Now that NJIT is in the Atlantic Sun conference, the A-Sun just might need a couple of schools to join NJIT in a new "North" division.

What schools might those be? Existing Division 1 schools? or more likely a Division 2 school looking to move up...?

One might consider large Division II schools in the northeast... Some possibilities:

- Post University, Waterbury CT - enrollment: 7,500
- Wilmington University, New Castle DE - enrollment: 11,500
- Winston-Salem State Univ, NC - enrollment: 6,000
- Virginia State University, Ettrick VA - enrollment: 5,000
- University of Bridgeport, CT - enrollment: 5,500
- District of Columbia Univ, DC - enrollment: 5,500
- Dowling College, Oakdale NY - enrollment: 7,000
- Long Island Univ - Post, Brookville NY - enrollment: 8,500
- Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry NY - enrollment: 10,000
- New York Institute of Tech, Westbury NY - enrollment: 12,800
- Queens College, Flushing NY - enrollment: 18,000
- Bentley University, Waltham MA - enrollment: 5,500
- Southern NH Univ, Manchester NH - enrollment: 11,500
- Adelphi University, Garden City NY - enrollment: 8,000
- Univ of New Haven, CT - enrollment: 6,500
- Pace University, Pleasantville NY - enrollment: 13,000
- College of St Rose, Albany NY - enrollment: 5,000
- Southern CT State Univ, CT - enrollment: 12,500
- Bloomsburg University, PA - enrollment: 9,500
- East Stroudsburg State Univ, PA - enrollment: 7,500
- Kurtztown University, PA - enrollment: 11,000
- Lockhaven University, PA - enrollment: 5,500
- Millersville University, PA - enrollment: 8,500
- Shippensburg Univ, PA - enrollment: 8,000
- West Chester Univ, PA - enrollment: 14,000
- California University, PA - enrollment: 9,000
- Clarion University, PA - enrollment: 7,500
- Edinboro University, PA - enrollment: 8,000
- Indiana Univ of PA, PA - enrollment: 15,000
- Slippery Rock Univ, PA - enrollment: 9,000

Here are 31 division 2 colleges and universities with enrollments over 5,000 students.

Which might be realistic candidates to move up to Division 1 in the A-Sun?

(06-15-2015 11:33 AM)jukeboxhero Wrote:  Now that NJIT is in the Atlantic Sun conference, the A-Sun just might need a couple of schools to join NJIT in a new "North" division.

What schools might those be? Existing Division 1 schools? or more likely a Division 2 school looking to move up...?

One might consider large Division II schools in the northeast... Some possibilities:

- Post University, Waterbury CT - enrollment: 7,500
- Wilmington University, New Castle DE - enrollment: 11,500
- Winston-Salem State Univ, NC - enrollment: 6,000
- Virginia State University, Ettrick VA - enrollment: 5,000
- University of Bridgeport, CT - enrollment: 5,500
- District of Columbia Univ, DC - enrollment: 5,500
- Dowling College, Oakdale NY - enrollment: 7,000
- Long Island Univ - Post, Brookville NY - enrollment: 8,500
- Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry NY - enrollment: 10,000
- New York Institute of Tech, Westbury NY - enrollment: 12,800
- Queens College, Flushing NY - enrollment: 18,000
- Bentley University, Waltham MA - enrollment: 5,500
- Southern NH Univ, Manchester NH - enrollment: 11,500
- Adelphi University, Garden City NY - enrollment: 8,000
- Univ of New Haven, CT - enrollment: 6,500
- Pace University, Pleasantville NY - enrollment: 13,000
- College of St Rose, Albany NY - enrollment: 5,000
- Southern CT State Univ, CT - enrollment: 12,500
- Bloomsburg University, PA - enrollment: 9,500
- East Stroudsburg State Univ, PA - enrollment: 7,500
- Kurtztown University, PA - enrollment: 11,000
- Lockhaven University, PA - enrollment: 5,500
- Millersville University, PA - enrollment: 8,500
- Shippensburg Univ, PA - enrollment: 8,000
- West Chester Univ, PA - enrollment: 14,000
- California University, PA - enrollment: 9,000
- Clarion University, PA - enrollment: 7,500
- Edinboro University, PA - enrollment: 8,000
- Indiana Univ of PA, PA - enrollment: 15,000
- Slippery Rock Univ, PA - enrollment: 9,000

Here are 31 division 2 colleges and universities with enrollments over 5,000 students.

