Merger Talk

[Karl Lynch]

If you want to think out loud about it, here goes.

Two division format

North

OU
OSU
Tech
UNT
SMU
TCU
BU
AC

South

LSU
Tulane
Rice
A&M
TSU
SEU
UT
SU
Trinity

Top four teams from each division go to playoffs

[Karl Lynch]

Three Division Format

North

OSU
OU
Tech
SMU
TCU
AC
UNT

Central

BU
UT
TSU
SU
SEU

South

LSU
Tulane
Rice
A&M
Trinity

[seulax10]

In the three division format, how many teams go to the playoffs from each division?

Where is UTSA? UTA?

[`MM9]

what are the chances of all this happening?

[murphlaxtx]

Quite honestly, I think that first option would work quite well.

[`MM9]

Why can't some of the struggling Div A teams, with very few players, bump down?

And Div B teams like TCU and SU can move up...keeping the Divisons more competitive??

[`MM9]

Quite honestly, I think that first option would work quite well.

too much power in the south?

[Kyle Berggren]

The PNCLL has run several different formats over the last five years, & one thing I can tell you is don't base the decisions based on now. If you're worried about power in the South, ask yourself if it was an issue 3 or 4 years ago? Things will change year in & year out, base your changes on what's best for the conference.

[benji]

Quite honestly, I think that first option would work quite well.

too much power in the south?

huh?

[`MM9]

In the 2-div scenario...

it seems like a lot of the power is concentrated in the Southern Division.

maybe a little biased

[Karl Lynch]

decisions on the breakdown has nothing to do with relative strengths of the teams. It has to do with regions and administrability. Team strength changes.

[lax4ever]

As much as I hate soccer, they work their divisions correctly. We ought to have two divisions A & B. Top 8 teams in the LSA are all in the 'A' division. Every year the bottom two teams in the LSA based on conference record move to the 'B' division while the top two teams in the 'B' division move to the 'A' division (the is the idea, logistics can change). This ensures we keep a strong conference. Moving everyone into one division will weaken, not strengthen, the LSA.

[KnoxVegas]

Whether you look at the B Division as stand-alone competitive entity or a developmental league, relegation provides the ultimate incentive to be competitive. It rewards teams in both divisions that are successful and allows weaker teams a chance to still play and be competitive rather than struggling to compete against stronger teams.

[porculator]

I think its a bad idea for these reasons:

Too many teams in the division means either you don't play everyone in the division, making the playoff scenario less fair, or a high minimum of games. Sometimes the smaller teams can't afford the ref fees (or the bogus ref travel fees) for a lot of games.

I'd rather not have the inevitable problems with div-B teams (forfeits, disorganization, etc) trickle into the A division. Thats just a pain in the ass for everyone.

[JW]

I definately understand the schools of thought on these games.

Cons - Makes teams like Texas Tech play against Austin College. I don't think that this is worth the trip for tech. While Austin College is improving, there is no way that they should be on the field with them. I will also speak about My Alma Mater. UTA, by rumor will attempt to field a team together. Whatever 10 guys show up to play the games will have a hard time competing with Tech, UT, UNT (as we always did).

Con - If UTSA, Nichols State, UTDallas, A&M Corpus Christi show back up, are we then going to bump teams down.

Pro - The three division format seems to be the better of the two formats. Seems to have a competitive balance as well as good regional balance.

In this format would the top 6 teams make the playoffs with the teams with the best records to make the playoffs?

My suggestion is to allow the teams that have the infrastructure to compete, but the teams that continually forfeit games to play in the developmental B-Division till they are prepared to hold an A - Division schedule...

I like the idea of moving teams up and down as the English Premier league does. The top two teams from the B-Division move up and the bottom two teams from the A - Division move down.

It will be difficult because divisions are supposed to be based on whether or not a University has a Division 1-A football program.

Tough decision to make either way you go about it.