Hampton looking to leave the MEAC for the CAA


T

TSUGIRL07

Well-Known Member
By: John O'Connor | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: May 23, 2012


Hampton's quest to join the CAA hit the local VA papers:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports...on-ar-1935400/

Might the Colonial Athletic Association respond to the loss of a member located in Hampton Roads by considering another university from the same area?

Hampton University has belonged to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference since 1995. HU president William R. Harvey in the past expressed interest in the CAA, which is losing state schools Virginia Commonwealth University (in July) and Old Dominion University (in 2013).

Harvey, HU's president since 1978, approached the CAA about membership when the Pirates elevated to Division I in the mid-1990s. The CAA opted not to invite HU then, or when the league expanded to include Towson, Delaware, Drexel and Hofstra for 2001-02.

The HU president's office Tuesday referred questions to Malcolm "Zeke" Avery, Hampton's interim athletics director.

"Hampton University continues to explore options about conferences and conference affiliations. We think that it's really prudent to do so for the continued competitiveness and welfare of our student-athletes," Avery said.

He chose not to comment when asked if HU has been in contact with the CAA about potential affiliation.
 



Well, we see everyone in 1-A land is making moves so we should look at moves too. BUT those in 1-A are making moves for more money and exposure. To what end would a move to CAA benefit Hampton? If they can get more exposure and more money, they are right to pursue the move.
 
the band fan said:
there's no AD over there....everyone knows the president IS THE UNIVERSITY
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Dr. Harvey will run Hampton whether they have a permanent AD or not. LOL He wanted Hampton in the CAA from the start, so this is not necessarily a surprise. The CAA sad no with ease last time, but hopefully the discussions going on now will give Hampton a fair shot if this is what they feel is best for their institution. Nothing wrong with making a move if it fits within the scheme of their strategic plan and goals. Dr. Harvey is an HBCU president with a vision, so I am sure this fits within his plan to take Hampton forward. Either way, I hope it works out for the Hampton students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters. It will be interesting to watch this unfold, especially if they are accepted.
 
TSUGIRL07 said:
Dr. Harvey will run Hampton whether they have a permanent AD or not. LOL He wanted Hampton in the CAA from the start, so this is not necessarily a surprise. The CAA sad no with ease last time, but hopefully the discussions going on now will give Hampton a fair shot if this is what they feel is best for their institution. Nothing wrong with making a move if it fits within the scheme of their strategic plan and goals. Dr. Harvey is an HBCU president with a vision, so I am sure this fits within his plan to take Hampton forward. Either way, I hope it works out for the Hampton students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters. It will be interesting to watch this unfold, especially if they are accepted.
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Dr. Harvey is a president with MONEY.... I would say most of our presidents have VISION... but VISION without money is only a dream.
 
I have said it once and I will say it again. Dr. Harvey is the best HBCU president in America. He will probably go down as one of the top 3 HBCU presidents of all time. Harvey has done wonders at Hampton. His footprint is all over the HBCU world too. His proteges are in high level positions across PWC's, HBCU's, and the Federal Govt.
 
Get Ready said:
Good Move Hamp
JSU...take notice
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We all need to take notice... we need to look at all options that will make us relevant in the years, decades to come. Maybe it's standing pat with what we have, maybe it's making a move to another conference, maybe it's expansion or reduction. Either way...we need to review all options.
 
They will fail miserably. Stop telling lies. Look at first just like anything folks will flop to it, then, but only then after it is worn out their attendance and everything else will fizzle out.
 
Without numbers, I can't say this is a good move and I don't think any of you can either. If they can make money and get out of that rinky-dink stadium, I will agree it's a good move but going to the CAA, they will probably need a smaller stadium than they have.
 
DAHILL said:
Dr. Harvey is a president with MONEY.... I would say most of our presidents have VISION... but VISION without money is only a dream.
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DAHILL I get what you are saying, but I would disagree. Most HBCU Presidents come into their positions not fully grasping the HBCU culture or knowing how to secure new donors by telling our unique individual stories. There are a few, but I definitely would not say most. Harvey took the time to understand the culture (he has been President for decades though), embraced it, figured out what resources he had and new ones that he could secure and went after them. A lot of our presidents don't do those things well. Harvey figured that out and adapted his vision, which is why Hampton is leading the way in a lot of ways for other HBCUs (beyond athletics). Yes they have money, but so does Howard and they are on a slow (some would say rapid) decline because their last two presidents did not understand the importance of the things I mentioned earlier. Money is important, but your vision and action plain should encompass ways to obtain additional funding and resources to accomplish it. If not, then you need to adjust your vision. Failure to do that is when you are merely dreaming.
 



