https://goleathernecks.com/news/2023/5/1...ports.aspx

Joining effective July 2023, football in 2024.

Long time coming. Good move for them

What's the impact on the Summit League? Do they revisit Augustana?

It is a downgrade for their football team.

(05-12-2023 01:22 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  What's the impact on the Summit League? Do they revisit Augustana?

Augie couldn't raise the dollars (and the USDSU combo wasn't helping them at all). That's why Augie went "NSIC with hockey" ala UMD, SCSU, MSU-Mankato, and BSU.

(05-12-2023 01:25 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  It is a downgrade for their football team.

They'll maybe be competitive in the OVC.

They've gone 2-14 in their last 16 MVFC games.

IMHO, good move by the Leathernecks.

What brought this on?

(05-12-2023 01:25 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  It is a downgrade for their football team.

Considering the downgrade "of" their football team recently, OVC really is a better place. They might actually win some conference games. This move has been expected ever since their budget was slashed.

Summit is ok for now. No need to add Augie and there's absolutely no desire to from the other members. Good chance we fold the NCHC hockey conference in to boost numbers.

They could look at Montana State-Billings.

(05-12-2023 01:22 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  What's the impact on the Summit League? Do they revisit Augustana?

Summit League is interesting. They've ended up as a collection of flagships-and-landgrants (UND, USD, NDSU, SDSU), and big-city state schools (UMKC, UN-Omaha), and big-city private schools (Denver, St Thomas, Oral Roberts). Geography is tight, but doesn't really tap any population growth areas (except maybe Denver?)

But despite the attractiveness of that lineup on paper, they've not done much athletically, and not been very attractive.

their modus operandi suggests targeting a UMSL maybe? Oklahoma City University? I don't think they can lure a UT-Arlington or a UA Little Rock.

Chicago State is available......and they're in Chicago.....

Without Western Illinois, They'll be at 9.

(05-12-2023 01:39 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  They could look at Montana State-Billings.

(05-12-2023 01:37 PM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  What brought this on?

The state of Illinois has no money and they chose WIU to bear the worst of the cuts. The whole university has been gutted the last 5-ish years.

WIU has lost a lot of students. And the Summit has become less of a Midwest and more of a Great Plains conference, so the travel is worse. Summit did not seem to be a fit. They have done ok in the MVCFC in the past.

Sensible move for the Leatherneck I think. With Western Illinois leaving that for the OVC that puts the Summit at 9. I would think they want to get back up to 10 as soon as possible. Augustana and/or Minnesota St the likely candidates? I guess it depends how South Dakota and South Dakota St feel in regards to Augie. Could Minnesota-Duluth be a dark horse?

What happens with Denver now? Do they look for a way out.

(05-12-2023 01:22 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  What's the impact on the Summit League? Do they revisit Augustana?

It reduces them to 6 for baseball and 5 for soccer.

They either need to sponsor football with the four Dakota schools plus 2 of St. Thomas, UNC, Northern Iowa, or Missouri State; or take over sponsorship of the NCHC.

They renew with EIU an old rival.

(05-12-2023 01:41 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(05-12-2023 01:39 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  They could look at Montana State-Billings.

Don't laugh. Montana State-Billings might also help lure Northern Colorado. You could fly into Billings.

A very rare instance of a school willingly choosing a worse football conference. That being said, the OVC makes more sense for WIU with fellow in-state schools EIU and SIUE along with schools in Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.

This is effectively the opposite of what Missouri State is contemplating (where they would have to downgrade their basketball/non-football conference if they want to upgrade football to FBS).

(05-12-2023 01:51 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(05-12-2023 01:22 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  What's the impact on the Summit League? Do they revisit Augustana?

It reduces them to 6 for baseball and 5 for soccer.

They either need to sponsor football with the four Dakota schools plus 2 of St. Thomas, UNC, Northern Iowa, or Missouri State; or take over sponsorship of the NCHC.

Montana State-Billings does have baseball and soccer. They offer 16 sports.