(01-19-2019 11:41 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(01-19-2019 04:15 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  Unless Chicago State shuts down or UMKC somehow bolts to the Summit League, I don't see any reason they should invite Metro State, Western Washington, Northwest Fort Worth State University or any other DII.

They need more schools--10 would be ideal. 12 would give them some spares should there be defections.

Chicago St isn't like a typical conference member. They are signed to a contract for a period of years and the conference can release them if they no longer need them at the end of the contract.

They are poor, a geographic outlier, and an RPI drag. Bringing in a more suitable school would be ideal.

Your correct, the WAC does want to get to 10 schools. You are also correct about Chicago State being an RPI drag. The WAC is currently ranked at #15 in RPI out of 32 conferences, just ahead of the MWC and behind the MVC at 14. Chicago State is at #345 out of 353 schools.

Chicago State is a typical conference member. They are a full member of the WAC. Their location in Chicago is not a problem. It is fairly easy to get a direct flight to Chicago.

Chicago State was supposed to add men's soccer, but that was put on hold during the state budget crisis. I am not sure where that is at? With their 12 soccer schools (7 from the WAC, 3 from the MWC, 2 from the Southland) in the conference, the WAC does not really need Chicago State men's soccer.