Mississippi College changing name, dropping football

[FormerCrusader#84]

I saw some chatter on Twitter - sounds like MC is being quite vague about their commitment to players wishing to continue their education there.

Seems like a bad situation all around.

For me this is the saddest aspect of this whole scenario. I can understand the institution making a financial decision to drop football but to be vague about honoring scholarships for those players who may wish to stay at the school is a huge red flag.

[SW_Mustang]

For me this is the saddest aspect of this whole scenario. I can understand the institution making a financial decision to drop football but to be vague about honoring scholarships for those players who may wish to stay at the school is a huge red flag.

From what I can tell, the language they used is that they will "support" players who wish to say. Most schools that drop football just outright say they will honor scholarships.

Hopefully it's what they mean, but being that vague in these situations is not great.

[SW_Mustang]

MC has always been a Christian university. Now having achieved university status, I believe the name change allows them to keep their logo & stuff, instead of MC standing for Mississippi College it now stands for Mississippi Christian.

IMO - this is just me overthinking as a marketing major, but the vast majority of people don't know the difference between a college and a university. The bar to be a university is so low (Lincoln, Phoenix, etc) that keeping the name "college" almost gives it some distinguishment (William and Mary, Carleton, etc.)

Not saying they did something wrong, and I absolutely get them wanting to recognize university status - but I don't think it will have the effect they think it will.

[SW_Mustang]

I know football isn't the biggest drag on an institutional budget but it is one of the larger ones. Would one rather have the school drop football now or have the school close alltogether in 10-15 years because of financial difficulties? One of the harder questions to face if you are a small school like MC

That really is what it comes down too these days for a lot of small schools. On the flipside, I think DII football is burning the candle at both ends right now. My fear is a domino effect - enough schools drop, it will force more to drop due to the lack of feasibility. We kinda saw that with the GNAC conference to some degree.

I'm not predicting an all out doomsday scenario, but I just want DII to remain intact to some degree. Not saying MC made a bad decision, just that I hope we can keep it going.

[Eagle74]

Conference Carolinas - Southeastern Division?

I can easily see Conference Carolinas making a move in bringing in Valdosta State, West Florida, West Alabama, and possibly Delta State into the conference (at least for Football). Since Conference Carolinas expansion, aside from North and South Carolina, into Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, I can also see a potential name change to something to the effect like the Greater South Conference (ironically The GSC). We'll see.

[ctrabs74]

I saw some chatter on Twitter - sounds like MC is being quite vague about their commitment to players wishing to continue their education there.

Seems like a bad situation all around.

That might be a little problematic. I was under the impression that players under scholarship (even a partial one as it the case in D2) would have those scholarships honored if a program was dropped. It might be a different story for a walk-on player, but that's not a good look from MCU.

[ctrabs74]

Watching this conference wither away has been depressing.

It's hard to believe that over the past decade, the Gulf South Conference has gone from one of the premiere leagues in D2 football, right up there with the NSIC, MIAA and pre-GMAC GLIAC, into a conference that's basically the GNAC of the Southeast. Yes, you have four quality programs, but once Conference Carolinas launches their football league next season, those four quality programs are really all that's left. Sadly, it's not a matter of if West Florida, West Alabama and Valdosta find greener pastures while Delta State likely ends up going to the GAC (who would have to pick up another football program in Oklahoma to balance out the Arkansas - and potentially Mississippi side - of the league... hello, Northeastern State), it's a matter of when.

[SW_Mustang]

That might be a little problematic. I was under the impression that players under scholarship (even a partial one as it the case in D2) would have those scholarships honored if a program was dropped. It might be a different story for a walk-on player, but that's not a good look from MCU.

Here's the language they used in the statement - the bolded is what had a few people questioning the commitment from MC:

Important Message from Mississippi College | Mississippi College | Mississippi College

“We will support our current student-athletes as they seek to continue their education at MC as well as those who wish to transfer,” added Bizot.

