Question for UCM fans

[Kiss My Ass]

Throw in "Tow Truck" AKA Johnathon Denis, former Miami Hurricane and Oregon Duck Offensive Guard, Redshirt Senior

Four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals … Consensus top-20 offensive guard in the country and the No. 1 guard in Florida by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports … Rated by Rivals as the No. 192 player overall and the No. 6 offensive guard in the nation

AND

NyNy Davis, WR from Utah State and ULM, 2 years of eligibility remaining

Transfers from Miami, Michigan, LSU, SMU, Washington State, Utah State, North Dakota State, etc. Wow, the hits just keep on coming.

[MuleBall]

Transfers from Miami, Michigan, LSU, SMU, Washington State, Utah State, North Dakota State, etc. Wow, the hits just keep on coming.

I hope they work together and check their D1 egos at the door. I think Lambo and staff will make sure of it.

[Mule Dad]

I hope they work together and check their D1 egos at the door. I think Lambo and staff will make sure of it.

That is definitely a concern when bringing in transfers like these who are stepping down from the big time to D2 football. I agree, though, that Lambo is special and has a way of getting everyone to buy into one goal and one purpose, and from what I know of him, he wouldn't bring in high quality players if they weren't also high quality individuals. This season will be interesting for sure to see how they contribute and if they can mesh with the returners early enough to contribute.

[Predatory Primates]

That is definitely a concern when bringing in transfers like these who are stepping down from the big time to D2 football. I agree, though, that Lambo is special and has a way of getting everyone to buy into one goal and one purpose, and from what I know of him, he wouldn't bring in high quality players if they weren't also high quality individuals. This season will be interesting for sure to see how they contribute and if they can mesh with the returners early enough to contribute.

UCM is taking the Ferris path. When it works, it works really well.

[northwest missouri state]

things have changed as well all know. that path is far more feasible & probably needs to be part of the equation for any nc winner moving forward. harding seems like a unique situation that's probably more difficult to replicate in terms of success.

central could win it all if their d is improved (?).

[BisonswithanS]

Throw in "Tow Truck" AKA Johnathon Denis, former Miami Hurricane and Oregon Duck Offensive Guard, Redshirt Senior

Four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals … Consensus top-20 offensive guard in the country and the No. 1 guard in Florida by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports … Rated by Rivals as the No. 192 player overall and the No. 6 offensive guard in the nation

AND

NyNy Davis, WR from Utah State and ULM, 2 years of eligibility remaining

I'm excited just thinking about the potential opportunity to watch Harding's D-Line go up against this O-Line with the 2 new additions.........

[Predatory Primates]

I'm excited just thinking about the potential opportunity to watch Harding's D-Line go up against this O-Line with the 2 new additions.........

If they can learn to cut without getting penalized for a chop, the OL always wins in that O.

As a side note, Harding has a nice little end zone field house in the works.

[BisonswithanS]

If they can learn to cut without getting penalized for a chop, the OL always wins in that O.

As a side note, Harding has a nice little end zone field house in the works.

They do - I met a buddy and his son at Harding 2 weekends ago during one of their camps - construction is coming along.

[Bisonfan from FLA]

If they can learn to cut without getting penalized for a chop, the OL always wins in that O.

As a side note, Harding has a nice little end zone field house in the works.

I was in Searcy in June and drove by the construction project and visited with one of the workers. Should be wonderful addition to the expansion of the football stadium from a few years ago. I also was in SW Missouri on that trip and took a side trip through Oklahoma and Kansas, driving by the PSU campus. VERY NICE Pitt stadium. Impressive.

[AlexTheHAMMER]

Wanted to throw my two cents on the UCM to D1 chatter...I dont think it will happen for a couple of years. If football can continue its success (I am impressed with how Lambo was able to pivot from year one to year two, and will be even more impressed if he can keep Central at that same level), Men's Basketball returns to the top half of the conference, and maybe a new women's basketball coach (if Slifer doesn't want to deal with the added pressure and headache of D1 at this stage of his career) i think it might be more apt to happen.

the university and its donors would also need to cough up some dollar amounts in the tens, if not hundreds of thousands. I was not able to find the NCAA reclassifying fee from D2 to D1-FCS, but the reclassifying fee from D1-FCS to D1-FBS jumped in 2023 to $5 Million (previously $5,000). I would not be suprised if there was a similar steep hike from D2 to the D1 level in 2023. That could risk kneecapping NIL endeavors/facility upgrades/coaching staff and team resources and risk Central Missouri backsliding from D2 powerhouse to a forgotten D1 in the Ohio Valley.

The NCAA also has a very interesting couple of years ahead as it figures itself out post-House settlement. That might appear to be a whole convoluted mess that lord knows when it will get fully figured out. UCM could open itself up to a can of worms if it chooses to reclassify at this time with the fallout from House. (For those not fully sure on what the House settlement means for the NCAA, i think Duke's student newspaper did a good job explaining it: https://www.dukechronicle.com/articl...hubbard-carter)

Academically, schools are grappling with an enrollment cliff. With declining trust in higher education, fewer high school graduates in the next few years, and students putting more scrutiny into the cost of attendance for those that do go to college, you'll see a more fighting amongst colleges for the same student.

Any D2 school would be stupid right now to reclassify. If I were an AD, I would wait three years until considering to have the conversation with my president.

However, I'm just sitting in my recliner, writing on a college sports message board. I've never been an AD and most likely never will be an AD at an NCAA school, or high ranking athletics administrator for that matter.

[Kiss My Ass]

All this yearly talk about MIAA schools moving up, geez. UCM has one decent football season (2023) and now we should move up? If the Mules had gone .500 last year, I doubt we would be having this conversation. Moving up from D2 to D1 means you just became irrelevant. I would rather be UCM (or NW, Pitt, etc.) in D2, rather than Missouri State. SEMO or Lindenwood in D1.

[Predatory Primates]

Not sure why any team would agree to move up just in time to take on part of that multi-Billion dollar debt from the court ruling.

[UCObluejay]

Well people were acting like there was smoke to this. I suppose the smoke was something other than tree matter or meat.

[Divisiontwo]

If they can learn to cut without getting penalized for a chop, the OL always wins in that O.

As a side note, Harding has a nice little end zone field house in the works.

There will also he a new end zone project coming very soon on the other side.