July 1 - Moving Day 2024

[ctrabs74]

If they moved to the LSC, that would make it the largest conference in the NCAA at 19 members. Interestingly though, there's only one sport (volleyball) that all 19 schools would sponsor, so it wouldn't be quite as unwieldy as you'd expect. Regardless though, I'm not sure if the LSC would want to expand again for a school at the very fringes of the eastern edge of their footprint.

The GAC would make a lot of sense, I agree, but would they take a school without football, regardless of how many other sports it adds? From other conversations I've seen on here, no football seems like a dealbreaker for the GAC, end of story.

The GAC hasn't exactly been interested in expansion, even with programs that sponsor football. Yes, in theory, the GAC makes sense for Texarkana geographically, but not sponsoring football makes that a non-starter. As for the LSC, at least TAMU-Texarkana has a few relatively close rivals in UT-Tyler, UT-Dallas, Dallas Baptist and Texas Woman's.

[Finchwidget]

Well, it will either be LSC or GAC.

LSC already has more basketball programs. The GAC has about the same football programs as the LSC. Geographically.... it might fit a little bit better in the GAC.

If they moved to the LSC, that would make it the largest conference in the NCAA at 19 members. Interestingly though, there's only one sport (volleyball) that all 19 schools would sponsor, so it wouldn't be quite as unwieldy as you'd expect. Regardless though, I'm not sure if the LSC would want to expand again for a school at the very fringes of the eastern edge of their footprint.

The GAC would make a lot of sense, I agree, but would they take a school without football, regardless of how many other sports it adds? From other conversations I've seen on here, no football seems like a dealbreaker for the GAC, end of story.

[laker]

If I remember the WAC had BYU and Air Force, among others. I know BYU had some epic Holiday Bowls, including the one year they finished undefeated, beat Michigan, and were named a national champion.

The 1984 season. I remember it well.

[Tech Boys]

I'd be good with Texas A&M-Texarkana in the GAC provided they add sports to balance not having football. They are supposed to have added track & field.

https://www.tamut.edu/news/2024/2/[email protected].

The link is the original announcement of the RRCU Complex from February 2024. In that release they have bowling, golf, and lacrosse as future sports. I would like to see them add wrestling also and since they are on the Red River why not women's rowing. That gives them all the non-football GAC sports while the non-GAC sports offset for football.

[sportsvine]

https://www.ktalnews.com/news/texark...letic-complex/

Texas A&M-Texarkana of the NAIA has broken ground on a new athletic complex. Notable about this is that it's mentioned in the article that this will help them in their plans to move to D2, with their president quoted as saying, "And we will announce our conference affiliation very, very soon".

Well, it will either be LSC or GAC.

LSC already has more basketball programs. The GAC has about the same football programs as the LSC. Geographically.... it might fit a little bit better in the GAC.

[Finchwidget]

https://www.ktalnews.com/news/texark...letic-complex/

Texas A&M-Texarkana of the NAIA has broken ground on a new athletic complex. Notable about this is that it's mentioned in the article that this will help them in their plans to move to D2, with their president quoted as saying, "And we will announce our conference affiliation very, very soon".

[Bballfan]

If I remember the WAC had BYU and Air Force, among others. I know BYU had some epic Holiday Bowls, including the one year they finished undefeated, beat Michigan, and were named a national champion.

[sportsvine]

It looks like the WAC is on the verge of extinction...

Brett McMurphy is reporting that Utah Valley and California Baptist may be getting an invite to join the Big West:

https://x.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1894160770218209321

More details from KSL-TV, Salt Lake City...

If this goes forward, then the WAC is left with five schools: Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, UT-Arlington, Utah Tech )formerly Dixie State) and Southern Utah. Of the five, only UT-Arlington doesn't sponsor football.

It would not shock me if Utah Tech and Southern Utah eventually end up in the Big West as well with the three Texas schools likely landing in the Southland (to join the other Texas and Louisiana non-HBCU FCS programs). I'll have some thoughts on this in a little bit...

It's honestly kinda sad. Growing up.... although the WAC was clearly G5 (today's terminology), it was still a well respected conference with ton's of tradition. I always thought the Holiday Bowl was a really good bowl that pitted the WAC against a P5 school (Big 8?). In 1999, when 8 schools split off to form the MWC, I thought it was kinda neat, realized the 8 schools forming the MWC were making a superior conference. I have absolutely no idea at the team that this really was the very very beginning of what would eventually become this nonsense today that is powered by $$$ and having teams in conferences with absolutely no geographical sense.

[ctrabs74]

It looks like the WAC is on the verge of extinction...

Brett McMurphy is reporting that Utah Valley and California Baptist may be getting an invite to join the Big West:

https://x.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1894160770218209321

More details from KSL-TV, Salt Lake City...

