Is anyone moving up?

[aztecjim]

While everyone talks about what schools might move up to the Sun Belt, etc. Nobody is talking about schools moving up to FCS. Are there any schools in the pipeline?

[RabidRabbit]

North AL is the only d-II that I'm aware is waiting for a conference invite.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Like the FCS schools, it's likely that D-II schools are adopting a wait-and-see approach to moving to Division I as well. Not that long ago there was a moratorium on D-I move-ups over concern that some schools were trying to sponsor the bare minimum of sports and a men's/women's basketball team and claiming they are D-I ready. Now I believe the moratorium is lifted, but not many new schools are coming up.

Part of the issue is that D-I membership in hoops without a conference is a nightmare. First, you have to go through the D-I transition period of five years, then you need to shop for a conference that wants you. NJIT went a full decade without having a home in hoops, and for low-majors, the only access to the NCAA Tournament is a conference.

Another way D-I has slowed migration is requiring schools to go through full transitions from D-III to D-II to D-I before they are allowed to compete for championships. This is one major reason many sub-D-I schools are not seen as realistic options for Patriot League membership. The best candidates, like Johns Hopkins, RPI, Gettysburg U., Coast Guard U. and others, are D-III. They would need to first transition to D-II for five years and then start a D-I transition for another five years before being fully eligible.

If you put a gun to my head and said, "Which D-II school would be best suited for the Patriot League?" I'd probably, reluctantly, say LIU-Post University.

[Catatonic]

The future of the Lone Star Conference is uncertain. Several member schools would probably welcome a chance to move up at this point.

[NoDak 4 Ever]

I don't see many that are big enough.

[Laker]

North AL is the only d-II that I'm aware is waiting for a conference invite.

UNA gets the most talk with the D2 folks.

No serious talk by either MSU-Mankato or St. Cloud State.

I know I will stop my support if the Mavs would drop football a la UN-Omaha just to move to D-1 in all other sports.

[BEAR]

North AL is the only d-II that I'm aware is waiting for a conference invite.

The Lions will make bedroom bit(h3s out of many FCS opponents if they move up. Talk about talent! xthumbsupx

[NoDak 4 Ever]

UNA gets the most talk with the D2 folks.

No serious talk by either MSU-Mankato or St. Cloud State.

I know I will stop my support if the Mavs would drop football a la UN-Omaha just to move to D-1 in all other sports.

They would both be large enough but they are sorely underfunded in everything but hockey

[BisonFan02]

UNA gets the most talk with the D2 folks.

No serious talk by either MSU-Mankato or St. Cloud State.

I know I will stop my support if the Mavs would drop football a la UN-Omaha just to move to D-1 in all other sports.

Minnesota wants NO part of any more DI programs....or WI for that matter.

[Catatonic]

I don't see many that are big enough.

Texas Am-Kingsville and Tarleton State both enroll 11,500- to 12,000.

[dbackjon]

Texas A&M Commerce has talked about it

[DFW HOYA]

This is one major reason many sub-D-I schools are not seen as realistic options for Patriot League membership. The best candidates, like Johns Hopkins, RPI, Gettysburg U., Coast Guard U. and others, are D-III. They would need to first transition to D-II for five years and then start a D-I transition for another five years before being fully eligible.

If you put a gun to my head and said, "Which D-II school would be best suited for the Patriot League?" I'd probably, reluctantly, say LIU-Post University.

Gettysburg and RPI? These are candidates if someone wanted to restart the MAC, but half the conference would be out the door.

I think the PL continues to politely ignore Division I football candidates that Leh/Laf alumni don't feel is "Bushwood material":

1. Monmouth
2. Bryant
3. Marist
4. VMI
5. Duquesne

[ccd494]

Another way D-I has slowed migration is requiring schools to go through full transitions from D-III to D-II to D-I before they are allowed to compete for championships. This is one major reason many sub-D-I schools are not seen as realistic options for Patriot League membership. The best candidates, like Johns Hopkins, RPI, Gettysburg U., Coast Guard U. and others, are D-III. They would need to first transition to D-II for five years and then start a D-I transition for another five years before being fully eligible.

If you put a gun to my head and said, "Which D-II school would be best suited for the Patriot League?" I'd probably, reluctantly, say LIU-Post University.

Why would any of those schools even WANT to be in the Patriot League?

JHU has a better academic reputation than any PL school AND gets to be in the Big Ten because they don't have a lacrosse conference. Joining the PL is a lose/lose.

RPI gets to have its cake and eat it, too, by having ice hockey scholarships without having to fund an entire D-I athletic department. Having to pay for scholarships in all other sports would hurt the bottom line. And again, their academic reputation is fine.

