http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthre...ion-Rumors
Here is a question. Would Southland look into expanding? They would be proactive because you do have Lamar, Sam Houston and SFA have wondering eyes for FBS. Plus, we still have issues with the Louisiana schools. Nicholls enrollment is dropping rapidly while southeastern is over 12,000 in the same area. If the lawmakers decide to merge schools? Nicholls could be gone and rolled into Southeastern. If Texas A&M merge with Texas A&M-Kingsville? Could there be a new name for the merged schools?
Tarleton State would be a good target for the Southland after losing UTA.
UCA's basketball is lost without a fellow Arkansas school. Arkansas Tech is a natural rival for UCA.
Delta State I read had eyes to join D1. They could fit in nicely with the eastern Louisiana schools of the southland.
Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Baptist, Rogers State and SW Oklahoma State could really used a nice change of scenery to improve.
It seems all the Lone Star football schools could go D1.
You do have areas of these states that do have a growing population that could support D1.
Tarleton State-Dallas/Fort Worth
Arkansas Tech-Russellville/Arkansas River Valley
Delta State-Mississippi River Valley
Christian Brothers-Memphis
Missouri Southern-Joplin
Rogers State-Tulsa area
Oklahoma Baptist-Shawnee
Central Oklahoma-Oklahoma City
SW Oklahoma State-Weatherford (growing in population wise, I40 access)
Angelo State-San Angelo
West Texas A&M-Amarillo
Texas A&M-Kingsville-Corpus Christie/Houston
Texas A&M Commerce-?
Midwestern State-Wichita Falls
UTPB-Odessa
UTRGV-
Harding-Searcy
Henderson State-Arkadelphia
UAFS-Fort Smith
Cameron-Lawton
These are some strong candidates for Southland just in case they lose several schools.