Seems like it'd be a perfect marriage for both sides. It makes too much sense because both are literally trying to survive.

MEAC needed Football.

But they still need warm bodies, their numbers are as small as ever.

Because Howard doesn’t want them? They aren’t a “true” HBC, and that still matters to some in MEAC? I do think football’s a part of it, but not the driver.

I do wonder if MEAC would rather fold than invite Chicago State.

That’s how bad Chicago State is, both as a school and basketball program. They were only in the WAC because the WAC needed them to stay alive 10 years ago. They wouldn’t have been invited otherwise.

Adding Chicago State to your conference is the same as buying yourself a frozen dinner at DollarTree.

Lack of football, a failure to come to financial terms over travel subsidies, and most importantly, little to no confidence among MEAC presidents in Chicago State's current president.

It might still happen! But there are obstacles here that are much larger than what happens on the field.

They were voted down.

(01-22-2023 10:31 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Lack of football, a failure to come to financial terms over travel subsidies, and most importantly, little to no confidence among MEAC presidents in Chicago State's current president.

It might still happen! But there are obstacles here that are much larger than what happens on the field.

Are there any other leagues that Chicago State has a legitimate chance of joining if they sponsor football?

(01-22-2023 10:35 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(01-22-2023 10:31 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Lack of football, a failure to come to financial terms over travel subsidies, and most importantly, little to no confidence among MEAC presidents in Chicago State's current president.

It might still happen! But there are obstacles here that are much larger than what happens on the field.

Are there any other leagues that Chicago State has a legitimate chance of joining if they sponsor football?

Not really. OVC is their best fit, but they aren't that desperate.

(01-22-2023 10:35 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(01-22-2023 10:31 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Lack of football, a failure to come to financial terms over travel subsidies, and most importantly, little to no confidence among MEAC presidents in Chicago State's current president.

It might still happen! But there are obstacles here that are much larger than what happens on the field.

Are there any other leagues that Chicago State has a legitimate chance of joining if they sponsor football?

Probably not. They had a legitimate shot at the Southland, but their administration burned those bridges and now the league doesn't need them anymore.

(01-22-2023 05:36 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  But they still need warm bodies, their numbers are as small as ever.

Chicago is really cold though, if they need warm bodies they should look South.

I would say because Chicago is far away from the "ME", and with schools on those kinds of budgets that might matter.

Lack of football, institutionally shaky, nothing in common historically, considerably longer than a bus trip from the rest of the conference.

(01-22-2023 05:36 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  But they still need warm bodies, their numbers are as small as ever.

They have 8. They need 7 to be a conference.
For football, they need 6 to stay an FCS conference. They have 6.

Chicago STate got kicked out of the WAC. They pretty much got kicked out of the Mid-Continent, which is now the Summit League, when that league under various names was a dumpster fire. Article about Chicago State joining Great West. CSU spent some time in purgatory in the GReat West Conference, which never got its act together enough to get an autobid.

Chicago STate doesn't have football, they killed their baseball team to add soccer. they're a terrible athletic program, and by almost any metric a terrible school and an unattractive partner.

(01-22-2023 04:02 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-22-2023 05:36 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  But they still need warm bodies, their numbers are as small as ever.

They have 8. They need 7 to be a conference.
For football, they need 6 to stay an FCS conference. They have 6.

Chicago STate got kicked out of the WAC. They pretty much got kicked out of the Mid-Continent, which is now the Summit League, when that league under various names was a dumpster fire. Article about Chicago State joining Great West. CSU spent some time in purgatory in the GReat West Conference, which never got its act together enough to get an autobid.

Chicago STate doesn't have football, they killed their baseball team to add soccer. they're a terrible athletic program, and by almost any metric a terrible school and an unattractive partner.

The Great West has more of a scheduling agreement than a basketball conference. Had nothing to do with getting its act together.

(01-22-2023 04:02 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  Chicago STate doesn't have football, they killed their baseball team to add soccer. they're a terrible athletic program, and by almost any metric a terrible school and an unattractive partner.

No, they killed their baseball team to cut costs and then belatedly added men's soccer after someone told them cutting baseball would put them out of compliance with NCAA regs.

(01-22-2023 11:31 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(01-22-2023 04:02 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  Chicago STate doesn't have football, they killed their baseball team to add soccer. they're a terrible athletic program, and by almost any metric a terrible school and an unattractive partner.

No, they killed their baseball team to cut costs and then belatedly added men's soccer after someone told them cutting baseball would put them out of compliance with NCAA regs.

And they were actually told by someone on this board during the public Q&A portion of their BOT meeting after we were posting about them overlooking the Men’s Team Sports requirement while the BOT meeting was going on.

(01-22-2023 11:30 AM)72Tiger Wrote:  

(01-22-2023 10:35 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(01-22-2023 10:31 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Lack of football, a failure to come to financial terms over travel subsidies, and most importantly, little to no confidence among MEAC presidents in Chicago State's current president.

It might still happen! But there are obstacles here that are much larger than what happens on the field.

Are there any other leagues that Chicago State has a legitimate chance of joining if they sponsor football?

Not really. OVC is their best fit, but they aren't that desperate.

I really wanted the OVC to add them, last year, when the conference appeared desperate for new members. However, USI and Lindenwood look like solid additions. USI is tied for first place in men's basketball. Lindenwood is struggling somewhat, but they are ahead of us and beat us on our home court in Little Rock. Who knows what happens in the future, but the OVC looks pretty solid at this moment in time.

I think that we should set up a "Chicago State" scale for all D1 Athletic Departments. As in:

On a scale from Chicago State to Ohio State, how would you rate your Athletic Department?

OVC could still add UIndy, GVSU and Lincoln Memorial before they add Chicago State.