It's a very good read and eye-opening. If anybody questions why VA State should stay D2 then they just need to read this.
Absolutely, LegalRam/VSU Trojan! As the saying goes, follow the money! The nuances that have to be navigated mean you have to have a solid transition plan, and a lot of political cooperation from state and local entities, especially when you are a state-supported school. The Norfolk State comparisons really made it eye-opening, in my opinion! A million-seven just to reclassify... sheesh! That means it costs that much just to "begin" the process, let alone any additional exit fees that might be imposed by the conference! Wow
I remember when Hampton University petitioned to leave the MEAC a few years ago, and how messy and contentious that relationship got. The conference Presidents increased the exit fee for member schools substantially as a deterrent. Didn't work, because A&T, Bethune Cookman, and FAMU all still left! Different circumstances, but I say that to highlight all the potential "costs" associated with a divisional or conference realignment. At Winston, I think we certainly learned an embarrassing yet valuable lesson during our failed attempt to transition to D1! In the immortal words of the OJays... Money, Money, Monnnnnney!
Yes, the cost of stepping up can be steep which drives away many marginal schools. But once through the initial costs/fees/probation period, D1's become eligible for quite a few NCAA D1 Revenue Distribution pools of $'s. In 2020, the D1 Revenue Distribution plan distributed just short of $600 MILLION to D1 member schools and conferences. For comparison, 2020 NCAA DII Revenue Distribution was a little over $7 MILLION to member schools and conferences.
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