(04-08-2019 04:55 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  App State and Ga Southern have been talking about going FBS for 15+ years - just needed the right offer.
North Alabama has been discussing DI since Jax State went DI
Grand Canyon has been discussing it for 25+ years

None of these are "scoops"

I learned of North Alabama's plans for D1 at the same time the Arkansas schools announced their departure from the Gulf South Conference in Fall 2010.

David seems to ACTUALLY be more optimistic or he does more studying into this than everyone else does. Half the schools he listed could do well at the D1 level.

(04-08-2019 04:52 PM)johnintx Wrote:  At this point, it's speculation, but it points in that direction.

From the D2 basketball message board:

http://www.d2messageboard.com/showthread...65&page=95

One poster who seems to be in the know:

"Don’t know if this was an April fools joke or not. He used to write for the “Leo” paper, a local rag without much credibility.

My sources are both inside the University and a consultant working with the University. I’m not at liberty to name them.

They tell me that the Atlantic Sun is not on the table. The university did hire an athletic development person (fundraiser) 6 mos ago but no “$10 million campaign” is underway. The admin is still in process of evaluation and quantification of what the move will entail. This encompasses more than MBB but all sports. At this point the university has received a recommendation from a consultant to move to D1. The admin must now formulate a clear plan that the board can consider.

Assuming the plan is ready, the board will vote on the proposed move at the May board meeting. Until then, everything else is speculation."

There is one thing that have change recently than a few years ago. They watched D2 member St. Joseph's, Indiana closed their doors for good because they went broke owning money. They are looking around them in the D2 schools in the area to see that they are failing including closing down. Bellarmine is much more better in cash than the other schools since they did raise money to upgrade their facilities, and to add sports. The move is more of a survivor. Their conference mates in Southern Indiana could pull the trigger at the same time. There are 2 more schools in their conference could close down. William Jewell and Quincy
Quincy and McKendree both in Illinois are having the same issues as the directional public schools with cash and declining enrollment. We may see more of survival with upgrading to D1, and switching conferences.

(04-08-2019 05:23 PM)KingSean Wrote:  David seems to ACTUALLY be more optimistic or he does more studying into this than everyone else does. Half the schools he listed could do well at the D1 level.

If UMKC can’t do well at the D1 level, what makes you think all these small private colleges he lists, will do any better? He might be optimistic, but does no studying, as not every school has the resources to go D1, nor should they. The dude listed Upper Iowa one time. Go look up Upper Iowa and then report back if you think they’re D1 material.

(04-08-2019 05:10 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  App and GaSo didn't need "the right offer". They need "An offer". Both were trying hard to go CUSA and both got the cold shoulder. So here we are in the Sun Belt really enjoying our time watching the CUSA boards melt down like clockwork at the end of each revenue sports season.

I remember seeing a Georgia Southern football game in 2011 or 2012 where the cameras did close-ups of students holding up signs supporting a move to the Sun Belt. App and GaSo accepted their Sun Belt invites in March 2013, which was 9 months before David joined this board.

(04-08-2019 05:31 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 05:23 PM)KingSean Wrote:  David seems to ACTUALLY be more optimistic or he does more studying into this than everyone else does. Half the schools he listed could do well at the D1 level.

If UMKC can’t do well at the D1 level, what makes you think all these small private colleges he lists, will do any better? He might be optimistic, but does no studying, as not every school has the resources to go D1, nor should they. The dude listed Upper Iowa one time. Go look up Upper Iowa and then report back if you think they’re D1 material.

David always says a school COULD go D1 but never states the FACTS on what makes that school a D1 candidate.

(04-08-2019 05:38 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 05:31 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 05:23 PM)KingSean Wrote:  David seems to ACTUALLY be more optimistic or he does more studying into this than everyone else does. Half the schools he listed could do well at the D1 level.

If UMKC can’t do well at the D1 level, what makes you think all these small private colleges he lists, will do any better? He might be optimistic, but does no studying, as not every school has the resources to go D1, nor should they. The dude listed Upper Iowa one time. Go look up Upper Iowa and then report back if you think they’re D1 material.

David always says a school COULD go D1 but never states the FACTS on what makes that school a D1 candidate.

Yeah. Always with the COULD and possible big time donor being the difference. Never any facts. And yeah, good job by DavidSt by predicting D2 schools going to their only or most likely D1 options. True genius there.

(04-08-2019 12:51 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 12:44 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 12:43 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Bellarmine have mentioned a few years ago that they wanted to go to D1 at the same time they were looking into adding football. This is one of the schools that I have been saying they will go D1 a few years back on this forum.

When you list every college in America at one point or another, you don't get credit if one actually does.

Charlotte, Georgia State and Coastal Carolina were out from left field to me.

I have a much better track record than NoDak.

I have posts saved where you called Coastal to the Sun Belt. You’re humble, but don’t undersell yourself.

(04-08-2019 05:40 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 05:38 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 05:31 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 05:23 PM)KingSean Wrote:  David seems to ACTUALLY be more optimistic or he does more studying into this than everyone else does. Half the schools he listed could do well at the D1 level.

If UMKC can’t do well at the D1 level, what makes you think all these small private colleges he lists, will do any better? He might be optimistic, but does no studying, as not every school has the resources to go D1, nor should they. The dude listed Upper Iowa one time. Go look up Upper Iowa and then report back if you think they’re D1 material.

David always says a school COULD go D1 but never states the FACTS on what makes that school a D1 candidate.

Yeah. Always with the COULD and possible big time donor being the difference. Never any facts. And yeah, good job by DavidSt by predicting D2 schools going to their only or most likely D1 options. True genius there.

