G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[UFSwimDad]

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

I think you said it best, this may be the new norm.

[BlueBlood]

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

UFSwimDad, would your daughter have gone to UF (or another school similar) if there wasn't a swimming opportunity? No need to answer if you don't want to. Just curious, given the topic.

My situation: 3 daughters. All 3 play soccer (2 in HS, one younger), but I don't see their soccer going beyond HS. So, I'm likely looking at 3 non-student-athletes.

Despite the distance (I live in Tampa), I'd love to send all three to CU. However, at $36K a year per kid, that's honestly not likely to happen. I will need some really serious scholarships and discounting to make that happen.

Meanwhile, I can send them to any FL state school (UF, FSU, USF, UCF, FIU, FAU, etc) for less than $7K tuition and $10K room/board. So, I'm looking at an almost $20K per kid, per year differential right there (if they live on campus). Then, they are all on track to get at least $3500 per year in scholarships from the state (and it has to be used in-state). If they live at home and go to USF, they can go to college for $3500 per year. Now, I'm comparing $3500 per year to $36K per year. Is their life really going to be $128K better if they have a CU degree instead of a USF degree?

I'm willing to pay more to give my kids a better educational and social experience. I have them in a private HS now. But, I'm really wrestling with how much more I'm willing to pay. And, if a very pro-CU alum like me (who values education) is thinking this way, I know there must be an awful lot of other folks thinking this way.

This is the world that the small private schools live in.

With my example as a backdrop, you can see how small private schools may have an increasingly difficult time recruiting non-student-athletes and how athletics might be their very best recruitment tool for full-time undergrads (at least for on-campus students).

[BlueBlood]

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

BTW - since I have 3 kids - the $128K differential between Cedarville and the University of South Florida becomes $384K. I think I just pooped my pants a little.

[BlueBlood]

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

I just did the math. By my calculation, CU wins the Presidents Cup over Malone - .783 to .725

Its been a good run. It all changes next year.

[UFSwimDad]

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

UFSwimDad, would your daughter have gone to UF (or another school similar) if there wasn't a swimming opportunity? No need to answer if you don't want to. Just curious, given the topic.

My situation: 3 daughters. All 3 play soccer (2 in HS, one younger), but I don't see their soccer going beyond HS. So, I'm likely looking at 3 non-student-athletes.

Despite the distance (I live in Tampa), I'd love to send all three to CU. However, at $36K a year per kid, that's honestly not likely to happen. I will need some really serious scholarships and discounting to make that happen.

Meanwhile, I can send them to any FL state school (UF, FSU, USF, UCF, FIU, FAU, etc) for less than $7K tuition and $10K room/board. So, I'm looking at an almost $20K per kid, per year differential right there (if they live on campus). Then, they are all on track to get at least $3500 per year in scholarships from the state (and it has to be used in-state). If they live at home and go to USF, they can go to college for $3500 per year. Now, I'm comparing $3500 per year to $36K per year. Is their life really going to be $128K better if they have a CU degree instead of a USF degree?

I'm willing to pay more to give my kids a better college experience. But, I'm really wrestling with how much more I'm willing to pay. And, if a very pro-CU alum like me (who values education) is thinking this way, I know there must be an awful lot thinking this way.

This is the world that the small private schools live in.

With that as a backdrop, you can see how athletics might just be a small private colleges best recruitment tool for full-time undergrads (at least for on-campus students).

BlueBlood. My answer would be maybe. She received a very nice academic award, actually much more than her athletic award. She wants to be a PT and UF is a great PT school! That being said, she has been a Purdue girl since birth and always said she wanted to go there. But during recruitment she looked at schools that were in the 2500-10000 range, not wanting to go to a huge school. I honestly have no idea where she would have went.

[UFSwimDad]

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

Expansion thought.

I have actually put all this talk on the back burner for a few weeks now thinking we would start hearing stuff the end of this month or early June. With BlueBlood talking about St Joe it got me looking at the map again. I didn't realize that SW Baptist played football only in the GLVC with the rest of the sports in the MIAA I believe. I find that strange but perhaps it's because they are a newer football program? I have zero clue jsut thought hey, would they want to bolt to the MIAA or would that league even want them? This in turn got me thinking about UINDY. Would they stay in the GLVC is SWB moved? Would they go GMAC or GLIAC? What domino effect south this have on BU? Then I moved on toAshland. I think they stay in the GLIAC. If they can pick up out of conference games with UF, Tiffin, NDC, Malone and Walsh, it might make some of there travel issues not as bad for the secondary sports. If they stay, I wouldn't expect anything else to happen this year. Unless it's someone leaving the GMAC, not that I think that happens. Just some Monday off day ramblings

[BlueBlood]

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

Taylor still intrigues me. Gets G-MAC into IN; Easy distance to Hillsdale, Findlay, Tiffin, Cedarville; Great academics; Some history playing the OH schools; Pretty tight cultural fit with Cedarville, TNU, Malone.

You mentioned that at the swim meets there was talk of a possible IN school. UINDY is the only current D2 that fits the criteria. And, most acknowledge that they are unlikely. You pointed out some warts re Marion earlier (that I wasn't aware of). Who does that leave (IWU and/or Taylor?)

[Tyler Madsen]

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

Expansion thought.

