The GSC Football in 2025 / Changes Coming

[UNALions]

Delta St - for once, I think the merger with Valley makes sense athletically

They should merge to become Delta Valley State in D1.

[BisonBones]

They should merge to become Delta Valley State in D1.

Saddest part would be losing either Delta Devils or Fighting Okra as a mascot. They'd probably decide on a 3rd option even more bland than "Statesmen".

Maybe the Okra Devils? Devil Okras?

[Finchwidget]

The article never specified, but I wonder if this would be an all-sports move for VSU, as opposed to a football-only one. Looking at a map, they're on a bit of an island in the GSC right now, and especially so now that the departures of Shorter and UWG have made them the only GSC member in the state of Georgia. Travel would actually be better for them in the SIAC too, even with the huge outliers of Central State and Kentucky State. I crunched the numbers, and their average travel distance would be about 333 miles in the SIAC vs. the 418 miles they currently have in the GSC. The only reason I can think to stay would be maybe the history they share with the other GSC institutions, seeing how long VSU has stayed in the conference... Maybe someone else more familiar can fill me in if I'm missing something or oversimplifying things.

[baldereagle]

I personally hope this is just a football move. The GSC is very strong in the other sports and have 8 (i think) other schools.

[ctrabs74]

I personally hope this is just a football move. The GSC is very strong in the other sports and have 8 (i think) other schools.

The current GSC membership (* = football):

Alabama-Huntsville
Auburn-Montgomery
Christian Brothers (Memphis)
Delta State*
Lee (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Mississippi Christian
Montevallo (Ala.)
Trevecca Nazarene (Nashville)
Union (Jackson, Tenn.)
Valdosta State*
West Alabama*
West Florida*

[UWARTime]

How sweet it would have been if all the schools below had football.

The current GSC membership (* = football):

Alabama-Huntsville
Auburn-Montgomery
Christian Brothers (Memphis)
Delta State*
Lee (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Mississippi Christian
Montevallo (Ala.)
Trevecca Nazarene (Nashville)
Union (Jackson, Tenn.)
Valdosta State*
West Alabama*
West Florida*[/QUOTE]

[vsukerosene]

I know it's probably been discussed, but what about UAH adding football. Is it a regent's issue?

[boyblue]

Continuing on your previous narrative, in my perfect world the two conferences could come together for football and divide into two separate conferences or two separate divisions of one conference. If my math is correct I think there would be 17 teams.

In the GSC/Gulf South division you take the 4 current GSC teams and add Lane, Tuskegee, Miles, Albany State, and Fort Valley State. This would be a pretty impressive and tough conference/division outside of Lane, but from a geographic perspective they make sense.

The other SIAC conference/(fill in the blank) division would be Central State, Kentucky State, Allen, Benedict, Savannah State, Edward Waters, Clark, and Morehouse. Not a strong conference/division but a lot of parity for these teams because most of them are usually down save for a random run of a good season or two.

If it's a division setup then have a conference championship game in week 11. If it's two conferences it still leaves enough open spots for the traditional SIAC teams to schedule crossover games against each other.

I love this idea because each division will have a champ and the best team in the SIAC Division will have a solid game at the end of every year in which if they perform well should get them a PO birth.

[athensblazer]

If the GSC does not expand (football) then I hope that VSU joins the ASun or SoCon - there are other comprehensive/R2 universities in those conferences and they would be a better/fairer peer group. Also would put VSU back with past conference mates. VSU should schedule with Albany State and Fort Valley when those schools need us, but the SIAC is not a good fit and I expect there would be discussions/efforts about VSU leaving the SIAC immediately after joining.

University System of Georgia has made a couple of policy changes this year that should increase revenue to Athletics Depts across the system. Perhaps that can help VSU with the long awaited move-up, or cause another USG institution to move over to GSC. Going to be an interesting 2025 for GSC for sure.

[boyblue]

If the GSC does not expand (football) then I hope that VSU joins the ASun or SoCon - there are other comprehensive/R2 universities in those conferences and they would be a better/fairer peer group. Also would put VSU back with past conference mates. VSU should schedule with Albany State and Fort Valley when those schools need us, but the SIAC is not a good fit and I expect there would be discussions/efforts about VSU leaving the SIAC immediately after joining.

University System of Georgia has made a couple of policy changes this year that should increase revenue to Athletics Depts across the system. Perhaps that can help VSU with the long awaited move-up, or cause another USG institution to move over to GSC. Going to be an interesting 2025 for GSC for sure.

Any affiliation with the SIAC would be football only, and would likely only happen if the other three abandon ship. We have two years to come up with a plan. Who knows, FIT's budget issues may be resolved after back to back record setting enrollment.

[vsuman]

Any affiliation with the SIAC would be football only, and would likely only happen if the other three abandon ship. We have two years to come up with a plan. Who knows, FIT's budget issues may be resolved after back to back record setting enrollment.

FITS = ??? (Florida Tech?)

[Eagle74]

FITS = ??? (Florida Tech?)

Yep

[getnastyblazers]

Probably in the minority, but I like the move because it will allow SIAC teams to play a playoff contender on a more regular basis.
How would VSU fan base react to such a move?

I’m good with it if it is what’s best for the program. Should help attendance, playing ASU and FVSU are always big draws.

[Eagle74]

Still believe VSU would be a better fit with CC, especially since they now include Shorter, NGU and other regional teams. With CC, it wouldn't be like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole, IE, Chowan's past situation with the CIAA.

[Rational Observer]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/12/02/h...aldosta-state/

HBCU Gameday reporting that Valdosta State is considering a move to the SIAC. I can't find any other instances online of the "multiple sources" they reference that are apparently indicating this, so take it with a grain of salt, but it might be something to keep an eye on

That article reads like clickbait based on pure speculation.

If the SIAC would take VSU, VSU should jump on it, but what's the incentive for the SIAC?