Tuskegee officials are now discussing a possible move to the SWAC!

[SU Jag]

I've been hearing the rumblings for a little over a year now. Now its finally comming out that Tuskegee is pondering a move to the SWAC. Bad thing, the old traditionalist are 100% against the move.xsmhx

[SU Jag]

Sorry for the typo!

[jstate83]

I've been hearing the rumblings for a little over a year now. Now its finally comming out that Tuskegee is pondering a move to the SWAC. Bad thing, the old traditionalist are 100% against the move.xsmhx

That's in every case.
Intersting though.

[SU Jag]

That's in every case.
Intersting though.


I dont think it will happen foe 3 reasons.

1. Noone in the SWAC has metioned an addition to the league since the Morris Brown/Tennessee State thing a few years back.

2. The old heads at TU aint having it. Add the fact that TU currently does not have the facilities to make the move.

3. The SWAC would have to add another team, I doubt that Tennessee State would make the jump, and Albany State is too far East.

[TexasTerror]

It seems that sports-wise, Tuskegee is at 14 sports. They could add men's and women's golf without much financial burden and that would give them a good 16 sports, perfect for Div I requirements and the SWAC.

Are any of the Texas HBCUs at the NAIA level anywhere close to possible SWAC? I know the Louisiana schools are not (no football). Does not seem like private schools like the other Texas HBCUs would be a good idea though.

You are right about Tennessee State. They are doing extremely well for themselves in the OVC and that is rather impressive.

[MplsBison]

You only need 14 sports to play FCS.

16 for FBS.

[TexasTerror]

You only need 14 sports to play FCS.

16 for FBS.

That's incorrect. According to the NCAA, "Division I member institutions have to sponsor at least seven sports for men and seven for women (or six for men and eight for women) with two team sports for each gender."

http://www.ncaa.org/about/div_criteria.html

There are conferences which have specific regulations, like the Sun Belt, which requires a school to compete in 15 conference-recognized championship sports.

[UAalum72]

Last I knew, seven plus seven = fourteen

20.9.7 football Bowl Subdivision requirements. [fBS] An institution classified in the football bowl
subdivision shall meet the additional requirements listed below. (Revised: 12/15/06)
330
20.9.7.1 Sports Sponsorship. The institution shall sponsor a minimum of 16 varsity intercollegiate sports,
including football, based on the minimum sports sponsorship and scheduling requirements set forth in Bylaw
20, including a minimum of six sports involving all-male teams or mixed teams of males and females, and a
minimum of eight varsity intercollegiate sports (of which a maximum of two emerging sports per Bylaw 20.02.5
may be used) based on the minimum sports sponsorship and scheduling requirements set forth in Bylaw 20 and
involving all-female teams, subject to the waiver provision in Bylaw 20.9.4.1. (Revised: 1/11/94 effective 9/1/94;
compliance required during the 1993-94 academic year, 4/25/02 effective 8/1/04)

20.9.8 football Championship Subdivision requirements. [fCS] An institution classified as a foot-
ball championship subdivision member shall meet the additional requirements listed below. (Revised: 12/15/06)
20.9.8.1 Sports Sponsorship. [FCS] The institution shall sponsor in Division I a minimum of:
(a) Seven varsity intercollegiate sports, including football, based on the minimum requirements of Bylaws
20.9.4 and 20.9.4.3 and involving all-male teams or mixed teams of males and females, and seven varsity
intercollegiate sports (of which a maximum of two emerging sports per Bylaw 20.02.5 may be utilized)
based on the minimum requirements of Bylaws 20.9.4 and 20.9.4.3 and involving all-female teams,
subject to the waiver provision in Bylaw 20.9.4.1, or (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 9/1/94, 1/11/94 effective
9/1/94; compliance required during the 1993-94 academic year)
(b) Six varsity intercollegiate sports, including football, based on the minimum requirements of Bylaws
20.9.4 and 20.9.4.3 and involving all-male teams or mixed teams of males and females, and eight varsity
intercollegiate sports (of which a maximum of two emerging sports per Bylaw 20.02.5 may be utilized)
based on the minimum requirements of Bylaws 20.9.4 and 20.9.4.3 and involving all-female teams,

[DFW HOYA]

Are any of the Texas HBCUs at the NAIA level anywhere close to possible SWAC?

Those HBCU's that are left are just trying to hang on.

