G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[ctrabs74]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Read through the PSAC thread about possible school closings. It appears to be three schools plus some PSU extension schools that I believe are D3. I would assume that to fill in, they would look hard at the WV schools? Makes sense. Would the WV schools in the GMAC prefer the PSAC?

I can't see that happening. For starters, most of the Penn State 'extension schools' are part of the USCAA, which is basically a notch below the NAIA. Also, the travel alone might deter any such jumps from taking place (Parkersburg, W.Va. to Erie, Pa. isn't exactly the easiest trip in the world).

[Tech Boys]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Just some observations from a G-MAC outsider. I'm going to back-up for a moment to say that I had thought the Mountain East would try to add a couple more Ohio schools to have members closer to Notre Dame College and Urbana with one being Lake Erie because of their rivalry with NDC but this idea ended with the big G-MAC Ohio expansion.

For the G-MAC now, the founding was intended to be an all-Ohio conference but instead it became a regional conference and at this point should look for more additions outside of Ohio. I have long supported adding Marion and Taylor. While they may not bridge the gap to Trevecca they would become TNU's 2nd (4.5 hours) and 4th (5.5 hours) shortest trips with all but about 7 miles each being interstate travel. Also, the gap to KWC is closed. Both schools have men's tennis which the G-MAC needs, Marion has wrestling, and Taylor is adding lacrosse (men in 2019 season and women in 2020 season). Georgetown College or another Kentucky school should also continue to be pursued. I'm not against more Ohio schools but I'd just like to see the conference in Indiana and another Kentucky first.

In wrestling, there will be 4 teams and could add as affiliates the 3 MEC teams and the 3 GLIAC teams since the GLIAC is dropping wrestling sponsorship this year. This makes a possible 10 team conference.

Swimming is starting to have some changes. The G-MAC will have 4 men/5 women teams (it appears Ursuline has dropped the sport). Three East Coast Conference schools have teams but Long Island and Connecticut are probably to far to consider them for affiliate membership but ECC member Roberts Wesleyan is starting teams for the 2017-18 season and is very close and could be considered for affiliate membership along with Salem International. This would give the conference 6 men/7 women teams. In other changes; Conference Carolinas has already announced that they will have women's s&d starting in 2017-18 with 5 full members and affiliate Chowan, men's s&d is an emerging sport so those 4 teams will compete in the CC and in their respective swim conferences for now. The South Atlantic has 6 m/w teams and could begin sponsorship soon while the Mountain East wants to add swimming but currently has only 5 m/w teams. If or when these changes take place, the Appalachian and Bluegrass swim conferences will end all affiliations with D2 schools.

[kwcpantherfan]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

It's official - Tiffin is joining in 2018-19

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

It's official - Tiffin is joining in 2018-19

It was a no brainer to me

Official release http://www.gotiffindragons.com/SIDHelp/m/a|4137.php

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

It's official - Tiffin is joining in 2018-19

Is it just me that is surprised it will take place in 18-19 rather than next year? I guess it would be to difficult to get the scheduling ready for next season. Still, glad they are coming aboard!

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

The operative word is "if" ... even so, as last as last year, Ashland remained committed to the GLIAC. I would be stunned if they bailed for the G-MAC, to be perfectly honest.

I think it's becoming more probable with Tiffin joining. Look at how isolated Ashland will be now! It's like TVN now. I agree football wise it would be best for them to stay in the GLIAC but being that far away from the rest of the league and their recent financial problems could point them to the GMAC. Total speculation but makes sense to me

[kwcpantherfan]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Is it just me that is surprised it will take place in 18-19 rather than next year? I guess it would be to difficult to get the scheduling ready for next season. Still, glad they are coming aboard!

Since they didn't decide when the others did, they probably had to remain in the GLIAC for 17-18 or face having to pay a big penalty to that league.

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Since they didn't decide when the others did, they probably had to remain in the GLIAC for 17-18 or face having to pay a big penalty to that league.

Yes forgot that aspect of the decision! Thank you

[ABjo]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

A big welcome to the Dragons! Fantastic news!

[UFOILERFAN]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Welcome to our neighbors, the Tiffin Dragons!!!

[BlueBlood]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

Very happy to be back in the same conference with Tiffin.

Dragons, Welcome to the G-MAC !!

[BlueBlood]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

As to Ashland:

Would I like them in the conference - Absolutely. They absolutely belong in this conference.

--- However ---

I honestly don't think you can take another GLIAC school. After Tiffin leaves, the GLIAC will have only six schools participating in a couple sports* - the bare minimum needed for a conference to sponsor a sport. You do not want to destabilize the GLIAC.


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*by my count, baseball and men's soccer dip to 6. men's and women's swimming both go to 5. Ashland and new member Davenport are the only remaining schools to sponsor wrestling.

[buckeyeblitz]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

I heard the rumblings about this at a club tournament that I was at over the weekend. What I heard was watch for the date that they would come in. I was told that Tiffin would come in for the fall of 2018 if Ashland was going to as well. If Ashland said no, then they would wait until 2019. So, if that is accurate, it would mean that Ashland is probably on the way as well. Personally, I do not think that they have a choice!

[UFSwimDad]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

As to Ashland:

Would I like them in the conference - Absolutely. They absolutely belong in this conference.

- However -

I honestly don't think you can take another GLIAC school. After Tiffin leaves, the GLIAC will have only six schools participating in a couple sports - the bare minimum needed for a conference to sponsor a sport. You do not want to destabilize the GLIAC.

You cannot or should not? I get what you are saying, that could be a peice of the puzzle that would significantly hurt GLIAC. But if Ashland wants to move to help with the cost of travel and what not, how can you deny them? I have confidence that the GLIAC will do just fine in replacing Tiffin and Ashland if they were to make the move. Now taking the UF fan in me out of this discussion, as I believe UF would love to have the Eagles join, I would prefer to focus on Indiana, WV, or perhaps a Louisville based school (😬). A poster mentioned Indiana NAIA schools and that would be fine but unless I hear that either school is considering making the move to D2, I am discounting it.

[BlueBlood]

Re: G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

You cannot or should not?

Should not. I think that leaving the GLIAC in a position that it can't sponsor basic sports like soccer and baseball is not good. What comes around goes around.

If Ashland wants to come, I certainly wouldn't say no. I just wouldn't be actively recruiting them.

But, if you just read what Buckeye said - the wheels may already be in motion.