offered to anyone, would more likely go to Stony Brook, IMO.

[ATL_DANE]

I'm hopeful but that may be all that it is. UAlbany has made one mistake after another. It sounds like Fordham will be leaving the Patriot League, so they have first choice. Even if they do not leave, why not choose Stony Brook? They have a new stadium. They are full scholarship. They are a "flagship". They are everything UAlbany is not.

 

Albany and the Capitol District have failed one too many times. The Capitol District is losing as much if not more than UAlbany. From the flagship issue to the stadium, the big losers are the prople in that region... worst thing is they don't even know what they lost. Complete ignorance.

[danefan]

I'm hopeful but that may be all that it is. UAlbany has made one mistake after another. It sounds like Fordham will be leaving the Patriot League, so they have first choice. Even if they do not leave, why not choose Stony Brook? They have a new stadium. They are full scholarship. They are a "flagship". They are everything UAlbany is not.

 

Albany and the Capitol District have failed one too many times. The Capitol District is losing as much if not more than UAlbany. From the flagship issue to the stadium, the big losers are the prople in that region... worst thing is they don't even know what they lost. Complete ignorance.

 

 

There are a few valid (not homerish) reasons why the CAA would take Albany over SBU:

 

The major draw to Albany over SBU would be 4 things: (1) Albany has just flat out been a more succesful program at every level (see Hofstra scores from last year as a micro-comparison); (2) Bob Ford (the winningest active FCS coach); (3) Hofstra would fight against SBU; and (4) location - The CAA already has access to NYC with Hofstra, SBU is not as accessible to other CAA teams (especially southern teams) as Albany, and Albany has a greater prescense in the local media market (what does that say about how Newsday treats SBU) than SBU will ever have in NYC.

 

SBU has the clear edge on (1) gameday facilities and (2) scholarships right now.

 

Both of which would have to be fixed for Albany to be considered.

 

However, I can see the CAA coming to McElroy and offering a spot conditioned upon a committment to upgrade the stadium and scholarships within a few years. But maybe they take the easy way out and just go to SBU. I wouldn't blame them for it.

[wrmc7]

Alright AS17...you told me to come to this site a few weeks back and I am finally ready to make my first post. This CAA idea is a shot in the dark...lets be real...UA moved to Division 1AA 10 years ago. The football team has been the most accomplished sport over the schools history...there's no question. In the past 10 years football has won 3 titles, shared another and won 2 bowl games. If my memory serves me right they have had 2 losing seasons in that span, 2000 (5-6) and 2004 (4-7) UA has accomplished this under Division 3 facilities. UA will continue to get players as long as Ford is there...the man can coach, sell, outwork anyone...the ease he puts to incoming recruits mothers is insane...they want their kid to go play for him, and most do. Who knows when he decides to hang them up...but when he does, if Albany doesnt have a stadium or a realistic suitable home field then they wont compete in the NEC let alone the CAA or any other conference.

 

AS you and I graduated in the spring of 2004 and the talks were in place in 2002 after we won our first championship. When we shared in 2003 the talks heated up even more for a new stadium. We've won 2 more championships since, Beat Delaware at Delaware in front of 20k+ (McElroy in Attendance) and have had other big wins and close calls...and what has UA done to any facility since we've been there? Lockeroom is still the same...upgraded in 2001 to a D1 lockeroom...im sorry everyone has a nice lockeroom...not gonna sell the school or get recruits...the fields are the same...probably the best playing surface in the northeast...no lie...University field is the best natural grass surface in the east...but its now 2009 and still nothing, no answers, no plans, no construction, and funding in this economy, forget it...its the domino effect.

 

I leave you with this...I've had the priveledge to score a few TD's at University field...no greater moment in a young football players life...i got to share that with my teammates, my family, oh wait thats only if they could see it from where they were sitting...

 

Until the shovel is in the ground dont hold your breath about and movement in conference...and if we dont get a stadium before Ford leaves we will mesh right in with the St Francis' and Wagner's of the world...

[danefan]

Alright AS17...you told me to come to this site a few weeks back and I am finally ready to make my first post. This CAA idea is a shot in the dark...lets be real...UA moved to Division 1AA 10 years ago. The football team has been the most accomplished sport over the schools history...there's no question. In the past 10 years football has won 3 titles, shared another and won 2 bowl games. If my memory serves me right they have had 2 losing seasons in that span, 2000 (5-6) and 2004 (4-7) UA has accomplished this under Division 3 facilities. UA will continue to get players as long as Ford is there...the man can coach, sell, outwork anyone...the ease he puts to incoming recruits mothers is insane...they want their kid to go play for him, and most do. Who knows when he decides to hang them up...but when he does, if Albany doesnt have a stadium or a realistic suitable home field then they wont compete in the NEC let alone the CAA or any other conference.

 

AS you and I graduated in the spring of 2004 and the talks were in place in 2002 after we won our first championship. When we shared in 2003 the talks heated up even more for a new stadium. We've won 2 more championships since, Beat Delaware at Delaware in front of 20k+ (McElroy in Attendance) and have had other big wins and close calls...and what has UA done to any facility since we've been there? Lockeroom is still the same...upgraded in 2001 to a D1 lockeroom...im sorry everyone has a nice lockeroom...not gonna sell the school or get recruits...the fields are the same...probably the best playing surface in the northeast...no lie...University field is the best natural grass surface in the east...but its now 2009 and still nothing, no answers, no plans, no construction, and funding in this economy, forget it...its the domino effect.

 

I leave you with this...I've had the priveledge to score a few TD's at University field...no greater moment in a young football players life...i got to share that with my teammates, my family, oh wait thats only if they could see it from where they were sitting...

 

Until the shovel is in the ground dont hold your breath about and movement in conference...and if we dont get a stadium before Ford leaves we will mesh right in with the St Francis' and Wagner's of the world...

 

that's your first post? So pessimistic! jk

 

I agree with you, but what would we BS about now if we weren't dreaming the CAA dream for a little longer.

 

Nice to have you here by the way. We need another football alumn on this board.

[wrmc7]

Haha...not pessimistic, just a realist...You and I both know where my heart is...but history leads my head in another direction...I may stop over to the scrimmage tomorrow...depends how much yard work I get to in the morning...If I do I will let you know how they look...