Compare that statement to the language used in the statement from Minnesota-Crookston:

UMN Crookston Discontinues Golden Eagle Football Program - University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

"The University will honor scholarships for any student-athlete who wishes to continue academically at UMN Crookston."

It could just be semantics as I also looked at St. Cloud's which made no mention of either points - and I believe they ended up honoring scholarships. That being said, in the anecdotal I saw - it is causing confusion for some MC football players and families.

I don't know - I just think those things matter.

[ctrabs74]

I can easily see Conference Carolinas making a move in bringing in Valdosta State, West Florida, West Alabama, and possibly Delta State into the conference (at least for Football). Since Conference Carolinas expansion, aside from North and South Carolina, into Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, I can also see a potential name change to something to the effect like the Greater South Conference (ironically The GSC). We'll see.

I don't know that any move by CC would be anything but a football only move (see: WAC-Atlantic Sun and Ohio Valley-Big South in FCS) considering there are several non-football programs in the GSC to factor in, given that their members are private schools, save for UNC-Pembroke and Francis Marion in South Carolina and I don't think that adding three relatively large state schools fits CC's long-term plans - enrollment-wise, Pembroke is at about 7,600 while Francis Marion is close to 4,000. West Alabama might be the best "fit" enrollment-wise at 5,800, but Valdosta and West Florida are each over 10K.

As for Delta State, they're probably closer to most of the Arkansas schools than they are to Pensacola and Valdosta, so if the GAC were inclined to expand (and I've seen no inklings that there's interest in expanding - at least publicly) they'd likely have to add an Oklahoma school with football to balance things out and appease the Okie side of the league.

[Eagle74]

Enrollment becomes less and less of a factor if a school doesn't want, or is not financially in a position to move from Division 2 to a higher division.

[cneagle99]

IMO - this is just me overthinking as a marketing major, but the vast majority of people don't know the difference between a college and a university. The bar to be a university is so low (Lincoln, Phoenix, etc) that keeping the name "college" almost gives it some distinguishment (William and Mary, Carleton, etc.)

Not saying they did something wrong, and I absolutely get them wanting to recognize university status - but I don't think it will have the effect they think it will.

From what I recall from when CN debated this the first time (when they decided to remain a college) there is a different perception in international realms between "college" and "university" and that "college" is viewed more as a secondary school. I do NOT know if that is true, but that was one of the reasons people pushing the university tag cited.

[Eagle74]

Taking a closer look at this situation, my heart goes out to the parents, players, coaches and fans of the Mississippi College Football program. Very tough news right before the holidays.

[delta dawn]

I know football isn't the biggest drag on an institutional budget but it is one of the larger ones. Would one rather have the school drop football now or have the school close alltogether in 10-15 years because of financial difficulties? One of the harder questions to face if you are a small school like MC

The travel expenses for Delta State would be huge we are located on the western side next to the MS.River. There are many D2 schools having this problem Enrollment in most schools are lower what are you doing

[Shugley]

The travel expenses for Delta State would be huge we are located on the western side next to the MS.River. There are many D2 schools having this problem Enrollment in most schools are lower what are you doing

No matter where we end up, travel will be difficult. There is no bridge in Bolivar county which means you have to either go south to Greenville or North to Helena. If it were as the crow flies, we would be in great shape!

[Tech Boys]

From what I recall from when CN debated this the first time (when they decided to remain a college) there is a different perception in international realms between "college" and "university" and that "college" is viewed more as a secondary school. I do NOT know if that is true, but that was one of the reasons people pushing the university tag cited.

I've seen several schools mention the international perception when changing from college to university. Yes, it's true. In all the international shows I watch, mostly from Canada and Australia, I have never heard anyone say they are going to college; it's always Uni or University. And I have seen a lot of shows over the last quarter century including the two daily Aussie soaps that I started watching nearly thirteen years ago.