I'm sure there are prior threads about this, and its kinda taken over other threads in the past. but I couldn't find any recent, so I figured just start a new one.
I feel that to become stable 12 teams would be great, 14 wouldn't be terrible either. I would like to get to 20-22 conference games which means 11-12 team leagues. Geography has to be important, but so does quality of school, I would rather have a quality D-II school committed to going D-I then to take a Chicago State. Some of these schools have been rumored in the past. Some haven't. Some I'm sure would never happen.
#1A target for me would be Eastern Illinois. First I think the MVFC would take them, and then another team could be added to the MVFC to get to 12 teams (2 divisions)(Northern Colorado or North Dakota). If Youngstown leaves the MVFC which is possible with movement out east, then both could be added and now you have 3 more quality teams added to the both the MVFC and the Summit League. Eastern Illinois is an associate member of the Summit League in some Olympic Sports already. Dream Scenario
Other option here would be to add Northern Colorado and North Dakota and have them keep football in the Big Sky, not sure if the Big Sky would do this or if they would do it.
#1B target would be New Mexico St. If you aren't going to make a move to add 3 quality teams, add 1 strong quality team. Travel isn't great, but its a school with some name recognition and would fit well with Denver as a travel partner. They are FBS for football, so the MVFC wouldn't need to be brought in and the WAC doesn't carry football anymore. My guess would be they would like to find a home for football.
#2 would be to get U of Arkansas-Little Rock, Northern Kentucky and Southern Illinois- Edwardsville. UALR would have to be kicked out of their conference, which seems less likely at least near term, however their AD has said the Summit League would be where they would move to if needed. SIU-Edwardsville and Northern Kentucky have both been mentioned and the Summit League probably could have had them if they wanted them.
#3 would be quality D-II schools committed to going up. Its been rumored the past 3-4 years that St. Cloud State and/or Mankato have seriously looked at dropping football and going D-I, one of the Missouri Schools has looked into it, but they have football. Oklahoma City who was a member of the Mid-Co back in the day has looked into it.
#4 would be to eventually let Oral Bob and UMKC back in, I'm willing to bet my car that UMKC will want back in within 5 years, if they show they are committed to basketball I'm open to it. Oral Bob I would let back in, some say they are happy, but IDK, they seem like the guy who thinks he can get a 10, so he is never happy with the solid 8's he gets.
Updates already. Idaho and New Mexico St. will move their football programs the Sun Belt and Idaho will move other sports to the Big Sky. Its another blow to the WAC. I'd be surprised if NMSU wants to stay in a even less stable WAC.
I feel that to become stable 12 teams would be great, 14 wouldn't be terrible either. I would like to get to 20-22 conference games which means 11-12 team leagues. Geography has to be important, but so does quality of school, I would rather have a quality D-II school committed to going D-I then to take a Chicago State. Some of these schools have been rumored in the past. Some haven't. Some I'm sure would never happen.
#1A target for me would be Eastern Illinois. First I think the MVFC would take them, and then another team could be added to the MVFC to get to 12 teams (2 divisions)(Northern Colorado or North Dakota). If Youngstown leaves the MVFC which is possible with movement out east, then both could be added and now you have 3 more quality teams added to the both the MVFC and the Summit League. Eastern Illinois is an associate member of the Summit League in some Olympic Sports already. Dream Scenario
Other option here would be to add Northern Colorado and North Dakota and have them keep football in the Big Sky, not sure if the Big Sky would do this or if they would do it.
#1B target would be New Mexico St. If you aren't going to make a move to add 3 quality teams, add 1 strong quality team. Travel isn't great, but its a school with some name recognition and would fit well with Denver as a travel partner. They are FBS for football, so the MVFC wouldn't need to be brought in and the WAC doesn't carry football anymore. My guess would be they would like to find a home for football.
#2 would be to get U of Arkansas-Little Rock, Northern Kentucky and Southern Illinois- Edwardsville. UALR would have to be kicked out of their conference, which seems less likely at least near term, however their AD has said the Summit League would be where they would move to if needed. SIU-Edwardsville and Northern Kentucky have both been mentioned and the Summit League probably could have had them if they wanted them.
#3 would be quality D-II schools committed to going up. Its been rumored the past 3-4 years that St. Cloud State and/or Mankato have seriously looked at dropping football and going D-I, one of the Missouri Schools has looked into it, but they have football. Oklahoma City who was a member of the Mid-Co back in the day has looked into it.
#4 would be to eventually let Oral Bob and UMKC back in, I'm willing to bet my car that UMKC will want back in within 5 years, if they show they are committed to basketball I'm open to it. Oral Bob I would let back in, some say they are happy, but IDK, they seem like the guy who thinks he can get a 10, so he is never happy with the solid 8's he gets.
Updates already. Idaho and New Mexico St. will move their football programs the Sun Belt and Idaho will move other sports to the Big Sky. Its another blow to the WAC. I'd be surprised if NMSU wants to stay in a even less stable WAC.
Comment