(03-09-2015 09:34 AM)otis campbell Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 05:37 AM)insomniaisevil Wrote:  

(03-08-2015 11:02 PM)NoDak Wrote:  NKU is easily the odds on favorite, which will get the Horizon League to ten. NKU has always had interest from the Horizon, but that league doesn't take transitional schools.

LeCrone wants a 10 team league to allow a challenge series.

The Atlantic Sun might have to take NJIT. But published reports say the MEAC is interested too. Why the ASun hasn't added DII teams in the past few years is beyond me.

The A-Sun should have taken NJIT before now...or taken ANYONE after losing ETSU and Mercer and having Kennesaw with one foot out the door too.

That lack of vision is even more reason to want to see the Norse find an escape route. Not to mention the obvious appeal of stepping up in class and planning teams that are a lot closer and could develop as rivals.

Between their nice new arena and the ability to recruit the area well, NKU could become the class of the Horizon reasonably quickly.

Has NKU become the class of the ASun? What would lead you to believe it would in a better league?

Yeah, I don't quite get this overwhelming love-fest for NKU when some others, even if not the most geographically kind, have been tossed around for awhile.

I know IUPUI and IPFW might as well go shove off, but I've heard some other Summit schools, as well as some in the OVC, and Robert Morris getting some play here and there. NKU might make more sense than some of them, not all...else someone in the Horizon is sitting on an outbound ticket and isn't saying much yet.

(03-09-2015 10:53 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 10:37 AM)john01992 Wrote:  Question:

You keep making these comments regarding low level FBS teams/high level FCS teams, but where are the stats to back it up? How do the media reports that FCS schools (mostly) operate at a net gain whereas FBS operate (mostly) at a net loss fit into this?

Pretty much all profit/loss figures from athletic departments are all accounting shenanigans. There are too many factors going into to them and athletic departments have every incentive to show either $0 profit or a loss. FCS football still requires a heavy scholarship commitment with a lot of facilities - as a pure cost savings measure (which is generally the reason we hear for FBS schools supposedly exploring a move down to FCS), it doesn't make sense.

The proof is in the actions of schools: there is a list of schools looking for any FBS invite possible to the point where the MAC is actually a "dream conference" (see Missouri State, Illinois State, etc.). If they had an invite to FBS, then they would move up. Absolutely no one is willing to drop down to FCS no matter how much it might arguably be more competitive, slightly less costly, etc. (Same thing goes with schools and conferences - it doesn't matter how overmatched Evansville might be in the MVC, as they aren't going to willingly step down in stature.)

Remember that you're dealing with the academic mindset where schools would rather be last place in the most competitive/lucrative/prestigious league/organization/group that they're able to get into than be at the top in a lower level group. That goes for athletics or academics. If you're the last student to get accepted into Harvard, the point is that you still got into Harvard. If you're the worst team in a power conference, the point is that you're still in a power conference. If you're the worst team in FBS, the point is that you're still in the top level of college football, which is something that weighs heavily.

fair enough.

Quote:and athletic departments have every incentive to show either $0 profit or a loss.

can you elaborate on this statement though? now im really curious.

(03-09-2015 11:25 AM)john01992 Wrote:  

Quote:and athletic departments have every incentive to show either $0 profit or a loss.

can you elaborate on this statement though? now im really curious.

In this political climate, if you can demonstrate any sort of independence or profitability, you're asking for funding cuts, even if they aren't sustainable or consistent. For athletics, it means weening off student activity fees and other subsidizing methodologies and onto something self-sustaining, which puts a TON of pressure onto the athletic departments.

There's the greater, speculative matter of tax exemption for college athletics, but I'm curious who's really going to take a swing at that one. Nobody's got the cojones to take on some of these guys.

(03-09-2015 09:34 AM)otis campbell Wrote:  Has NKU become the class of the ASun? What would lead you to believe it would in a better league?

It has been a little hard for NKU to recruit the last few years given they haven't been able to truly sell "we are D-1, you will have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament!"

Look at FGCU --- they were a pretty good D-2 school (not as good as NKU, but still pretty good), that became absolutely terrible in the A-Sun during the transition years. But once the transition years ended, FGCU took off pretty quickly.