I don't understand why someone that lists 100 schools that might reclassify to Division 1 would feverishly pound their chest when one inevitably moves up.

If Bellarmine does indeed move up I expect them to follow the same path as NKU--a short stop in the A-Sun, and on to the Horizon. PUFW will be their companion in a 12 team league.

(04-08-2019 07:53 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If Bellarmine does indeed move up I expect them to follow the same path as NKU--a short stop in the A-Sun, and on to the Horizon. PUFW will be their companion in a 12 team league.

What would be in it for the A-Sun?

And maybe NKU doesn't want another Louisville area team.

Bellarmine isn't that far from Lipscomb (2+ hours) so would be a good pairing with them .

(04-08-2019 08:17 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 07:53 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If Bellarmine does indeed move up I expect them to follow the same path as NKU--a short stop in the A-Sun, and on to the Horizon. PUFW will be their companion in a 12 team league.

What would be in it for the A-Sun?

And maybe NKU doesn't want another Louisville area team.

Bellarmine isn't that far from Lipscomb (2+ hours) so would be a good pairing with them .

NKU is a Cincinnati-area team, unless they have more of a presence in Louisville than I'd imagine?

Lipscomb would really like to be be in the OVC. I'm not sure they fancy the Horizon. Bellarmine could fit in with either group, but like I said, no one is going to pull the trigger until they see how they do for a few years in the A-Sun. The A-Sun is the point of entry for D2 schools looking at D1. They are always fighting to have the numbers for eligibility so they are more welcoming than other leagues.

(04-08-2019 08:23 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 08:17 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 07:53 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If Bellarmine does indeed move up I expect them to follow the same path as NKU--a short stop in the A-Sun, and on to the Horizon. PUFW will be their companion in a 12 team league.

What would be in it for the A-Sun?

And maybe NKU doesn't want another Louisville area team.

Bellarmine isn't that far from Lipscomb (2+ hours) so would be a good pairing with them .

NKU is a Cincinnati-area team, unless they have more of a presence in Louisville than I'd imagine?

You are right

I’d welcome them in the A-Sun. It’d be a good game for Lipscomb and Liberty. As a guy that grew up in Louisville, and a few blocks away from Bellarmine, I always imagined them going D1 and giving the city more competition.

But, like I originally said, this is surely a hoax, and I’ll believe it when I see it. BU was also supposed to start a DII football team and that’s gone nowhere.

Anywho, I hope it works out for the Knights. The A-Sun is a good fit.

Maybe one would pound their chest when ONE moves up because some of you said NONE would move up. But bellarmine and USI would be better in the Horizon League

The issue that D2 schools are facing are other schools in their conference who are failing financially overall.

That link I posted in the colleges closing that could force realignment. They said that a school in a heavy populated area could survive the closures while others will not. It has to do with market and brand name. Bellarmine does have the market, but they need to build their brand. Going to D1 would help market their brand big time since they would be on major sports market. They could be the next Northern Kentucky, Belmont, Lipscomb, FGCU and UNF in men's basketball since they are a top brand at D2 in that sport.
GLVC in D2 that they are in are having issues with st. Joseph's Indiana shut down.
Quincy and McKendree in Illinois would be in much worst same than the public directional schools with declining enrollment which could put both schools to shut down.
William Jewell is in financial disaster which they could close down soon.
Maryville did cut academics and staff.
Lewis U. is in a small town that could fail.
Illinois-Springfield is worst than the directional schools in enrollment.
Drury in Springfield, Missouri is an iffy.
Rockhurst in Kansas City is also having issues with money problems, and is like UMKC at D2.


Bellarmine, Indianapolis, Southern Indiana, and UMSL do not have much choices but go to D1. They are in large populated areas. Lindenwood do have the MIAA, but they could go D1.

Missouri S&T could move to MIAA.

MIAA also have Lincoln that could turn into another Cheney.
MIAA do have large populated schools.
Missouri Southern in Joplin
Missouri Western in Kansas City metro, but is better at sports to be competitive at D1.
NE Oklahoma State in Tulsa's metro.
Central Oklahoma in OKC's metro.
Washburn in Topeka
Newman in Whicita
Rogers State in the Tulsa's metro.

GLIAC could lose Ashland and Northwood.
Northern Sun could lose Sioux Falls and Upper Iowa.
Sioux Falls could be the loser if Augustana goes D1.

The schools that closed are mostly in low populated areas who struggles to get students.

^^^

You have a thread discussing failing and closing schools, don't bring it to other threads.

The above post has 12 "COULD"s and 0 FACTS.

(04-09-2019 04:04 AM)AZcats Wrote:  ^^^

You have a thread discussing failing and closing schools, don't bring it to other threads.

The above post has 12 "COULD"s and 0 FACTS.

You do not understand. I am explaining what causes Bellarmine's thinking on going to D1. Bellarmine do not want to be left in a dying conference.

(04-08-2019 08:56 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Lipscomb would really like to be be in the OVC. I'm not sure they fancy the Horizon. Bellarmine could fit in with either group, but like I said, no one is going to pull the trigger until they see how they do for a few years in the A-Sun. The A-Sun is the point of entry for D2 schools looking at D1. They are always fighting to have the numbers for eligibility so they are more welcoming than other leagues.

The only way Lipscomb left the ASun is to be with Belmont. The OVC has little of any interest in another Nashville school. That would make 3 directly in Nashville and a couple more in very short driving distance.

And with Liberty and North Alabama in the conference, not sure Lipscomb wants to go anywhere now. Both schools are turning into decent rivalries with them and good trips for away games.