The rest of the Centennial Conference (including Gettysburg) are all under 2,600 students. They need to spend millions of extra dollars to play D-I and have scholarships and get their butts kicked by Villanova in basketball for $100,000 because....? They are all great schools, their students are able to enroll and then try out and make and play for the football team or basketball team or baseball team, and they can have athletic success. They fit the D-3 model perfectly. If they need to make the bottom line fit by getting that $100k payday from Villanova, they could just admit two more students.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Why would any of those schools even WANT to be in the Patriot League?

JHU has a better academic reputation than any PL school AND gets to be in the Big Ten because they don't have a lacrosse conference. Joining the PL is a lose/lose.

RPI gets to have its cake and eat it, too, by having ice hockey scholarships without having to fund an entire D-I athletic department. Having to pay for scholarships in all other sports would hurt the bottom line. And again, their academic reputation is fine.

The rest of the Centennial Conference (including Gettysburg) are all under 2,600 students. They need to spend millions of extra dollars to play D-I and have scholarships and get their butts kicked by Villanova in basketball for $100,000 because....? They are all great schools, their students are able to enroll and then try out and make and play for the football team or basketball team or baseball team, and they can have athletic success. They fit the D-3 model perfectly. If they need to make the bottom line fit by getting that $100k payday from Villanova, they could just admit two more students.

I agree 100% with you that none are a great fit, even if they wanted to move up. What the PL could offer these schools is a fairly close association with the Ivy League, so you could see, say, RPI/Cornell in football and a boatload of other sports. However, with the granddaddy waiver for things like RPI hockey and JHU lacrosse, those schools have zero incentive to give up the myth that their nationally-ranked programs don't offer them any recruiting advantages in D-III.

Where the PL could benefit is if the NCAA required schools like JHU and RPI to **** or get off the pot - either be completely D-III or be completely D-I, making the "Dayton Rule" apply to all sports, not just men's basketball. But that doesn't seem likely, and even if it did, they would have to have some waiver so they don't have a lost decade in transition time. So much would need to happen.

The Centennial schools are definitely not perfect candidates, either. However, back in the day they competed with Lehigh and Lafayette as equals. As you mention, all of these institutions are GREAT institutions. But the only way they'd be PL candidates is if a lot changed in and around the NCAA.

One more note: if JHU were to move to D-I in a sort of Dayton Rule scenario it would be awfully interesting to see where they go. The PL would be the natural landing spot, but would they allow JHU to continue in the Big 10 in lacrosse? The PL is a decent lacrosse conference themselves, and it would hurt to have an all-sports member not compete in the league in that sport. Yet there's no way JHU could be in the Big 10 in other sports. It would make for an interesting dilemma.

[zilla]

I've read that West Georgia has been talking to the Big South about joining. One of their fans posted on our message board that an invite could come as soon as the finale of this coming football season.

[ccd494]

One more note: if JHU were to move to D-I in a sort of Dayton Rule scenario it would be awfully interesting to see where they go. The PL would be the natural landing spot, but would they allow JHU to continue in the Big 10 in lacrosse? The PL is a decent lacrosse conference themselves, and it would hurt to have an all-sports member not compete in the league in that sport. Yet there's no way JHU could be in the Big 10 in other sports. It would make for an interesting dilemma.

No way they pick the PL. All kinds of conferences would want to associate with that #brand. My money would be on the Ivies.

But, I bet there would at least be discussions in P5 conference headquarters about them if they said "we're going to spend the money and do this right." Located in the heart of Baltimore, world class academics, already top tier lax, huge endowment. They would be a good fit for the ACC (UVA).

[gumby013]

Grand Valley would be well served moving up. Being the only FCS in Michigan would be huge for recruiting.

[BisonFan02]

Grand Valley would be well served moving up. Being the only FCS in Michigan would be huge for recruiting.

True, but which conference is taking them? The NEC? All sports as well?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I'd love to see either IUP or Bloomsburg move up from the PSAC. Both have a winning tradition, facilities and fertile recruiting grounds to succeed at the FCS level. The state of PA is rather cheap when it comes to college athletics so it's a ways off.

Grand Valley State or Wayne State would be interesting.

[BisonFan02]

I'd love to see either IUP or Bloomsburg move up from the PSAC. Both have a winning tradition, facilities and fertile recruiting grounds to succeed at the FCS level. The state of PA is rather cheap when it comes to college athletics so it's a ways off.

Grand Valley State or Wayne State would be interesting.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVUOcRe88u4

#BringbackSnorty!

:D

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I love watching old youtube games!

