G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[BlueBlood]

Haven't heard any official news since Northwood (joining G-MAC 2022-23) and Thomas More (joining G-MAC 2023-24) announcements.

USI announced its doing a D1 exploratory study.

Then, there are the GVSU rumors re FCS. There is a lot of smoke on that one, as multiple football recruits have said the GVSU coaching staff not only mentioned the move to FCS generically, but to the OVC specifically.

[purduefan11]

[BlueBlood]

Yeah, we thought Notre Dame would jump, too.

Yeah, but that has the whole bad-blood thing that we know exists but I don't think any of us really has the whole story on.

[UFOILERFAN]

Yeah, we thought Notre Dame would jump, too. That being said, the GLVC should move their headquarters to Missouri.

[kdubnation]

Yeah I agree, but of course with UIndy I don't think it's ever been a "raiding" kind of thing but more where do they fit best? And to your point that's been shifting more and more into the G-MAC footprint over the past few years. That's partly because of schools like Bellarmine leaving, St. Joe's going belly up, etc, but also when you combine the footprint moves that the G-MAC has made (i.e. bringing it closer to Indy) and the moves the GLVC has made (adding schools farther away from Indy to make up for those that have left) it's rapidly becoming a choice for Indy whether to sit on an island or move.

That being said, they might choose to sit on the island. KWC and TNU have done so within the G-MAC, though to be fair we don't really have any significantly better footprint to move into conference wise as we're on the outer edge of pretty much every conference. So who knows what will happen.

[BlueBlood]

I'm fairly certain that there has been an understanding between the G-MAC and the GLVC regarding the G-MAC not pursuing GLVC schools. As most here know - Commissioner Daeger was the Associate Commissioner for the GLVC prior to leading the G-MAC. By all appearances, he left the GLVC on very good terms and has maintained a very good relationship with his former employer. The G-MAC and GLVC offices are literally down the street from each other and the conferences have even posted pictures of joint parties and lunches on social media. I don't think all of that would be going on if there was a "they are trying to raid us" situation.

However, while there may not be active courting of UIndy, its undeniable that the G-MAC has low-key built something that may be very appealing to UIndy. Adding long-time UIndy rivals Hillsdale and Ashland is significant, as is geography and familiarity with other new G-MAC members. Basically, the G-MAC did a real nice job creating a "build it and they will come" situation.

Conversely, in the GLVC, UIndy has witnessed the exodus of KWC, St Josephs and Bellarmine. Now USI is possibly out the door too. As was said above, UIndy's island is getting further and further from the mainland.

At this point, I think there is a better chance of UIndy moving to the G-MAC or going D1 than there is that they stay in the GLVC much longer.

[kdubnation]

It has to be looking more and more appealing to them

[WKYDave]

It will be interesting to see if possible USI movement helps jiggle UIndy free.

Agree...does Lewis follow Parkside and look at GLIAC also?

[UFOILERFAN]

It will be interesting to see if possible USI movement helps jiggle UIndy free.

UIndy Island might be even further away from the GLVC Mainland.

[BlueBlood]

It will be interesting to see if possible USI movement helps jiggle UIndy free.

[BlueBlood]

G-MAC added men's/women's bowling to the website. There isn't a lot of info under those tabs yet - but they are there.

[kdubnation]

Awkward to have 17 for women's sports though.

With Ursuline we've been at an awkward number of women's teams since the beginning...it's just a different awkward number every year. Not that big of a deal.

[BlueBlood]

BTW - TMU has some sports that the G-MAC is trying to build membership in: Wrestling, Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Bowling.

[UFOILERFAN]

Awkward to have 17 for women's sports though.

With Thomas More the GMAC will have an even number of football schools, Football is much harder to schedule with an odd number, so I'm good.

[Inkblot]

I still hold out hope that Georgetown and Cumberland give joining NCAA another try and that Indy will join. That would give a 16 men's sports conference that could go to North Division and South Division.with I-70 as dividing line. I don't know why Cumberland was refused DII status. At the time Georgetown was under watch by its accreditation board but is now on good terms. Rumors at the time were that GLVC and GLIAC black-balled them to keep GMAC from reaching auto bid status. I don't know if that's true but they were the only NAIA schools refused entry. If that's true there is no reason for the conferences to oppose them now.

South "Travel Partners" - ODU/Cedarville, Thomas More/Indy, KWC/Georgetown, TNU/Cumberland
North "Travel Partners" - Hillsdale/Northwood, Findlay/Tiffan, Ashland/Lake Erie, Malone/Walsh

Awkward to have 17 for women's sports though.