I think NKU has all the pieces there (arena, location in a college-hoops crazy area, some historical pedigree) to take off pretty quickly.

I can understand any interest on the Horizon League's part. Frankly --- the OVC should be interested in NKU too. The OVC voted on NKU in 2011 but the Norse got 3 no votes, supposedly all coming from Tennessee-based schools.

On a side note, I root for NKU given that (1) they are only a few miles from me, and (2) NKU and Penn State will be the ONLY full D-1 schools that have a nickname that starts with the letter "N." The latter point is provided as a trivia question to ask your friends.

(03-09-2015 12:32 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:34 AM)otis campbell Wrote:  Has NKU become the class of the ASun? What would lead you to believe it would in a better league?

It has been a little hard for NKU to recruit the last few years given they haven't been able to truly sell "we are D-1, you will have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament!"

Look at FGCU --- they were a pretty good D-2 school (not as good as NKU, but still pretty good), that became absolutely terrible in the A-Sun during the transition years. But once the transition years ended, FGCU took off pretty quickly.

I think NKU has all the pieces there (arena, location in a college-hoops crazy area, some historical pedigree) to take off pretty quickly.

I can understand any interest on the Horizon League's part. Frankly --- the OVC should be interested in NKU too. The OVC voted on NKU in 2011 but the Norse got 3 no votes, supposedly all coming from Tennessee-based schools.

On a side note, I root for NKU given that (1) they are only a few miles from me, and (2) NKU and Penn State will be the ONLY full D-1 schools that have a nickname that starts with the letter "N." The latter point is provided as a trivia question to ask your friends.

I am pulling for NKU. I think they would be a good addition to the league. They seem to fit the profile, and I can watch my Raiders close to home. I have not given a thought of the Indiana schools (ie iupui or indy FW). I don't know that much about them, but either make more sense geographically.

Is the guess they only add 1? I don't see anyone poaching any more teams from the Horizon.

(03-09-2015 01:10 PM)bearcat29 Wrote:  I am pulling for NKU. I think they would be a good addition to the league. They seem to fit the profile, and I can watch my Raiders close to home. I have not given a thought of the Indiana schools (ie iupui or indy FW). I don't know that much about them, but either make more sense geographically.

Is the guess they only add 1? I don't see anyone poaching any more teams.

In following the Horizon League from a distance (I grew up in Detroit and still follow the Titans, so I'll visit the Titans and Horizon League message boards occasionally) ---- it seems like most schools are predisposed against the Indiana schools. They think IUPUI or IPFW are both beneath them. Meanwhile, NKU has a pretty good reputation.

That said, if the Horizon chose just 1 school, most Horizon fans would prefer either Belmont or Murray State over NKU. Every once in awhile I'll see someone advocating a school like IUPUI, IPFW, Robert Morris, Canisius, Niagara, Morehead State, SIU-E, Eastern Illinois, et cetera ....... But Belmont, Murray State and NKU are by far the preferred three.

Now, adding ALL of Murray State, Belmont and NKU would be a bold move, and would allow a split into 2 divisions (parantheses surrounding travel partners):

East/South: (Belmont, Murray St), (NKU, Wright St), (Cleveland St, Youngstown St)
North/West: (Detroit, Oakland), (Valpo, UIC), (Green Bay, Milwaukee)

One could flip the (Belmont, Murray St) and (Detroit, Oakland) pods --- either geography is theoretically viable. I would guess Belmont & Murray State would prefer being paired with the KY and OH schools. Detroit & Oakland could probably go either way.

Note that Murray State would need to find a home for their football team if they left the OVC. I do not think the Missouri Valley Football Conference would really want them.

(03-09-2015 10:30 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 08:46 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 08:37 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I don't think a school either with FBS football (i.e. Eastern Michigan) or in a better basketball league (i.e. Evansville) would step down to the Horizon. That just doesn't happen willingly in conference realignment. (Note that I consider UAB dropping FBS football to be a unique set of political circumstances.)

NKU makes perfect sense - they fit the Horizon League profile very well. Belmont was also looked at heavily a few years ago.

Very few MAC fans would be surprised if EMU shut down its football program or moved down to FCS.

