Southland Expansion Rumors

[Catatonic]

Tarleton State has formed a D1 task force to update it’s feasibility study re: moving from D2 to D1. The task force has been asked to compete their work quickly since an invitation could come as soon as December. Many of their fans are convinced the SLC has signaled its willingness to add either Tarleton or TAMU Commerce owing to their proximity to the DFW metroplex and the financial crisis in LA that has created uncertainly about the future of Nicholls and/ or SLU.

Anyone hearing anything about this?

https://jtacnews.com/9672/student-life/tarleton-creates-task-force-for-potential-ncaa-d-i-invite/

[Serpentor]

I hope not, no offense Catatonic, but the last thing the Southland needs is have the reputation of being the Sun Belt of FCS.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I hope not, no offense Catatonic, but the last thing the Southland needs is to have the reputation of being the Sun Belt of FCS.

You mean they don't already?

[McNeese75]

You mean they don't already?

WOW, this coming from a Patriot conference fan??? xlolx

[Catatonic]

I hope not, no offense Catatonic, but the last thing the Southland needs is have the reputation of being the Sun Belt of FCS.

I’m not offended in the slightest. I think that is a valid concern and will be until the newbie teams become more competitive.

I just saw a thread on this topic on the D2 board and wondered if there was any truth to it.

[McCowboys]

I’m not offended in the slightest. think that is a valid concern and will be until the newbie teams become more competitive.

I don't know anything about this at all. McNeese played them in football last year, and I know at that time their fans were talking about wanting to move to FCS and join the SLC. Had they ever applied for membership with the SLC before? I would vote no only for the fact that the Southland already has too many purple teams as it is!

[Wildcat1997]

If Tarleton were to move up we might have an actual rival in the Southland.

[Daytripper]

I would rather have Prairie View A&M....

[BEAR]

Please...no more expansion....ever...unless a team or two leaves....then its not expansion...I guess...but please....NO. xmadx

[Daytripper]

Please...no more expansion....ever...unless a team or two leaves....then its not expansion...I guess...but please....NO. xmadx

Oh, I agree with you. But IF expansion is inevitable, I want PVAMU if they are willing.

[Catatonic]

Oh, I agree with you. But IF expansion is inevitable, I want PVAMU if they are willing.
no four year transition would be nice. Can’t see PVAMU leaving the HBCU conference tradition behind though to join a bunch of cracker schools.

[lionsrking2]

Tarleton State has formed a D1 task force to update it’s feasibility study re: moving from D2 to D1. The task force has been asked to compete their work quickly since an invitation could come as soon as December. Many of their fans are convinced the SLC has signaled its willingness to add either Tarleton or TAMU Commerce owing to their proximity to the DFW metroplex and the financial crisis in LA that has created uncertainly about the future of Nicholls and/ or SLU.

Anyone hearing anything about this?

https://jtacnews.com/9672/student-life/tarleton-creates-task-force-for-potential-ncaa-d-i-invite/

All Louisiana schools not named LSU are equally affected by the state budget, it's not just "Nicholls and/or SLU." That said, SLU will be fine.

[lionsrking2]

no four year transition would be nice. Can’t see PVAMU leaving the HBCU conference tradition behind though to join a bunch of cracker schools.

Wow. xrolleyesx

[Lehigh Football Nation]

PVAMU joining the Southland in a Tennessee State/OVC sort of situation would be really cool. You know another school that might be up for that? Jackson State.

[UNIFanSince1983]

Please...no more expansion....ever...unless a team or two leaves....then its not expansion...I guess...but please....NO. xmadx

Honestly, if I were a Southland fan currently I would like some expansion in the hopes that it could help to reduce the conference schedule from 9 games.

[lionsrking2]

Honestly, if I were a Southland fan currently I would like some expansion in the hopes that it could help to reduce the conference schedule from 9 games.

We don't need a 9 game schedule as it is now. It's killing our league.

[Katfan]

I don't know anything about this at all. McNeese played them in football last year, and I know at that time their fans were talking about wanting to move to FCS and join the SLC. Had they ever applied for membership with the SLC before? I would vote no only for the fact that the Southland already has too many purple teams as it is!
1 is too many!

[Catatonic]

All Louisiana schools not named LSU are equally affected by the state budget, it's not just "Nicholls and/or SLU." That said, SLU will be fine.


Last I heard there was a move to merge SLU and Nicholls based on proximity to each other and Nicholls enrollment decline. Another option was for Nicholls to go private.

