https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/...158844002/
https://usi.edu/explore-Di

I hope we see S.Indiana in the OVC soon.

What a beautiful arena, inside and out.

(01-14-2022 01:23 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  I hope we see S.Indiana in the OVC soon.

Two strikes already : No soccer. No swimming/diving.

(01-14-2022 04:31 AM)Chuck_A Wrote:  

(01-14-2022 01:23 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  I hope we see S.Indiana in the OVC soon.

Two strikes already : No soccer. No swimming/diving.

I don't think that will be problematic. SIU-E is in the OVC, but it plays soccer as an affiliate member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Dallas Baptist is a D-2 school that plays D-1 baseball, and it too is in the MVC for that sport. I think USI's biggest obstacle will be the increased financial requirements to become a viable D-1 school in the college sports landscape. Will the Screaming Eagles become team #359 in D-1 hoops? I guess we'll know in about a month or so.

I think the OVC's future is as a non-football conference - but that's if a school like Southern Indiana can raise additional funds. Assuming USI can jump, this would likely be OVC soccer:

Western Illinois (football still in MVFC)
Eastern Illinois
SIU Edwardsville
Chicago State
Southern Indiana
+1 more TBD

The OVC should have made Little Rock commit to adding the sport, but there should be plenty of options for affiliates - namely the 4 MAC schools. NIU would be the most desirable of the four due to geography, but it's not like Western Michigan, Bowling Green, or Akron is that far out of the footprint

(01-14-2022 07:39 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  I think the OVC's future is as a non-football conference - but that's if a school like Southern Indiana can raise additional funds. Assuming USI can jump, this would likely be OVC soccer:

Western Illinois (football still in MVFC)
Eastern Illinois
SIU Edwardsville
Chicago State
Southern Indiana
+1 more TBD

The OVC should have made Little Rock commit to adding the sport, but there should be plenty of options for affiliates - namely the 4 MAC schools. NIU would be the most desirable of the four due to geography, but it's not like Western Michigan, Bowling Green, or Akron is that far out of the footprint

Where do Eastern Illinois, SE Missouri, Tennessee-Martin, and Tennessee State go with their football programs?

Why does Western Illinois leave the Summit for a very unstable league?

Grand Valley State and Indianapolis have football which would help keep football sponsor. The President of SIU-E have not ruled out football to the school. They do play club football.

If Tenn. Tech goes to the ASUN then OVC FB is probably done. It is VERY unlikely that WIU joins OVC FB. OVC FB is teetering near the edge.

Other targets for USI if they don't get OVC, but it seems ASun and Horizon League might be interested in them as well.

(01-14-2022 07:24 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  If Tenn. Tech goes to the ASUN then OVC FB is probably done. It is VERY unlikely that WIU joins OVC FB. OVC FB is teetering near the edge.

Where the ASun gets its 6th football school will be very interesting

One must also look at CAA expansion and the fact that CAA football might grow to 14 but is for sure going to at least add Monmouth. That would directly impact the future of the Big South and MEAC

There's a lot of FCS conferences on the brink membership wise - ASun, MEAC, OVC, SLC, WAC, maybe even the Big South at this point. I would not be shocked if at least one of them stops offering football, there's only so many D2 call ups available.

(01-14-2022 07:24 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  If Tenn. Tech goes to the ASUN then OVC FB is probably done. It is VERY unlikely that WIU joins OVC FB. OVC FB is teetering near the edge.

Rumor from the Southeastern Louisiana board was that SEMO and Tenn St are joining the Southland in 2023.

Again, a rumor.

My read of the report is that USI is not ready yet. They are not that far away either, but some things need to happen in the next couple years to make it work.

Note, that poll of student interest is important because a big part of the plan is to inflict a $475/year fee on every student. Clearly they have some work to do there, and also in getting alumni to donate more.

I read this as like the first time UC San Diego put it up to a vote. It took the better part of a decade to get everything lined up. I don't think USI needs that much time, but it looks more like sometime after 2025 things may be lined up.

I think HL may not get Bellarmine, If that is the case? Lindenwood, USI and Grand Valley State would replace UIC.

Not necessarily a reliable source, but do not believe based on the Southern Indiana timeline that we've seen that this is wrong.

From an article in the original post...

A decision by trustees should come no later than mid-February.

"This has been an open, engaging and methodical process and it's been very revealing about who we are as an institution," USI President Ronald Rochon said. "I'm excited about what we're learning about us and the future. Now it's time to maintain patience and allow the trustees to do their work and come back with their decision."

Good for them but that doesn’t do much for OVC football.

(01-14-2022 01:44 AM)Todor Wrote:  What a beautiful arena, inside and out.

Their campus is really nice too I've thought.

I just question the urbanity of it.

(01-14-2022 04:31 AM)Chuck_A Wrote:  

(01-14-2022 01:23 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  I hope we see S.Indiana in the OVC soon.

Two strikes already : No soccer. No swimming/diving.

Third strike: No money

This part I found funny:

"Months of internal research by the committee, which was made up of athletes, coaches, faculty, alumni and administrators, became public Thursday."

I don't see any mention of many regular students on this committee, even though the article says the athletic budget would have to nearly double to fund D1, and students fees would have to be raised by $475 a year to do it.