If this goes forward, then the WAC is left with five schools: Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, UT-Arlington, Utah Tech )formerly Dixie State) and Southern Utah. Of the five, only UT-Arlington doesn't sponsor football.

It would not shock me if Utah Tech and Southern Utah eventually end up in the Big West as well with the three Texas schools likely landing in the Southland (to join the other Texas and Louisiana non-HBCU FCS programs). I'll have some thoughts on this in a little bit...

[ctrabs74]

Findlay (D2) is trying something similar, where Bluffton College (D3) is merging with them and they say they will maintain sports at both schools. Same thing with Gannon (D2) and Ursuline (D2). They too are saying both schools will maintain sports.

I seriously have my doubts that schools will maintain all these athletic teams in the long run. Findlay and Gannon are solid schools, but Bluffton and Ursuline are not. At what point do they consolidate athletics so they don't have to pay so many coaches?

Findlay/Bluffton is apples and oranges compared to Gannon/Ursuline. The University of Findlay is about 20 minutes northeast on I-75 of Bluffton University, so this example might be the better comparison to Montclair/Bloomfield. Gannon (Erie, Pa.) is about 90 minutes away from Ursuline (suburban Cleveland, Ohio) so I don't know if there'd be as much of an impact as there would potentially be with Findlay/Bluffton (this might be more of a PennWest U - Cal, Clarion, Edinboro scenario).

[Bballfan]

The status on Bloomfield College:
NCAA staff received information from the institution outlining the institution’s plans to sponsor sports at the Division II and Division III level. Upon its review, the committee requested the following: (1) Documentation from the accrediting agency that outlines Bloomfield College’s accreditation status; and (2) That NCAA staff provide a reminder to Bloomfield College regarding the Division II sports sponsorship requirements and the institutional impact should the institution fail to meet the minimum requirements during the 2024-25 academic year."
.

Findlay (D2) is trying something similar, where Bluffton College (D3) is merging with them and they say they will maintain sports at both schools. Same thing with Gannon (D2) and Ursuline (D2). They too are saying both schools will maintain sports.

I seriously have my doubts that schools will maintain all these athletic teams in the long run. Findlay and Gannon are solid schools, but Bluffton and Ursuline are not. At what point do they consolidate athletics so they don't have to pay so many coaches?

[Finchwidget]

The February Membership Committee report is now posted. https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/com...emb_Report.pdf

Only the two applications from Ferrum College and Middle Georgia State.

The status on Bloomfield College:
"The committee received an update regarding the merger between Bloomfield College and Montclair State University (Division III), which was executed as of July 1, 2024. Since the committee’s November videoconference, NCAA staff received information from the institution outlining the institution’s plans to sponsor sports at the Division II and Division III level. Upon its review, the committee requested the following: (1) Documentation from the accrediting agency that outlines Bloomfield College’s accreditation status; and (2) That NCAA staff provide a reminder to Bloomfield College regarding the Division II sports sponsorship requirements and the institutional impact should the institution fail to meet the minimum requirements during the 2024-25 academic year."

Looks like they are not going to wait a second year for Bloomfield College to become compliant. There was no mention of the situation at Saint Augustine's.

Middle Georgia got approval for their move from their Board of Regents 2 years ago. I'm surprised they didn't try to aim for the expedited transition along with Ferrum; I'd have figured they would have their ducks all in a row by now and be more than eligible for it

[Tech Boys]

The February Membership Committee report is now posted. https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/com...emb_Report.pdf

Only the two applications from Ferrum College and Middle Georgia State.

The status on Bloomfield College:
"The committee received an update regarding the merger between Bloomfield College and Montclair State University (Division III), which was executed as of July 1, 2024. Since the committee’s November videoconference, NCAA staff received information from the institution outlining the institution’s plans to sponsor sports at the Division II and Division III level. Upon its review, the committee requested the following: (1) Documentation from the accrediting agency that outlines Bloomfield College’s accreditation status; and (2) That NCAA staff provide a reminder to Bloomfield College regarding the Division II sports sponsorship requirements and the institutional impact should the institution fail to meet the minimum requirements during the 2024-25 academic year."

Looks like they are not going to wait a second year for Bloomfield College to become compliant. There was no mention of the situation at Saint Augustine's.

[Bballfan]

For non-football sports, Horizon league is a step down from the MAC.

[laker]

Brett McMurphy@Brett_McMurphy

Breaking: Northern Illinois’ non-football sports will join Horizon League in 2026 pending NIU board’s approval on Thursday, sources said. Only exceptions are wrestling & gymnastics, not offered by Horizon. NIU also joins Mountain West as a football-only member in 2026