Conference Evolution: ASUN/CCSA/UAC

On Tuesday, January 21, 2020, CCSA President Ted Gumbart presented a letter from the CCSA that invites seven members of the ASUN to join it for all sports, effective July 1, 2023. Below the reference links that follow is an interview with Gumbart.

Interview with CCSA President and ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart
January 21, 2020

Why did the ASUN decide to take this step?

The ASUN has a history of innovation and taking bold steps. We were the first to sponsor beach volleyball, we were the first conference to commit to and execute campus broadcast productions for ESPN, we were the first to build a two-conference plan for the growing sport of women’s lacrosse, we were the first conference to allow reclassifying members to play in our championships, we were a founding member of the CCSA, we entered a football partnership with the Big South, we had our students involved with the design of our logo and we were the first to have student-athlete ambassadors announce a new conference branding campaign, which they did through social media. That is when I learned what “trending” meant! We take pride in discovering options for growth, for opportunity and for innovation. The ASUN office was deeply involved in writing the legislation defining the criteria that establish conference core and continuity status. Those policies preserved the ongoing recognition of the ASUN as a Division I conference back in 2011. We constantly look to the future to protect our members. The primary motivation with this plan is to provide the best student-athlete experience possible and to provide the greatest benefits possible to the member institutions. The decision to take this step is part of our overall plan to build membership options that protect and enhance the opportunities and benefits we can provide.

The FAQ document acknowledges a scenario where the NCAA membership rejects the legislative proposal to recognize the CCSA as a Core Conference. What would happen if you had signed all the membership contracts and were denied Core status?

As noted, we would certainly appeal to receive the same privileges of membership that have been afforded to others. Recognition as a core conference would be a condition of any membership agreement in this scenario. If we were to experience a negative vote, that would not only be a surprising and disappointing outcome, but it would provide for an enlightening story about our membership. I wouldn’t think the story would end there.

Do you anticipate other conferences will follow the ASUN lead in developing new conferences?

I don’t, for a number of reasons. One, we are the only Division I conference in our footprint that does not sponsor football. That means we are the only one that can start football. The ability to build a new football conference primarily in the southeast is a dominant factor. A second key factor is that the ASUN is well versed in conference realignment and we recognize the need to be innovative, to be bold, and to meet the real market demands of the institutions and their students. Thankfully, we are blessed with a visionary set of Presidents that are willing to have an eye focused on the future. I also think there is a strong possibility that the steps we are executing may trigger some change in the future. The NCAA is studying its championship financial model, the role of Automatic Qualification in championship field size and selection, and it would be a natural reaction after our announcement for some form of moratorium to be put in place.

Isn’t the possibility of a moratorium on new member conferences a significant risk to the plan?

There is risk in any proactive step. With our plans having lost their confidential status, the larger risk is that a moratorium could have been put in place before we filed our letter. I’m not aware of any NCAA moratorium that applies retroactively. We considered the possibility of a moratorium in our action, but we are not predicting one. We simply recognize that outcome as a possibility and chose to put our plans on record as a proactive step in managing our membership. It is also noteworthy that the CCSA is already a Division I Conference member of the NCAA. Our moves will make it a multisport conference. The only remaining step is the legislative procedure to be recognized as a Core conference. We remain confident this will be the ultimate result.

Won’t there be a negative impact on the ASUN if this plan doesn’t work?

Wow. I can think of a bunch of quotes that would counter this line of thinking, all in the “nothing ventured, nothing gained” category. Here is one I enjoy that is attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer and statesman (1749-1832):

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” — Goethe.

The ASUN values the exploration of new ideas, as should be true in the full arena of higher education. The implementation of the plan rests on whether it delivers enough added value for institutions to depart their current setting and build from the foundation created in this new conference. There is great value in providing viable options in any marketplace, including Division I conference affiliation. We stand proud of our work and our support of student-athlete opportunity and we believe our market audience will share that pride.

What do you think the reaction will be among your commissioner colleagues?

You are asking me to read minds and predict the future; thanks for the confidence in my ability as a seer! Based on experience interacting with my CCA colleagues, it would be a pretty safe bet there will be mixed reactions. Those will likely include surprise, concern, questions and congratulations. I can tell you one thing, though, from my perspective. The ASUN should never fail to act when it has the chance to build a better environment under the NCAA rules for its student-athletes and its member institutions - current and future members included. We have four primary “beams” that guide our conference activity. It is by design that the first of these beams is “Students First.” Follow that with Rise, Connect, Impact. This plan fits perfectly.

How does forming a new conference help the current ASUN members?

As every conference, the ASUN seeks strength, stability, and maximum opportunity for student-athlete success, academically and athletically. The recipe for that outcome differs based on the assets you have to offer. Division I universities operate in a very diverse environment, providing different, yet equally valuable, opportunities for the spectrum of students and student-athletes we educate. For the ASUN, being innovative and nimble enough to provide AQ opportunities in the maximum number of sports is primary. Providing great institutional partners for the membership also carries great weight. The overall academic achievement, programs, and reputation of our schools provide tremendous attraction to potential members. The brand exposure for our institutions in key markets is also a great ASUN asset - for student recruiting, student-athlete recruiting, alumni engagement and development. ASUN members sit in some of the most influential markets in the eastern United States. Our analysis also indicates a level of conference value can be attributed to the willingness of the ASUN Presidents’ Council to take such steps. Visionary leaders provide a magnetic pull, helping us to continue our growth with similar individuals, teams, and institutions. The explicit benefit for our current members is to continue to provide all the benefits currently afforded, while adding to the stability, strength and market impact we deliver to that membership.