Bluefield State College Football

[CALUPA69]

From the official statement...250 new students. That's all you really need to know!

The VAST majority of these new students will be receiving no athletic scholly $'s so will be paying their full tuition and now (new on-campus dorm just opened) paying R&B.

If the logic is adding sports to bring in players to pay full tuition and fees why stop at 11 ? Off the top of my head I can think of CHEERLEADING, M&W LACROSSE, FIELD HOCKEY, WATER POLO, M&W HOCKEY and/or M&W FENCING. Also without a modicum of scholly support these teams are going to be equivalent of CHEYNEY athletics in whichever league they end up. Whatever is needed to balance for Title 9 issues would be reasonable, beyond that I'm puzzled.

[boatcapt]

Blufield was not invited to join the MEC because they didn't sponsor football and had a more "intermural" outlook on sports in general than the MEC schools. They will now have football and clearly are making a commitment to intercollegiate athletics. Also say what you will about Capehart but he is clearly "pro athletics" with a proven track record of growing enrolement.

As for should the MEC offer them a full membership, I say no, not right now. I would bring them in as an associate member (basketball, swimming, ??) and do a "scheduling alliance" in some others. Couch it as a trial period that might lead to full membership if the school meets enrollment and athletic performance goals.

[Tech Boys]

MEC would be the better fit, but I have no idea if the MEC wants them. If I'm not mistaken didn't Bluefield State get left out by the old WVIAC members when the MEC got formed? Granted AB just came back to the fold so maybe the addition of the extra sports will open up a place for them. Also, with UNCP joining the Conference Carolinas I can only imagine their associate membership will be short lived (CC will have 5 football schools soon).

They wouldn't be a bad fit for the CIAA, if the CIAA would increase their sponsored sports (bring back Men's Tennis and Baseball for starters). Bluefield State has a history of scheduling a few CIAA schools each season in various sports. Plus Bluefield State to JCSU, WSSU, and Livingstone are all decent trips of about 2.5 hours or less. I also see they are starting Women's Bowling which is sponsored by the CIAA and not the MEC or GMAC, so I don't know if that's any sign.

Going with the line of thinking about adding Bowling and being sponsored by the CIAA; I'll counter with Bluefield State adding Acro & Tumbling which has been a MEC sponsored sport for two seasons.

Bluefield State left the CIAA in 1955 to join the WVIAC the same year and was left behind when the MEC formed. In the possibility of when UNCP Football moves to the Carolinas, Bluefield State could replace them as the 12th team.

[LegalRam]

I see they are independent, correct? Do you guys feel they will join a conference, and which one? I'm not sure if they are closer to the MEC or the GMAC?

MEC would be the better fit, but I have no idea if the MEC wants them. If I'm not mistaken didn't Bluefield State get left out by the old WVIAC members when the MEC got formed? Granted AB just came back to the fold so maybe the addition of the extra sports will open up a place for them. Also, with UNCP joining the Conference Carolinas I can only imagine their associate membership will be short lived (CC will have 5 football schools soon).

They wouldn't be a bad fit for the CIAA, if the CIAA would increase their sponsored sports (bring back Men's Tennis and Baseball for starters). Bluefield State has a history of scheduling a few CIAA schools each season in various sports. Plus Bluefield State to JCSU, WSSU, and Livingstone are all decent trips of about 2.5 hours or less. I also see they are starting Women's Bowling which is sponsored by the CIAA and not the MEC or GMAC, so I don't know if that's any sign.

[boatcapt]

2 puzzlers.... In our current situation how does any "state" college justify the expenditures necessary to do this ? On their site they claim to be an HBCU and yet their enrollment is 86% white and 7% black?
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswi...ege-in-america

From the official statement...250 new students. That's all you really need to know!

The VAST majority of these new students will be receiving no athletic scholly $'s so will be paying their full tuition and now (new on-campus dorm just opened) paying R&B.

[boatcapt]

An on-campus stadium would likely be a 4-5 year project. It takes a long time to go through the design, planning, fundraising, etc. I'd assume they'll take the path of Seton Hill and use a high stadium to get started.

I would think they would use Mitchell Stadium in WV. That's were they played through 81 when they canceled football. Mitchell is a 10,000 seat municipal stadium that currently hosts Bluefield College VA (an NAIA team) as well as the two local High Schools.

[ESU Warrior]

Hahahaha!! As I recall, the strategy did indeed payoff!

I see they are independent, correct? Do you guys feel they will join a conference, and which one? I'm not sure if they are closer to the MEC or the GMAC?

[boatcapt]

My thoughts on the matter can be summarized thus: https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status...33504914698241

Hahahaha!! As I recall, the strategy did indeed payoff!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Where do they expect to play their football games? Will they share Bluefield High stadium or will they explore a on campus stadium?

An on-campus stadium would likely be a 4-5 year project. It takes a long time to go through the design, planning, fundraising, etc. I'd assume they'll take the path of Seton Hill and use a high stadium to get started.

[wssuram]

2 puzzlers.... In our current situation how does any "state" college justify the expenditures necessary to do this ? On their site they claim to be an HBCU and yet their enrollment is 86% white and 7% black?
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswi...ege-in-america

As SW_Mustang noted, Bluefield State is federally recognized as an HBCU based on the foundation or "roots" of the institution. The "H" in HBCU means Historically. Bluefield State's student population could be 100% white and they still are an HBCU.

[Inkblot]

My thoughts on the matter can be summarized thus: https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status...33504914698241

[SW_Mustang]

2 puzzlers.... In our current situation how does any "state" college justify the expenditures necessary to do this ? On their site they claim to be an HBCU and yet their enrollment is 86% white and 7% black?
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswi...ege-in-america

The term "HBCU" is an official designation from the federal government. Bluefield State is on the list.

https://nces.ed.gov/COLLEGENAVIGATOR/?s=all&sp=4&pg=1

My understanding is that the term is based on the foundations of a college or university and isn't exactly reflective of the current enrollment status (hence the "H").

That's about all I know.

[shipfbfan1]

Where do they expect to play their football games? Will they share Bluefield High stadium or will they explore a on campus stadium?

[CALUPA69]

It's official. Bluefield State to add 12 New Sports

This is a big undertaking. Bluefield State currently has 10 sports and adding 12 sports including football in only 12 months. The school is doing campus improvements as well. Could this put them in a position to join the Mountain East? I don't believe the CIAA would be an option anymore with 6 of the new sports and 2 of the current BSC sports not sponsored by the conference.

2 puzzlers.... In our current situation how does any "state" college justify the expenditures necessary to do this ? On their site they claim to be an HBCU and yet their enrollment is 86% white and 7% black?
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswi...ege-in-america

[Tech Boys]

It's official. Bluefield State to add 12 New Sports

This is a big undertaking. Bluefield State currently has 10 sports and adding 12 sports including football in only 12 months. The school is doing campus improvements as well. Could this put them in a position to join the Mountain East? I don't believe the CIAA would be an option anymore with 6 of the new sports and 2 of the current BSC sports not sponsored by the conference.