USI move to D1; how does that affect UIndy?

[michiganfb]

Quite a few teams try to balance their rosters and surround the character problem guys with good character guys but St Francis doesn't take on character problems to the extent that Marian does - easy to check and see who else is offering the same kid. Taylor has that one big basketball game event but the rest of time it's you can hear a mouthpiece drop into the grass. Indiana Wesleyan does an amazing job while limiting themselves to reputable recruits. A school that's perfectly located like St Francis for GMACs Hillsdale/Findlay/Tiffin and with AMAZING facilities is D3 Trine University.

[Uindy18]

Taylor is a stretch. Don't have the means in multiple ways. Go to a few of their athletic events & see where they are at. They seem many years away from a D2-type.
Marian I'd like to see despite the fights and felonies - they still offer character issue guys that Findlay & Tiffin (and UIndy) won't touch. We like their current SID though.
Saint Francis has taken a back seat recently since they won't gamble to that crazy extent on character issue guys. Fort Wayne is the great location for a GMAC team?
Indiana Wesleyan gets the right kind of kid & has the best stadium (along with Saint Francis). You must know that IWU Football beat Marian & Saint Francis last year?

I know Taylor is behind the other three, but I also think they are a package deal with IWU, not unlike Walsh and Malone. I know they are by no means top competition, but they would fit in well with the Malone and Cedarville side of the conference. Reminder, this conference approved Thomas More, and all 4 of those schools i think hit that baseline when it comes to stability, competition, and facilities.

Marian and Saint Francis have some issues, but they are at least on par with the middle of the conference like Walsh and Lake Erie if not well ahead that level. Additionally, I love the idea of a Indy vs. Marian crosstown in-conference showdown. They tried to so it for awhile but not one likes playing across the NAIA/NCAA divide to often.

Indiana Wesleyan has been developing quickly so, I agree they would be a great add.

[GLIAC Fan]

The only NAIA school that should be considered is Indiana Wesleyan. Good size school, good academics, outstanding athletic facilities, winning programs, geographical fit.

[TheDog]

My hope would be that they keep Malone/Cedarville/Ursuline, and KWC/TNU pursue other conferences (TNU to GSC, Carolinas, or Peach Belt/KWC to GLVC). That would really solidify the conference around Ohio, and if Indianapolis moves over, I think they could make a very strong pitch to Indiana NAIA schools such as Taylor, Indiana Wesleyan, Marian, and Saint Francis. The latter two are NAIA powerhouses historically and would be a great addition. Indiana Wesleyan is a developing program with a great basketball background, and Taylor seems very stable/would keep the other Christian schools happy by adding another like them. Wouldn't a GMAC with the following schools be a great conference across the board? .

Taylor is a stretch. Don't have the means in multiple ways. Go to a few of their athletic events & see where they are at. They seem many years away from a D2-type.
Marian I'd like to see despite the fights and felonies - they still offer character issue guys that Findlay & Tiffin (and UIndy) won't touch. We like their current SID though.
Saint Francis has taken a back seat recently since they won't gamble to that crazy extent on character issue guys. Fort Wayne is the great location for a GMAC team?
Indiana Wesleyan gets the right kind of kid & has the best stadium (along with Saint Francis). You must know that IWU Football beat Marian & Saint Francis last year?

[ctrabs74]

My axe to grind with Thomas More is mostly that the school does not seem stable/committed to anything. They got ran out of Division III for rules violations, then made a commitment to NAIA just to turn around and leave again after a year. I do not hate the move, but I kinda hope they just don't come after all like Pikeville and Georgetown did.

I was under the impression that Pikeville and Georgetown were rejected by the NCAA. Maybe the same thing happens to Thomas More given their past history of NCAA rules violations.

[Stea1th]

do not expect NDC leaving MEC for GMAC, they have grown to like it there and vice-versa

Yes and no. I think everyone at NDC knows that the GMAC would be a better geographic and cultural fit and would probably benefit most of the school's athletic teams. However, I think the football team has an easier path to playoffs in the MEC and that is worth something.

I keep thinking that someday someone at NDC will question why every road trip for every athletic team is to WV. And the folks he asks won't have a very good explanation (it's not like the school itself has some connection to WV). It hasn't happened though.

[Uindy18]

It was actually Georgetown, Cumberland (TN) and UVA-Wise that were announced additions but did not come. Georgetown and Cumberland were denied D2 entrance and remain NAIA. UVA-Wise pulled a switcheroo and joined the MEC instead (despite the G-MAC sponsoring their D2 application).

Right, my mistake, but the point stands. I do not seem them as a great addition, but not as weird as the Davenport/Northwood geography issue for me.

