(03-11-2017 12:43 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(03-08-2017 10:54 PM)3BNole Wrote:  I believe with Birmingham Southern, starting football and the costs of that were also part of the decision. Being a college baseball fan, losing both of those teams really was a shame as they were both pretty good in the sport and had some tradition.

Actually, it wasn't just costs for Birmingham Southern. It was a chance to generate revenue. They made the decision to start a D3 football team, so they had all those new students coming in to play football, paying tuition. The D1 basketball and baseball team was a casualty of this decision.

If Birmingham-Southern had just waited a few more years, they could have had a spot if the Pioneer League with Stetson and Jacksonville. The Pioneer didn't have an autobid like it does now. Birmingham-Southern could have got a tuition paying football team without sacrificing DI.