Which might be realistic candidates to move up to Division 1 in the A-Sun?

And how many want and can afford division 1?

(06-15-2015 11:33 AM)jukeboxhero Wrote:  Now that NJIT is in the Atlantic Sun conference, the A-Sun just might need a couple of schools to join NJIT in a new "North" division.

What schools might those be? Existing Division 1 schools? or more likely a Division 2 school looking to move up...?

One might consider large Division II schools in the northeast... Some possibilities:

- Post University, Waterbury CT - enrollment: 7,500
- Wilmington University, New Castle DE - enrollment: 11,500
- Winston-Salem State Univ, NC - enrollment: 6,000
- Virginia State University, Ettrick VA - enrollment: 5,000
- University of Bridgeport, CT - enrollment: 5,500
- District of Columbia Univ, DC - enrollment: 5,500
- Dowling College, Oakdale NY - enrollment: 7,000
- Long Island Univ - Post, Brookville NY - enrollment: 8,500
- Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry NY - enrollment: 10,000
- New York Institute of Tech, Westbury NY - enrollment: 12,800
- Queens College, Flushing NY - enrollment: 18,000
- Bentley University, Waltham MA - enrollment: 5,500
- Southern NH Univ, Manchester NH - enrollment: 11,500
- Adelphi University, Garden City NY - enrollment: 8,000
- Univ of New Haven, CT - enrollment: 6,500
- Pace University, Pleasantville NY - enrollment: 13,000
- College of St Rose, Albany NY - enrollment: 5,000
- Southern CT State Univ, CT - enrollment: 12,500
- Bloomsburg University, PA - enrollment: 9,500
- East Stroudsburg State Univ, PA - enrollment: 7,500
- Kurtztown University, PA - enrollment: 11,000
- Lockhaven University, PA - enrollment: 5,500
- Millersville University, PA - enrollment: 8,500
- Shippensburg Univ, PA - enrollment: 8,000
- West Chester Univ, PA - enrollment: 14,000
- California University, PA - enrollment: 9,000
- Clarion University, PA - enrollment: 7,500
- Edinboro University, PA - enrollment: 8,000
- Indiana Univ of PA, PA - enrollment: 15,000
- Slippery Rock Univ, PA - enrollment: 9,000

Here are 31 division 2 colleges and universities with enrollments over 5,000 students.

Which might be realistic candidates to move up to Division 1 in the A-Sun?

- Long Island Univ - Post, Brookville NY - enrollment: 8,500

I would like to see Nova Southeastern make they jump to D1, that wouldn`t help NJIT with a travel partner, but geographically they would be a good fit for the league.

While slightly a longer shot, there are 3 D3 schools that could also make the move. Montclair State is a Top 50 regional university that has over 20,000 students. Rowan University, in South Jersey, has a new medical school and over 15,000 students with the goal of going to 25,000 by 2025. They also have new facilities. And Kean University (about 15,000 students)probably has the best non-d1 athletic facilities in the state and the current administration is looking to move up.

LIU-Post is a wounded duck; the University is bleeding financial losses and have recently experienced layoffs. I do agree that NJIT will need a travel partner, it would be interesting to see what develops.