Bloomsburg would have played NDSU in the 2000 title game had the Bison beaten Delta State.

[BisonFan02]

I love watching old youtube games!

Bloomsburg would have played NDSU in the 2000 title game had the Bison beaten Delta State.

Yeah.....that's a swear word :D (and probably one of the last straws for the DII days at NDSU). No reason the Bison should have traveled down to Delta State.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Bloomsburg has made the D2 playoffs 7 out of the last 10 years. They've had as many title game appearances 1 as they do losing seasons, 1, since 1995. Danny Hale has built a beast of a program at Bloomsburg despite being handcuffed by the state when it comes to funding. BU would be a really good FCS program if they could get the commitment to do it.

http://www.d2football.com/images/stadium/Bloom1.jpg

http://www.d2football.com/images/stadium/Bloom8.jpg

[BisonFan02]

And speaking of North Alabama... :D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhczU2QdkWg



Year
Coach
Selector
Record
Score
Opponent


1965
Darrell Mudra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Mudra)
NCAA DII by Polling
11-0
20-7
Grambling State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grambling_State_Tigers_football)


1968
Ron Erhardt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Erhardt)
NCAA DII by Polling
10-0
23-14
Arkansas State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_State_Red_Wolves_football)


1969
Ron Erhardt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Erhardt)
NCAA DII by Polling
10-0
30-3
Montana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_Grizzlies_football)


1983 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_NCAA_Division_II_football_season)
Don Morton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Morton)
NCAA DII Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_II_National_Football_Championship)
12-1
41-21
Central State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_State_University)


1985 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_NCAA_Division_II_football_season)
Earle Solomonson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earle_Solomonson)
NCAA DII Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_II_National_Football_Championship)
11-2-1
35-7
North Alabama (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Alabama_Lions_football)


1986 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_NCAA_Division_II_football_season)
Earle Solomonson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earle_Solomonson)
NCAA DII Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_II_National_Football_Championship)
13-0
27-7
South Dakota (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota_Coyotes_football)


1988 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_NCAA_Division_II_football_season)
Rocky Hager (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Hager)
NCAA DII Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_II_National_Football_Championship)
14-0
35-21
Portland State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_State_Vikings_football)


1990 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_NCAA_Division_II_football_season)
Rocky Hager (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Hager)
NCAA DII Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_II_National_Football_Championship)
14-0
51-11
IUP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUP_Crimson_Hawks_football)


2011 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
Craig Bohl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Bohl)
NCAA DI 20 Team Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
14-1
17-6
Sam Houston State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Sam_Houston_State_Bearkats_football_team)


2012 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
Craig Bohl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Bohl)
NCAA DI 20 Team Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
14-1
39-13
Sam Houston State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Sam_Houston_State_Bearkats_football_team)


2013 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
Craig Bohl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Bohl)
NCAA DI 24 Team Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
15-0
35-7
Towson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Towson_Tigers_football_team)


2014 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
Chris Klieman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Klieman)
NCAA DI 24 Team Playoff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season)
15-1
29-27
Illinois State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Illinois_State_Redbirds_football_team)

[caribbeanhen]

Yeah.....that's a swear word :D (and probably one of the last straws for the DII days at NDSU). No reason the Bison should have traveled down to Delta State.

You mean the Bison had to play a road playoff game?

[BisonFan02]

You mean the Bison had to play a road playoff game?

Its happened before.... xlolx. Ask Montana St. :D

[LeopardBall10]

I'd love to see either IUP or Bloomsburg move up from the PSAC. Both have a winning tradition, facilities and fertile recruiting grounds to succeed at the FCS level.

I don't think anyone would ever leave what they have in the PSAC to play in the FCS. First, you have the fact that your entire league is in one state. You never have an away game more than a few hours drive away. The coaches have a union within the PSAC that allows them to all make about the same, and treats them very well. And a lot of these schools would not be good academic fits for many FCS leagues.

[Catatonic]

I'd love to see either IUP or Bloomsburg move up from the PSAC. Both have a winning tradition, facilities and fertile recruiting grounds to succeed at the FCS level. The state of PA is rather cheap when it comes to college athletics so it's a ways off.

Grand Valley State or Wayne State would be interesting.

Grand Valley did a feasibility study a few years ago and determined they were better off remaining as a D2 power. The landscape has changed a lot in the past couple of years, so it might be different now but as recently as 5 or 6 years ago GVSU preferred D2.

[aceinthehole]

I don't think anyone would ever leave what they have in the PSAC to play in the FCS. First, you have the fact that your entire league is in one state. You never have an away game more than a few hours drive away. The coaches have a union within the PSAC that allows them to all make about the same, and treats them very well. And a lot of these schools would not be good academic fits for many FCS leagues.

