G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[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

[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

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

[kwcpantherfan]

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

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

[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.

[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).

[ctrabs74]

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

Having looked at the map that was provided to is on here, ( thank you by the way) I have toggled off everything except D2 schools and it's striking to me how Ashland is now on an island, assuming Tiffin is in fact joining the GMAC,with the closest conference foe being in Michigan. I cannot help but think that that has to weigh on their minds. If you could bring in a group that includes Ashland, UINDY, Bellarmine, Tiffin and a good football school in WV, that would certainly go a long way in helping football. Might even take a second WV school since this would most likely fource TVN out. Has anyone heard of any NAIA schools getting their papers in order?

Trevecca is almost in a no-win situation as far as finding the perfect conference - at least geographically - is concerned. If, for whatever reason, the G-MAC doesn't work out for TNU, what options are there? They're too far west to be a fit for the South Atlantic Conference and I would argue they're almost too far north for the Gulf South.

[ctrabs74]

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

Found it (or something similar)

Ashland Football Coach Lee Owens said he recently met with Ashland President Dr. Carlos Campo and was told the university should watch the G-MAC's growth. He said if the G-MAC becomes a solid league and if it's a good fit for all of Ashland's teams, the university should consider taking a look at it.

Canton Repository 2/8/2016

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.

[UFSwimDad]

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

After looking at the map, one could still say that the better geographical footprint would be the GMAC. Also, it sounds like the MIAA adding those two schools is kinda remote.

[UFSwimDad]

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

Saw this on a MIAA thread:


Its all speculation, and on it's surface, it doesn't have anything to do with the G-MAC. However, if the furthest-west schools in the GLVC do leave, it moves the center of that conference considerably eastward and closer to UIndy and BU (eliminating the "G-MAC may have a closer footprint" argument). It also creates a couple openings in the GLVC.

It has been, and may continue to be a "fluid situation".

Interesting for sure. Puts UINDY and Bellarmine in a good situation. I would think that if anything happens it will be May or June

[BlueBlood]

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

Saw this on a MIAA thread:

On a related note, not sure if this is true, but I was recently told by someone who would know that the MIAA schools were going to take a vote at the end of the school year to invite non-football schools in to get to 16 schools and that, if passed, Rockhurst and Drury were on the list to invite.

Its all speculation, and on it's surface, it doesn't have anything to do with the G-MAC. However, if the furthest-west schools in the GLVC do leave, it moves the center of that conference considerably eastward and closer to UIndy and BU (eliminating the "G-MAC may have a closer footprint" argument). It also creates a couple openings in the GLVC.

It has been, and may continue to be a "fluid situation".

[UFSwimDad]

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

Also the conference is about Football and Basketball. Just being honest. The hope is that it trickles down to the other sports.

[UFSwimDad]

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

Hey UF Swim Dad, given your location, your daughter had to have hosted my daughter when she did her overnight in Findlay last September (as she stayed with two Fishers girls) and signed shortly thereafter. I stumbled across this forum tonight as I stumbled across the move from GLIAC to GMAC and I'm not sure that I like what I see. The conference seems weak with regard to swimming. I know that Findlay was towards the bottom of GLIAC, but I am honestly wondering how competitive GMAC is going to be. Given my daughter's times this year, she would have scored points in at least 4 GLIAC conference events. We are nto looking for her to win everything, we are looking for her to improve. I suppose I should look at the GMAC conference finals for this year.

As for competition, you could say that about scoring for almost all of our girls. You will not find scores for GMAC as they did not have a swimming conference meet this year, not enough teams to sponser yet. I look at competition this way. One, I think this conference gets faster as it matures because 2) I think with the possible additions of some excellent swim schools in the future will help that. This a major discussion with a lot of the parents during dinners and drinks after the conference meet this year. Yeah the GLIAC is more competitive but I think the GMAC will be fast eventually when all the dominoes fall into place. Pluse, maybe we can just rest the girls at conference knowing that we will still do very well and get them ready to go fast at Nationals! Also, the girls finished 4th behind the big three Michigan schools which is pretty damn good in my opinion

[UFSwimDad]

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

Hey UF Swim Dad, given your location, your daughter had to have hosted my daughter when she did her overnight in Findlay last September (as she stayed with two Fishers girls) and signed shortly thereafter. I stumbled across this forum tonight as I stumbled across the move from GLIAC to GMAC and I'm not sure that I like what I see. The conference seems weak with regard to swimming. I know that Findlay was towards the bottom of GLIAC, but I am honestly wondering how competitive GMAC is going to be. Given my daughter's times this year, she would have scored points in at least 4 GLIAC conference events. We are nto looking for her to win everything, we are looking for her to improve. I suppose I should look at the GMAC conference finals for this year.

Hey that's cool! I am not sure who she hosted as her and her roommate hosted A LOT last fall.

[Chitownswimming]

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

Forgive me. I tend to lose count of teams! Also, wanted to include teams in WV as to perhaps sweeten the deal.

Quick note I just read where Witcha State may be leaving the MVC for the AAC. Maybe Southern Indiana would actually think of moving up? Just a thought

Hey UF Swim Dad, given your location, your daughter had to have hosted my daughter when she did her overnight in Findlay last September (as she stayed with two Fishers girls) and signed shortly thereafter. I stumbled across this forum tonight as I stumbled across the move from GLIAC to GMAC and I'm not sure that I like what I see. The conference seems weak with regard to swimming. I know that Findlay was towards the bottom of GLIAC, but I am honestly wondering how competitive GMAC is going to be. Given my daughter's times this year, she would have scored points in at least 4 GLIAC conference events. We are nto looking for her to win everything, we are looking for her to improve. I suppose I should look at the GMAC conference finals for this year.