[WestCoastAggie]

no four year transition would be nice. Can’t see PVAMU leaving the HBCU conference tradition behind though to join a bunch of cracker schools.
They're the only SWAC school that may consider it, due to being part of the A&M system.

It would be a divisive and contentious debate internally but time will tell. That school founded the SWAC 90 plus years ago.

[WestCoastAggie]

We don't need a 9 game schedule as it is now. It's killing our league.

Just move to east/west divisions if/when Tarleton State or Commerce make the move.

Will the SLC help them pay the $1 million reclassification fee?

[WestCoastAggie]

PVAMU joining the Southland in a Tennessee State/OVC sort of situation would be really cool. You know another school that might be up for that? Jackson State.
Nope to JSU. The president that would've considered it, Dr. Meyers and provost Rennick are no longer at the school.

Ironically, those two came from A&T, with Rennick as he Chancellor and Meyers as the provost.

[Catatonic]

Just move to east/west divisions if/when Tarleton State or Commerce make the move.

Will the SLC help them pay the $1 million reclassification fee?

Tarleton is raising the money. I don’t know about TAMUC.

[FormerPokeCenter]

I'd rather see TAMU-Kingsville joint the SLC than any other school....or see TAMU-K and TAMU-CC combine. TAMU-CC is already in the conference...

[Catatonic]

PVAMU joining the Southland in a Tennessee State/OVC sort of situation would be really cool. You know another school that might be up for that? Jackson State.
If PVAMU showed any interest at all in such a move, the SLC should jump at the chance to add them. Very nice new stadium and a coach who has them headed in the right direction.

[LIONFAN07]

Last I heard there was a move to merge SLU and Nicholls based on proximity to each other and Nicholls enrollment decline. Another option was for Nicholls to go private.

I live in this area and have been following SLU for awhile I NEVER heard this mentioned. SLU is going to be fine. We are in a pretty good place as a department and there are some major facility upgrades coming in the next couple years.

Nicholls enrollment has declined but I think their department with their new AD is doing some good things. I think they will be fine as well.

Southland needs no more teams. The 9 game schedule is not good and hurt Sam last year and might hurt UCA and Sam again this year.

[Catatonic]

I live in this area and have been following SLU for awhile I NEVER heard this mentioned. SLU is going to be fine. We are in a pretty good place as a department and there are some major facility upgrades coming in the next couple years.

Nicholls enrollment has declined but I think their department with their new AD is doing some good things. I think they will be fine as well.

Southland needs no more teams. The 9 game schedule is not good and hurt Sam last year and might hurt UCA and Sam again this year.

LA is in near crisis mode budget wise. The state has more universities than justified by overall population.
Closings or mergers are inevitable.

I won’t presume to say how it will happen, only that it will and the most vulnerable schools should most logically be those with declining enrollment and/0r the lowest graduation rates. Politics often trump logic though, so who knows what will happen.

i agree with your point about a 9 game conference schedule and whatever convoluted system they use to determine rotation.

[LIONFAN07]

LA is in near crisis mode budget wise. The state has more universities than justified by overall population.
Closings or mergers are inevitable.

I won’t presume to say how it will happen, only that it will and the most vulnerable schools should most logically be those with declining enrollment and/0r the lowest graduation rates. Politics often trump logic though, so who knows what will happen.

i agree with your point about a 9 game conference schedule and whatever convoluted system they use to determine rotation.

I do agree there are way too many schools in this state. Southeastern has 15,000 students and is located in a growing area in this state. Nicholls has around 6,000 students. If there was a merge I don't know if it would be Nicholls and SLU. I could see UNO and Nicholls merging. But they aren't part of the same system.

In the north you have LA Tech,UL Monroe, and Grambling within 50 miles of each other in an area where population is shrinking.

It is a fair point Catatonic it will be interesting to see what happens.

[TheRevSFA]

If Tarleton were to move up we might have an actual rival in the Southland.

Please God move them up so ACU fans will quit thinking SFA is their rival.

Please please please. I'll pay the damn entry fee.

[TheRevSFA]

I'd rather see TAMU-Kingsville joint the SLC than any other school....or see TAMU-K and TAMU-CC combine. TAMU-CC is already in the conference...

I thought they were combining? Maybe I dreamed it.

[lionsrking2]

LA is in near crisis mode budget wise. The state has more universities than justified by overall population.
Closings or mergers are inevitable.

I won’t presume to say how it will happen, only that it will and the most vulnerable schools should most logically be those with declining enrollment and/0r the lowest graduation rates. Politics often trump logic though, so who knows what will happen.

i agree with your point about a 9 game conference schedule and whatever convoluted system they use to determine rotation.

