Conference realignment moves that took effect July 1, 2018 | The Boneyard

Conference realignment moves that took effect July 1, 2018

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Below are all of the conference realignment moves that took effect as of July 1, 2018.

For UConn, women's lacrosse leaves the Big East and joins the American as the conference begins sponsorship of women's lacrosse.

School Sport(s) Former Conference New Conference Year

Belmont Bruins Men's soccer Horizon SoCon 2018[1]

California Baptist Lancers Full membership PacWest (Division II) WAC 2018[2]

Campbell Fighting Camels Football Pioneer League Big South 2018[3]

Cincinnati Bearcats Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Connecticut Huskies Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Daemen Wildcats[5] Men's volleyball No team Independent 2018[6]

East Carolina Pirates Women's lacrosse Independent The American 2018[4]

Eastern Michigan Eagles Softball, men's swimming & diving, women's tennis, wrestling MAC Dropping all four sports 2018[7]

Florida Gators Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Hampton Pirates Full membership (except football) MEAC Big South 2018[8][a]

Hampton Pirates Football MEAC Division I FCS independent 2018[9]

Hartwick Hawks[10] Men's soccer Sun Belt Empire 8 (Division III) 2018[11]

Hartwick Hawks[10] Women's water polo CWPA Dropping women's water polo 2018[11]

Holy Cross Crusaders Women's ice hockey NEHC (Division III) Hockey East 2018[12]

Idaho Vandals Football Sun Belt Big Sky 2018[13][14]

Kent State Golden Flashes Women's lacrosse No team ASUN 2018[15]

Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers[16] Bowling No team Independent 2018[17]

Lewis Flyers[16] Bowling No team Independent 2018[18]

Liberty Flames Football Big South Division I FBS independent 2018[19]

Liberty Flames Full membership (except football, field hockey and women's swimming & diving) Big South ASUN 2018[20]

Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Men's soccer No team NEC 2018[21]

New Mexico State Aggies Football Sun Belt Division I FBS independent 2018[13]

North Alabama Lions Full membership (except football) Gulf South (Division II) ASUN 2018[22]

North Alabama Lions Football Gulf South (Division II) Division I FCS independent 2018[23]

North Dakota Fighting Hawks Full membership (except football) Big Sky Summit League 2018[24]

North Dakota Fighting Hawks Football Big Sky Division I FCS independent 2018[25]

Old Dominion Monarchs Women's lacrosse ASUN Big East 2018[26]

Old Dominion Monarchs Women's rowing Big 12 The American 2018[27]

Presbyterian Blue Hose Wrestling No team Division I independent 2018[28]

St. Bonaventure Bonnies Men's lacrosse Club team TBA 2018[29]

Saint Vincent Bearcats[30] Bowling Independent AMCC[31] 2018[32]

Salem International Tigers[33] Women's water polo Club team WWPA 2018[34]

SIU Edwardsville Cougars Wrestling SoCon MAC 2018[35]

Southern Miss Lady Eagles Beach volleyball No team CCSA 2018[36]

TCU Horned Frogs Beach volleyball Independent CCSA 2018[36]

Temple Owls Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Urbana Blue Knights[5] Men's volleyball No team Independent 2018[37]

USC Upstate Spartans Full membership (non-football) ASUN Big South 2018[38]

Utah Utes Men's lacrosse Club team TBA 2018[39]

Vanderbilt Commodores Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Walsh Cavaliers[16] Bowling No team Independent 2018[40]

Wittenberg Tigers[41] Women's water polo No team CWPA 2018[42]
 
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Below are all of the conference realignment moves that took effect as of July 1, 2018.

For UConn, women's lacrosse leaves the Big East and joins the American as the conference begins sponsorship of women's lacrosse.

School Sport(s) Former Conference New Conference Year

Belmont Bruins Men's soccer Horizon SoCon 2018[1]

California Baptist Lancers Full membership PacWest (Division II) WAC 2018[2]

Campbell Fighting Camels Football Pioneer League Big South 2018[3]

Cincinnati Bearcats Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Connecticut Huskies Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Daemen Wildcats[5] Men's volleyball No team Independent 2018[6]

East Carolina Pirates Women's lacrosse Independent The American 2018[4]

Eastern Michigan Eagles Softball, men's swimming & diving, women's tennis, wrestling MAC Dropping all four sports 2018[7]

Florida Gators Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Hampton Pirates Full membership (except football) MEAC Big South 2018[8][a]

Hampton Pirates Football MEAC Division I FCS independent 2018[9]

Hartwick Hawks[10] Men's soccer Sun Belt Empire 8 (Division III) 2018[11]

Hartwick Hawks[10] Women's water polo CWPA Dropping women's water polo 2018[11]

Holy Cross Crusaders Women's ice hockey NEHC (Division III) Hockey East 2018[12]

Idaho Vandals Football Sun Belt Big Sky 2018[13][14]

Kent State Golden Flashes Women's lacrosse No team ASUN 2018[15]

Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers[16] Bowling No team Independent 2018[17]

Lewis Flyers[16] Bowling No team Independent 2018[18]

