Question about Commerce going Division I

[Brandon]

It's about initial eligibility. The requirements are a little more stringent in D1. They don't want to lose to teams comprised of players who would not have been eligible to play D1.

[WT_TKW]

In the LONG run. I think it is a good move for TAMUC. They recruit DFW well. Now with Tarleton, SFA, ACU and SHSU all in the WAC, MANY DFW recruits that would have gone to one of those schools will pick TAMUC because they ARE in the Southland. Players are wanting to stay closer to home now and play closer to home so family can attend games.

This was a very good strategic move for TAMUC. Watch and see!

I don't understand why you think the Southland is better than the WAC. Abilene Christian, Tarleton, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the WAC. That seems like a better group than the remaining members of the Southland which are Houston Baptist, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and UIW.

So when WT gets a new AD, I think I would prefer to see WT go to the WAC based on the Texas teams in the WAC. No offense to Commerce.

[ASUPops]

I don't understand why you think the Southland is better than the WAC. Abilene Christian, Tarleton, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the WAC. That seems like a better group than the remaining members of the Southland which are Houston Baptist, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and UIW.

So when WT gets a new AD, I think I would prefer to see WT go to the WAC based on the Texas teams in the WAC. No offense to Commerce.

Wait and see.

[LionFan]

I don't understand why you think the Southland is better than the WAC. Abilene Christian, Tarleton, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the WAC. That seems like a better group than the remaining members of the Southland which are Houston Baptist, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and UIW.

So when WT gets a new AD, I think I would prefer to see WT go to the WAC based on the Texas teams in the WAC. No offense to Commerce.

Go look at wac travel distances in all sports.

[TSUTexans]

Go look at wac travel distances in all sports.

I understand where you are coming from in terms of thinking about travel distances and what that costs, but I wouldn't base a decision like this solely on travel. Playing in the large markets like Phoenix, Seattle, etc., you are getting your name out there and becoming more well known across the country. By wanting to only be in a conference the schools that are close, you are remaining a regional conference in small markets. If that's the case, why not stay in the LSC? It's the same thing.

[canadarican]

I don't understand why you think the Southland is better than the WAC. Abilene Christian, Tarleton, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the WAC. That seems like a better group than the remaining members of the Southland which are Houston Baptist, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and UIW.

So when WT gets a new AD, I think I would prefer to see WT go to the WAC based on the Texas teams in the WAC. No offense to Commerce.

Agree. Nicholls isn't bad, but basically the football programs/schools most people associate with the Southland left. Sam Houston especially.

[Seinfeld]

I don't understand why you think the Southland is better than the WAC. Abilene Christian, Tarleton, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the WAC. That seems like a better group than the remaining members of the Southland which are Houston Baptist, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and UIW.

So when WT gets a new AD, I think I would prefer to see WT go to the WAC based on the Texas teams in the WAC. No offense to Commerce.

Evidently, you have not seen the facilities at the schools left in the Southland. There are better Class A and AA high school facilities. The Southland gets the leftovers when they aren't signed by any other D1 conferences.

[Techster88]

I don't understand why you think the Southland is better than the WAC. Abilene Christian, Tarleton, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the WAC. That seems like a better group than the remaining members of the Southland which are Houston Baptist, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and UIW.

So when WT gets a new AD, I think I would prefer to see WT go to the WAC based on the Texas teams in the WAC. No offense to Commerce.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Evidently, you have not seen the facilities at the schools left in the Southland. There are better Class A and AA high school facilities. The Southland gets the leftovers when they aren't signed by any other D1 conferences.

This is a true statement. I went to see the Islanders play Houston Baptist a few years ago in basketball. I was in shock how small their gym was. It was only 5 or 6 rows deep on both sides I thought it was their practice gym. Most Texas high school gyms and even some junior high gyms were nicer and have higher seating capacity.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

I don't understand why you think the Southland is better than the WAC. Abilene Christian, Tarleton, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin left the Southland for the WAC. That seems like a better group than the remaining members of the Southland which are Houston Baptist, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and UIW.

So when WT gets a new AD, I think I would prefer to see WT go to the WAC based on the Texas teams in the WAC. No offense to Commerce.

Also WT would be more closer to equal distance from WAC schools than Southland schools. Remember Amarillo is closer to 4 other state capitals than to Austin.

[Runnin' Cat]

From what I understand, schools that make a change into Division I are not postseason eligible for playoffs in Football or in Basketball for 4 years. If this is true, this could be huge trouble. Who is going to want to play for a team that cant win a national championship?

Do you believe that TAMUC would compete for national titles in D1 football and hoops over the next four years if eligible?

Just for perspective, NDSU moved to FCS in 2004 and they won their first FCS title in 2011. They also had 8 DII titles in their history.

[Purple Mav Man]

My biggest concern with the move to D1... Will Commerce finally find teams willing to play them now?? :)

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Do you believe that TAMUC would compete for national titles in D1 football and hoops over the next four years if eligible?

Just for perspective, NDSU moved to FCS in 2004 and they won their first FCS title in 2011. They also had 8 DII titles in their history.

Commerce wasn't competitive nationally with the other sports now in D2. To me its strictly a football move and an alarming sign that the LSC may not see the iceberg on the horizon and may not be able to dodge it.

[ctrabs74]

You still play but are ineligible for any conference titles.

This actually depends on the conference. Some conferences do allow for teams to compete for a conference championship, some have a waiting period which is shorter than the four-years mandated by the NCAA and others don't allow it.

Both Bellarmine (first season of D1 transition ... let that sink in for a second) and North Alabama (third season of D1 transition) competed in the 2021 Atlantic Sun basketball tournament, but neither school would have been eligible for the NCAA tournament because of their transition to D1 (North Alabama actually made it to the title game, thus giving Liberty the automatic bid, regardless of the outcome).

Conversely, neither Tarleton nor Dixie State were eligible for the 2021 WAC tournament because they were in their first seasons of their respective D1 transitions; California Baptist, however, was in their third season of their D1 transition and thus were eligible for the 2021 WAC tourney (WAC recently changed their conference tournament eligibility from four to two years).

As for the Southland, neither ACU nor Incarnate Word were eligible for conference championships until their D1 transitions were complete in 2017. Unless that policy has changed - either to the A-SUN's immediate eligibility allowance or the WAC's two-year waiting period - then TAMUC would not be eligible for conference titles or NCAA postseason during their four year transition.

[ASUPops]

Do you believe that TAMUC would compete for national titles in D1 football and hoops over the next four years if eligible?

Just for perspective, NDSU moved to FCS in 2004 and they won their first FCS title in 2011. They also had 8 DII titles in their history.

Absolutely not. But I do believe they can win the Southland and make play-offs.