I'll believe it when I see it. Schools simply don't drop down to FCS in this modern era - it's the worst of both worlds financially. That argument has never made sense to me - if the whole idea is to save costs, then just get rid of football entirely instead of dropping levels. Whatever you're saving in scholarship costs is made irrelevant with what they're giving up in the hard revenue of the CFP money and TV contracts and the soft revenue of the greater marketing tool that comes with FBS compared to FCS. Think of what it would cost to buy 3.5 hours of commercials on a Tuesday night on ESPN, which is essentially what MACtion provides.

Now, we saw UAB drop FBS football due to political factors, but there are a whole lot more schools wanting to get into FBS than there are spots available and athletic departments know it. That weighs very heavily in athletic department decisions right now - I think a lot of fans like to make judgments that certain schools should drop down levels and/or sports altogether, but that's not how athletic departments operate. They know that dropping out of FBS football is effectively a lifetime these days without much possibility of turning back, so they'll do everything possible to save it.

Except that EMU has only played one of these November MACtion games from 2010-2014 seasons. This year will be the first time since 2010 that they have played a November weeknight game. It is doubtful that this game will be on anything more than ESPNU.

I totally agree that dropping football all together is much more likely than dropping for FCS...though the whole idea of dropping football is still a long shot.

(03-09-2015 03:17 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Except that EMU has only played one of these November MACtion games from 2010-2014 seasons. This year will be the first time since 2010 that they have played a November weeknight game. It is doubtful that this game will be on anything more than ESPNU.

I totally agree that dropping football all together is much more likely than dropping for FCS...though the whole idea of dropping football is still a long shot.

I would think that the in-state hierarchy and status issues vis-a-vis WMU and CMU effectively compel EMU to stay in the MAC, come hell or high water.

(03-09-2015 10:30 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 08:46 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 08:37 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I don't think a school either with FBS football (i.e. Eastern Michigan) or in a better basketball league (i.e. Evansville) would step down to the Horizon. That just doesn't happen willingly in conference realignment. (Note that I consider UAB dropping FBS football to be a unique set of political circumstances.)

NKU makes perfect sense - they fit the Horizon League profile very well. Belmont was also looked at heavily a few years ago.

Very few MAC fans would be surprised if EMU shut down its football program or moved down to FCS.

I'll believe it when I see it. Schools simply don't drop down to FCS in this modern era - it's the worst of both worlds financially. That argument has never made sense to me - if the whole idea is to save costs, then just get rid of football entirely instead of dropping levels. Whatever you're saving in scholarship costs is made irrelevant with what they're giving up in the hard revenue of the CFP money and TV contracts and the soft revenue of the greater marketing tool that comes with FBS compared to FCS. Think of what it would cost to buy 3.5 hours of commercials on a Tuesday night on ESPN, which is essentially what MACtion provides.

Now, we saw UAB drop FBS football due to political factors, but there are a whole lot more schools wanting to get into FBS than there are spots available and athletic departments know it. That weighs very heavily in athletic department decisions right now - I think a lot of fans like to make judgments that certain schools should drop down levels and/or sports altogether, but that's not how athletic departments operate. They know that dropping out of FBS football is effectively a lifetime these days without much possibility of turning back, so they'll do everything possible to save it.

There is only one FBS school that can go FCS without making a big mess.

Idaho.

In football their closest conference opponent is more than 1400 miles away (NMSU). With the reduced salary costs, reduced scholarship costs, and reduced travel, it is workable and with regional opponents vs. virtually no regional opponents in FBS, it can work.

I see people tout NMSU but look at the map, they are so remote from an FCS league that it isn't feasible even if one of those FCS were willing to take on the added travel burdern and it isn't guaranteed that one would.

Eastern Michigan? Unless they give up football, no FCS league makes sense for them. Their travel would increase in an FCS league. Now if the administration makes the decision that football no longer makes financial sense, that's a different story.

I won't be surprised if there are some move downs or teams giving up football. Full cost is a real expense needed to be competitive and with so many schools dependent on institutional support and student fees, any decline in enrollment coupled with reduced state aid could tip some schools over.

(03-09-2015 03:28 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:17 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Except that EMU has only played one of these November MACtion games from 2010-2014 seasons. This year will be the first time since 2010 that they have played a November weeknight game. It is doubtful that this game will be on anything more than ESPNU.

