EWC fits in the SIAC better than they are at in D2. Better fit for them, and saves them money to travel to more schools around them. Culturally they fit in well there. More HBCU schools regionally at D2 levels than at NAIA.

(07-09-2019 06:41 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  EWC fits in the SIAC better than they are at in D2. Better fit for them, and saves them money to travel to more schools around them. Culturally they fit in well there. More HBCU schools regionally at D2 levels than at NAIA.

This is true, but in recent years that hasn't been the standard for D2 membership. They have been looking for "model programs", and by that standard how many of the existing SIAC would qualify? Perhaps there's an exception for HBCU schools?

(07-09-2019 06:41 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  EWC fits in the SIAC better than they are at in D2. Better fit for them, and saves them money to travel to more schools around them. Culturally they fit in well there. More HBCU schools regionally at D2 levels than at NAIA.

EWC has a cultural fit where they are currently. The NAIA Gulf Coast Athletic Conference has become a HBCU conference while the SIAC has a non-HBCU member. No real change there. Travel in the SIAC will actually be worse. Yes, the SIAC has members in GA where the GCAC does not but EWC will be trading trips to AR and LA in the GCAC for longer trips to KY and OH in the SIAC. Those longer trips would also include football which has not played many (if any) games more than 500 miles away. Although the SIAC uses divisions it's not going to prevent them from making those trips.

The Edward Waters move to the SIAC will be interesting and there will be a few people watching the developments.

(07-09-2019 03:15 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-20-2019 04:19 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-20-2019 03:34 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Edward Waters Independent football schedule

They are mainly playing D2 and a couple of FCS teams, only a few NAIA schools.

Edward Waters to D2 SIAA in the future? Would be the 1st HBCU Florida school at the D2 level.

They're playing HBCUs, and in the Southeast that means a schedule heavy with SIAC schools. Would absolutely not read anything into it more than that, though I know good as well that you will.

I sit corrected.

Though now I'm curious as to why the a 14-school conference is extending an invitation to a school that doesn't have a firm timetable for applying for D2 status (a statement has them applying by February, but they walked it back and called the target date "aspirational"). You'd think the SIAC would wait until Edward Waters had a definite move-up plan before inviting them; it's not as though the CIAA or a non-HBCU conference is probably biting at the champ to invite them. But then I'm not the commissioner of a conference so what do I know?

They will offer the invite based on the fact that they expect Spring Hill to leave asap for the Gulf South Conference if ever given the opportunity.

It makes complete sense for the SIAC, not sure EWC has the resources to make the move though. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

Allen University (NAIA) has hired a new AD, and in the announcement mentions that he will be trying to transition them to NCAA D2:

http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip...ersity.htm

"He will also oversee a planned expansion with the addition of new sports programs and a bid to move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II."

I put them in the same position as Edward Waters. Too small (<1000) and underfunded for D2. You can certainly see why they would want to be in the SIAC, but I'll believe it only when they've completed their feasibility study and the committee accepts them. I think their thinking is like "we aren't much different than other HCBU's in D2", but that's a very low bar, and the committee's standards have been considerably higher. It will be interesting to see if they will make an exception for an HBCU.

(07-22-2019 03:55 PM)teamvsn Wrote:  Allen University (NAIA) has hired a new AD, and in the announcement mentions that he will be trying to transition them to NCAA D2:

http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip...ersity.htm

"He will also oversee a planned expansion with the addition of new sports programs and a bid to move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II."

I put them in the same position as Edward Waters. Too small (<1000) and underfunded for D2. You can certainly see why they would want to be in the SIAC, but I'll believe it only when they've completed their feasibility study and the committee accepts them. I think their thinking is like "we aren't much different than other HCBU's in D2", but that's a very low bar, and the committee's standards have been considerably higher. It will be interesting to see if they will make an exception for an HBCU.

That article was actually posted on the school's academic site 5 days earlier. I agree that both Allen and Edward Waters have a long way to go to make a successful D2 move and, yes, it does start with the enrollment. I don't believe the HBCU label should be any part of the discussion by the membership committee if or when it comes up; they are a school just like all the others. It seems that it was the SIAC who initiated the contact with Edward Waters and it might have a connection to a possible situation at Paine College. Another part of the SIAC-Edward Waters development is they have a scheduling agreement for football and Edward Waters is a former member.

(07-22-2019 03:55 PM)teamvsn Wrote:  Allen University (NAIA) has hired a new AD, and in the announcement mentions that he will be trying to transition them to NCAA D2:

http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip...ersity.htm

"He will also oversee a planned expansion with the addition of new sports programs and a bid to move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II."

I put them in the same position as Edward Waters. Too small (<1000) and underfunded for D2. You can certainly see why they would want to be in the SIAC, but I'll believe it only when they've completed their feasibility study and the committee accepts them. I think their thinking is like "we aren't much different than other HCBU's in D2", but that's a very low bar, and the committee's standards have been considerably higher. It will be interesting to see if they will make an exception for an HBCU.

They could also go to the CIAA, which added Claflin in Orangeburg, SC. Allen beat Fayetteville State in basketball last season and visit Elizabeth City State and Livingstone in football this fall. It doesn't make them any better a candidate for a move up but both HBCU conferences in D2 might consider them.

LeMoyne-Owens is at 600 students and Paine is at 900.

