Edited Title

[Try II]

So sayeth the Grand Valley coach ... so should everyone else just pack up and go home if they can't make the leap?!

https://lanthorn.com/86792/sports/mo...-a-move-to-di/

[CHIP72]

I didn't view anything in that article that implied D2 football was "dying"; what I did see is that the GLIAC is in trouble football-wise because it has had a lot of turnover and lacks members, which necessitates more out-of-conference games, which are hard to fill on the schedule when many other D2 conferences play a high number of conference games.

[Tech Boys]

D2 football is growing, just not WHERE we want it to grow.

2010 - 152 teams
2011 - 150
2012 - 156
2013 - 162
2014 - 167
2015 - 168
2016 - 170
2017 - 168
2018 - 166
2019 - 166
2021 - 166

2022-2024 - gaining 3 teams and losing 1 team

[bigsig50]

D2 football is growing, just not WHERE we want it to grow.

2010 - 152 teams
2011 - 150
2012 - 156
2013 - 162
2014 - 167
2015 - 168
2016 - 170
2017 - 168
2018 - 166
2019 - 166
2021 - 166

2022-2024 - gaining 3 teams and losing 1 team

Where do we want it to grow?

[Tech Boys]

Where do we want it to grow?

West coast would be a good place.

[CALUPA69]

D2 football is growing, just not WHERE we want it to grow.

2010 - 152 teams
2011 - 150
2012 - 156
2013 - 162
2014 - 167
2015 - 168
2016 - 170
2017 - 168
2018 - 166
2019 - 166
2021 - 166

2022-2024 - gaining 3 teams and losing 1 team

That's the current number but keep an eye on the largest D2 conference, PSAC, which is in the process of consolidating six schools into 2. At present it's unclear what effect this will have on FB and other athletics. West of the Allegheny Mountains CAL U, BORO and CLARION are being renamed PENNSYLVANIA WESTERN UNIVERSITY. The same is going on East of the mountains with LOCK HAVEN, MANSFIELD (non FB) and BLOOMSBURG but the name has not been decided. Possible (probable??) loss of 2-3 FB programs won't threaten a league with 16 FB teams but it potentially will start a new round of poaching nearby conferences especially the MEC and GMAC. Time will tell.

[Tony Nicolette]

So sayeth the Grand Valley coach ... so should everyone else just pack up and go home if they can't make the leap?!

https://lanthorn.com/86792/sports/mo...-a-move-to-di/

Respectfully, this thread and its title are nothing more than click bait. The quote is that GLIAC Football is the fruit that is dying:



I copied and pasted that directly from the article, so there is no paraphrasing on my part. Look at the statement: D2Football = Tree; GLIAC Football = Fruit. Not super difficult to see that. Based on recent history, the premise that the GLIAC's football offering is unhealthy is undeniable.

I have been outspoken in favor of the D2 model, and as a GV alum I am even more adamant about wanting GV to stay D2. Certainly, much of GV's investigation of a move to D1 is being driven by the GLIAC's membership shifts (again, dying fruit). While I have not been in the room for any of Coach Mitchell's statements, I don't think it's a stretch to conclude that he's trying to be honest with recruits (and the author of this article) about the current state of the GLIAC and that GV is doing its due diligence to figure out what it's next, best move is. I have my opinions on all of that, but my ultimate purpose for this post is to point out that incorrectly paraphrasing a person's statement and then making a rather silly presumption to what the statement "meant" isn't getting anyone anywhere. I get that it's an "internet message board", but for the most part the D2 community out here is simply better than this.

[Brandon]

That's the current number but keep an eye on the largest D2 conference, PSAC, which is in the process of consolidating six schools into 2. At present it's unclear what effect this will have on FB and other athletics. West of the Allegheny Mountains CAL U, BORO and CLARION are being renamed PENNSYLVANIA WESTERN UNIVERSITY. The same is going on East of the mountains with LOCK HAVEN, MANSFIELD (non FB) and BLOOMSBURG but the name has not been decided. Possible (probable??) loss of 2-3 FB programs won't threaten a league with 16 FB teams but it potentially will start a new round of poaching nearby conferences especially the MEC and GMAC. Time will tell.

Consolidate to 10 and keep it there.

PSAC doesn't need 16 teams.

[boatcapt]

That's the current number but keep an eye on the largest D2 conference, PSAC, which is in the process of consolidating six schools into 2. At present it's unclear what effect this will have on FB and other athletics. West of the Allegheny Mountains CAL U, BORO and CLARION are being renamed PENNSYLVANIA WESTERN UNIVERSITY. The same is going on East of the mountains with LOCK HAVEN, MANSFIELD (non FB) and BLOOMSBURG but the name has not been decided. Possible (probable??) loss of 2-3 FB programs won't threaten a league with 16 FB teams but it potentially will start a new round of poaching nearby conferences especially the MEC and GMAC. Time will tell.

Poaching by the MEC and GMAC? Non PASSHE schools Mercyhurst, Gannon and perhaps Seton Hill and Shepherd could decide that staying in a shrinking PSAC with schools that are in financial trouble might not be in their best interest.

[boatcapt]

Consolidate to 10 and keep it there.

PSAC doesn't need 16 teams.

So who leaves and where do they go?

[CALUPA69]

Consolidate to 10 and keep it there.

PSAC doesn't need 16 teams.

I'd say 12 which could be achieved by 2/3 of the consolidateds dropping out and gives the option of all conference or conference + 1 OOC or some combination. The experience of the GLIAC, as shown, frightens me since at 10 you'd only have a core of 6 PASSHE schools should SHEP and/or the privates choose to opt out. With 8 PASSHE teams chances of survival improve distinctly, should the worst happen.

[Brandon]

So who leaves and where do they go?

If the schools consolidate. I wasn't suggesting kicking anyone out.

[CALUPA69]

So who leaves and where do they go?

If it was up to me LHU, BORO and CLARION would drop FB but continue as independent entities within the PSAC in all other sports. FB would then have 13 which would increase XO/OOC games.....until we can scam the MEC into taking SHU back.......or we can finagle FROSTBURG into jumping ship....or both !!

[boatcapt]

If the schools consolidate. I wasn't suggesting kicking anyone out.

I don't disagree, but that would be a lot of consolidation! Currently four non-PASSHE schools in the PSAC. If they all stay, that would be six total state schools losing football. Assuming Edinboro, Clarion and Locke Haven cease football this go round, who do you think the next three would be?

[Ram040506]

I don't disagree, but that would be a lot of consolidation! Currently four non-PASSHE schools in the PSAC. If they all stay, that would be six total state schools losing football. Assuming Edinboro, Clarion and Locke Haven cease football this go round, who do you think the next three would be?

The scenario is more 5 schools becoming 2 football entities in this. Cal/Boro/Clarion becoming West, Bloom/Lock Haven/Mansfield (mansfield doesn't have football) would be the east. They wouldn't lose all 6 schools, just 3 theoretically.