Northwood Exit and Expansion Discussion

[tip79]

I heard that rumor about Davenport too. If true, they are probably being proactive in dealing with the demise of the GLIAC.

[D2Ohio]

Trine (DIII) is likely your best option. They are former NAIA, are in a growing area, Has good fundraising capabilities. They struggle to recruit athletically against the NAIA due to the lack of scholarships.

If Trine would move up it would be join the GMAC. It would probably be that way for any NAIA looking to go D2. Heard rumor (just talk, no link to provide) about Davenport looking at GMAC. Real tough spot for 5 of the 6 remaining if that happens.

[stealth]

Trine (DIII) is likely your best option. They are former NAIA, are in a growing area, Has good fundraising capabilities. They struggle to recruit athletically against the NAIA due to the lack of scholarships.

[BillyGV]

GV was a top wrestling school back in the day - they wrestled in all the top meets against D1 schools - at on e prestigious event at the time only ONE wrestler had won his weight class four years in a row and it was a GV athlete - several guys were invited to olympic tryouts - several were all-american in multiple divisions - NAIA, DII and D1 - the 70's were the heyday - it is one of the wrestlers from the 70's who has stepped in to fund the program - he has been working on this for a couple years to make it happen - great job on his part and Go Lakers

[MrsThortonMelon]

It's nice they are bringing back wrestling. GV's first national champion in any sport was a wrestler. It's been a while but there is a foundation to build on. Hope they can find another Jim Scott to lead the program back to national relevance.

Autumn Rux-Smith might also get a look as the head coach...remember...this is mens AND womens wrestling that is being started...and GVSU is a leader in women in management in the athletics dept...

[4nick8]

It's nice they are bringing back wrestling. GV's first national champion in any sport was a wrestler. It's been a while but there is a foundation to build on. Hope they can find another Jim Scott to lead the program back to national relevance.

[KleShreen]

GVSU announced today that they are adding men's and women's wrestling as varsity sports, to begin play in the fall of 2023. Not sure how that might impact a potential level move, but just thought it was interesting.

The press release mentions that it is happening primarily because of a large private donation from a wrestling alumni who competed when GV offered men's wrestling as a varsity sport previously.

GV's club wrestling team has been among the best in the country at the club level for about 10 years now. Seems like a decision that could pay pretty good dividends right away.

[Redwing]

O line is 2 freshmen, 5 sophs...3 of the top 4 wide outs are out..both starting tight ends are out...and QB is playing like its the end of his freshman year...and a new OC...team has one close loss to the number 1 team, defense finally came to play...so yea...it is not pretty but lets see what plays out...true freshman center played like one...but...he will get better..we have a great O line coach now...number 6 team in the country and most GVSU faithful want coaches head....I can see why people thing GVSU is spoiled...we act like little brats at times...

Exactly. But better not say much positive about the program or you'll be labeled "fangirl" or the like. Many on here remind me of a sports radio host in Detroit (he's quite popular per ratings too). He gets kudos because he ranks on every Detroit team and many area college teams. The rare time that he's positive is when they are trending towards a championship. It's like a team is absolute garbage unless they win the championship.. and it has to be the national one... no conference, divisions, etc. Except, with him, most every team he's talking about lately is losing. GV is far from that.

I get that there are flaws and they need to be fixed. But I also get the positives far far outweigh those flaws. Ignoring flaws is not good for the team. Ignoring strengths is also detrimental since mental state also comes into play. And yes, us fans are not the team.

Fans can and say whatever they want. Credible fans? Well, I'll leave that up to others.

[GV Retired Bum]

O line is 2 freshmen, 5 sophs...3 of the top 4 wide outs are out..both starting tight ends are out...and QB is playing like its the end of his freshman year...and a new OC...team has one close loss to the number 1 team, defense finally came to play...so yea...it is not pretty but lets see what plays out...true freshman center played like one...but...he will get better..we have a great O line coach now...number 6 team in the country and most GVSU faithful want coaches head....I can see why people thing GVSU is spoiled...we act like little brats at times...

Completely agree. GV has one loss on the year, and thats to the #1 team in the country. I get alot of people on here got to enjoy the early 2000s national championships but D2 football isnt a giant pile of **** anymore. Theres actual competition week in and week out. The Tech game doesnt worry me much because theyre so well coach. Playing them twice in a year is not easy. The NMU game is more concerning since I think they are extremely bad and have horrid coaching. Idk... I think we need to all relax and realize GV had 1 loss and is right where they need to be to make a run.

[GV Retired Bum]

What in the Mitchell era has ever led you to believe that GV would do damage In the playoffs?

2015 was one game away from the Natty lol I agree theres something off with how GV cant bounce back after loses to FSU but only pointing towards the head coach is a bit much IMO.

[MrsThortonMelon]

Uh, they are already young, so next step is freshman. But it is a bit of a mystery. Especially, since THIS game started well for GV. Well, kind of. First drive, Tech stopped GV on a 3rd and 1, then next play, they stopped em on a 4th and 1. 2 running plays that were more or less up the middle. But next drive was chunk, chunk chunk., with a TD. Then the center went out. Defense was solid for the game. Not sure what turned things around for MTU to control GV's O. Though, a couple of players got hurt, something just wasn't clicking.

Again, for the most part, defense played pretty much lights out, cept for maybe one late drive.

Let's see what Wayne brings next week.

O line is 2 freshmen, 5 sophs...3 of the top 4 wide outs are out..both starting tight ends are out...and QB is playing like its the end of his freshman year...and a new OC...team has one close loss to the number 1 team, defense finally came to play...so yea...it is not pretty but lets see what plays out...true freshman center played like one...but...he will get better..we have a great O line coach now...number 6 team in the country and most GVSU faithful want coaches head....I can see why people thing GVSU is spoiled...we act like little brats at times...

[MrsThortonMelon]

That info is 100% wrong...who ever told you that is full of Ferris....IF GVSU moved up football would do the OVC and the other sports would be in the Horizon.

[Thelakerman]

[bigmrg74]

After today's craptacular display, everyone should. You guys can all keep talking about moving up and all that junk Based on what I saw today we'll just pay a bunch of money to get the tar beaten out of us. We have a team this year that should be good enough to do damage in the playoffs and instead we're basically letting some correctable mistakes against our rival turn us into a team that simply doesn't have any fire in its belly. I'm not trying to disparage Tech, but we went up there while we were trying to figure a lot of things out and still hung 40+. We moved the ball well enough today (particularly in the first half) to have this game put away and didn't do it. ZERO POINTS in the 2nd half? Seriously? What a $h!+show. The last two weeks make it obvious to me we won't be able to do anything in playoffs. If we can even get in. One-win Wayne will find a way to play their tails off against us next week. I'm scared to death we won't be ready for it.

Yeah, they didn't get up to play Tech at all. Let them hang around too long and it was rather uncomfortable. We should have been about to cruise to a 30 point lead and then spend a lot of time letting the second string guys get some game reps in.

[bigmrg74]

We would be better off if the NCAA came down on some of the MAC schools who have never come close to meeting D1-A FBS standards and bump a few of the MAC schools down to D1-AA FCS division. We could have a pretty decent league with say EMU, Central, Toledo, Ball State, GVSU, Wayne State. Might even convince some of the Horizon league schools to join a conference like that.