Liberty Flames Football Big South Division I FBS independent 2018[19]

Liberty Flames Full membership (except football, field hockey and women's swimming & diving) Big South ASUN 2018[20]

Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Men's soccer No team NEC 2018[21]

New Mexico State Aggies Football Sun Belt Division I FBS independent 2018[13]

North Alabama Lions Full membership (except football) Gulf South (Division II) ASUN 2018[22]

North Alabama Lions Football Gulf South (Division II) Division I FCS independent 2018[23]

North Dakota Fighting Hawks Full membership (except football) Big Sky Summit League 2018[24]

North Dakota Fighting Hawks Football Big Sky Division I FCS independent 2018[25]

Old Dominion Monarchs Women's lacrosse ASUN Big East 2018[26]

Old Dominion Monarchs Women's rowing Big 12 The American 2018[27]

Presbyterian Blue Hose Wrestling No team Division I independent 2018[28]

St. Bonaventure Bonnies Men's lacrosse Club team TBA 2018[29]

Saint Vincent Bearcats[30] Bowling Independent AMCC[31] 2018[32]

Salem International Tigers[33] Women's water polo Club team WWPA 2018[34]

SIU Edwardsville Cougars Wrestling SoCon MAC 2018[35]

Southern Miss Lady Eagles Beach volleyball No team CCSA 2018[36]

TCU Horned Frogs Beach volleyball Independent CCSA 2018[36]

Temple Owls Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Urbana Blue Knights[5] Men's volleyball No team Independent 2018[37]

USC Upstate Spartans Full membership (non-football) ASUN Big South 2018[38]

Utah Utes Men's lacrosse Club team TBA 2018[39]

Vanderbilt Commodores Women's lacrosse Big East The American 2018[4]

Walsh Cavaliers[16] Bowling No team Independent 2018[40]

Wittenberg Tigers[41] Women's water polo No team CWPA 2018[42]
Interesting. So UConn, Cinci, Temple, Florida and Vanderbilt are leaving the Big East for Women's Lacrosse in the AAC. The big east is adding ODU.
 
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Interesting. So UConn, Cinci, Temple, Florida and Vanderbilt are leaving the Big East for Women's Lacrosse in the AAC. The big east is adding ODU.

I think I need to watch some lacrosse....seems to be an up-and-coming sport. ;)
 
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Interesting. So UConn, Cinci, Temple, Florida and Vanderbilt are leaving the Big East for Women's Lacrosse in the AAC. The big east is adding ODU.

With East Carolina also now playing women's lacrosse, the AAC will now be sponsoring the sport. It seems that Florida and Vanderbilt voted with their feet on who they thought would be the better league. Plus, believe it or not, in this case the AAC is probably the more geographically compact league when compared to the Big East.
 
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I am kind of surprised the AAC didn't take ODU for women's lacrosse but maybe UF and Vanderbilt (at least) insisted on ODU building their program up through the Big East first.

California Baptist and Liberty are stepping it up, while Idaho is taking a step down. Couldn't keep up with former PCC members who now make up the Pac-12, joining the other former PCC member Montana.

Holy Cross is probably next in line to join the Hockey East in men's hockey.
 
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I am kind of surprised the AAC didn't take ODU for women's lacrosse but maybe UF and Vanderbilt (at least) insisted on ODU building their program up through the Big East first.

The AAC decided to sponsor women's lacrosse, and in order to do that, a conference needs 6 teams. ODU simply wasn't needed. Having ODU enter the Big East gives that conference 6 women's lacrosse teams as well, and allows it to continue offering the sport. ODU is also a member of the Big East for field hockey as well, so it allows a couple of their programs to be under the same conference tent. I can see this as being important for UConn, since at this point it surely wants to maintain good relations with the Big East, considering that is where their national championship field hockey team plays.
 
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The AAC decided to sponsor women's lacrosse, and in order to do that, a conference needs 6 teams. ODU simply wasn't needed. Having ODU enter the Big East gives that conference 6 women's lacrosse teams as well, and allows it to continue offering the sport. ODU is also a member of the Big East for field hockey as well, so it allows a couple of their programs to be under the same conference tent. I can see this as being important for UConn, since at this point it surely wants to maintain good relations with the Big East, considering that is where their national championship field hockey team plays.
But ODU is joining the AAC for women's rowing, which is why I was speculating why ODU would be in the Big East, still. It turns out they need ODU to remain at 6 teams in women's lacrosse after the departures.
 
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To summarize ...

