July 1 - Moving Day 2023

[SW_Mustang]

Well that seems odd.....and strange.

It's not the first time something like this has been tried, and I think we'll see more of it in the future - but I'm not sure how feasible of an approach this is.

[zimmy21]

Well that seems odd.....and strange.

Not to mention weird.....and confusing

[wscsuperfan]

Findlay (D2) and Bluffton (D3) are going to merge - though each campus will retain their athletic departments.
The reason behind the University of Findlay and Bluffton University merger (13abc.com)

Well that seems odd.....and strange.

[SW_Mustang]

Findlay (D2) and Bluffton (D3) are going to merge - though each campus will retain their athletic departments.
The reason behind the University of Findlay and Bluffton University merger (13abc.com)

[laker]

D3 Birmingham Southern to close. Birmingham-Southern to close - D3sports

[crixus]

Oh, I don't doubt it at all-- flying from border to border can't be cheap. I was just under the impression that all the Texas schools in the WAC were there because they DIDN'T want to be in the Southland, so I never expected any of them to move.

Gotta give credit to the Southland though-- to lose 5 of your members in one fell swoop and somehow end up in a more stable place than you started is a pretty impressive feat.

I was thinking the same thing.

[crixus]

They were forced to join the WAC?? Which government institution forced them to join??

.

[boatcapt]

UTRGV has never been in the Southland and didn't join the WAC by choice.

They were forced to join the WAC?? Which government institution forced them to join??

[Inkblot]

UTRGV has never been in the Southland and didn't join the WAC by choice.

[Finchwidget]

But it makes sen$e when you look at the Southland Conference map (Texas and Louisiana teams) as compared to the WAC map (spread throughout six Western states, from Texas all the way up to Washington state). UTRGV will save on travel costs. And who knows, they might even win some basketball games. LOL

Oh, I don't doubt it at all-- flying from border to border can't be cheap. I was just under the impression that all the Texas schools in the WAC were there because they DIDN'T want to be in the Southland, so I never expected any of them to move.

Gotta give credit to the Southland though-- to lose 5 of your members in one fell swoop and somehow end up in a more stable place than you started is a pretty impressive feat.

[crixus]

This came out of nowhere, crazy

But it makes sen$e when you look at the Southland Conference map (Texas and Louisiana teams) as compared to the WAC map (spread throughout six Western states, from Texas all the way up to Washington state). UTRGV will save on travel costs. And who knows, they might even win some basketball games. LOL

[Finchwidget]

Pete Thamel@PeteThamel
Sources: UTRGV officials informed WAC officials they are leaving the WAC for the Southland Conference, a change that’s expected for the 2024-25 season. UTRGV finished last in the WAC in both men’s and women’s basketball in 2023-24. They are expected to owe the WAC $2 million.

This came out of nowhere, crazy

[laker]

Pete Thamel@PeteThamel
Sources: UTRGV officials informed WAC officials they are leaving the WAC for the Southland Conference, a change that’s expected for the 2024-25 season. UTRGV finished last in the WAC in both men’s and women’s basketball in 2023-24. They are expected to owe the WAC $2 million.

[zimmy21]

I would think that the deadline to begin a move from D2 to D1 would have passed by now. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, the NCAA increased the fees for moving from D2 to D1 (or maybe i'm confusing that with a move from FCS to FBS). Even so, it sounds like the NEC's poaching of the NE-10 in recent years is going to hurt the NE-10 in the short term, at least as far as football goes.

I think you are right. I don't believe a move would be allowed for 2024-25 at this point. Could be off, but if the deadline to apply for D2 was Feb 1st then I'd have to imagine the D2 to D1 deadline was the same time.

[ctrabs74]

New Haven has been planning a move to D1 for a while now. They just hired a new president who was at an NAIA school and I don’t know if Sheahon Zenger (who was hired to make the move to D1) will go back to being the AD after 2 years as interim president or seek employment elsewhere. I expect the new president would be on board with a move to D1, but it may still be a bit soon since he just started and the AD situation (there’s an interim AD right now) still needs to be sorted out.

Guessing the NEC has had New Haven on speed dial for a while now. Still planning on Week 1 at Slippery Rock unless they decide to move (with absolutely no inside information, my gut tells me it won’t be this year).

Absolutely hate the 4-year probation period too. Rather stay D2 than deal with that.

No clue about what Bentley may want to do.

I would think that the deadline to begin a move from D2 to D1 would have passed by now. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, the NCAA increased the fees for moving from D2 to D1 (or maybe i'm confusing that with a move from FCS to FBS). Even so, it sounds like the NEC's poaching of the NE-10 in recent years is going to hurt the NE-10 in the short term, at least as far as football goes.