The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

http://www.mlive.com/lakers/index.ssf/20...iver_index

Too Funny......you think maybe their marketing machine is a bit jealous over all the pub the real D-1 school in K-Zoo is getting so they had to make up a marketing story to get some attention?

What's worse is that they are putting themselves in the same sentence as Michigan and Notre Dame... delusional.

You'd think ND would be a favorite over WMU right now

*Okay, to be fair, I admit, I'd be freaking out if we were playing ND, then razzed after we beat them

GVSU is the definition of a big fish in a little pond.

They could easily play at the FCS level with their enrollment, funding and facilities. And it's been that way for a while.

They play the likes of Northwood (1,900 students), Hillsdale (1,500 students), and Lake Erie College (under 1,000 students). GVSU's enrollment is over 25,000 and growing, and it's no BS commuter school. It is turning into a huge university (over 1300 acres). It is now bigger than Western by enrollment and campus acreage. Their endowment now dwarfs that of their GLIAC competitors (except Wayne State).

They really should move to FCS or FBS for that matter and join the MAC. That'd be fun.

College enrollment really doesn't define D1 success.

(10-13-2016 10:27 AM)Doo Wrote:  College enrollment really doesn't define D1 success.

No it doesn't, there are many factors. But GVSU's sizeable athletic program combined with the up-and-coming state of the university suggest that they have far surpassed the average situation at other GLIAC schools.

Certainly that's true. But they don't have many regional FCS teams to work with. That'll a major challenge for a week night softball game.

Yeah, I think that's one of the main reasons they haven't made the jump. They would be the only FCS school in the state, with the closest neighboring FCS schools being hundreds of miles away. (Indiana State, Dayton, etc...)

I believe Valpo is FCS if I'm not mistaken? That would at least be a reasonable starting point.

Can't blame them for staying DII with all the logistical hurdles mentioned here. A jump straight to FBS would be a nightmare scenario for years.

I think TBH their best bet would be to try to convince several other area schools to make the jump to FCS with them. Wayne State, SVSU, Northern and Tech all come to mind as legit possibilities.

(10-13-2016 10:34 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Yeah, I think that's one of the main reasons they haven't made the jump. They would be the only FCS school in the state, with the closest neighboring FCS schools being hundreds of miles away. (Indiana State, Dayton, etc...)

There is no reason for GVSU to make the jump to a higher athletic division. Where would the payback/benefit be?

It would cost more $ and would not provide any additional prestige much beyond what they already have. Heck, half the fans, and even media, in Michigan think the MAC is D-II now.

Being D-II has not hurt GVSU as an academic institution. It beats WMU, CMU and EMU to most of the freshmen who apply to those schools and GVSU. It is growing and is fundamentally sound academically.

Why spend the $?

Stay D-II and declare victory.

The problem with GV jumping to FCS is Michigan is one of few states with no FCS football programs. They would have to travel south, west or far east to play. The MVC would be shortest drive but you are looking at very long bus rides.

This just reminds me of some of the high school conferences around me that boot schools when they get too big to compete.

Maybe they are posturing to join the FCS once the big bang realignment happens and CMU, EMU, WMU and the rest of the MAC go down a division. It would make sense then. Lots of local rivals.

(10-14-2016 11:15 AM)Flashboski Wrote:  Maybe they are posturing to join the FCS once the big bang realignment happens and CMU, EMU, WMU and the rest of the MAC go down a division. It would make sense then. Lots of local rivals.

You might have something there.

Quit playing schools that are little!

(10-17-2016 05:30 PM)wojo-kowski Wrote:  Quit playing schools that are little!

Quite BEING little!!

(10-13-2016 06:40 AM)bronco89 Wrote:  http://www.mlive.com/lakers/index.ssf/20...iver_index

Too Funny......you think maybe their marketing machine is a bit jealous over all the pub the real D-1 school in K-Zoo is getting so they had to make up a marketing story to get some attention?

WELCOME TO DUTCH WONDERLAND. THEY HAVE "HUGE" WHAT MORE DO THEY NEED TO JUSTIFY THEIR GRANDER. Delusional sums it up nicely. They have been clueless about WMU up there for decades.

(10-14-2016 11:19 AM)Moomba Wrote:  

(10-14-2016 11:15 AM)Flashboski Wrote:  Maybe they are posturing to join the FCS once the big bang realignment happens and CMU, EMU, WMU and the rest of the MAC go down a division. It would make sense then. Lots of local rivals.

You might have something there.

WMU is not moving down. Mr. negativity. We are one of the top rated universities in many areas. There is more to a university that it's sports programs. While I love the sports i live in Kazoo and witness the greatness of this UNIVERSITY on a daily basis. IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A BRONCO. But how would you know ?

(10-17-2016 10:11 PM)MRBUTTONS Wrote:  

(10-14-2016 11:19 AM)Moomba Wrote:  

(10-14-2016 11:15 AM)Flashboski Wrote:  Maybe they are posturing to join the FCS once the big bang realignment happens and CMU, EMU, WMU and the rest of the MAC go down a division. It would make sense then. Lots of local rivals.

You might have something there.

WMU is not moving down. Mr. negativity. We are one of the top rated universities in many areas. There is more to a university that it's sports programs. While I love the sports i live in Kazoo and witness the greatness of this UNIVERSITY on a daily basis. IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A BRONCO. But how would you know ?

Too bad you didn't represent well professionally. The only way you represent is on the sports boards with CAPS or losing your mind in the stands.