Congrats Oklahoma Baptist

[Tech Boys]

In their first year eligible, Oklahoma Baptist finished #50 in the Directors' Cup Standings. This is the best finish by a Great American Conference school after Harding finished #62 in 2017. Arkansas Tech finished #91 to give the GAC 2 top 100 finishers for the second time. OKBU also finished #3 in the GAC All-Sport standings, just 6.5 points behind Harding.

There have been a large number of posts on this and other boards saying OKBU should have never left NAIA. They make that statement based only on the performance of football, which is pure narrow-minded thinking. Oklahoma Baptist has shown to have a competitive athletic program since day 1 in NCAA.

GAC in Directors' Cup
Oklahoma Baptist - 50 (WXC, MSwim, WSwim, WT&FI, BB, WGolf, WTen, WT&FO)
Arkansas Tech - 91 (VB, WB, MGolf, WGolf, SB)
Harding - 111 (FB, MT&FI, MGolf)
Southwestern Oklahoma State - 114 (WSoc, WB, MGolf, WGolf)
Henderson State - 138 (MSwim, MGolf, WGolf)
Southern Arkansas - 141 (BB, SB)
Southeastern Oklahoma State - 163 (MGolf, MTen)
Ouachita Baptist - 203 (FB, Wres)
Southern Nazarene - 251 (MB)

[johnintx]

Re: Congrats Oklahoma Baptist

In their first year eligible, Oklahoma Baptist finished #50 in the Directors' Cup Standings. This is the best finish by a Great American Conference school after Harding finished #62 in 2017. Arkansas Tech finished #91 to give the GAC 2 top 100 finishers for the second time. OKBU also finished #3 in the GAC All-Sport standings, just 6.5 points behind Harding.

There have been a large number of posts on this and other boards saying OKBU should have never left NAIA. They make that statement based only on the performance of football, which is pure narrow-minded thinking. Oklahoma Baptist has shown to have a competitive athletic program since day 1 in NCAA.

GAC in Directors' Cup
Oklahoma Baptist - 50 (WXC, MSwim, WSwim, WT&FI, BB, WGolf, WTen, WT&FO)
Arkansas Tech - 91 (VB, WB, MGolf, WGolf, SB)
Harding - 111 (FB, MT&FI, MGolf)
Southwestern Oklahoma State - 114 (WSoc, WB, MGolf, WGolf)
Henderson State - 138 (MSwim, MGolf, WGolf)
Southern Arkansas - 141 (BB, SB)
Southeastern Oklahoma State - 163 (MGolf, MTen)
Ouachita Baptist - 203 (FB, Wres)
Southern Nazarene - 251 (MB)

Thank you for the kind words!

D-II has been a definite step up in competition for the Bison. We won the Directors' Cup in our last three years in the NAIA. Finishing in the top 50 in the nation in our first year of full D-II eligibility is an accomplishment, especially after the two-year transition period. Swimming competes in the RMAC, so those results do not count in GAC all-sports standings. We've always been strong in track and baseball, and those sports have competed well in D-II.

Football and basketball get the most exposure, even at the D-II level, and the transition for both of those sports has been tough. Football is still relatively new, with two years in NAIA, two years in the D-II transition period, and now entering our second year as full D-II members. Men's basketball was a power at the NAIA level, but has struggled in the transition and has made a coaching change for the upcoming season. Once the high-profile sports turn a corner, things will look even better for the Bison.

We recruited in all sports for two years with no eligibility for D-II post-season events. We competed for national championships in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) for two years during the transition, winning national tournaments in men's and women's indoor and outdoor track, men's and women's tennis, softball, and baseball. Now that the Bison are full members of D-II, we no longer compete in the NCCAA.

D-II has not been an easy transition, especially for football and men's basketball. However, I'm glad we moved to D-II, and am glad to be in the GAC.

[Redready]

Re: Congrats Oklahoma Baptist

Congratulations to the Bison and other GAC schools on their achievements. Hoping for a competitive FB season this fall.

[Mulerider]

Re: Congrats Oklahoma Baptist

In their first year eligible, Oklahoma Baptist finished #50 in the Directors' Cup Standings. This is the best finish by a Great American Conference school after Harding finished #62 in 2017. Arkansas Tech finished #91 to give the GAC 2 top 100 finishers for the second time. OKBU also finished #3 in the GAC All-Sport standings, just 6.5 points behind Harding.

There have been a large number of posts on this and other boards saying OKBU should have never left NAIA. They make that statement based only on the performance of football, which is pure narrow-minded thinking. Oklahoma Baptist has shown to have a competitive athletic program since day 1 in NCAA.

GAC in Directors' Cup
Oklahoma Baptist - 50 (WXC, MSwim, WSwim, WT&FI, BB, WGolf, WTen, WT&FO)
Arkansas Tech - 91 (VB, WB, MGolf, WGolf, SB)
Harding - 111 (FB, MT&FI, MGolf)
Southwestern Oklahoma State - 114 (WSoc, WB, MGolf, WGolf)
Henderson State - 138 (MSwim, MGolf, WGolf)
Southern Arkansas - 141 (BB, SB)
Southeastern Oklahoma State - 163 (MGolf, MTen)
Ouachita Baptist - 203 (FB, Wres)
Southern Nazarene - 251 (MB)

Congrats Oklahoma Baptist! I will say, some of the data I feel is skewed. Certain schools don't offer as much athletics, but I guess that's the school's problem at the end of the day. Love to see a Southern Baptist College do so well! Congrats!