Atlantic 10 Football: Coming Soon to a Stadium Near You!

Ernest Weeks by Contributor Written on August 21, 2008
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First, however, the conference would need to win over three more schools.

 

APPALACHIAN STATE

 

The Mountaineers of Appalachian State, known best for 2008’s pummeling of Michigan, field one of the best FBS programs around.  They already have the stadium for FBS (20k capacity) and are coming off three straight FCS national championships.

 

The Mountaineers would be an associate member for football purposes only so the new conference can remain 6/5 compliant and have an eight-game conference schedule.

 

 

 

EAST CAROLINA

 

The Mid-Atlantic at this time is a bad place to play football.  You’re way out of your geographical footprint, no matter where you end up.  East Carolina would happily join a more geographically sensible conference where they won’t have to trek to Texas every year.

 

ECU brings a rabid football fanbase and a football tradition that includes several top 25 finishes in the early '90s.  C-USA will lose a lot of luster for East Carolina if Memphis leaves for the Big East.

 

 

 

SUNY-BUFFALO

 

SUNY-Buffalo’s football program has fallen upon hard times since it upgraded to DI-A in 1999.  However, those attendance statistics aren’t as bad as the numbers lead you to believe.  15-20k is about average for a university so close to an NFL franchise.  

 

The University has a large alumni base and a 30k on-campus stadium.  All the tools are there for Division I football.  SUNY Buffalo just needs wins and regional competition to strengthen its D-I football program.

 

 

 

Here's look at my finished product.

 

Atlantic 10 Football Members: Massachusetts, Temple, UNC-Charlotte, Delaware, Georgia State, James Madison, East Carolina, SUNY-Buffalo

 

Atlantic 10 Basketball Members: Richmond, Saint Bonaventure, Fordham, Duquesne, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s, George Washington, Rhode Island

 

With the addition of SUNY-Buffalo, Appalachian State, and East Carolina, the Atlantic 10 would be ready to break ground on a brand new football conference.  The Atlantic 10 would also have a 16-team basketball league: large, but organized and stable.

 

It will be a bright day for the A-10 and college football fans alike.

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written on August 21, 2008 Opinion

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