Proposed bill for all-Oklahoma D2 conference in Oklahoma State House

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http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB1017

I definitely remember hearing chatter before about OK state lawmakers pining for an all-Oklahoma D2 conference before, but I think this is the first time actual legislation has been introduced around the idea. I admittedly don't know much about Oklahoma state politics or its higher education, but my understanding is that the various Okie schools are pretty happy where they are, so I'm somewhat skeptical that this goes anywhere. Could be way off-base though... Either way, thought this would be of interest to this subforum

[QB11111]

What are the implications if that passes?

[FoothillBison]

My guess is this is just a political move. UCO wants no part of this. I don't think the OK schools mind the GAC (even though they have undoubtedly struggled recently). We have seen ECU and SWOSU have some success in the early years. Recently OKBU has had some good seasons. I don't see the President's supporting this.

[LukeMcConnell1]

First, UCO isn't even included in this. They're not leaving the MIAA and if they did, it'd be for FCS, not another D2 league. I don't think this goes anywhere, either. Everyone's pretty content where they're at, from what I know (which admittedly isn't much). I could see Cameron and OC potentially being interested if for no other reason than they're a bit isolated from LSC folks, but then again, they don't have football. Of the 10 named, only seven have football and frankly, it'd be a terrible football league: six GAC schools + Northeastern State. Yuck.

I like the sentiment behind this, but it's probably DOA.

[Predatory Primates]

First, UCO isn't even included in this. They're not leaving the MIAA and if they did, it'd be for FCS, not another D2 league. I don't think this goes anywhere, either. Everyone's pretty content where they're at, from what I know (which admittedly isn't much). I could see Cameron and OC potentially being interested if for no other reason than they're a bit isolated from LSC folks, but then again, they don't have football. Of the 10 named, only seven have football and frankly, it'd be a terrible football league: six GAC schools + Northeastern State. Yuck.

I like the sentiment behind this, but it's probably DOA.

If they grabbed enough schools, those bad teams would get a PO autobid.

[Finchwidget]

First, UCO isn't even included in this. They're not leaving the MIAA and if they did, it'd be for FCS, not another D2 league. I don't think this goes anywhere, either. Everyone's pretty content where they're at, from what I know (which admittedly isn't much). I could see Cameron and OC potentially being interested if for no other reason than they're a bit isolated from LSC folks, but then again, they don't have football. Of the 10 named, only seven have football and frankly, it'd be a terrible football league: six GAC schools + Northeastern State. Yuck.

I like the sentiment behind this, but it's probably DOA.

Not to mention OBU, SNU, and OC are included in this. I understand the state has the power to exercise some control over their public universities, but do they even have any authority to tell a private university which athletic conference they can or can't play in?

[laker]

They could get ten teams if they added OU, OSU and Tulsa....................

that is about as likely as this thing has of being implemented.

[johnintx]

My guess is this is just a political move. UCO wants no part of this. I don't think the OK schools mind the GAC (even though they have undoubtedly struggled recently). We have seen ECU and SWOSU have some success in the early years. Recently OKBU has had some good seasons. I don't see the President's supporting this.

The legislation was filed by a graduate of OC. More importantly, he represents Weatherford, home of SWOSU.

Not sure if these dots should be connected, but I can't help but do so here.

There has been smoke surrounding a new Oklahoma conference for years. This is the first legislation calling for it, though.

[OldBison]

My hunch is for the same amount of funding required to do this the OK schools could become competitive in the GAC.

[LeftSider]

They could get ten teams if they added OU, OSU and Tulsa....................

that is about as likely as this thing has of being implemented.

What’s crazy is that Tulsa probably has the same or less students there as a lot of GAC schools. Don’t fact check me tho.

[laker]

What’s crazy is that Tulsa probably has the same or less students there as a lot of GAC schools. Don’t fact check me tho.

I'm sure you are correct. Years ago they had a list of the smallest NCAA D1 schools by enrollment during a Tulsa game. I think it listed them, the three military academies, and Centenary, who is now D3. I tried finding that list now and came up empty.

[johnintx]

I'm sure you are correct. Years ago they had a list of the smallest NCAA D1 schools by enrollment during a Tulsa game. I think it listed them, the three military academies, and Centenary, who is now D3. I tried finding that list now and came up empty.

They do. They have 2366 undergrads and 3366 total students.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tulsa

[EastStroud13]

I've mentioned it before but I think a valid compromise would be to go to PSAC-style divisions with a championship game. It would make the Oklahoma programs' schedules easier, without having to arrange an entirely new conference. Meanwhile, the Arkansas schools would gain stronger strength-of-schedule metrics when it comes to playoff selection and seeding, and would avoid dealing with a mass defection. The conference could add Northeastern State and Delta State as affiliates and run two 7-team divisions very easily, I think.

[Predatory Primates]

They do. They have 2366 undergrads and 3366 total students.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tulsa

And you can minor in cannabis studies.

[Bisonfan from FLA]

I've mentioned it before but I think a valid compromise would be to go to PSAC-style divisions with a championship game. It would make the Oklahoma programs' schedules easier, without having to arrange an entirely new conference. Meanwhile, the Arkansas schools would gain stronger strength-of-schedule metrics when it comes to playoff selection and seeding, and would avoid dealing with a mass defection. The conference could add Northeastern State and Delta State as affiliates and run two 7-team divisions very easily, I think.

I like this idea of divisions in the GAC and to add NEO and Delta State to make a 7 team division and 14 team conference. It opens up the OOC game opportunity within the new Super Region 4 with both MIAA and LSC teams bordering the GAC. It would take quite a bit of nudging and prodding to get this off the ground but it is a good idea, at least from my viewpoint. Thank you for bringing it to the forefront.