[Uindy18]

My hope would be that they keep Malone/Cedarville/Ursuline, and KWC/TNU pursue other conferences (TNU to GSC, Carolinas, or Peach Belt/KWC to GLVC). That would really solidify the conference around Ohio, and if Indianapolis moves over, I think they could make a very strong pitch to Indiana NAIA schools such as Taylor, Indiana Wesleyan, Marian, and Saint Francis. The latter two are NAIA powerhouses historically and would be a great addition. Indiana Wesleyan is a developing program with a great basketball background, and Taylor seems very stable/would keep the other Christian schools happy by adding another like them. Wouldn't a GMAC with the following schools be a great conference across the board?

Cedarville

Findlay

Taylor

Lake Erie

Malone

Ohio Dominican

Tiffin

Ursuline

Walsh

Ashland

Indianapolis

Notre Dame College

Indiana Wesleyan

Marian

Saint Francis

I hope that the GLIAC solidifies around Michigan, luring the Michigan NAIAs in and then bringing back Northwood, retaining Davenport, and maybe even bring Hillsdale back. Ferris and GV end up as D1 in my scenario. They could also work on the Chicago area and add non-football Lewis. The GLIAC could look like this.

Northwood

Davenport

Madonna

Hillsdale

Lake Superior State

Michigan Tech

Northern Michigan

Purdue-Northwest

Saginaw Valley State

Wayne State

Wisconsin-Parkside

Lewis

Lawrence Tech

Concordia-Ann Arbor

Siena Heights

The GLVC could then continue their westward expansion with Upper Iowa from the NSIC, Saint Ambrose and Missouri Baptist from NAIA, and KWC returning from the GMAC. Thomas More could also find a home here as a travel partner with KWC.

Kentucky Wesleyan

Drury

Illinois-Springfield

St. Ambrose

Maryville

McKendree

Missouri S&T

Missouri-Saint Louis

Quincy

Rockhurst

Southwest Baptist

Thomas More

William Jewell

Missouri Baptist

Upper Iowa

Additionally, the Mountain East could make some changes with the following, as they would be looking to replace Notre Dame with WV Tech from NAIA, and Salem/Bluefield State from DII Independents.

Alderson Broaddus

Charleston

Concord

Davis & Elkins

Fairmont State

Frostburg State

Glenville State

West Liberty

West Virginia State

West Virginia Wesleyan

Wheeling

Bluefield State

Salem

West Virginia Tech

All of these alignments are just my theories, but I feel that they would benefit every conference/school and would really solidify Division II across the Midwest/Great Lakes region.

[BlueBlood]

It was actually Georgetown, Cumberland (TN) and UVA-Wise that were announced additions but did not come. Georgetown and Cumberland were denied D2 entrance and remain NAIA. UVA-Wise pulled a switcheroo and joined the MEC instead (despite the G-MAC sponsoring their D2 application).

[Uindy18]

What is the objection to Thomas More? Admittedly, they likely will not be the strongest G-MAC program in the short term, but they seem to fit the G-MAC profile (smallish Midwest church-affiliated liberal arts) rather well.

My axe to grind with Thomas More is mostly that the school does not seem stable/committed to anything. They got ran out of Division III for rules violations, then made a commitment to NAIA just to turn around and leave again after a year. I do not hate the move, but I kinda hope they just don't come after all like Pikeville and Georgetown did.

[BlueBlood]

I was kind of glad to see the conference gain a foothold in suburban Cincy.

[BlueBlood]

100% agree Thomas More move made no sense

What is the objection to Thomas More? Admittedly, they likely will not be the strongest G-MAC program in the short term, but they seem to fit the G-MAC profile (smallish Midwest church-affiliated liberal arts) rather well.

[ctrabs74]

the GMAC is growing and getting stronger, they do want to expand to 16 football teams, I do believe it will happen with a collection of schools within the next year or two.

So what happens with Trevecca, Cedarville and Malone, the non-football schools in the GMAC? I'm not sure the GMAC gets to 16 schools without raiding the NAIA or MEC (there won't be any schools left to pluck away from the GLIAC).

[GLIAC Fan]

[Uindy18]

With the Upper Iowa rumor swirling, I have to think Uindy to the GMAC is going to happen soon, maybe even after this coming year. Seems too late in the summer to make the switch now, but it just keeps making more and more sense. From there, I think the GMAC will stand pat on expansion or look to NDC/Davenport. Honestly not crazy about the Thomas More move right now, but they could also pull out at any point like Pikeville and others have in the past. They could even use the GMAC to move over, play a few years, then bolt for the MEC or GLVC.