Delaware State, with football in the Big South. Monmouth could then stand in as NJIT's football team. Add two of the U of P schools and then the Atlantic Sun could take over Big South football:

North:
NJIT (no football)
Delaware State
Indiana, PA
West Chester, PA
Lipscomb (no football)
Another MEAC school
Football only: Monmouth

South:
FGCU (no football)
Stetson (Pioneer football)
Jacksonville (Pioneer football)
North Florida (no football)
Kennesaw State
USC Upstate (no football)
Football only: Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Liberty, Gardner-Webb

(09-01-2015 10:24 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Delaware State, with football in the Big South. Monmouth could then stand in as NJIT's football team. Add two of the U of P schools and then the Atlantic Sun could take over Big South football:

North:
NJIT (no football)
Delaware State
Indiana, PA
West Chester, PA
Lipscomb (no football)
Another MEAC school
Football only: Monmouth

South:
FGCU (no football)
Stetson (Pioneer football)
Jacksonville (Pioneer football)
North Florida (no football)
Kennesaw State
USC Upstate (no football)
Football only: Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Liberty, Gardner-Webb

Sounds interesting

(09-03-2015 04:59 AM)Rich52c Wrote:  

(09-01-2015 10:24 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Delaware State, with football in the Big South. Monmouth could then stand in as NJIT's football team. Add two of the U of P schools and then the Atlantic Sun could take over Big South football:

North:
NJIT (no football)
Delaware State
Indiana, PA
West Chester, PA
Lipscomb (no football)
Another MEAC school
Football only: Monmouth

South:
FGCU (no football)
Stetson (Pioneer football)
Jacksonville (Pioneer football)
North Florida (no football)
Kennesaw State
USC Upstate (no football)
Football only: Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Liberty, Gardner-Webb

Sounds interesting

Northern Ala division 2 in talks with Atlantic Sun for membership

North Alabama's enrollment has plummeted to around 6500 students - I just honestly don't know if they can afford it, but this may be a case of it might be more expensive to stay where they are now.

Does University of Tampa have any visions of going D1?

(09-18-2015 10:09 AM)BLIKNS1 Wrote:  Does University of Tampa have any visions of going D1?

I haven't heard anything, but Tampa used to be Division I in the past.

Going strictly be enrollment and endowment, Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern would be the two schools to grab from the Sunshine State Conference. Saint Leo even plays Lacrosse, which could help stabilize the Atlantic Sun's sponsorship of the sport. I haven't seen anything on them considering Division I. This could also make for 3 ideal pairs of travel partners:

Jacksonville/North Florida (both in Jacksonville)
Saint Leo (Tampa area)/Stetson (Orlando)
FGCU (Fort Myers)/Nova Southeastern (Davie - between Boca Raton and Miami)

Then to get to 12 members, the Atlantic Sun could add members anywhere north of I-10 to finish the North Division.

Kent State.

It looks like Liberty is coming on board.

1. NJIT
2. Bellarmine University
3. Liberty
4. Lipscomb
5. High Point or UNC Ashville
6. N. Alabama
7. Kennesaw St.
8. Charleston So. or Winthrop
9. Jacksonville
10. N. Florida
11. Stetson
12. FGCU

(06-15-2015 11:33 AM)jukeboxhero Wrote:  - Slippery Rock Univ, PA - enrollment: 9,000

Dude... I’d take Slippery Rock just based on their name alone!

If you wanted to pair one up with NJIT how about...

- Stony Brook
- Manhattan
- Long Island
- NYIT
- NYU

Just curious, what is the story behind NJIT going to a southern conference?

Glad to be with them in the ASun.

(05-18-2018 06:35 PM)WesternSkillet Wrote:  Just curious, what is the story behind NJIT going to a southern conference?

Glad to be with them in the ASun.

I assume they couldn’t land anywhere else. I think thy were Indy prior to ASUN.

Yep. I can’t imagine NJIT is satisfied in the A-Sun. They are so far away from all others. But, maybe they like the national footprint. Seems they’d like to be in a northeastern conference. Personally, I like having a team from the NYC area in the conference.