So what does the Southland do now?

[dbackjon]

As a whole, lost two members, so down to 10 in basketball. Football will be neutral, for the time being, with Lamar competing in the SLC next year.


Do they stay pat, try to get another DII move up?


Go after Houston Baptist?

[slycat]

If you are looking for a non football team then they would be a good add.

Otherwise I could see a Tarleton St type school being interested.

[AZGrizFan]

Maybe they could merge into the Great Big Sky and we could have every team West of the Mississippi (and a few East) in ONE big, hairy, cumbersome conference.

[collegesportsinfo]

UALR might pass on the Summit in favor of the southland at this point. Makes too much sense with the overall geography and the proximity of UCA.

Oral Roberts remains the next highest candidate for the Southland.

And then there is the football side of things. The Southland won't need to be in a rush for replacements but will have to keep an eye on the local D2 schools.

I wrote up something 2 months ago on the topic. Here are 10-12 Southland expansion options:

http://news.collegesportsinfo.com/2010/ ... me-to.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




.

[dbackjon]

UALR might pass on the Summit in favor of the southland at this point. Makes too much sense with the overall geography and the proximity of UCA.

Oral Roberts remains the next highest candidate for the Southland.

And then there is the football side of things. The Southland won't need to be in a rush for replacements but will have to keep an eye on the local D2 schools.

I wrote up something 2 months ago on the topic. Here are 10-12 Southland expansion options:

http://news.collegesportsinfo.com/2010/ ... me-to.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




.

UALR is in an interesting spot. They will be, next year, the only SunBelt team without football, with USA adding, Denver going to the WAC, and New Orleans going DIII. Could they go Summit, WAC or Southland? Will there be pressure from the Sunbelt to either add football, or leave?

[dbackjon]

And good write up, Quinn. Although you need to revise the bottom to reflect recent changes with SUU, UND and USD.


Texas-Pan Am would jump in an instant.

[89Hen]

Do they need to anything?

[dbackjon]

Do they need to anything?

Not right now.

8 football and 10 overall is fine.

But if any of the other Texas Schools leave, or one of the LA schools has more financial issues that cause them to fold, or drop down, then yes.

[Franks Tanks]

Do they need to anything?

Not right now.

8 football and 10 overall is fine.

But if any of the other Texas Schools leave, or one of the LA schools has more financial issues that cause them to fold, or drop down, then yes.

Would West Texas A&M move back to D-I? They already have a 20k seat stadium and get very good attendance. The D-I ship may have sailed for good however.

Abeline Christian or Tarleton also seem like good potential fits.

[BlackFalkin]

They dont do ANYTHING ya friggin jacknerds. Why does EVERY SINGLE conf move have to be a big production? The Southland will be fine.. They never had utsa & they just got lamar. Keep your pants on. See ya in Frisco.

[FWJack]

Nothing right now. As it was mentioned already, we will maintain the same number of football schools. There are several candidates for basketball only, but I kinda like just the current teams as is. If it comes down to it in the future, the Div. II Lone Star Conference is loaded with decent programs to choose from. The only problem is that they enjoy their rivalries so a lot of them might not be interested in moving up.

I would like to see Jacksonville St. move back to the Southland. Do ya'll think they would do that? I don't think they would, but would better competition in the Southland tempt them?

[McNeese75]

Nothing right now. As it was mentioned already, we will maintain the same number of football schools. There are several candidates for basketball only, but I kinda like just the current teams as is. If it comes down to it in the future, the Div. II Lone Star Conference is loaded with decent programs to choose from. The only problem is that they enjoy their rivalries so a lot of them might not be interested in moving up.

I would like to see Jacksonville St. move back to the Southland. Do ya'll think they would do that? I don't think they would, but would better competition in the Southland tempt them?

Never happen. JSU has had some football success where they are now but had very little in the SLC

[DSUrocks07]

Prairie View or Texas Southern?

[CatMom]

Prairie View or Texas Southern?