I totally agree that dropping football all together is much more likely than dropping for FCS...though the whole idea of dropping football is still a long shot.

I would think that the in-state hierarchy and status issues vis-a-vis WMU and CMU effectively compel EMU to stay in the MAC, come hell or high water.

I've worked in that arena (not Michigan) and it wouldn't shock me at all if CMU and WMU wouldn't gleefully try to nudge EMU out if it can be done with plausible denial. Being one of four FBS in the state is more valuable than being one of five.

(03-09-2015 01:23 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 01:10 PM)bearcat29 Wrote:  I am pulling for NKU. I think they would be a good addition to the league. They seem to fit the profile, and I can watch my Raiders close to home. I have not given a thought of the Indiana schools (ie iupui or indy FW). I don't know that much about them, but either make more sense geographically.

Is the guess they only add 1? I don't see anyone poaching any more teams.

In following the Horizon League from a distance (I grew up in Detroit and still follow the Titans, so I'll visit the Titans and Horizon League message boards occasionally) ---- it seems like most schools are predisposed against the Indiana schools. They think IUPUI or IPFW are both beneath them. Meanwhile, NKU has a pretty good reputation.

That said, if the Horizon chose just 1 school, most Horizon fans would prefer either Belmont or Murray State over NKU. Every once in awhile I'll see someone advocating a school like IUPUI, IPFW, Robert Morris, Canisius, Niagara, Morehead State, SIU-E, Eastern Illinois, et cetera ....... But Belmont, Murray State and NKU are by far the preferred three.

Now, adding ALL of Murray State, Belmont and NKU would be a bold move, and would allow a split into 2 divisions (parantheses surrounding travel partners):

East/South: (Belmont, Murray St), (NKU, Wright St), (Cleveland St, Youngstown St)
North/West: (Detroit, Oakland), (Valpo, UIC), (Green Bay, Milwaukee)

One could flip the (Belmont, Murray St) and (Detroit, Oakland) pods --- either geography is theoretically viable. I would guess Belmont & Murray State would prefer being paired with the KY and OH schools. Detroit & Oakland could probably go either way.

Note that Murray State would need to find a home for their football team if they left the OVC. I do not think the Missouri Valley Football Conference would really want them.

The MVFC would only want Murray St as a replacement, or if it went to 12. The MVC generally isn't interested in helping the Horizon. The MVC is really the only league for Murray St.

A DII team that could easily be a good Horizon member is Grand Valley St. But GVSU can only join the Slummit, and don't have anywhere to put football.

If it is NKU, I could see Georgia Regents (née Augusta State) filling the void in the Atlantic Sun - the Atlantic Sun would essentially be right back where it started when NKU joined.

I have heard nothing from Bellarmine about moving up to D-I, but if NKU does leave, this may be their last shot for a long time. Bellarmine already plays Division I men's lacrosse and is a perennial power in Division II Basketball. BU actually shaves about 100 miles off the A-Sun footprint being in Louisville instead of the Cincinnati suburbs.


This is not a signature

what is the latest with UAB? Are they being booted from CUSA?

(03-09-2015 01:23 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 01:10 PM)bearcat29 Wrote:  I am pulling for NKU. I think they would be a good addition to the league. They seem to fit the profile, and I can watch my Raiders close to home. I have not given a thought of the Indiana schools (ie iupui or indy FW). I don't know that much about them, but either make more sense geographically.

Is the guess they only add 1? I don't see anyone poaching any more teams.

In following the Horizon League from a distance (I grew up in Detroit and still follow the Titans, so I'll visit the Titans and Horizon League message boards occasionally) ---- it seems like most schools are predisposed against the Indiana schools. They think IUPUI or IPFW are both beneath them. Meanwhile, NKU has a pretty good reputation.

That said, if the Horizon chose just 1 school, most Horizon fans would prefer either Belmont or Murray State over NKU. Every once in awhile I'll see someone advocating a school like IUPUI, IPFW, Robert Morris, Canisius, Niagara, Morehead State, SIU-E, Eastern Illinois, et cetera ....... But Belmont, Murray State and NKU are by far the preferred three.