Jarvis Chrisian and Paul Quinn (which absorbed Bishop College's assets in bankruptcy back in the 80's) are down to just 700 students each and four and five sports, respectively. Wiley College is down to 450 with four sports. Their athletics web site does not suggest people are paying attention, etither...

http://www.wileyc.edu/athletics/

[TexasTerror]

The SWAC could always do what that one conference did (forget which - isn't it the CIAA bringing Chowan in?) and let a PWC school in.

Houston Baptist is seeking a conference. It'd be cheap (right in Houston, right by Texas Southern and PVA&M). While it has no football, it'd provide proper balance in every other sport.

[SU Jag]

It seems that sports-wise, Tuskegee is at 14 sports. They could add men's and women's golf without much financial burden and that would give them a good 16 sports, perfect for Div I requirements and the SWAC.

Are any of the Texas HBCUs at the NAIA level anywhere close to possible SWAC? I know the Louisiana schools are not (no football). Does not seem like private schools like the other Texas HBCUs would be a good idea though.

You are right about Tennessee State. They are doing extremely well for themselves in the OVC and that is rather impressive.

I doubt it. Those schools have little to no fan support! Add the fact that I seriously doubt that the conference is talking expansion. I think we're a few years away from any kind of expansion.

[TexasTerror]

I doubt it. Those schools have little to no fan support! Add the fact that I seriously doubt that the conference is talking expansion. I think we're a few years away from any kind of expansion.

The thing with the SWAC is that it will be relatively unaffected by the wave of conference realignment that should take place in the next few years, just as it was the last go around. Same for the MEAC.

The moratorium may come into effect though as it will allow Tuskegee a chance to move to Division I if they would like to see that out.

[JagHammer]

I'm for it...don't see the harm.

[WileECoyote06]

Whether or not Skeegee has the facilities, they certainly have the fanbase. As a matter of fact, their home fan base is larger than many of the schools already in the SWAC based on attendance records.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

If you ad Tuskegee and another HBCU to the SWAC, you could kiss goodbye the idea of the SWAC giving up the SWAC championship game, IMO, since they'd have 12 teams... Plus you'd have four schools committed to Turkey Day weekend classics, amongst others (this year, Alcorn State plays Ark-PB during the playoffs too).

[bigbluetiger]

I would like to see a new FBS conference with a mixture of HBCU's and PWC's with schools from Tn, AL and GA.

[McNeese_beat]

Not a bad idea by Tuskegee. I wonder what the old academic elites there are saying though (as suggested earlier, the guess is they'd be against it).

Of course, they have to understand, doing what's best for your athletic department doesn't necessarily mean you are "selling out" to the athletic department...Duke is no less of an academic institution for having great basketball. Stanford is still a great school, despite being good in just about everything but football...

[813Jag]

I already think that 10 is too many. xreadx

[Mr. Tiger]

If you ad Tuskegee and another HBCU to the SWAC, you could kiss goodbye the idea of the SWAC giving up the SWAC championship game, IMO, since they'd have 12 teams... Plus you'd have four schools committed to Turkey Day weekend classics, amongst others (this year, Alcorn State plays Ark-PB during the playoffs too).

You could kiss that goodbye anyway. The SWAC Championship makes too much money to be eliminated. I would like to see my Tigers back in the playoffs again and I'm not the only one. But the SWAC Championship will remain and I can respectfully understand why. As for Tuskegee, I believe that one day they will be in the SWAC. But not anytime soon. And there really isn't any other team to consider except for Tennessee State, but that's a long shot at this point. And I have really never understood why. I guess their location plays a role.

[TexasTerror]

You could kiss that goodbye anyway. The SWAC Championship makes too much money to be eliminated. I would like to see my Tigers back in the playoffs again and I'm not the only one. But the SWAC Championship will remain and I can respectfully understand why. As for Tuskegee, I believe that one day they will be in the SWAC. But not anytime soon. And there really isn't any other team to consider except for Tennessee State, but that's a long shot at this point. And I have really never understood why. I guess their location plays a role.

Tennessee State is successful in the OVC -- won some nice championships this year. That conference is ahead of the SWAC from a competitive standpoint in almost every sport and not as much a problem travel-wise as the SWAC would be. Makes plenty of sense.

[Mr. Tiger]

Tennessee State is successful in the OVC -- won some nice championships this year. That conference is ahead of the SWAC from a competitive standpoint in almost every sport and not as much a problem travel-wise as the SWAC would be. Makes plenty of sense.