I think it is a reactive that SIAC adding EW with the word of Texas Southern and North Carolina A&T are looking to change conference. That means that SIAC, CIAC or both could back filled if they get raided. MEAC suffered the most recently with 3 members left. Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman could go to the SWAC, or Albany State and Clark Atlanta gets invited by the SWAC. Tuskegee could get the call up by the SWAC to replace Texas Southern. That is 3 right there from SIAC as possible targets.

As I look at SIAC? Allen was a former member of that conference as well.

Allen left at 1969
Edward Waters left 1935.

I wonder if Langston might make a move to D2 like they talked about it a few years ago. Langston was a member of the SWAC.

Augustana To Try And Snare A D1 Invite By December 2020


Augustana is still pushing for a D1 invite like a little gnat.

(07-23-2019 06:16 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Augustana To Try And Snare A D1 Invite By December 2020


Augustana is still pushing for a D1 invite like a little gnat.

I hope the WAC gives them what they're looking for.

(07-23-2019 06:16 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Augustana To Try And Snare A D1 Invite By December 2020

The article begins: "This paid piece is sponsored by Augustana University."
Talk about 'straight from the horse's mouth.' I guess what is new is the time frame for an invite: Dec. 2020.

Within 17 months they'll have figured out what to do with football & wrestling, reconfigure their budget, do additional fundraising, etc.
They are already playing most MBB at the Sioux Falls arena instead of on campus, so I think facility-wise they are in good shape.

(07-23-2019 06:16 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Augustana To Try And Snare A D1 Invite By December 2020


Augustana is still pushing for a D1 invite like a little gnat.

I thought Bill Gates had them covered!

(07-23-2019 05:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  LeMoyne-Owens is at 600 students and Paine is at 900.

I think it is a reactive that SIAC adding EW with the word of Texas Southern and North Carolina A&T are looking to change conference. That means that SIAC, CIAC or both could back filled if they get raided. MEAC suffered the most recently with 3 members left. Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman could go to the SWAC, or Albany State and Clark Atlanta gets invited by the SWAC. Tuskegee could get the call up by the SWAC to replace Texas Southern. That is 3 right there from SIAC as possible targets.

As I look at SIAC? Allen was a former member of that conference as well.

Allen left at 1969
Edward Waters left 1935.

I wonder if Langston might make a move to D2 like they talked about it a few years ago. Langston was a member of the SWAC.

The chances of Albany State, Clark Atlanta, and Tuskegee move to D1 is microscopic at best. Albany State is cutting 2 men's teams after 2019-20 and will be 1 women's team above the D2 minimum while Clark Atlanta is already at the D2 minimum. The state of AL has 9 D1 schools; Tuskegee doesn't want to join that overcrowded fight and is less than 20 miles from Auburn. They are seeing the financial struggles their peer D1 schools are having and do not want to put themselves in that situation.

Langston is not moving to D2. The GAC is the only conference that Langston would have a chance of joining and we are not going to accept them for two main reasons. The GAC is not in the expansion market and Langston does not have the GAC required sport of Baseball. Langston might have had a chance at D2 if the Heartland Conference still existed.

(07-23-2019 01:45 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(07-23-2019 05:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  LeMoyne-Owens is at 600 students and Paine is at 900.

I think it is a reactive that SIAC adding EW with the word of Texas Southern and North Carolina A&T are looking to change conference. That means that SIAC, CIAC or both could back filled if they get raided. MEAC suffered the most recently with 3 members left. Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman could go to the SWAC, or Albany State and Clark Atlanta gets invited by the SWAC. Tuskegee could get the call up by the SWAC to replace Texas Southern. That is 3 right there from SIAC as possible targets.

As I look at SIAC? Allen was a former member of that conference as well.

Allen left at 1969
Edward Waters left 1935.

I wonder if Langston might make a move to D2 like they talked about it a few years ago. Langston was a member of the SWAC.

The chances of Albany State, Clark Atlanta, and Tuskegee move to D1 is microscopic at best. Albany State is cutting 2 men's teams after 2019-20 and will be 1 women's team above the D2 minimum while Clark Atlanta is already at the D2 minimum. The state of AL has 9 D1 schools; Tuskegee doesn't want to join that overcrowded fight and is less than 20 miles from Auburn. They are seeing the financial struggles their peer D1 schools are having and do not want to put themselves in that situation.

Langston is not moving to D2. The GAC is the only conference that Langston would have a chance of joining and we are not going to accept them for two main reasons. The GAC is not in the expansion market and Langston does not have the GAC required sport of Baseball. Langston might have had a chance at D2 if the Heartland Conference still existed.

Financial struggles?

Tennessee schools Bethel,Freed-Hardeman and Martin Methodist will join Mid-South Conference in 2020-21 year.Bethel plays football in the MSC now.These schools will rejoin former TranSouth Conference mate Cumberland University.

(07-26-2019 05:20 PM)Gibson Tiger Wrote:  Tennessee schools Bethel,Freed-Hardeman and Martin Methodist will join Mid-South Conference in 2020-21 year.Bethel plays football in the MSC now.These schools will rejoin former TranSouth Conference mate Cumberland University.

So Southern States loses their two Tennessee members, American Midwest loses it's only TN member, and MSC now has a nice TN quartet.

American Midwest losing a couple members with Lindenwood-Belleville closing and Freed-Hardeman leaving. Missouri/Arkansas conference. I wonder if they make a play for College of the Ozarks since NAIA is dropping D1/D2 in basketball?

Not sure if Ozarks still has their national anthem contract requirement. If they do, then many conferences may not want them.

Amazing news for the Mid-South conference. That is now a super conference in NAIA. Basketball; Baseball; Women's Basketball and Softball,etc.,etc..