G-MAC All-Sports and Conference Business Thread

[Scrub]

And I would note that the GMAC used to have members in WV which crossed "region lines."

And I don't think geographical state has anything to do with it. It's about conference.

[boatcapt]

Not sure to be honest. Maybe a CIAA poster will chime in with some knowledge on that.

I know the CIAA has changed Regions a couple of times.

[tuffeagle]

And I don't think geographical state has anything to do with it. It's about conference.

It doesn't. The conferences are tied to geographic regions. So Ohio has teams in multiple regions. Central State is in one, Notre Dame College was in another, and the GMAC is in the Midwest. If Gannon, Mercyhurt, West Lib for example joined the GMAC, they would be in the Midwest region. When Trevecca leaves the GMAC they will be in a completely different region.

[BlueBlood]

Looking at the GMAC:
HIllsdale - the most prestigious and richest school in the conference. And it is not even close.
Northwood - a lot of Dow chemical money
Findlay - a lot of Marathon oil money
Cedarville - strong support from the church. Attract a certain type of student and they have their niche.

Ashland and Walsh - I think they will be alright but not as sound as the 4 above.

Remaining:
Ohio Dominican - Once the church pulls out. Done.
Ursuline - If the church pulls out like they did with Notre Dame College. Done.
Malone - on life support. Doubtful will survive.
Tiffin - surprised it is still afloat
Lake Erie - would be surprised if it is open next year. Spending $1.5 million on a turf soccer field!?!? What are Lake County commissioners smoking giving a school with severe financial troubles this money. Probably the next domino to fall.

Wesleyan and Thomas More - I can't speak much to these schools. I know if the churches pull funding, things get tough.

Using this analysis, its theoretical that the G-MAC could lose up to 3 football programs within the next several years. That would mean dropping from 10 FB schools to 7.

As to possible replacements:
Davenport is out there, but I fear that adding them in the near future would severely de-stabilize the GLIAC. And I don't think that is in anybody's best interest (including the G-MAC's). The only private Mountain East FB school that likely isn't in jeopardy of closing is Charleston - and that's a bit of a hike. Then, you of course have UIndy, which if they would commit to D2, would be a perfect pickup - I just don't think any of us are convinced that they are committed to staying D2. I think that really leaves the stronger Mid-States Football Association NAIAs or Kentucky NAIAs as possible targets.

I guess the other option would be to not stress over replacement, and research possible FB scheduling arrangements with the GLIAC and/or MEC (both of which have lost FB schools themselves). Honestly, given the present climate, that might be the better move. That would allow the conference to add schools if/when it makes sense, but always know that you have flexible FB scheduling the next year despite additions/subtractions.

[Bballfan]

I think three football GMAC schools are definitely in jeopardy. I mean Lake Erie doesn't even have their own field. And we have seen what happens when the Catholic church drops their funding (Notre Dame College closed, Wheeling University on life support). Football is an expensive sport. But it brings a LOT of kids on partial scholarships to pay tuition. I mean a Lake Erie College....how many students are athletes? A lot. Not a good situation.

Davenport is a private school, but not in the best financial state. Fairly new to D2 too. Indy? Who knows. They are all over the map on what they want to do. I can't imagine all those schools in Indianapolis are going to survive in their current configuration.

Agree not to stress, but better be flexible. The GLIAC is bringing some awful NAIA school in the middle of Chicago to their conference. I can't imagine that will end well.

[Bballfan]

More on Lake Erie College. Wouldn't be surprised if we don't start hearing more about their future (or lack thereof) shortly.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/...epay-bond-debt

[unc4life]

More on Lake Erie College. Wouldn't be surprised if we don't start hearing more about their future (or lack thereof) shortly.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/...epay-bond-debt

I'm not sure how sustainable Lake Erie's model is. They are probably close to 85% + student athletes that make up their school, and have no way to keep those programs heading in a strong direction. Constantly changing coaches, they have worse facilities than most high schools in Ohio. I think they are now the only program in the GMAC that doesn't have at least one of football/soccer, baseball or softball field on campus. They use high school facilities. At some point that is not a sustainable product.

