Future Expanision?

[D2Rover]

If memory serves, Racy has said minimum of 16, maybe 18 or 20. I think the goal was one more football, one non-football after we added UAFS and dropped. Does anybody have any inkling or rumors on where those teams are coming from? Or if the conference is still actively looking to add schools?

[Matt Witwicki]

Complete speculation here..

I’d guess if Mike could expand the MIAA, he’s gonna want programs that can compete in D2. Big picture..CO Mines, Pueblo, Wayne State (when they are ready..not just yet), West Texas, and Midwestern State.

I think he would like to have Augie and USF..Mankato..maybe even some GAC programs like Harding, Henderson, OBU. But my guess is those schools aren’t likely due to comfort in their own league and footprint with geography.

None of these schools would be a great fit in terms of geography, but I kinda feel like the TX schools would be first. Tie them in with UCO, Pitt, and such. Maybe Angelo also.

..once again, total speculation for forum talk.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Complete speculation here..

I’d guess if Mike could expand the MIAA, he’s gonna want programs that can compete in D2. Big picture..CO Mines, Pueblo, Wayne State (when they are ready..not just yet), West Texas, and Midwestern State.

I think he would like to have Augie and USF..Mankato..maybe even some GAC programs like Harding, Henderson, OBU. But my guess is those schools aren’t likely due to comfort in their own league and footprint with geography.

None of these schools would be a great fit in terms of geography, but I kinda feel like the TX schools would be first. Tie them in with UCO, Pitt, and such. Maybe Angelo also.

..once again, total speculation for forum talk.

As much as it pains me to admit it, for the near future West Texas and Midwestern State would be the lower 25% of the MIAA standings for football. West Texas however could be competitive in the other sports. Until the current WT president retires or passes, WT has shrunk to a Regional West Texas focus.

[Predatory Primates]

I heard rumors last year that a few TX and AR schools were at least entertaining discussions with the miaa. I assume UAFS was one of those schools.

[Predatory Primates]

I think UCO and UCM may eventually move up. Wayne NE makes the most sense if going North.

I think the goal would have to be N and S divisions. It makes the most sense travel wise.

[debergfan]

If I’m delta state, I’m blowing up their phone

[the Northeasterner]

The domino to fall is what happens with the gulf south football leftovers. West Alabama and Delta will never go up. It's going to be hard for them to work in the conference Carolinas. But they would work really well with the Arkansas GAC. If the GAC splits which is possible not probable but possible. Then the Domino's will get real interesting. But the GAC seems to be working real well together the only ones that are real threat would be Harding and a Ouachita Baptist because they've got a lot of non footballs sports and are very successfull

Except for Wayne State I don't see a good expansion and anybody honestly who'd want to sign up for what the Miaa offers in football. The basketball guys yeah they'll probably join cuz it makes a lot of sense to them like Oklahoma Christian. Get to get back there Rogers state's newman's and uafs rivals.

Now if the GAC breaks up you could see West Texas Midwestern State team up with the Oklahoma schools for a football conference. Which would make ton of sense

And predatory primates if we had split into North South divisions back in 13 all those Missouri schools in GLvc everyone would be a lot happier

[OICfootball]

The domino to fall is what happens with the gulf south football leftovers. West Alabama and Delta will never go up. It's going to be hard for them to work in the conference Carolinas. But they would work really well with the Arkansas GAC. If the GAC splits which is possible not probable but possible. Then the Domino's will get real interesting. But the GAC seems to be working real well together the only ones that are real threat would be Harding and a Ouachita Baptist because they've got a lot of non footballs sports and are very successfull

Except for Wayne State I don't see a good expansion and anybody honestly who'd want to sign up for what the Miaa offers in football. The basketball guys yeah they'll probably join cuz it makes a lot of sense to them like Oklahoma Christian. Get to get back there Rogers state's newman's and uafs rivals.

Now if the GAC breaks up you could see West Texas Midwestern State team up with the Oklahoma schools for a football conference. Which would make ton of sense

And predatory primates if we had split into North South divisions back in 13 all those Missouri schools in GLvc everyone would be a lot happier

I wouldn't say the GAC is working real well together.

[the Northeasterner]

I would believe it. I thinking Harding and obu are really pushing the private school success ceiling. But if it broke up I could see Harding would be better off going to GLvc. Attract a new area of students and mainly private schools competition .

[Predatory Primates]

I would believe it. I thinking Harding and obu are really pushing the private school success ceiling. But if it broke up I could see Harding would be better off going to GLvc. Attract a new area of students and mainly private schools competition .

I wonder if Harding or OBU.could muster the depth needed to stand.up to an MIAA football schedule year after year? It's such an insane grind these days.

[Try II]

Why doesn't Racy just absorb the Lone Star, GAC, GLVC and add Wayne at this point?! He can have his dream 50-member conference with 4 or 5 divisions.

[OldBison]

I wonder if Harding or OBU.could muster the depth needed to stand.up to an MIAA football schedule year after year? It's such an insane grind these days.

iMHO Harding has the depth to compete in the MIAA and could maintain it. As history has shown, it’s all about survival to get in the playoffs. That’s a lot easier to do in the GAC than in the MIAA. Except for Ouachita, Henderson, SAU and SEOSU the rest of GAC schedule are just practice games for the Bisons where the backups play half or more of the game.

[Bisonfan from FLA]

In previous postings I have suggested that an expansion of the GAC into divisions would be possible to help GSC teams Delta State and West Alabama in fomingr an Eastern Division. For the West Division pick up NE or Central Oklahoma or pull from a Texas team or two that sits close to the Oklahoma border. This does not expand the travel requirements for Arkansas teams to play DSU or UWA as they are not any further than current travel to the most distant Oklahoma teams. For the Oklahoma schools adding close to the Oklahoma border Texas schools does not increase Oklahoma GAC schools any further than current travel distance to the southern and eastern Arkansas teams.

This realignment would also allow for some out of conference games with LSC and MIAA schools at the start of the season.

As to what OldBison stated in the previous post, I too think Harding, OBU, HSU and SAU could compete in most all sports if they were in the MIAA and be consistent in the competition. UAM and Arkansas Tech would do quite well in a select number of sports as well but maybe not overall on a consistent basis.