** I don't know the last time the OVC took a transition school, not in my recent recollection anyway. Too bad they have football, we know who would love to have another transition school**


FLORENCE, Alabama - The University of North Alabama was informed this afternoon that the Ohio Valley Conference is not pursuing plans for expansion at this time. UNA and one other institution were being considered by the OVC as part of an expansion plan.

Following this news, UNA will examine and evaluate other options concerning a move to the NCAA Division I. UNA currently competes in the Gulf South Conference of the NCAA Division II.

"This is very disappointing news for me personally, for UNA, and for all those who have worked so diligently in support of the transition. However, we do look forward to continuing our progress and working with our board of trustees to plan our next steps," said Dr. William G. Cale, UNA president.

The UNA board of trustees voted June 13 to approve a resolution stating the university's intent to move to NCAA Division I status upon completion of a series of benchmark goals.

It will be so nice to have a president who actually thinks like that. Imagine a president who wants to move UP instead of move down.

Something isn't right on that deal and it has nothing to do with taking a transitional team.

Pretty sure the other school is Northern Kentucky.

I don't see them coming to the A-Sun, but I have little doubt the conference would love to have at least one of them to replace Belmont. NKU is a colossal stretch though since it's about fifteen minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Still, if they want to get into Division I no matter what, they might not have a choice...

I noticed at the game Tuesday night that the powers that be had already taken down the Belmont banner from the school banners over the basketball court. These people see it as a positive that one of the better teams is leaving. The conference has become easier and they like it. It will be such a relief to get rid of that ignorant mentality.

Northern Kentucky and Lipscomb will be the 13th and 14th members of the OVC.

Speaking of UNA though, here's an interesting hypothetical: The Gulf South Conference is splitting anyway...what if UNA, West Georgia, West Florida, and Valdosta State jump to the A-Sun -- which adds football.

That would give the A-Sun 8 football programs
Jacksonville
Mercer
Stetson
Valdosta State
North Alabama
West Georgia
Kennesaw State
ETSU

(11-17-2011 10:03 PM)TheShadow Wrote:  Northern Kentucky and Lipscomb will be the 13th and 14th members of the OVC.

Speaking of UNA though, here's an interesting hypothetical: The Gulf South Conference is splitting anyway...what if UNA, West Georgia, West Florida, and Valdosta State jump to the A-Sun -- which adds football.

That would give the A-Sun 8 football programs
Jacksonville
Mercer
Stetson
Valdosta State
North Alabama
West Georgia
Kennesaw State
ETSU

Interesting. Even if that does happen, do we stay if we add football?

Wow, it's bad enough to play basketball against a bunch of DII teams. I wouldn't want to go through that with football too.

Yes that would be a much worse position than we are right now.

(11-17-2011 09:44 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  I noticed at the game Tuesday night that the powers that be had already taken down the Belmont banner from the school banners over the basketball court. These people see it as a positive that one of the better teams is leaving. The conference has become easier and they like it. It will be such a relief to get rid of that ignorant mentality.

Those banners are new; the Belmont one never existed. No point in ordering one when they're about to leave...

(11-17-2011 10:03 PM)TheShadow Wrote:  Speaking of UNA though, here's an interesting hypothetical: The Gulf South Conference is splitting anyway...what if UNA, West Georgia, West Florida, and Valdosta State jump to the A-Sun -- which adds football.

That would give the A-Sun 8 football programs
Jacksonville
Mercer
Stetson
Valdosta State
North Alabama
West Georgia
Kennesaw State
ETSU

I've heard from more than one person that Kennesaw State wants to just have a short stint at I-AA and move up if a conference can take them.

The other issue you have is that Stetson, Jacksonville and Mercer are non-scholarship programs, and the others (presumably) are not (I know Kennesaw intends to go scholarship almost immediately). Making financial aid optional for football really weakens the league's position; state schools can't make money off of non-scholarship football and you probably won't get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

I'm also not convinced that the OVC wants Lipscomb and NKU despite their impressive basketball facilities, but you know what evil lurks in the hearts of men, so you would know better than I. :ninja:

I didn't think about the scholarship/non-scholarship issue...that's what happens when I post after 10pm, haha!

I'm just looking for someway-anyway to play some football! I agree that setup would be far from ideal, and a slot in the BigSouth or SoCon is a much better fit. Just throwing out some hypotheticals for discussion.

I think LU and NKU are more than just basketball facilities (though I would give my left nut to have NKU's arena on campus tomorrow). Its proximity to other schools, athletic success, and metropolitan areas.

The OVC is looking for divisional play I would assume, putting the Metro Nashville teams (TSU, Belmont, Peay, TTU, Lipscomb) along with Murray, Martin and SEMO in one division with all the others elsewhere. I don't think they care about Jacksonville St. long term, they've been trying to find a new home for awhile it seems, really wanting the Sun Belt.
Private schools do make money off non-scholarship football btw. 115 extra students paying to play, plus the value of just having the program.
Mercer won't be non-scholarship long, look at the stadium they built. 6,000 seats for non-scholarship? Child please.
The OVC is getting ready to make a nice jump with Belmont in the mix, then a dose of Lipscomb can only help them out.
North Alabama should stay Division II. They don't have the facility to come close to competing in FCS.

(11-18-2011 01:15 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  The OVC is looking for divisional play I would assume, putting the Metro Nashville teams (TSU, Belmont, Peay, TTU, Lipscomb) along with Murray, Martin and SEMO in one division with all the others elsewhere. I don't think they care about Jacksonville St. long term, they've been trying to find a new home for awhile it seems, really wanting the Sun Belt.
Private schools do make money off non-scholarship football btw. 115 extra students paying to play, plus the value of just having the program.
Mercer won't be non-scholarship long, look at the stadium they built. 6,000 seats for non-scholarship? Child please.
The OVC is getting ready to make a nice jump with Belmont in the mix, then a dose of Lipscomb can only help them out.
North Alabama should stay Division II. They don't have the facility to come close to competing in FCS.

http://www.mercer.edu/football/

They are building the twin sister to what Coastal has at Mercer. I think they see what's happening at the other schools in the state and just to keep up with the Joneses are doing what is necessary. I think for them it'll be interesting once they do decide to go scholarship football where they'll end up. FCS conferences are going to start running out of space soon.

(11-18-2011 01:15 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  The OVC is looking for divisional play I would assume, putting the Metro Nashville teams (TSU, Belmont, Peay, TTU, Lipscomb) along with Murray, Martin and SEMO in one division with all the others elsewhere. I don't think they care about Jacksonville St. long term, they've been trying to find a new home for awhile it seems, really wanting the Sun Belt.
Private schools do make money off non-scholarship football btw. 115 extra students paying to play, plus the value of just having the program.
Mercer won't be non-scholarship long, look at the stadium they built. 6,000 seats for non-scholarship? Child please.
The OVC is getting ready to make a nice jump with Belmont in the mix, then a dose of Lipscomb can only help them out.
North Alabama should stay Division II. They don't have the facility to come close to competing in FCS.

UNA plays in Brawley Stadium don't they? That has 14,000 plus seating capacity. If that can't get you in the OVC then ETSU better hope to play in Division 3 if they bring football back.

It's a dump located in a crappy part of town in Florence. They would need an on campus facility or atleast have the plans for it right after a move up.