[Bballfan]

I'm not sure how sustainable Lake Erie's model is. They are probably close to 85% + student athletes that make up their school, and have no way to keep those programs heading in a strong direction. Constantly changing coaches, they have worse facilities than most high schools in Ohio. I think they are now the only program in the GMAC that doesn't have at least one of football/soccer, baseball or softball field on campus. They use high school facilities. At some point that is not a sustainable product.

Yet Lake County Commissioners are giving the college a $1.5 million dollar grant for an artificial turf soccer field. Seems like a huge waste of money for a school who isn't on financial footing.

[D2Rover]

Yet Lake County Commissioners are giving the college a $1.5 million dollar grant for an artificial turf soccer field. Seems like a huge waste of money for a school who isn't on financial footing.

I think I'd rather have a school take risks with investing in the future than try to fudge numbers to keep the thing afloat without ever improving. Also, I'm not in touch with the Lake County area, but a turf soccer field is an investment that I imagine feeds back into the community regardless of the College. It's not like they'll just tear the thing out if the Lake Erie closes.

[Bballfan]

As we discussed, these schools that are using athletics just to stay afloat is part of the problem.. Here is Notre Dame College. A girl from FLA came all the way to Ohio to participant in a sport. Now she is like... why did I ever do this?!?!?

https://www.ideastream.org/education...ews-of-closure

Lake Erie does the same thing. Over 50% of their students are athletes. They have a little over 700 undergrads. Over 500 of those plays sports. Just not sustainable. Almost makes you wonder if the NCAA should require schools to have at least 50% non-athletes enrolled to be eligible for D2. But if they did, a number of schools will not survive.

[BlueBlood]

The proposed Findlay/Bluffton merger is interesting. Sounds like their intent is to keep sports at both campuses (Findlay D2, Bluffton D3). That is obviously beneficial from an enrollment standpoint -as Bluffton's enrollment isn't much larger than their athletic dept. Either way, it sounds like Findlay would be the larger, controlling entity. I'm guessing most of the perceived savings would be in administrative expenses and salaries. Also, online classes and maybe a few in-person classes could be merged.

[WVIAC-F-EVER]

Here is the latest regional map for ncaa d2 - https://ncaad2rules.blogspot.com/202....html?q=Region

[Bballfan]

The proposed Findlay/Bluffton merger is interesting. Sounds like their intent is to keep sports at both campuses (Findlay D2, Bluffton D3). That is obviously beneficial from an enrollment standpoint -as Bluffton's enrollment isn't much larger than their athletic dept. Either way, it sounds like Findlay would be the larger, controlling entity. I'm guessing most of the perceived savings would be in administrative expenses and salaries. Also, online classes and maybe a few in-person classes could be merged.

I know what they say, but ultimately I see athletics going away at Bluffton (along with everything else). Ultimately Findlay wants the endowment ($25 million) and I think they could care less about anything else. Give it time.

[Bballfan]

Here is the latest regional map for ncaa d2 - https://ncaad2rules.blogspot.com/202....html?q=Region

I guess it depends on the sport too. I know football goes east, but the other sports are in the Midwest. And with Notre Dame closing, I don't think there is any association with the Atlantic region and Ohio schools except for football now.

[Bballfan]

Thomas More has been a good addition to the conference, but their women's coach just got hired at Northern Kentucky. Has had an excellent record at Thomas More and will be sorely missed. Strange he made the jump now as Thomas More finally achieved D2 status. He should do well there.

Three GMAC schools are now without a women's basketball coach: Thomas More, Ohio Dominican, Lake Erie. Now two of those schools are pretty much train wrecks in all sports, but the conference is not headed in the right direction in terms of women's basketball when just a couple years ago the conference produced 4 regional qualifiers.