I'll have no piss in the pot but here's my
PV
TSU
Abilene Christian
Tarleton

If football isn't a concern - Oral Roberts, perhaps - one of the Baptists (Dallas or Houston)

My thought is that now TXST and UTSA are out the SLC goes more east (with the exception of non FB UTA) and centralized to the rest of the teams.

[Mike Johnson]

Maybe they could merge into the Great Big Sky and we could have every team West of the Mississippi (and a few East) in ONE big, hairy, cumbersome conference.

The Great Big Southland Missouri Valley Sky. Now, that would be a conference.

[AZGrizFan]

Maybe they could merge into the Great Big Sky and we could have every team West of the Mississippi (and a few East) in ONE big, hairy, cumbersome conference.

The Great Big Southland Missouri Valley Sky. Now, that would be a conference.

I was trying to come up with a name that encompassed all of them but couldn't.

That one works as well as any.

[89Hen]

Maybe they could merge into the Great Big Sky and we could have every team West of the Mississippi (and a few East) in ONE big, hairy, cumbersome conference.

The Great Big Southland Missouri Valley Sky. Now, that would be a conference.

The second best conference in the country.

[Fresno St. Alum]

SLC said last week that they will only add a school that plays football. So it sounds like ORU, UALR, UTPA, HBU are out. Tarleton St. wants to move to D-I. Delta St. is another whos D-II conf. is down to 5 fb playing members, maybe 4 if/when UNA moves to D-I and joins the OVC.

[chrisattsu]

SLC said last week that they will only add a school that plays football. So it sounds like ORU, UALR, UTPA, HBU are out. Tarleton St. wants to move to D-I. Delta St. is another whos D-II conf. is down to 5 fb playing members, maybe 4 if/when UNA moves to D-I and joins the OVC.

Tarleton wanted to move to D-I, I don't think this is the case any more.

In 2005, Tarleton's President McCabe was in favor and put feelers out at the same time that Central Arkansas and TAMU-Corpus Christi were chosen. Tarleton's athletic facilities were not up to par -- Stadium holds 6000 : Arena holds 3500 : Baseball : 600 -- and they bowed out.

Today, McCabe has retired and there is a new president on campus. He came from a D3 Liberal Arts College in Ohio, and is reportedly less interested in athletics than his predecessor. He developed a new campus master plan which includes $800M in campus improvements. Would he be willing to put his project on hold to build new athletic facilities?


As FWJack mentioned, these schools have some pretty solid rivalries. They are similar schools that recruit the same areas, attract the same types of students, and enjoy beating up on each other. Are they going to turn their backs on these geographic rivals to play against East Texas and Louisiana Schools?

Also most of the schools are nationally competitive in their non-football sports. Tarleton's MBB has deep into the D2 national tournament 7 of the last 8 years. Golf is ranked in the Top10. WT's VB and WBB compete for national titles annually. Angelo is solid in the diamond Sports. National Titles in Softball. ACU has won the leagues All Sports (Commissioner Cup) all but twice since 1985. Those programs would become a dime-a-dozen, and lucky to be 16-seed lamb to slaughter, with a move to D1.

Finally the new rules to move to D1 make it hard for teams. $1M application fee and you can't compete for Conference or NCAA titles for at least 5 years.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Chris, what happened to the D-I by 2017 plan at Tarleton? I hope the new guy doesn't drop them to D-III like the the new guy from D-III did to Birmingham-Southern.

I know it will be harder but schools that really want it would move. Anyone else in the south an option. I think UNA is going to move up if they get the OVC invite. GSC is down to 5 fb members now as it is. Valdosta St. and Delta St. might not have any other options. W.Texas? ACU?

[Fresno St. Alum]

Chris, what happened to the D-I by 2017 plan at Tarleton? I hope the new guy doesn't drop them to D-III like the the new guy from D-III did to Birmingham-Southern.

I know it will be harder but schools that really want it, would move. Anyone else in the south an option? I think UNA is going to move up if they get the OVC invite. GSC is down to 5 fb members now as it is. Valdosta St. and Delta St. might not have any other options. W.Texas? ACU?