Now, adding ALL of Murray State, Belmont and NKU would be a bold move, and would allow a split into 2 divisions (parantheses surrounding travel partners):

East/South: (Belmont, Murray St), (NKU, Wright St), (Cleveland St, Youngstown St)
North/West: (Detroit, Oakland), (Valpo, UIC), (Green Bay, Milwaukee)

One could flip the (Belmont, Murray St) and (Detroit, Oakland) pods --- either geography is theoretically viable. I would guess Belmont & Murray State would prefer being paired with the KY and OH schools. Detroit & Oakland could probably go either way.

Note that Murray State would need to find a home for their football team if they left the OVC. I do not think the Missouri Valley Football Conference would really want them.

Belmont is already in the Horizon for men's soccer; I'm guessing they wouldn't mind joining as a full member and having a couple other conference members who are private? As of right now, everyone else in the OVC is a public school.

Still though, presently Belmont makes for a nice OVC top trio with Murray State and Morehead State in recent years.

(03-09-2015 12:32 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:34 AM)otis campbell Wrote:  Has NKU become the class of the ASun? What would lead you to believe it would in a better league?

It has been a little hard for NKU to recruit the last few years given they haven't been able to truly sell "we are D-1, you will have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament!"

Look at FGCU --- they were a pretty good D-2 school (not as good as NKU, but still pretty good), that became absolutely terrible in the A-Sun during the transition years. But once the transition years ended, FGCU took off pretty quickly.

I think NKU has all the pieces there (arena, location in a college-hoops crazy area, some historical pedigree) to take off pretty quickly.

I can understand any interest on the Horizon League's part. Frankly --- the OVC should be interested in NKU too. The OVC voted on NKU in 2011 but the Norse got 3 no votes, supposedly all coming from Tennessee-based schools.

This is basically what it's about for NKU. They have a nice, new arena. They have a great area to recruit and they do have a lot of D2 history.

This was only their 3rd year in D1 and they have been improving each season. Give a little more time and a chance to actually recruit to a school that has a chance to play in the post season, then they will only get better.

The OVC was worried about this previously. The strong rumor at the time was that, with the facilities and location, they could end up dominating the league and were kept out for that reason. I wish I could find the articles about this.

It's a growing school that is actually interested in improving the lifting up the program, not just being content to simply be part of D1.

(03-09-2015 03:36 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:28 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:17 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Except that EMU has only played one of these November MACtion games from 2010-2014 seasons. This year will be the first time since 2010 that they have played a November weeknight game. It is doubtful that this game will be on anything more than ESPNU.

I totally agree that dropping football all together is much more likely than dropping for FCS...though the whole idea of dropping football is still a long shot.

I would think that the in-state hierarchy and status issues vis-a-vis WMU and CMU effectively compel EMU to stay in the MAC, come hell or high water.

I've worked in that arena (not Michigan) and it wouldn't shock me at all if CMU and WMU wouldn't gleefully try to nudge EMU out if it can be done with plausible denial. Being one of four FBS in the state is more valuable than being one of five.

If EMU drops football and goes to the Horizon League, the MAC replaces them with JMU. Everybody is happy.

(03-09-2015 11:41 PM)insomniaisevil Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 12:32 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:34 AM)otis campbell Wrote:  Has NKU become the class of the ASun? What would lead you to believe it would in a better league?

It has been a little hard for NKU to recruit the last few years given they haven't been able to truly sell "we are D-1, you will have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament!"

Look at FGCU --- they were a pretty good D-2 school (not as good as NKU, but still pretty good), that became absolutely terrible in the A-Sun during the transition years. But once the transition years ended, FGCU took off pretty quickly.

I think NKU has all the pieces there (arena, location in a college-hoops crazy area, some historical pedigree) to take off pretty quickly.

I can understand any interest on the Horizon League's part. Frankly --- the OVC should be interested in NKU too. The OVC voted on NKU in 2011 but the Norse got 3 no votes, supposedly all coming from Tennessee-based schools.

This is basically what it's about for NKU. They have a nice, new arena. They have a great area to recruit and they do have a lot of D2 history.

This was only their 3rd year in D1 and they have been improving each season. Give a little more time and a chance to actually recruit to a school that has a chance to play in the post season, then they will only get better.