The budget has been near crisis mode since shortly after Jindal took office in '08, and much of it self-inflicted. Some of the damage is probably permanent due to the political climate, and there may be some inevitable changes down the road, but SLU as an institution will be fine for the foreseeable future.

[TheRevSFA]

If the SLC were to take them, I'd hope SFA, Sammy, UCA, McNeese, SELA, and Nw State would look at breaking off and forming their own.

No offense to any other SLC schools, but too many fish in this pond at that point

[BisonTru]

I hope not, no offense Catatonic, but the last thing the Southland needs is have the reputation of being the Sun Belt of FCS.

No offense, but A&M Commerce would help your conference strength. IMHO.

[Daytripper]

If the SLC were to take them, I'd hope SFA, Sammy, UCA, McNeese, SELA, and Nw State would look at breaking off and forming their own.

No offense to any other SLC schools, but too many fish in this pond at that point

If Lamar ever got their s**t together, they would be a legit power....but, it is Lamar.

[Catatonic]

No offense, but A&M Commerce would help your conference strength. IMHO.
A&M Commerce would have to stop taking players who don’t qualify for D1 schools so their success would quickly go away.

[lionsrking2]

If the SLC were to take them, I'd hope SFA, Sammy, UCA, McNeese, SELA, and Nw State would look at breaking off and forming their own.

No offense to any other SLC schools, but too many fish in this pond at that point

This.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The budget has been near crisis mode since shortly after Jindal took office in '08

What an amazing coincidence that the higher education "crises" came just after Jindal came to power.

[lionsrking2]

What an amazing coincidence that the higher education "crises" came just after Jindal came to power.

Yes, quite amazing indeed.

[McCowboys]

There was an editorial in the Lake Charles American Press not too long ago, and the financial situation/closing/merging topics were addressed by someone in the know. He said "they" can talk all they want, but it won't ever happen. There is just too much politics/political favors for that. He may be wrong. But Louisiana has faced some severe crises over the years, and I think if it were going to happen, it would have happened by now.
Just recently, McNeese students passed an athletics fee that will be bringing in more money to support athletics, and we have a new president with a background in business who is also a former McNeese football player.

[Serpentor]

What an amazing coincidence that the higher education "crises" came just after Jindal came to power.

Yes, it's all Jindal's fault. It has nothing to do that Louisiana has state corruption second only to Illinois throughout it's history.

Also, leave your political virtue signaling on the Political forum where it belongs.

[TheRevSFA]

There was an editorial in the Lake Charles American Press not too long ago, and the financial situation/closing/merging topics were addressed by someone in the know. He said "they" can talk all they want, but it won't ever happen. There is just too much politics/political favors for that. He may be wrong. But Louisiana has faced some severe crises over the years, and I think if it were going to happen, it would have happened by now.
Just recently, McNeese students passed an athletics fee that will be bringing in more money to support athletics, and we have a new president with a background in business who is also a former McNeese football player.

I didn't realize FPC was prez at McNeese?

[cx500d]

The state has more universities than justified by overall population.
Closings or mergers are inevitable.




I think North Dakota is in this boat. There are three other 4 year colleges within 70 miles of NDSU, and this is on the far eastern edge of the state, where there are Minnesota state universities in proximity also.

[McCowboys]

I didn't realize FPC was prez at McNeese?

No, I voted for FPC, but he lost out to Daryl Burckel.

[Catatonic]

I think North Dakota is in this boat. There are three other 4 year colleges within 70 miles of NDSU, and this is on the far eastern edge of the state, where there are Minnesota state universities in proximity also.

Georgia just completed mergers involving 14 university system schools. Pa is considering a similar move although it’s a bit more difficult to pull off there because campuses are unionized.

[lionsrking2]

Prior to the Jindal administration, Louisiana had a tax structure in place (called the Stelly Plan) to help stabilize the state budget from the ups and downs of the oil and gas based economy. One of his main campaign themes and first orders of business upon entering the governor's mansion was to roll back the Stelly Plan. Wasn't long after that the state started running huge deficits with no protection for higher ed and health care from budget cuts. Higher Ed saw budget cuts for eight straight years totaling upwards of 800 million dollars. One can argue the politics and what they think this right or wrong in regards to taxation and budgetary priorities but the facts are the facts.

[Catatonic]

If the SLC were to take them, I'd hope SFA, Sammy, UCA, McNeese, SELA, and Nw State would look at breaking off and forming their own.