Membership Changes
  • Cal Baptist from D2 to WAC
  • Hampton from MEAC to Big South
  • Liberty from Big South to Atl Sun
  • No Alabama from D2 to Atl Sun
  • No Dakota from Big Sky to Summit
  • USC Upstate from AtlSun to Big South

Football
  • FBS: NMSU from SunB to Ind
  • FCS->FBS: Liberty (BigSo to Ind)
  • FBS->FCS: Idaho (SunB to Big Sky)
  • FCS: Campbell: Pioneer -> Big South
  • to FCS Ind:
    • Hampton (from MEAC)
    • No Ala (D2)
    • No Dakota (Big Sky)
Mens Lacrosse
  • St Bonaventure & Utah adding sport (Conf TBA)

Womens Lacrosse
  • Cinci, UConn, Fla, Temple, Vandy from BE to American
  • E Carolina adding sport, to American
  • ODU from AtlSun to BE
  • Kent St adding sport, to AtlSun
Mens Soccer
  • Belmont: Horizon to SoCon
  • Hartwick (SunBelt) downgrading to D3
  • Mt St Marys adding sport (NEC)
Womens Hockey
  • Holy Cross: D3 to Hockey East
Also
  • EMichigan dropping 4 sports
  • 1 school adding Wresting, 1 conf shift
  • 3 schools adding Bowling, 1 conf shift
  • 2 schools adding Men's VB
  • 1 school adding Beach VB, 1 conf shift
  • 2 schools adding Womens Water Polo, 1 drop
  • Womens Rowing: ODU from B12 to AAC
 

whaler11

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I remember when the conference realignment board was just a gleam in Fishy and Nan’s eyes.

Imagine their pride as their baby hits double digits that the realitive value of the AAC and the Big East are being debated in...
women’s lacrosse.

This is probably the most important discussion since BIGTENMAN broke North Dakota State to the Big Ten for rasslin.

When they landed 5 star Leapin Lanny Poffo Jr we saw the huge impact the BTN money had on the rasslin’ landscape.
 
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I remember when the conference realignment board was just a gleam in Fishy and Nan’s eyes.

Imagine their pride as their baby hits double digits that the realitive value of the AAC and the Big East are being debated in...
women’s lacrosse.

This is probably the most important discussion since BIGTENMAN broke North Dakota State to the Big Ten for rasslin.

When they landed 5 star Leapin Lanny Poffo Jr we saw the huge impact the BTN money had on the rasslin’ landscape.
Imagine the day when ODU is a full member of the AAC.
 
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To summarize ...

Membership Changes
  • Cal Baptist from D2 to WAC
  • Hampton from MEAC to Big South
  • Liberty from Big South to Atl Sun
  • No Alabama from D2 to Atl Sun
  • No Dakota from Big Sky to Summit
  • USC Upstate from AtlSun to Big South

Football
  • FBS: NMSU from SunB to Ind
  • FCS->FBS: Liberty (BigSo to Ind)
  • FBS->FCS: Idaho (SunB to Big Sky)
  • FCS: Campbell: Pioneer -> Big South
  • to FCS Ind:
    • Hampton (from MEAC)
    • No Ala (D2)
    • No Dakota (Big Sky)
Mens Lacrosse
  • St Bonaventure & Utah adding sport (Conf TBA)

Womens Lacrosse
  • Cinci, UConn, Fla, Temple, Vandy from BE to American
  • E Carolina adding sport, to American
  • ODU from AtlSun to BE
  • Kent St adding sport, to AtlSun
Mens Soccer
  • Belmont: Horizon to SoCon
  • Hartwick (SunBelt) downgrading to D3
  • Mt St Marys adding sport (NEC)
Womens Hockey
  • Holy Cross: D3 to Hockey East
Also
  • EMichigan dropping 4 sports
  • 1 school adding Wresting, 1 conf shift
  • 3 schools adding Bowling, 1 conf shift
  • 2 schools adding Men's VB
  • 1 school adding Beach VB, 1 conf shift
  • 2 schools adding Womens Water Polo, 1 drop
  • Womens Rowing: ODU from B12 to AAC
That's too bad for Hartwick.

Hartwick College to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of NCAA Soccer Championship

image_handler.aspx
 
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That's too bad for Hartwick.

Small D3 school spending on scholarships to play in a conference with 5 Southern schools. Tough sell all the way around.
 
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I remember when the MARKETS of Tulsa and Tulane were made full AAC members.

After that does it really matter?
Tulane is in a bigger market than UConn I think.
 
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Tulane is in a bigger market than UConn I think.
Oops, media wise Hartford/New Haven is 32 and NOLA is 51. Of course they have an NBA team and an NFL team so it isn't all media market size.
 
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Oops, media wise Hartford/New Haven is 32 and NOLA is 51. Of course they have an NBA team and an NFL team so it isn't all media market size.

Indeed not...FIU has a larger market.

But like Tulane's market is dominated by LSU...FIU's market is dominated by the Canes
 

CL82

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Oops, media wise Hartford/New Haven is 32 and NOLA is 51. Of course they have an NBA team and an NFL team so it isn't all media market size.
And the Hartford/New Haven DMA doesn't include about 1/3 of the State of CT. Fairfield County (about 1M people) is in the NYC DMA.
 
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UConn represents the state of Connecticut, not just Hartford, Tolland and New Haven Counties. UConn absolutely does have a fan following in Fairfield County. It's not as if people here forgot where their taxes go.
 
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UConn represents the state of Connecticut, not just Hartford, Tolland and New Haven Counties. UConn absolutely does have a fan following in Fairfield County. It's not as if people here forgot where their taxes go.
It's just that our taxes head to Hartford and nicer come back.
 

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