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We've seen a number of D-IIs jumping up to join FCS-land and I-AAA hoops recently. I'd always thought, probably from personal experience with the Hornets football program) that moving up to D-I entailed a LONG "apprenticeship" process (perhaps that's not the right term, but I think you know what I mean). In football, it seems that that's not necessarily the case. While schools like Abilene Christian, Houston Christian, and Tarleton State seem to be struggling quite a bit adjusting to D-I ball, others like Incarnate Word, Lindenwood, and TX A&M-Commerce are doing VERY well. Heck, even D-III St. Thomas (MN) is ranked in only their second season (I think) in D-I, and are dominating the Pioneer. Yet just about every D-II callup in hoops-land absolutely sucks, particularly here in Cali (they're congregating in the Big West, looking for members now that not only the schools that bailed for the WAC (and then the MWC) are gone, but so is UOP (in the WCC). Is there something different about football that is making the transition somewhat easier for some schools?

St Thomas has a lot of money. Nearly everyone I've worked with has gotten their MBA from St Thomas. We joke about the St Thomas mafia, money that they get that doesn't show up in the budget. They do have the money. Also rumors of them going to scholarship football in a few years, maybe join the MVFC.

That would probably be a good move for them, footprint-wise. The Pioneer is almost as stretched out as the old Sun Belch....