G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[JDonAB92]

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

I think D&E was let out early because the conference has more members than are needed right now. D&E doesn't have football. I do think leagues want to have 10-12 football playing schools. If you are trying to attract Ashland and say Indy, then you are taking away a school that was a 5 to 7 hour trip for both schools. I don't know if any of this is true. Just hypothetical.

[BlueBlood]

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

The day AB leaves, it better be gracious to the G-MAC.

BTW - I'm not trying to say that D&E (or possibly AB someday) owes the G-MAC anything. It just seemed unusually cold or non-cordial to not make any mention at all. Lets be honest - our schools have been through some sh!t together. The original G-MAC schools and AB/D&E/OVU had the deck stacked against them and are survivors. I think that is why I was so surprised at the lack of a mention.

This is what I'm used to seeing:

In their press release that announced their move from the MIAA to the GLVC, Southwest Baptist listed their history/accomplishnments in the MIAA and then:

SBU President Dr. C. Pat Taylor: "I have great respect and admiration for my colleagues in the MIAA and was always proud to be a member of the MIAA. After careful analysis, the decision to apply for membership in the GLVC was made because we believe that the GLVC is a better fit for our student-athletes, and the GLVC institutions are more similar to SBU."

SBU Director of Athletics Mike Pitts: "I will certainly miss so many close personal friends and colleagues in the MIAA. Both conferences are so professional and put the student-athletes first."

[JDonAB92]

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

Congrats to Cedarville on the big road win over AB in men's soccer.

I think D&E is ok, but I always thought WV Wesleyan, Fairmont State and even Glenville were always looked at as bigger games for AB back in the day. Just my take.

I will stick by what I firmly believe: AB and Notre Dame switch conferences once the G-MAC goes further with expansion. They want to have more than 9 football schools. If the MEC invited AB to join this summer, NDC gets an invite from the G-MAC because Daeger isn't going to get stuck with only 8 football schools. I actually believe the relationship with G-MAC and MEC is cordial right now. I believe from a travel standpoint that AB to the MEC and NDC to the G-MAC is a good move for all involved. AB would be geographically in the center of the MEC. NDC is an outlier in the MEC and fits closely to Lake Erie, Walsh, Malone and Ursuline. UNC Pembroke is just an associate member of the MEC. They aren't going to be permanent. They are in southeastern NC which is a hike for all MEC schools involved. The MEC schools aren't thriving either. Enrollment is completely down. Budgets are low. They can't afford all this travel. Neither can AB.

I look for the invitation to be put back out there for Ashland, NDC and one other....probably Indy. If one declines, look for something else. I don't see NDC declining.

The day AB leaves, it better be gracious to the G-MAC. But going to the MEC will now put us within an hour travel of 4 schools alone and 2 hours to a few others. Cuts down on overnights. If AB stays in the G-MAC, I am fine with it. We will have to raise money for travel somehow.

I will leave it with this: I believe D&E was invited because no other school wanted to join the MEC. Why else would they be invited? No football. I believe the MEC presidents, found mostly in WV, wanted to keep travel close. Frostburg St is a good fit but they are D3. They joined because the conference they are in is falling a part and they were an outlier geographically in that conference. Their football is good and so is baseball but other sports aren't so good. They are closer to MEC schools than Shepherd by 1.5 hours.

[BlueBlood]

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

AB guys, did any background info ever surface regarding the D&E move?

Months ago, there were reports that the MEC commissioner visited AB. Then, instead of the MEC adding AB, they add a combination of football-less D&E and a NC school for football. It just seemed like an odd move being that AB was sitting right there with football.

The news releases and quotes from D&E make them sound absolutely ecstatic to make the move - almost sounding giddy and like they can't believe their good fortune. Also, there was no mention in any of their press releases or newspaper quotes regarding the G-MAC . Its very normal for a school to thank their out-going conference and throw a few pleasantries in there. Plus, in this situation, the G-MAC took them in after they were essentially kicked out of their prior conference. So, if anything, you might have even expected the thank-you/pleasantries be a bit more real than the normal/stock verbiage schools throw into press releases. I always thought that the G-MAC/D&E relationship was a good one, but the lack of acknowledgment has me wondering if something deteriorated toward the end. Is the AB / D&E relationship a good one? Has it changed? Again, I always assumed that it was - but that was just an assumption based upon location and being castaways "in the same boat".

The MEC posters all seem surprised (and disappointed) with the move.

Plus, D&E isn't just moving - they are moving fast and without meeting the normal notice requirements.

