You're right. They could probably go at least 2 years not showing any games from the 2 best midmajor conferences in the country.
ESPN will just pick up more ACC games in their new contract with the ACC. They could care less about the CAA.
Wishlist to replace GSU: 1) College of Charleston (the next 3 are unlikely to happen) 2) Charlotte 3) u of r returns for all sports 4) Rhode Island joins CAA for all sports 5) Davidson Less good options, but give reasons to consider staying: 6) Winthrop 7) Longwood 8) Radford (Longwood and Radford are no better than the next list, but at least they are close) 9) Vermont? 10) Appy St? Teams that make you want to start looking elsewhere immediately: 10) Coastal Carolina 11) UNC-A or G or P or Q 12) New Hampshire 13) Maine (insert America East or Big South School here)
Let's hope so! The more that I think about it, the more that I think there's a chance that we could be pleasantly surprised with how the CAA addresses the GA State departure. I hear a lot of negativity being expressed about the new TV package and the loss of Bracketbusters, ESPN games, etc. I understand the basis for these concerns. However, one thing that people are failing to consider with the new TV deal is that there is revenue, for a change, that is being received as part of this deal. Granted, we don't know how much, but it sounds to be a significant change from the past.
If Mason and VCU go to the A10, I can't see Charleston leaving the Southern Conference. If VCU and Mason stay in the CAA, I'm sure Charleston still would not join the CAA unless they had a pretty strong guarantee that VCU and Mason were staying long term. Without VCU or Mason, the CAA would not be attrative to them. Regarding Rhode Island, I think they leaving the CAA in football next year for a lower conference.
CoC is clearly the best overall fit. I think it's more likely to see a northern team added that's why teams like longwood(ugh) or radford are unlikely. There's no chance in hell those schools get invited. URI did drop football but it's a solid basketball school. Not a great Academic fit in the CAA though. Think a crappier version of JMU academically. BTW If your even thinking about vermont, as much as I hate to say this but BU's a much better option. We would likely block the poop out of them like BC did to UConn but academically and in terms of athletic committment they might be a nice fit--Agganis Arena is a Gorgeous arena, however it's a 60 million dollar version of matthews(Gorgeous hockey arena, but probably mediocre for basketball.) BU does make sense from a travel perspective though because a team can make two road trips exceptionally quickly. Originally the CAA was going to invite BU instead of NU but NU had football at the time so they were invited instead.
URI is moving their football to the NEC in 2013 (a down-grade). No chance of this happening unless they're somehow forced out of the A10.
