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Conference Realignment Board

VTHokie2000

Joined: 01/01/2005 Posts: 33818
Likes: 12458


I don't disagree that soccer is the most popular sport in the world


I loved playing as a youth and as an adult. However, the "culture" of a state may have certain views of men's soccer at the HS level to where it is not played at every HS in the state. Instead, it may only be played in certain parts of the state or not at all. The reason I focused on the HS level is because if very few HS in a state are sponsoring the sport, then there is less incentive for the major universities in the state to consider sponsoring the sport.

I grew up in the Shen. Valley. Growing up and even through HS lacrosse and field hockey were viewed as a sport only played at HS with "rich and preppy" kids. Western Albemarle sponsored both sports. Whereas none of the public HS (not sure about the few private schools) in the Shen. Valley sponsored either sport. I graduated from HS in 1996 and it wouldn't surprise me if no HS in the Valley (or very few at best) sponsor either sport today. I am not sure what the attitude of either sports in the 757, southern VA, or SWVA. If the only HS in VA that sponsor men's lacrosse are around C'ville, Richmond, and NOVA, then it may be tough for a school like VT to justify the expense associated with sponsoring the sport and satisfying Title IX requirements (i.e. expenses associated with women's programs). The other ACC schools that don't sponsor men's lacrosse may be in a similar position especially if a majority of their players would come from out-of-state and every player wouldn't be able to receive a full athletic scholarship.

The Big XII and SEC are not the only regional conferences. Depending on how you want to define "regional conference," you could say that the other power conferences are regional in other sports:

ice hockey - Big Ten is the only power conference to sponsor the sport
lacrosse - I don't believe the Pac-12 sponsors the sport
field hockey - I don't be the Pac-12 sponsors the sport
water polo - Pac-12 is the only power conference to sponsor the sport
[Post edited by VTHokie2000 at 06/08/2016 9:59PM]

(In response to this post by HOO86)

Posted: 06/08/2016 at 9:59PM



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Current Thread:
 
  
Good post from another board -- SoCloseHokie 06/08/2016 09:44AM
  Chuck the PAC12 was absent in the CFP -- HOO86 06/08/2016 10:56AM
  I agree with you that I would prefer seeing a conference -- VTHokie2000 06/08/2016 11:33AM
  Participation numbers do it for you. -- HOO86 06/08/2016 12:33PM
  WRT ice hockey, I wasn't just considering the NHL. -- VTHokie2000 06/08/2016 12:46PM
  I like Ice Hockey myself. -- HOO86 06/08/2016 1:17PM
  My head's not in the sand. -- chuckd4vt 06/08/2016 11:02AM
  Re: My head's not in the sand. -- SoCloseHokie 06/08/2016 12:56PM
  We are where we need to be. -- East Cobb Hokie 06/08/2016 11:04AM
  VT is in a really sticky situation here. -- chuckd4vt 06/08/2016 11:28AM
  Re: VT is in a really sticky situation here. -- SoCloseHokie 06/08/2016 12:09PM

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