Thumping

[Redwing]

In Michigan, GVSU is probably #3 in the pecking order after the flagships. Every once in a while a directional MAC school bumps up when their football team makes a run. They also have a very FBS-like media presence with a network of live radio broadcasts, weekly coaches shows on commercial radio, etc.

Kind of true, but the D2 stigma lives on. The Detroit market has Wayne and they rarely get much PR. GV tries to market it's sports, but if they aren't in the natty, it's tough to see much out of the Grand Rapids mrkt. As for other non FB schools in the GLIAC, it's currently 2: Wisconsin Pside and Purdue Northwest.

Personally, I'd like GV to stay in D2, but the writing to move up is on the wall. D1 just has that label vs D2. So many kids AND parents seem to flock to a lower D1 program to even an upper level D2 one. It's kind of sad really.

[RocknTheSnackBar]

I don't want GV to move up. I do want the GLIAC to stabilize and improve.

is it that easy to move up just one sport?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Kind of true, but the D2 stigma lives on. The Detroit market has Wayne and they rarely get much PR. GV tries to market it's sports, but if they aren't in the natty, it's tough to see much out of the Grand Rapids mrkt. As for other non FB schools in the GLIAC, it's currently 2: Wisconsin Pside and Purdue Northwest.

Personally, I'd like GV to stay in D2, but the writing to move up is on the wall. D1 just has that label vs D2. So many kids AND parents seem to flock to a lower D1 program to even an upper level D2 one. It's kind of sad really.

The PSAC West has that same issue. Within the same region, there are (3) FCS schools (Duquesne, Robert Morris and St. Francis). I'm not sure either of them would win the PSAC most years. But, they all recruit the same guys the PSAC does. And, as you say, that 'D1' label is hard to overcome. On top of those three, Youngstown State is nearby, too.

Best bet for our schools is to catch them in the portal in a year or two.

[Redwing]

is it that easy to move up just one sport?

That's a no can do. It's all or nothing, with some limited exceptions if the sport isn't contested at the D2 level (at least that's my understanding.) So if football moves up... the entire school's athletics move up.

[CHIP72]

is it that easy to move up just one sport?

As Redwing said, nope. A number of years ago (it appears it was 1993) teams that had D1 basketball programs but D3 football programs, like Dayton and (ironically enough) Duquesne, were required by the NCAA to have all of their programs at the same classification. That's how the Pioneer Football League (a non-scholarship DI-AA/FCS conference) was born.

[boatcapt]

The PSAC West has that same issue. Within the same region, there are (3) FCS schools (Duquesne, Robert Morris and St. Francis). I'm not sure either of them would win the PSAC most years. But, they all recruit the same guys the PSAC does. And, as you say, that 'D1' label is hard to overcome. On top of those three, Youngstown State is nearby, too.

Best bet for our schools is to catch them in the portal in a year or two.

Arent there four FCS schools in the PSAC East footprint?

[CHIP72]

Arent there four FCS schools in the PSAC East footprint?

More than that - if you consider schools just outside the footprint they include Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, Penn, Delaware, and Princeton, plus Towson, Morgan State, and a few other schools (Fordham, Columbia, Wagner, Monmouth, Delaware State, Georgetown, and Howard) not overly far away.

[IUPNation]

As Redwing said, nope. A number of years ago (it appears it was 1993) teams that had D1 basketball programs but D3 football programs, like Dayton and (ironically enough) Duquesne, were required by the NCAA to have all of their programs at the same classification. That's how the Pioneer Football League (a non-scholarship DI-AA/FCS conference) was born.

[IUPNation]

Arent there four FCS schools in the PSAC East footprint?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Most thriving FCS programs are the only show in town -- or, close to it.

Pitt even takes a back seat in the media in pro sports-heavy Pittsburgh. Duquesne and Robert Morris football get less coverage than high school. They would both be ideal D2 football programs.

[Fightingscot82]

Most thriving FCS programs are the only show in town -- or, close to it.

Pitt even takes a back seat in the media in pro sports-heavy Pittsburgh. Duquesne and Robert Morris football get less coverage than high school. They would both be ideal D2 football programs.

Duquesne and Bob's School of Business have tasted too much success at the D1 level to ever make the move without some sort of catastrophic wave forcing it. St. Francis could as well. RMU & SFU both have much closer to DII resources but have March Madness money propping them up.

[boatcapt]

More than that - if you consider schools just outside the footprint they include Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, Penn, Delaware, and Princeton, plus Towson, Morgan State, and a few other schools (Fordham, Columbia, Wagner, Monmouth, Delaware State, Georgetown, and Howard) not overly far away.

Yep...Way to much "capacity" for such a small area.

[Fightingscot82]

More than that - if you consider schools just outside the footprint they include Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, Penn, Delaware, and Princeton, plus Towson, Morgan State, and a few other schools (Fordham, Columbia, Wagner, Monmouth, Delaware State, Georgetown, and Howard) not overly far away.

I'll throw in Farleigh Dickinson, Long Island, and Stony Brook. WAY too many schools recruiting the same footprint.

[iupgroundhog]

Yeah, but these schools don't compete for recruits against the PSAC. When is the last time you heard of a HS senior who 'has narrowed his choices to Bucknell. Lehigh, Princeton and Bloomsburg?' No offense to Bloomsburg intended. In the West, Duquesne, RMU, and St. Francis do compete with the PSAC.

[CHIP72]

Yeah, but these schools don't compete for recruits against the PSAC. When is the last time you heard of a HS senior who 'has narrowed his choices to Bucknell. Lehigh, Princeton and Bloomsburg?' No offense to Bloomsburg intended. In the West, Duquesne, RMU, and St. Francis do compete with the PSAC.

They don't compete in the same way because if a player of comparable quality is located in eastern Pennsylvania, he'll DEFINITELY attend the DI-AA/FCS school. In western PA, the D2 school might have a chance to get him. (If he's a smart kid, then it really becomes a no-brainer - he'll go to an Ivy League or Patriot League school or possibly Villanova, which is also very good academically.) That actually works to the advantage of the PSAC West teams, who have less competition with DI-AA/FCS schools.