Now the Colonial Athletic Association could be in trouble. Hot on the heels of the Va. Commonwealth Rams leaving for the Atlantic 10 this year, the Old Dominion Monarchs announced that they will join Conference USA effective July 1, 2013.
University president John Broderick commented on the move, making it clear that football was a major part in the decision to leave the Colonial.
Conference USA offers us a unique opportunity. Football certainly was a driving force in this decision. ... But football is only one part of this. We know the potential of all our sports to be successful and compete for conference championships and NCAA championships.
This move means that their football team, revived in 2008, will rise to the Bowl Subdivision by 2015.
Now the George Mason Patriots seem to be in a no-win position as just a basketball school. Their two biggest competitors are leaving the conference and with the CAA's television deal with NBC sports, the Patriots are no longer playing in the ESPN Bracketbuster games, taking away both exposure and a quality game opportunity. What will be the next step for the Patriots.