Sacred Heart - FCS Independent

[aceinthehole]

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[DFW HOYA]

Where do they land? Barring a major course correction from the MEAC, I'd guess....Big South/OVC.

This would leave the NEC at six:

Central Connecticut
Duquesne
LIU
St Francis
Stonehill
Wagner

[aceinthehole]

Where do they land? Barring a major course correction from the MEAC, I'd guess....Big South/OVC.

This would leave the NEC at six:

Central Connecticut
Duquesne
LIU
St Francis
Stonehill
Wagner

SHU and Merrimack will likely remain stuck as FCS Independents for at least a couple years, until there is a bigger shakeup in FCS (such as America East football). They likely aren't going to want to join the BigSouth/OVC without RMU and Bryant (Monmouth or SBU) there anymore.

The NEC will have 7 members going forward (Bobby Mo rejoins NEC football this fall). That's an even 6-game league slate for all members. Add FBS and D-II games, and you can schedule the remaining FCS games among the PL/Ivy/MEAC/CAA.

[Baron Sardonicus]

The NEC will have 7 members going forward (Bobby Mo rejoins NEC football this fall). That's an even 6-game league slate for all members. Add FBS and D-II games, and you can schedule the remaining FCS games among the PL/Ivy/MEAC/CAA.

Plus Chicago State in '25 or '26, if fundraising goes well.

[downbythebeach]

Sacred Heart has been raising their athletic profile. They certainly have better facilities and game days than some of the newer CAA teams. Check out their new hockey stadium on YouTube. But Merrimack is pretty crummy even for the NEC so I don’t know where they land. Like I can’t imagine the CAA would want them and they are in Mass so kind of geographically isolated.

[Dane96]

Sacred Heart has been raising their athletic profile. They certainly have better facilities and game days than some of the newer CAA teams. Check out their new hockey stadium on YouTube. But Merrimack is pretty crummy even for the NEC so I don’t know where they land. Like I can’t imagine the CAA would want them and they are in Mass so kind of geographically isolated.

Agree they are raising their profile however, there isn't a single CAA football team that SHU's stadium would hold a candle to. Even Bryant's setup "pre-expansion" is light years better. If SHU built a stadium (not sure they have room) I can see maybe some interest if the CAA North ever broke up. MAYBE. That said, SHU wants the PL...it's not even a secret.

[ngineer]

Agree they are raising their profile however, there isn't a single CAA football team that SHU's stadium would hold a candle to. Even Bryant's setup "pre-expansion" is light years better. If SHU built a stadium (not sure they have room) I can see maybe some interest if the CAA North ever broke up. MAYBE. That said, SHU wants the PL...it's not even a secret.

Never, ever going to happen. PL presidents won't allow it...unless there was an emergency situation to replace a sudden departure.

[UNHWildcat18]

Their football facilities are awful and neither are capable of making them significantly nicer IMHO. I think its Big South or INDY for a longgggg time, unless the NEC allows them to come back as associates down the road.

[taper]

Don't think it'll happen, but there's been surprisingly little news about how the Summit League has started the clock on the 2 year grace period for dropping below sponsorship requirements. Adding SHU and Merrimack as FB affiliates gets us to 6 and solves our problem. Creates some new problems, but that's something future us have to deal with.

[ST_Lawson]

Don't think it'll happen, but there's been surprisingly little news about how the Summit League has started the clock on the 2 year grace period for dropping below sponsorship requirements. Adding SHU and Merrimack as FB affiliates gets us to 6 and solves our problem. Creates some new problems, but that's something future us have to deal with.

Maybe I'm just confused about what you're saying. Summit League doesn't sponsor football, so you wouldn't be adding SHU and Merrimack as FB affiliates.

I think the CAA Football splitting up and adding SHU and Merrimack is more likely. That'd be 17 total football-playing teams. Split it into 8 and 9-team conferences.