Anyways, just a lot of stuff that seems a bit odd and I'm wondering if any back-story has surfaced.

[JDonAB92]

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

This week's Men's #D2SOC @UnitedCoaches Poll:
1. Simon Fraser
2. Palm Beach Atlantic
3. Young Harris
4-25: https://t.co/d514a7zvGq. pic.twitter.com/toqzwDytgM

— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) September 25, 2018

[BlueBlood]

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

BTW - "they only recruit international players" is a growing trend in NCAA soccer. My daughters play HS soccer. While they have no intention of playing in college, some of their friends do. I've heard many conversations between both parents and players that start with "have you ever considered XXX University?" end simply with "international only" - with no further explanation needed.

Charleston (defending national champs) is also an example of this.

[BlueBlood]

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

Ohio Valley's men's soccer team is currently ranked #2 in the country. I think this has gone under the radar, but the Fighting Scots deserve a lot of credit for this.

OVU won the G-MAC last year and went to the NCAA tournament. They are currently undefeated at 5-0.

3 years ago, OVU went 0-17. Their strategy for success was to hire an international coach and recruit only international players. They did this on the women's side too. This move quickly and dramatically reversed their on-field performance.

[JDonAB92]

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

Ohio Valley's men's soccer team is currently ranked #2 in the country. I think this has gone under the radar, but the Fighting Scots deserve a lot of credit for this.

OVU won the G-MAC last year and went to the NCAA tournament. They are currently undefeated at 5-0.

[Looking For 9]

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

Yes and I see this being done by several schools. A fun trip with more than one team on bus, fun on campus and saves money.

[BlueBlood]

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

Smart scheduling.

[JDonAB92]

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

I noticed that Trevecca Nazarene has 3 teams playing at Alderson Broaddus today. Volleyball plays at 11:00, women's soccer at 5 and men's soccer at 7:30. I would guess they would all bus together to save on travel costs. I figure once D&E leaves the G-MAC that we might need to petition the league to schedule us like this for some trips.

[JDonAB92]

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

Thursday night @GreatMidwestAC commissioner Tom Daeger stopped by the both to visit with @TBellPBP and talked about the continuing growth of the conference.https://t.co/eh0MHOF86D

— PanthersRadio (@PanthersRadio) August 31, 2018

[BlueBlood]

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

I don't see Salem coming back. I think the next moves will be to grow the conference to at least 10 football playing members, if not 12. Obviously Ashland is choice 1. I do believe when the time is right for both conferences that AB and Notre Dame switch conferences. I just think that if the MEC had just offered AB the slot that D&E got that the G-MAC turns around and offers Notre Dame a spot. That does nothing for the MEC. You are still short a football school. I also believe Trevecca will be given the same treatment that D&E got when they find a conference more suitable. Ohio Valley will remain in the G-MAC unless they go D3 or NAIA.

I pretty much agree with all of this.

With the loss of D&E, the G-MAC has 13 schools, 12 with men's sports, 9 with football.

Switching out NDC and AB keeps all numbers the same.

I'm sure Mr. Daeger would love to add Ashland, Indy and Bellarmine. That would get you to 16 schools, 15 with men's sports, 11 with football.

If you only have room for one more, Urbana would still be out there. Crazy (but maybe not crazy) idea: If there are some defections (like TNU or OVU), then I think you make a play for the western PA private schools. I have a feeling that Ashland, Indy, Hillsdale, Mercyhurst and Gannon would love to be in the same conference.

[JDonAB92]

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

BTW, Tom Daeger was interviewed for seven minutes last night during the ODU/Cal PA game. That interview is archived if you want to listen to it. The interview was during halftime of the game.

The only thing I took out of it was that he did mention that D&E was leaving the conference after six years involved with the G-MAC. He also stated that the G-MAC "will look different 5 years from now". I believe him.

I don't see Salem coming back. I think the next moves will be to grow the conference to at least 10 football playing members, if not 12. Obviously Ashland is choice 1. I do believe when the time is right for both conferences that AB and Notre Dame switch conferences. I just think that if the MEC had just offered AB the slot that D&E got that the G-MAC turns around and offers Notre Dame a spot. That does nothing for the MEC. You are still short a football school. I also believe Trevecca will be given the same treatment that D&E got when they find a conference more suitable. Ohio Valley will remain in the G-MAC unless they go D3 or NAIA.

[ABjo]

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

Would make no sense so probably.

This is funny, till you start to realize that it's probably true.