G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[unc4life]

Nice weekend of basketball for the GMAC. One the women's side 4 team (Ashland, Malone, KWC, Trevecca Nazarine) earned spots in this weekend NCAA reginal tournament, double the amount of both the GLIAC and the GLVC. Meanwhile on the men's side Ashland and Hillsdale both get top 4 seeds. Hoping for a good showing for the GMAC this weekend. When you add in Thomas More next year who also has a very good basketball program, the future is bright for GMAC basketball.

[BlueBlood]

Got some info via TNU buddy - buddy went to a function where their AD spoke. BTW - I really like their AD. I've heard him on radio interviews several times. I've probably learned more about the innerworkings and trajectory of the G-MAC from those interviews than any other source.

State of the G-MAC: The AD said the growth the conference has seen in number of members, sports sponsored, and overall competitiveness is unreal. TNU (and him personally) was there at the formation of the conference, and he has witnessed the progression firsthand. Great relationships and alignment in thinking. He specifically stated that he expects UIndy will move to the G-MAC if they choose to stay in D2. (BTW - he has never shied from mentioning schools by name - I remember him saying "we think Ashland will be joining" on a radio show when it was only a message board rumor and the majority thought it would not happen).

State of TNU in the G-MAC: The AD loves everything about the G-MAC other than the distance between it and the rest of the conference. Friend said the AD definitely had some strain in his voice when talking about the distance issue. There is definitely some travel burnout. The AD mentioned that the OH additions to the conference aren't just in OH, they are in Northern OH. Obviously, the MI additions are even further for TNU. Thomas More addition helps, but it's still a big gap. AD stressed that TNU does not naturally fit in any D2 conference footprint - they would be on the fringe of any existing conference if they moved (I've heard him say this myself several times). Although the AD talked pretty openly about everything else, he only mentioned that TNU is considering all options regarding future affiliations and did not talk specifics.

[BlueBlood]

The G-MAC has a number of schools adding both Men's and Women's Lacrosse. This really solidifies the sport for the conference - at least numbers-wise.

On the women's side, only Ashland, Findlay, LEC, Tiffin and Walsh currently have teams. However, Thomas More will bring an existing team with it when it joins the G-MAC. Malone, Northwood and Trevecca are adding teams. That's 9. If Ursuline re-establishes their team (which they say they are), then that is 10.

On the men's side, only LEC and Walsh had teams last year (Men's lacrosse has survived by having a bunch of associate members from the PSAC and the MEC). Malone is joining this year. Thomas More will bring a team. Northwood and Tiffin are adding teams. That is 6 G-MAC schools with teams - so the G-MAC would not be reliant on the associate members. I don't think there is any reason to break up the G-MAC/MEC/PSAC men's lacrosse grouping - but it did create a vulnerability for the G-MAC, as the PSAC and the MEC both had more teams playing G-MAC lacrosse than the G-MAC did. The new teams coming in really solidifies it as a G-MAC product.

[WKYDave]

Looking for some thoughts from the KWC fans on the thread. Does anyone know any info about the KWC exit from the GLVC when the GMAC formed? I have to think at the time on of the main reasons was travel at the time, but since then, the geography has become more friendly to KWC in the GLVC. Do KWC fans think they would be a better fit back in the GLVC?

Also, interesting idea for the TNU crowd, the Peach Belt just lost Young Harris to Conference Carolinas. Would TNU be interested in a move to the Peach Belt or the Gulf South (if they would take them)?

I'm not sure losing Bellarmine, USI and, potentially, Indy makes GLVC more attractive geographically.

KWC left for 2 reasons:

1) Conference expansion further into MO (now Iowa) and away from Great Lakes
2) Inability to field competitive teams across all sports against state schools and well funded, larger private schools.

Neither issue has changed.

[Inkblot]

Looking for some thoughts from the KWC fans on the thread. Does anyone know any info about the KWC exit from the GLVC when the GMAC formed? I have to think at the time on of the main reasons was travel at the time, but since then, the geography has become more friendly to KWC in the GLVC. Do KWC fans think they would be a better fit back in the GLVC?

Also, interesting idea for the TNU crowd, the Peach Belt just lost Young Harris to Conference Carolinas. Would TNU be interested in a move to the Peach Belt or the Gulf South (if they would take them)?

TNU wouldn't be a much better geographic fit in the Peach Belt than they are in the GMAC. The GSC is really the only conference that's better.

[Uindy18]

Looking for some thoughts from the KWC fans on the thread. Does anyone know any info about the KWC exit from the GLVC when the GMAC formed? I have to think at the time on of the main reasons was travel at the time, but since then, the geography has become more friendly to KWC in the GLVC. Do KWC fans think they would be a better fit back in the GLVC?