No offense to any other SLC schools, but too many fish in this pond at that point

If the SLC takes these or any other schools it will be with the approval of the presidents of present members, including those on your list.

[Laker]

I think North Dakota is in this boat. There are three other 4 year colleges within 70 miles of NDSU, and this is on the far eastern edge of the state, where there are Minnesota state universities in proximity also.

I never did figure out why they made Crookston a four year school. They are in UND's back yard, twenty miles away. Bemidji & Moorhead could have done the job on the Minnesota side of the river.

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

What an amazing coincidence that the higher education "crises" came just after Jindal came to power.

I wish Pennsylvania had Jindal instead of Wolf.

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

Georgia just completed mergers involving 14 university system schools. Pa is considering a similar move although it’s a bit more difficult to pull off there because campuses are unionized.

Pennsylvania won't do it until we elect a real governor.

[citdog]

Oh, I agree with you. But IF expansion is inevitable, I want PVAMU if they are willing.

nice virtue signaling

[Catatonic]

nice virtue signaling
Or simply a recognition that PVAMU is a better option than a d2 move up..new stadium, good team in place and ready to compete from the get go. That plus the bonus virtue points.

[DFW HOYA]

Expanding with Tarleton State? What, Hardin-Simmons wasn't available?

[citdog]

Expanding with Tarleton State? What, Hardin-Simmons wasn't available?

**** Tarleton


http://i2.wp.com/www.battleofcowpens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/letters_Banastre_Tarleton.jpg?resize=161%2C225

[TheRevSFA]

If the SLC takes these or any other schools it will be with the approval of the presidents of present members, including those on your list.

Again. I hope the presidents accept and then bail

[cx500d]

Expanding with Tarleton State? What, Hardin-Simmons wasn't available?

Sul Ross was too far away.

[Catatonic]

Again. I hope the presidents accept and then bail

So you are saying the presidents of the universities you mention ahouls be duplicitous, spiteful and petty by voting to admit new schools knowing they are going to bail?

Careful what you wish for....a couple of those other schools might not think SFA is worth taking with them.

[cx500d]

**** Tarleton


http://i2.wp.com/www.battleofcowpens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/letters_Banastre_Tarleton.jpg?resize=161%2C225

Good try...Wrong one though, John was a rancher, not a butcher of South Carolinians.

[gokats85]

Great. Just what the Southland needs: more purple. xcoffeex

[McNeese75]

Great. Just what the Southland needs: more purple. xcoffeex

No Joke xeyebrowx

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

**** Tarleton


http://i2.wp.com/www.battleofcowpens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/letters_Banastre_Tarleton.jpg?resize=161%2C225

Preach.

Thank God Daniel Morgan taught old Benny a lesson at Cowpens.

I wanted SFU to stop at Kings Mountain or Cowpens on the way down to Presbyterian. Those battlefields are on my bucket list. I have been to Guilford Court House.

[TheRevSFA]

So you are saying the presidents of the universities you mention ahouls be duplicitous, spiteful and petty by voting to admit new schools knowing they are going to bail?

Careful what you wish for....a couple of those other schools might not think SFA is worth taking with them.

Eh SFA and Sammy and SFA and NW state won't split up from each other

[Catatonic]

Eh SFA and Sammy and SFA and NW state won't split up from each other
So daddy Sammy will take care of you. Got it.

[TheRevSFA]

So daddy Sammy will take care of you. Got it.

Are you mad as well that SFA doesn't want to be ACU's rival even though ACU keeps trying to push for it?

let's be honest, there's more to it than football. Basketball is already saturated enough with corpus and uno. The conference does not need more teams.

[Catatonic]

Are you mad as well that SFA doesn't want to be ACU's rival even though ACU keeps trying to push for it?

let's be honest, there's more to it than football. Basketball is already saturated enough with corpus and uno. The conference does not need more teams.

I’m not asking for more teams. Last I heard our Commish said we are not interested in expansion so when I saw a thread about Tarleton on another board I wondered if anyone here had heard anything about it. Who knows what will happen in the future though so it is good to know there are schools interested in signing up for the SLC should, say, Sam Houston get an invite to a FBS conference and decide to bolt.

I could care less whether SFA is our rival or not. I’m actually pretty indifferent about SFA, other than the Sawmill which I enjoy. I’m mostly just messing with you. The whole rival thing seems to have been between the two student booster groups. I didn’t pay much attention to it but it appears to have bothered you.