I have actually put all this talk on the back burner for a few weeks now thinking we would start hearing stuff the end of this month or early June. With BlueBlood talking about St Joe it got me looking at the map again. I didn't realize that SW Baptist played football only in the GLVC with the rest of the sports in the MIAA I believe. I find that strange but perhaps it's because they are a newer football program? I have zero clue jsut thought hey, would they want to bolt to the MIAA or would that league even want them? This in turn got me thinking about UINDY. Would they stay in the GLVC is SWB moved? Would they go GMAC or GLIAC? What domino effect south this have on BU? Then I moved on toAshland. I think they stay in the GLIAC. If they can pick up out of conference games with UF, Tiffin, NDC, Malone and Walsh, it might make some of there travel issues not as bad for the secondary sports. If they stay, I wouldn't expect anything else to happen this year. Unless it's someone leaving the GMAC, not that I think that happens. Just some Monday off day ramblings

Southwest Baptist and Lincoln both play GLVC football as affiliate members but are full-time members of the MIAA. The agreement was created prior to the 2014 season, which allowed the MIAA to play a full conference-only schedule among 12 "remaining" football schools, while also allowing the GLVC to drop to just three open weeks during the regular season (eight conference games).

[UFSwimDad]

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

Taylor still intrigues me. Gets G-MAC into IN; Easy distance to Hillsdale, Findlay, Tiffin, Cedarville; Great academics; Some history playing the OH schools; Pretty tight cultural fit with Cedarville, TNU, Malone.

You mentioned that at the swim meets there was talk of a possible IN school. UINDY is the only current D2 that fits the criteria. And, most acknowledge that they are unlikely. You pointed out some warts re Marion earlier (that I wasn't aware of). Who does that leave (IWU and/or Taylor?)

I agree that Taylor and IWU look to be fits but has anyone heard anything or read anything that would lead us to a possible move? IWU is the only school that sponsors swimming so I am not sure what the other school would be. Perhaps he was just stating his desire?
I would think that if either school had any desire on moving to D2 there would at least be some sort of news about it?? That's my opinion anyway.
At this point, I am expecting no moves come this summer. I would think that for swimming, we could go with a conference meet with the women but the men would have to find another avenue. With most schools having one coach for both teams, I would think that there will have to be some sort of associate membership deal to be made in order to have both teams at one venue.

[BlueBlood]

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

The last thing I heard regarding IWU and D2 was their AD emphatically denying any interest at all in D2 (at their football press conference a year or more ago). Have heard nothing at all regarding Taylor. Similar to UIndy, its just on a wish list.

[UFSwimDad]

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

The last thing I heard regarding IWU and D2 was their AD emphatically denying any interest at all in D2 (at their football press conference a year or more ago). Have heard nothing at all regarding Taylor. Similar to UIndy, its just on a wish list.

Yeah exactly. Total wish list. I keep leaning toward nothing happening other than an Ashland move or non move. BUT, perhaps things are being kept close to the vest???

[UFSwimDad]

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

So correct me if I am wrong and or feel free to add on........

Ashland- Signs pointing to a move to GMAC and signs pointing to staying in the GLIAC. Would be a great get but not really a huge need for the league. 50/50 odds

UINDY- pure speculation so far. Have had at least one UINDY poster say that they have been told by the AD that they are always reviewing their plans. Other than that there has been no concrete link to any type of move from the GLVC. Unless there is newer information out there, they are staying put.

Bellarmine- again pure speculation. More of a want that would be a great fit for Kentucky Wesleyan and TVN coupled with the closing of St Joe's lends itself to the speculation. No football and D1 in Men's Lacrosse. Zero information at all about any type of move. 99% sure to stay in GLVC baring any other GLVC moves.

Taylor, IWU, and the three (?) Kentucky NAIA schools- All perceived as solid fits that would help with the southern movement toward TVN. I think I stated that many of the KY schools have joined a massive NAIA football league. Add to this the rejections by the NCAA in the past may make any move to D2 a long shot. BlueBlood stated IWU made it be known at their football presser that they have zero intentions of moving up. Have heard nothing on Taylor other that speculation. Without any info I say 0% chance.

NDC, Urbana- More informed posters know more about them than I do but they seem like total non move because of past issues.

WV schools- again, others know more about this than me so I will let this ride.

[kwcpantherfan]

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

At this point we have enough members to be a stable conference. So if we're going to add more, it needs to be done selectively, and with an eye towards becoming stronger overall in various sports. So from your list, if it were me, the only ones I would even consider at this point are Ashland, Bellarmine, and UIndy. Now, maybe some WV schools would help meet the goals, too, Wheeling Jesuit, West Liberty, etc, but I don't know that a "Midwest" conference should shift it's geographic balance any farther East than we already are.

So I guess my general view is, #1 we don't HAVE to add anymore schools. We should not add someone just for the sake of adding someone. #2 The top factor should be "what does this school add to the conference athletically?" followed closely by "are they a fit geographically?" with the deciding factor for that second part being essentially "are they close to (or west of) the conference's current geographic center?"

[BlueBlood]

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

At this point we have enough members to be a stable conference. So if we're going to add more, it needs to be done selectively, and with an eye towards becoming stronger overall in various sports.

Yep. It sounds like we need a swim team or two to help the swim schools out. And maybe an additional football school to get to 9 conference games. I would think that the G-MAC should be able to pick up Ashland as an affiliate for wrestling. Its fine-tuning at this point.

[buckeyeblitz]

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

I did here at one time that Indy has indeed been seriously considering a conference switch. They were supposed to have a meeting to lay out all of the positives and negatives of three scenarios (1: staying in the GLVC, 2: moving to the G-MAC, 3: moving to the GLIAC). Don't remember when that was supposed to happen or if it has already happened. Told that St. Joseph's closing kind of sparked some things on UIndy's campus. That was a while ago at a club volleyball tournament that I was reffing at. Have not heard anything sense.