Also, interesting idea for the TNU crowd, the Peach Belt just lost Young Harris to Conference Carolinas. Would TNU be interested in a move to the Peach Belt or the Gulf South (if they would take them)?

[WKYDave]

So, I just did a little more research. The Mid-South is actually losing 4 members before next year (including Thomas More). And their commissioner just resigned last week. So, the "imploding" comment does seem on target.

They have added some teams as well so I don't know about "imploding." Three have joined since 2020 while 4 have left.

However, I have said many times on here that I have hope that the GMAC could get to a 16-team conference split North/South with I-70 as the divider. That would mean 3 teams along/south of that line need to be added.

Always hoped Cumberland U would try again as a "running mate" of Trevecca and a KY school (Georgetown or Campbellsville) for KWC. With addition of Thomas More we need a partner for them, either Indy or Georgetown (if Campbellsville also joins).

Back in 2014/2015 when Georgetown and Cumberland tried to move up last time, we heard rumors that the GLVC and GLIAC were against them because they hoped to hobble the future of the GMAC. If true, they failed and it's future is secure so there may not be as much opposition to more NAIA schools moving up.

[BlueBlood]

So, I just did a little more research. The Mid-South is actually losing 4 members before next year (including Thomas More). And their commissioner just resigned last week. So, the "imploding" comment does seem on target.

[BlueBlood]

Rumor that I heard from a stranger and have no way of telling if it has any merit or not (Can't give a much bigger disclaimer than that).

I was wearing a Liberty Flames shirt the other day and a guy congratulated me on the big football win over BYU. I explained that it's my kids' school. "I went to a small Baptist college in OH" (my typical explanation because most folks haven't heard of Cedarville). He explained that he went to Campbellsville (a small Baptist college in KY) and says he wouldn't be surprised if our alma maters were in the same conference someday.

He knew all about the G-MAC, Thomas More, KWC, TNU, etc. He said that their NAIA conference is imploding and that there is speculation that a couple of the larger schools (including Campbellsville) might go D2.

I almost didn't post this (I mean the info is from a complete stranger I talked to in a Pilot parking lot). However, he sure sounded like he knew what he was talking about - so here it is. It's not the first wild speculation to be posted on here.

I did at least do some due diligence. The part about the NAIA conference checks out. I looked up the Mid-South NAIA conference - and they have indeed lost 3 members in the last month or so. So that part checks out.

Has anybody heard anything similar?

[kdubnation]

Ah, well then maybe I just looked at it wrong. It's weird because the label at the top says 2021-22 but the drop down selection defaults to 2022-23 ... but apparently doesn't automatically LOAD 2022-23 ... so I'm just going to assume I'm a dumb dumb and my rant was totally inaccurate.

[UFOILERFAN]

OK, here's something I don't get. Browsing some of the rosters for other G-MAC teams, looking at Malone's roster they have 3 players listed on there that are graduate students. Majestic, Ernst and Butler. I know kids are supposed to be able to get an extra year due to Covid. But all 3 of those guys already took their extra year - last year. If you look at Majestic's bio and career stats, for example, they ALREADY list 5 seasons of stats for him. How does this work? Eh, just keep playing as long as you want, guys, Covid! ??? I'm genuinely baffled. Maybe there's a good reason for this but if so I'm definitely not aware of it.

The roster that I saw on their website is for 21-22.

[kdubnation]

OK, here's something I don't get. Browsing some of the rosters for other G-MAC teams, looking at Malone's roster they have 3 players listed on there that are graduate students. Majestic, Ernst and Butler. I know kids are supposed to be able to get an extra year due to Covid. But all 3 of those guys already took their extra year - last year. If you look at Majestic's bio and career stats, for example, they ALREADY list 5 seasons of stats for him. How does this work? Eh, just keep playing as long as you want, guys, Covid! ??? I'm genuinely baffled. Maybe there's a good reason for this but if so I'm definitely not aware of it.

[BlueBlood]

Me either,

[UFOILERFAN]

Conference is adding STUNT as a sport

Apparently Ashland, Tiffin and Ursuline already have teams. Walsh is adding the sport. Others are also apparently considering adding it.

https://greatmidwestsports.com/sports/STUNT

I had no idea this even existed until I saw the article on the website.

[BlueBlood]

Conference is adding STUNT as a sport

Apparently Ashland, Tiffin and Ursuline already have teams. Walsh is adding the sport. Others are also apparently considering adding it.

https://greatmidwestsports.com/sports/STUNT