(04-12-2017 11:26 PM)teamvsn Wrote: (04-12-2017 07:42 PM)AZcats Wrote: Quote:I think it's too soon to approach Southern Naz, NWOSU or OBU. Or any of the other former Sooner Conference teams. The ones suffering are still holding out hope for success, and the successful ones are still riding the coattails of their NAIA success (Lubbock) to know how they'll REALLY do in D2.
I don't think Lubbock Christian is riding any coattails of NAIA success after winning a D2 national title in their first year. Most of the players on that team were recruited after LCU began the reclassifying.
Not true. Look at their stats for 2015-16:
http://lcuchaps.com/cumestats.aspx?path=...&year=2015
and the roster for the Chaps in 2011-12:
http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Te...1&team=222
Key upperclassmen, and the year they first appeared on the roster:
Hampton: 2012-13
Bruffey: 2014-15
Hoppel: 2012-13
Fowler: 2013-14
Schnieder: 2015-16 - SR - Texas Tech
Taylor: 2012-13
Lubbock's last year in the NAIA was 2012-13, meaning these players were all signed before their D2 application was approved, probably before they even submitted their application, and under NAIA rules. They redshirted those young players so that they'd still be eligible in their first year of D2 post season eligibility. And it's not like there wasn't a history: Gomez had been coach there for 10 years as an NAIA school, and made 10 consecutive trips to the national tournament including several deep runs, and a final four in 2012. Look at their schedules from before their transition. That was already a dang good team.
Azusa Pacific's men's basketball used exactly the same strategy. They had some great young recruits that they red shirted to save their eligibility. In their first year of post season eligibility, they made the Elite 8 with starters who were 4 NAIA recruits and a GREAT shooter who transferred from UCSB for his senior year.
I think Azusa Pacific would be a D1 school down the road. People have heard of them because they are making a name for themselves.
I looked at some of the schools at the NAIA, and found some of them do have a student body for D2. Southern Oregon, from a 2015 enrollment, was larger than Western Oregon and Central Washington. They would fit in GNAC. Northwest Nazarene also have a pretty good size enrollment as well. Southern Oregon is growing faster with students while Eastern Oregon is struggling.
Texas Wesleyan could be a D2 material where they are at in the Dallas Metro area.
Indiana Wesleyan is another that is growing. That might be they have multiple campuses which could bring them up over 10,000.
Of course, those two do have history, and going in one direction, while others going backwards.
I guess winning a championship in football or adding football helps grow the population of students for the schools. Seems to be working for Southern Oregon, Texas Wesleyan and Indiana Wesleyan. Might work out for Lawrence Tech as well.
Back to the OKCU school? Maybe make it into a hybrid like Delaware is. Have OU get involved and make it University of Oklahoma-Oklahoma City. It might help make it grow, and get the school to the school in better finances.
Oklahoma State could do the same with Langston and call it Oklahoma State @ Langston and do the same for Bacone as Oklahoma State at Bacone. Could help save those three schools.