I’d say most adult ACU fans have been more impressed with McNeese than SFA. A bunch of Cowboy fans showed up on our board to talk football before and after the game and they brought more of their supporters to Abilene than any other school we have played. Also, their coaches approach football the way our new coach wants our program to go—lead the conference in defense and establish a good running game to set up the pass.

[TheRevSFA]

I’m not asking for more teams. Last I heard our Commish said we are not interested in expansion so when I saw a thread about Tarleton on another board I wondered if anyone here had heard anything about it. Who knows what will happen in the future though so it is good to know there are schools interested in signing up for the SLC should, say, Sam Houston get an invite to a FBS conference and decide to bolt.

I could care less whether SFA is our rival or not. I’m actually pretty indifferent about SFA, other than the Sawmill which I enjoy. I’m mostly just messing with you. The whole rival thing seems to have been between the two student booster groups. I didn’t pay much attention to it but it appears to have bothered you.

I’d say most adult ACU fans have been more impressed with McNeese than SFA. A bunch of Cowboy fans showed up on our board to talk football before and after the game and they brought more of their supporters to Abilene than any other school we have played. Also, their coaches approach football the way our new coach wants our program to go—lead the conference in defense and establish a good running game to set up the pass.

It wasn't just the student booster groups. More of the marketing department.

I personally have liked ACU joining the conference and wish y'all had been able to do it earlier.

My concern is the conference is going to puts the presidents into seriously looking at adding teams by conning them into believing that stephenville helps grab the DFW market.

[dgtw]

PVAMU joining the Southland in a Tennessee State/OVC sort of situation would be really cool. You know another school that might be up for that? Jackson State.

It isn't cool if they don't have to play a full conference schedule.


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[Anthony215]

Oh, I agree with you. But IF expansion is inevitable, I want PVAMU if they are willing.

Unless the SWAC completely folds I can't see any logical reason for PVAMU to leave the conference and their rivals that bring in 10-50k fans for the Southland conference.

[LIONFAN07]

I wish Pennsylvania had Jindal instead of Wolf.

Trust me you want no part of Jindal. He almost single handily destroyed our state in more ways that the ones listed here. He was a complete disaster.

[McNeese75]

Trust me you want no part of Jindal. He almost single handily destroyed our state in more ways that the ones listed here. He was a complete disaster.

Gotta agree with ya Lion on this one. Although when he was running and I met him at a football game I thought he was going to be a good thing for the State.

[Wildcat1997]

It wasn't just the student booster groups. More of the marketing department.

I personally have liked ACU joining the conference and wish y'all had been able to do it earlier.

My concern is the conference is going to puts the presidents into seriously looking at adding teams by conning them into believing that stephenville helps grab the DFW market.What did the marketing department do?

[McCowboys]

Trust me you want no part of Jindal. He almost single handily destroyed our state in more ways that the ones listed here. He was a complete disaster.

The truth!

- - - Updated - - -


Gotta agree with ya Lion on this one. Although when he was running and I met him at a football game I thought he was going to be a good thing for the State.

Jindal was a disaster!

[chrisattsu]

I don't know anything about this at all. McNeese played them in football last year, and I know at that time their fans were talking about wanting to move to FCS and join the SLC. Had they ever applied for membership with the SLC before? I would vote no only for the fact that the Southland already has too many purple teams as it is!

Tarleton has been considering this for more than a decade.

2005- Tries to join Southland, but Corpus and Central Ark are chosen because of facilities and funding
2007- Tarleton announces master plan with D1 as stated goal and facility renovations
2009- Students vote to increase athletic fee from $6 to $10 per credit hour to finance enhancements
2012- Southland loses TXST,UTSA,UTA and starts looking for replacements. Adds UIW ACU, Houston Baptist, New Orleans, Oral Roberts.
2013- Tarleton students increase athletic fee from $10 to $22 to again enhance facilities.

Fees are in place and enrollment is now above 12,000. Facility enhancements are happening all over campus and especially around athletics. Tennis courts redone. Rec fields for intramural soccer have been made NCAA soccer ready. Football improvements underway and President talks about new swim/dive complex.


Just my 2 cents- Tarleton wasn't ready when ACU moved up. They learned from being left behind and started pushing full force to get things in place when the next offer would come. Based on comments from the Tarleton AD, the SLC wasn't ready to expand while ACU and UIW were in their 5 year transition window. That has come to a close and they are now full D1 members. At this point, the SLC can explore taking on another transition team.

[BucBisonAtLarge]

WOW, this coming from a Patriot conference fan??? xlolx

We just wish we could add RPI or Johns Hopkins.

Damn Dayton rule.