I am not going to debate which conference is better because I respect the OVC. But TT, we all know the OVC isn't a great football conference. They were rated below the SWAC this year. And in basketball, the OVC was rated 28th and the SWAC was 31st. Tennessee State doesn't even have a baseball team. And beats me if the OVC is better in cross country running, bowling, and softball (might be, who knows). Plus, Tenn State has natural rivals in the SWAC and history, Jackson State, Southern, Grambling, and even Alabama A&M. They draw more fans playing those teams than Tennessee-Martin and Tennessee Tech. I just believe location plays a much larger role. TSU would have to travel to Texas and that's a long way.

[SU Jag]

Check oot onnidan.com, I hear the current TSU president is talking SWAC!

[813Jag]

Check oot onnidan.com, I hear the current TSU president is talking SWAC!
Who would come in with them? What moves would be made to even out divisions. Alcorn and Jackson to the West? xconfusedx

[McNeese_beat]

Check oot onnidan.com, I hear the current TSU president is talking SWAC!

Win one measley baseball tournament and you get the big head...

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

Win one measley baseball tournament and you get the big head...
Wrong school. Tenn. St. They have been talking in for a while. Most of their fans want it.

[3rd Coast Tiger]

Win one measley baseball tournament and you get the big head...

xconfusedx

[McNeese_beat]

xconfusedx

My bad...I thought he was talking Texas Southern and I wanted to acknowledge the Tigers' win in the SWAC tournament. ... Great win for Candy and the boys though, xsmiley_wix

Where do you think they're going, Rice or College Station? Maybe Baton Rouge?

[Tod]

I don't know much about it, but as an Air Force vet Tuskegee has name recognition that only Southern and Grambling can possibly match on a national level (this from a guy from Montana, but my two cents).

I think this would be a good thing, as name recognition (to me) helps FCS football, would help the school, and would help the SWAC. It's why I want the SWAC back (fully) into the playoffs, and why I hope the Ivies will eventually join as well.

Other than that I don't know too much, but here ya go...

:) :) xpeacex

[blackcaesar3k5]

Personally, I believe Tuskegee should consider staying in division II and focus on playing Alabama State earlier in the season.. therefore, the Golden Tigers would get the chance to particapte in division II playoffs.. If they do decide move to 1-aa level.. Tuskegee should take into consideration about joining the OVC conference..

[813Jag]

Personally, I believe Tuskegee should consider staying in division II and focus on playing Alabama State earlier in the season.. therefore, the Golden Tigers would get the chance to particapte in division II playoffs.. If they do decide move to 1-aa level.. Tuskegee should take into consideration about joining the OVC conference..
I doubt that game will be moved, the only way it won't be played on Turkey Day is if they don't play at all.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Personally, I believe Tuskegee should consider staying in division II and focus on playing Alabama State earlier in the season.. therefore, the Golden Tigers would get the chance to particapte in division II playoffs.. If they do decide move to 1-aa level.. Tuskegee should take into consideration about joining the OVC conference..

They're just as tied to the Turkey Day Classic as GSU/SU are tied to Thanksgiving weekend in terms of funding athletic programs. Highly unlikely no matter what they do - stay in D-II, go to the SWAC, or go to the OVC.

Matter of fact, that tie-in to the Turkey Day Classic is why the move to the SWAC is the only one that (IMO) makes sense for them.

Personally, I'd love to see all of FCS' rivalries moved up for the playoffs. But that's unlikely to ever happen xsmhx

[SU Jag]

Personally, I believe Tuskegee should consider staying in division II and focus on playing Alabama State earlier in the season.. therefore, the Golden Tigers would get the chance to particapte in division II playoffs.. If they do decide move to 1-aa level.. Tuskegee should take into consideration about joining the OVC conference..


There is more of a chance of Ohio State dropping football than any of that ever happening. The Turkey Day Classic is the oldest football classic in black college football, these two schools will never entertain the tought of moving the game from Thanksgiving Day, Period! Birmingham tried to get the schools to move the game up there but, on the weekend of Thanksgiving, TU and ASU said hell no! Why would TU move to the OVC? That would be a dumb move!

[3rd Coast Tiger]

My bad...I thought he was talking Texas Southern and I wanted to acknowledge the Tigers' win in the SWAC tournament. ... Great win for Candy and the boys though, xsmiley_wix

Where do you think they're going, Rice or College Station? Maybe Baton Rouge?

Although we'd love to get them out of Houston, Rice appears to be the Tiger's destination once again.

[mikebigg]

I would like to see Tuskegee added to the conference... Grambling's first president was sent to us from Tuskegee, so there's that history. A good team to come with them would be FAMU but I doubt if they would leave the MEAC...but without the 9 game mandate, they could still play Hampton, BCC, and Howard which are historical rivals of theirs.