jsupop33 said:
I have said it once and I will say it again. Dr. Harvey is the best HBCU president in America. He will probably go down as one of the top 3 HBCU presidents of all time. Harvey has done wonders at Hampton. His footprint is all over the HBCU world too. His proteges are in high level positions across PWC's, HBCU's, and the Federal Govt.
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+1
 
Tigerpride said:
Without numbers, I can't say this is a good move and I don't think any of you can either. If they can make money and get out of that rinky-dink stadium, I will agree it's a good move but going to the CAA, they will probably need a smaller stadium than they have.
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I agree TP - I still think Harvey has this figured out, but their athletic budget is still low compared to other CAA institutions. Townson's budget is 20.5 million and Hampton's was 11.5 mill last year.

I just don't want people to get into the mindset that running to a PWI conference is the answer. With good leadership in the SWAC, commitment to athletics across the board (financial and other resources), and better recruiting efforts we could be a powerhouse conference within 4-5 years (if leadership changed over today :swink:)
 
what glitters on the outside ain't what it seems on the inside (trust me)...Dahill said it right...the President has money as he owns some kind of Pepsi Plant.....

Like A&M to the SEC, the AD didn't want it but the president did and the AD gets canned.....will it benefit A&M in the long run? Who knows...this move is strictly the presidents decision
 
leaving an HBCU will kill morale on campus..... Im telling you , I saw it at Tn State.... it was so bad that they were VERY EXCITED to play Valley for homecoming. Their games are already empty... put those CAA schools on the schedule and they will have to give away tickets and Norfolk State right down the street will be THE SCHOOL in the area.
 
DAHILL said:
leaving an HBCU will kill morale on campus..... Im telling you , I saw it at Tn State.... it was so bad that they were VERY EXCITED to play Valley for homecoming. Their games are already empty... put those CAA schools on the schedule and they will have to give away tickets and Norfolk State right down the street will be THE SCHOOL in the area.
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DaHill, this is what some people don't understand. Unless you have a GREAT fanbase who will come out to see you regardless, you can't just make a move like this. People harp on the playoffs and they have 5000 people at playoff games. To the general popluation, 1-AA football is D2 and no one cares about it. These larger schools are making power moves mainly for money. A move to the CAA could get Hampton more money and if so, it would be worth it but i dont' think their fans would care to play those schools.
 
TSUGIRL07 said:
I agree TP - I still think Harvey has this figured out, but their athletic budget is still low compared to other CAA institutions. Townson's budget is 20.5 million and Hampton's was 11.5 mill last year.

I just don't want people to get into the mindset that running to a PWI conference is the answer. With good leadership in the SWAC, commitment to athletics across the board (financial and other resources), and better recruiting efforts we could be a powerhouse conference within 4-5 years (if leadership changed over today :swink:)
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Those are the only things that can help this God Awful Conference! We need Good Leadership and a CHANGE the MINDSET ...
 
people don't realize those PWCs want to play us also to boost their numbers.....winning is one thing but alot of them on our level and the smaller D-1 level struggle to fill their stands as they have a lot of fans who associate with the big state schools instead

When I see teams bragging on 25K and that's a record....we've pulled that for decades
 
JSUDMJ2004 said:
Those are the only things that can help this God Awful Conference! We need Good Leadership and a CHANGE the MINDSET ...
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LOL.. u really hate our conference don't you? All of the things she mentioned can be solved with one thing: MONEY! Money is the one thing we don't have. I think we are doing great to make it this far. Not many of us can even afford to fund scholarships in all of our sports.

What Hampton needs to do is find out how much money the CAA is splitting. I doubt that it's much but if it's significant, they may have a point in moving. If not, i don't see the benefit. If you are not going 1-A.. where the money, TV, marketing, fans and exposure are, stay put! That's just my opinion.
 
I would need to see some hard core numbers to determine if this is a good move financially. This would entail RESEARCH. The other thing is one would have to get into the head of Harvey to know what his agenda is. i.e. Does he have issues with the way the MEAC is run? Does he feel that Hampton has more in common with institutions in the CAA? Is he looking at moves of other institutions that used the CAA as a stepping stone for upward mobility? Does he plan on doubling his budget to strength his athletic department and compete on a higher level? Does he believe being a part of the CAA would reflect a better image on Hampton. Again, RESEARCH would be involved in answering some of these questions.
 
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