Based on budgets alone, here are the D-II schools with football from New England, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC or WV best positioned to move to FCS:

Mercyhurst College - Catholic university of 4,400 students in Erie, Pa. Plays D-I in M/W ice hockey. Other sports is a member of PSAC.
California University of Pennsylvania - Public university of nearly 10K students in the PSAC.
Long Island University-C W Post - Private school of about 8,5000 students plays football in the NE-10; all other sports in the ECC.
American International College - Private school in Springfield, Mass with just over 3,000 students in the NE-10. Plays D-I ice hockey.
Merrimack College - Catholic college in North Andover, Mass with just less than 3,000 students in the NE-10. Plays M/W D-I ice hockey in Hockey East.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania - Public university of about 7k students in the PSAC.
Bentley University - Private university of more than 5,000 students in Waltham, Mass plays D-I in men's ice hockey. The NEC-10 member has publically stated it is examining a reclassification to D-I.

BTW - Bloomsburg's athletic budget is about 3 million less the amount of California U (PA). There are some big differences in budgets across the PSAC. West Chester makes a nice candidate based on enrollment (12,000+), but would have to increase its budget significantly. Same goes for IUP.

All of these schools would make a perfect fit in the NEC - in fact, I'm not sure they would fit anywhere else based on geography, academics, and budget.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Based on budgets alone, here are the D-II schools with football from New England, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC or WV best positioned to move to FCS:

Mercyhurst College - Catholic university of 4,400 students in Erie, Pa. Plays D-I in M/W ice hockey. Other sports is a member of PSAC.
California University of Pennsylvania - Public university of nearly 10K students in the PSAC.
Long Island University-C W Post - Private school of about 8,5000 students plays football in the NE-10; all other sports in the ECC.
American International College - Private school in Springfield, Mass with just over 3,000 students in the NE-10. Plays D-I ice hockey.
Merrimack College - Catholic college in North Andover, Mass with just less than 3,000 students in the NE-10. Plays M/W D-I ice hockey in Hockey East.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania - Public university of about 7k students in the PSAC.
Bentley University - Private university of more than 5,000 students in Waltham, Mass plays D-I in men's ice hockey. The NEC-10 member has publically stated it is examining a reclassification to D-I.

BTW - Bloomsburg's athletic budget is about 3 million less the amount of California U (PA). There are some big differences in budgets across the PSAC.

West Chester makes a nice candidate based on enrollment (12,000+), but would have to increase its budget significantly. Same goes for IUP.

Completely agree with this list, perhaps including University of New Haven (4,800 undergrads) as a potential dark horse. A bit small.

[Laker]

​Minnesota State-Mankato 17,993 (Fall 2014

St. Cloud State 18,248

Both have D1 hockey but neither will move up. Neither will another school that does- MN-Duluth 9,239

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

​Minnesota State-Mankato 17,993 (Fall 2014

St. Cloud State 18,248

Both have D1 hockey but neither will move up. Neither will another school that does- MN-Duluth 9,239






Both Mankato and STCS could move up based on their enrollment but no way the U of M would allow more D1 football schools in the state.

Both have bigger enrollment than NDSU.

[BisonFan02]

Both Mankato and STCS could move up based on their enrollment but no way the U of M would allow more D1 football schools in the state.

Both have bigger enrollment than NDSU.

See post #9. :D

[stillabrave]

[ ]I've read that West Georgia has been talking to the Big South about joining. One of their fans posted on our message board that an invite could come as soon as the finale of this coming football season.[/QUOTE]

This is what I posted on CCU message board:

There has been a rumor floating around West Georgia for more than a year, that UWG has been in contact with BSC officials. Have any of you heard anything? We have great facilities, an enrollment of 12,000+ and we're only about 50 miles from Atlanta. Plus, we finally have a REAL president who recognizes the role athletics plays in the "college experience". He has instituted policies that should make us competitive in all sports, and he has stated his desire to move UWG to the D1/FCS level of athletic competition. Would appreciate your thoughts and comments.

New rumor making the rounds at UWG says we will get an invite at the end of 2015 FB season and we will accept. Assume it's from BSC. Any of you heard anything?

Visual tour of UWG FB facilities: http://uwgsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&
If you visit this site you can also take a look at our coliseum. Last year's FB team went 12-3 losing to eventual NC in semi-final game by 3 points.

[Danielr11220]

Completely agree with this list, perhaps including University of New Haven (4,800 undergrads) as a potential dark horse. A bit small.
Could Pace also make the move?