The OVC was worried about this previously. The strong rumor at the time was that, with the facilities and location, they could end up dominating the league and were kept out for that reason. I wish I could find the articles about this.

It's a growing school that is actually interested in improving the lifting up the program, not just being content to simply be part of D1.

Yeah, there was an article that stated NKU was a problem for many OVC schools, as NKUs facilities, location, and desire could end up dominating the OVC.

(03-10-2015 01:27 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:36 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:28 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:17 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Except that EMU has only played one of these November MACtion games from 2010-2014 seasons. This year will be the first time since 2010 that they have played a November weeknight game. It is doubtful that this game will be on anything more than ESPNU.

I totally agree that dropping football all together is much more likely than dropping for FCS...though the whole idea of dropping football is still a long shot.

I would think that the in-state hierarchy and status issues vis-a-vis WMU and CMU effectively compel EMU to stay in the MAC, come hell or high water.

I've worked in that arena (not Michigan) and it wouldn't shock me at all if CMU and WMU wouldn't gleefully try to nudge EMU out if it can be done with plausible denial. Being one of four FBS in the state is more valuable than being one of five.

If EMU drops football and goes to the Horizon League, the MAC replaces them with JMU. Everybody is happy.

Can you really do business with just one Virginia public school? Assuming JMU is hounding CUSA with ODU lobbying...

(03-10-2015 02:00 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(03-10-2015 01:27 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:36 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:28 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 03:17 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Except that EMU has only played one of these November MACtion games from 2010-2014 seasons. This year will be the first time since 2010 that they have played a November weeknight game. It is doubtful that this game will be on anything more than ESPNU.

I totally agree that dropping football all together is much more likely than dropping for FCS...though the whole idea of dropping football is still a long shot.

I would think that the in-state hierarchy and status issues vis-a-vis WMU and CMU effectively compel EMU to stay in the MAC, come hell or high water.

I've worked in that arena (not Michigan) and it wouldn't shock me at all if CMU and WMU wouldn't gleefully try to nudge EMU out if it can be done with plausible denial. Being one of four FBS in the state is more valuable than being one of five.

If EMU drops football and goes to the Horizon League, the MAC replaces them with JMU. Everybody is happy.

Can you really do business with just one Virginia public school? Assuming JMU is hounding CUSA with ODU lobbying...

Rumor was JMU was lined up to be #14 in the MAC if UMASS had stayed.

(03-10-2015 01:58 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 11:41 PM)insomniaisevil Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 12:32 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(03-09-2015 09:34 AM)otis campbell Wrote:  Has NKU become the class of the ASun? What would lead you to believe it would in a better league?

It has been a little hard for NKU to recruit the last few years given they haven't been able to truly sell "we are D-1, you will have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament!"

Look at FGCU --- they were a pretty good D-2 school (not as good as NKU, but still pretty good), that became absolutely terrible in the A-Sun during the transition years. But once the transition years ended, FGCU took off pretty quickly.

I think NKU has all the pieces there (arena, location in a college-hoops crazy area, some historical pedigree) to take off pretty quickly.

I can understand any interest on the Horizon League's part. Frankly --- the OVC should be interested in NKU too. The OVC voted on NKU in 2011 but the Norse got 3 no votes, supposedly all coming from Tennessee-based schools.

This is basically what it's about for NKU. They have a nice, new arena. They have a great area to recruit and they do have a lot of D2 history.

This was only their 3rd year in D1 and they have been improving each season. Give a little more time and a chance to actually recruit to a school that has a chance to play in the post season, then they will only get better.

The OVC was worried about this previously. The strong rumor at the time was that, with the facilities and location, they could end up dominating the league and were kept out for that reason. I wish I could find the articles about this.

It's a growing school that is actually interested in improving the lifting up the program, not just being content to simply be part of D1.

Yeah, there was an article that stated NKU was a problem for many OVC schools, as NKUs facilities, location, and desire could end up dominating the OVC.

I think that is pretty short sided by OVC. I could be wrong, but it seemed like the Horizon was better overall with Butler being really good. Just like the MAC when Marshall had their run in football. I believe it brings better recruits and notoriety to everyone.