SILO

[Mulerider]

I am going to go ahead and say it. Forming the GAC and going to a silo schedule was the best thing that has happened to my Bisons. We went from bottom dwellers in the GSC to king of the hill. I know a lot of fans are frustrated in the SOS and playing the same teams year in and out, but I think we need to recognize how this program was built. Going silo all but guaranteed the GAC playoff spots for teams that were not used to obtaining them. It helped Harding get exposure, which led to us building a roster as good as anyone in the country.
If everyone would take their blinders off, they could see that. Now going forward, the only team who would benefit from playing outside the conference is Harding. Why would NWOSU or ATU want to play outside the conference? HU created the blue print. I read on here this summer how everyone was shocked the ADs all voted for silo again. Is that really shocking when only one (possibly two) schools could benefit from playing another conference?

So GAC fans, stop belly aching and until the NCAA starts penalizing us for playing a Silo schedule, then let's continue to churn teams out to the playoffs. Maybe this is the year that OBU can finally make some noise in the post season and bring more respect to the conference... Who am I kidding, that's not going to happen. However, we will let them continue to ride the coattails of the Bisons for now!

Bro, I think you have had one too many drinks from that bikini coffee stand in Searcy 😂. Love the energy and passion though.

[Runnin' Cat]

Is this satire? It’s gotta be satire, right?
the conference was absolutely penalized by not getting a home playoff game. And you may not get one in SR4 as the only conference without OOC games.

I hear Harding is now working at a plan around world peace and curing cancer...

[LeftSider]

I hear Harding is now working at a plan around world peace and curing cancer...

lol

[walnut100]

I have heard some rumors that a GAC team or 2 has at least talked with the MIAA about membership. No idea which ones, though.

I think the only way this happens is if Harding is making good on those rumors of moving up to FCS to be conference rivals with UCA. That would suddenly make it in Ouachita’s best interest to move to a more competitive conference since we aren’t in any kind of position to move up real soon ourselves. I could see SAU and HSU wanting to go MIAA as well in that scenario. That’s provided Deltta State doesn’t make the move from GSC to GAC which there have also been rumors of happening. I think we need better competition to get to the next level, we are so close to being a real threat to win it all but have a lot of work to do and I’m not sure we will ever get it done with the GAC SILO. Even if it was just us leaving I think it would make some sense because we could schedule HSU as our OOC opponent. To be honest I would love it because MIAA fans are more fun to interact with (more trash talk, more hostile, just as friendly when the dust settles after the game is over) and our financial situation is a lot better now than it was when we first jumped from the GSC so we could afford the travel.

interesting rumor for sure

[HUBisonFan]

I think the only way this happens is if Harding is making good on those rumors of moving up to FCS to be conference rivals with UCA. That would suddenly make it in Ouachita’s best interest to move to a more competitive conference since we aren’t in any kind of position to move up real soon ourselves. I could see SAU and HSU wanting to go MIAA as well in that scenario. That’s provided Deltta State doesn’t make the move from GSC to GAC which there have also been rumors of happening. I think we need better competition to get to the next level, we are so close to being a real threat to win it all but have a lot of work to do and I’m not sure we will ever get it done with the GAC SILO. Even if it was just us leaving I think it would make some sense because we could schedule HSU as our OOC opponent. To be honest I would love it because MIAA fans are more fun to interact with (more trash talk, more hostile, just as friendly when the dust settles after the game is over) and our financial situation is a lot better now than it was when we first jumped from the GSC so we could afford the travel.

interesting rumor for sure

Where are you hearing rumors of Harding looking at a move into FCS?

[FoothillBison]

From the well of wishful thinking 😂

[walnut100]

Where are you hearing rumors of Harding looking at a move into FCS?

They've been passed around this forum in the past year. I didn't put a ton of stock into them and still don't to be honest. However I think it makes an interesting scenario if some GAC teams are wanting to bolt to the MIAA. The way things stand with y'all here I don't see any incentive for anyone to leave or break the SILO

[Divisiontwo]

Harding isn’t going FCS. Literal zero chance.

[walnut100]

I have to admit it seemed strange. I don’t see anyone leaving the GAC anytime soon

[Searcy]

Harding isn’t going FCS. Literal zero chance.

I remember 30+ years ago having conversations with people who insisted there was no chance Harding would ever leave NAIA for the NCAA. Of course, the rumors back then also included that the NCAA had offered the entire AIC the chance to move up, and Harding was the lone holdout, which was why UCA ended up going alone and the conference fell apart with the rest of them eventually joining them. Crazier still was the rumor that the reason Harding refused to move up was that NCAA events often included beer advertisements and the administration wouldn't stand for that.

Rumors are strange things, that develop a life of their own somehow, regardless of where they come from or how true they are.

[the Northeasterner]

I think silo has been a positive for the GAC playoff teams because of the dominance of the top 4. But the benefit it allows the bottom teams a chance to "eat" which gets wins for everyone so it's rare that a team finishes under the two win threshold. I think it's perfect for the institutions in the GAC like UAM OBU, NWOSU,SWOSU, ECU, SWOSU and now Henderson that are smaller in student population in alumni support. I think OBU Harding and SAU have gone well. The only institution that looks like it's been a negative 4 has been ATU who did really well in the Gulf South. The big thing is going to be for you guys is can you clean the conference together now that the Gulf South is basically imploded. Cuz it's real tempting to add Delta State. Which would automatically increase your conferences visibility.

[FoothillBison]

Why did ATU become so bad in the GAC? They have had the facilities, student body, and most importantly $$&. This one baffles me.

[BisonBones]

I remember 30+ years ago having conversations with people who insisted there was no chance Harding would ever leave NAIA for the NCAA. Of course, the rumors back then also included that the NCAA had offered the entire AIC the chance to move up, and Harding was the lone holdout, which was why UCA ended up going alone and the conference fell apart with the rest of them eventually joining them. Crazier still was the rumor that the reason Harding refused to move up was that NCAA events often included beer advertisements and the administration wouldn't stand for that.

Rumors are strange things, that develop a life of their own somehow, regardless of where they come from or how true they are.

I think the rumors mostly started after the success of last year. Harding does have a more national footprint than most D2 private schools and her peer institutions within the churches of Christ schools are Pepperdine, Lipscomb, and Abilene Christian, all D1 schools. That’s about the only basis for these rumors that I can see. ATU is also cited as a potential FCS school due to its larger enrollment, but I don’t think either program is considering a move. But I really don’t know.

[BisonBones]

Why did ATU become so bad in the GAC? They have had the facilities, student body, and most importantly $$&. This one baffles me.

I have no idea. I do wonder if they were banking on continued growth of enrollment, assuming they were on a similar path to UCA a few years ago (when UCA was having bigger incoming classes than U of Arkansas), but they got hit by the enrollment cliff hard.

[Bisons10]

The entire Athletic Program has to be considered, not just football. Makes zero since for Harding to move up.