FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[raiderpa]

Talked to a Malone recruit and he claims that college coaches told him that due to financial considerations and a "financial crisis", all athletic scholarships/grants are on hold.  No money offered to incoming athletes and any that was discussed is null and void.  He further said that he is certain that Malone is going Division III.  I do not know if he is a good source or not, just passing along what he told me.  He apparently was a wide receiver recruit and was counting on football money, and now has no clue what is happening.

[raiderpa]

IS there any midwestern DIII league that could offer Malone a spot? 
Pat would most likely have the best scenarios available. Would love to hear opinions.
thanks.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I think academic wise and like schools, the best fit might be the HCAC. I am not sure it is the right fit Geographically. They already have 10 schools for football, and most of the other sports. OAC seems full up. NCAC is full and not an academic fit.
Joining the PAC would put that conference at 12 for football, unless they kicked out the UAA teams. But I do not know why they would do that. They just went out of their way to bring them in. Unless they split into two 6 team divisions. Are there any conferences that do that?

[badgerwarhawk]

The MidWest Conference is split into two six team divisions. 

[wally_wabash]

In the football landscape, the HCAC makes the most sense.  But, the HCAC also likes its skinny geographic footprint (travel was one reason Earlham cited for leaving the NCAC...do with that as you wish).  The HCAC has 9 football-playing members, so taking on a 10th team makes a world of sense.  BUT- the HCAC is a 10-member league elsewhere and adding Malone for football makes a nice round number, it upsets the apple cart everywhere else.  That isn't to say that leagues don't exist with odd numbers of teams, but I don't think it's a slam dunk that Malone would wind up in the HCAC.  Maybe as a football-only affiliate.  But mostly, from my perspective, the music stopped and there aren't any chairs left.  It's tough to find a good home for Malone. 

[Dr. Acula]

I'm sure all options are being discussed, but perhaps a return to NAIA may prove easier?  I'd think it'd certainly be better than being a D3 independent if that ends up being their draw in D3. 

[ohiofan1954]

The problem with a return to NAIA is who will they be playing. I can't remember who all they did play back then but two naturals Ohio Dominican and their rival Walsh won't be there. Also what would be the status of their game with Walsh each year?

[Dr. Acula]

For football I'm guessing they'd just rejoin their old league since it still exists as far as I know.  It's that league that has a bunch of IN schools in it.  Not sure what would happen with the Walsh game though.  Maybe they could make it the opener every year.

[formerd3db]

For football I'm guessing they'd just rejoin their old league since it still exists as far as I know.  It's that league that has a bunch of IN schools in it.  Not sure what would happen with the Walsh game though.  Maybe they could make it the opener every year.

The problem with a return to NAIA is who will they be playing. I can't remember who all they did play back then but two naturals Ohio Dominican and their rival Walsh won't be there. Also what would be the status of their game with Walsh each year?

I'm sure all options are being discussed, but perhaps a return to NAIA may prove easier?  I'd think it'd certainly be better than being a D3 independent if that ends up being their draw in D3. 

If they decide to return to NAIA, I don't believe that would be much of a problem, certainly not regarding travel distance or lack of schools to play.  The Mid-States Football Association is located in the mid-west with plenty of schools, actually has two divisions-Mideast and Midwest (I can't remember off hand without looking it up whether Ohio Dominican and Walsh were in that league before).  The schools are Concordia, MI (Ann Arbor), Marian, IN (Indianapolis), Robert Morris, IL (in Chicago), Saint Francis (IL) and St. Francis, IN (Fort Wayne), Siena Heights, MI (Adrian, MI), Taylor University (Upland, IN) and newcomers Missouri Baptist and Lindenwood (Davenport University, MI will be playing also).  The other division has Olivet Nazarene (IL), St Ambrose (Davenport, IA), St Xavier (Chicago), Trinity University (Deefield, IL, north of Chicago), Waldorf College (IA).  Some of those schools have been playing football for 3/4 of a century or slightly more, others are newcomers in the last decade. 

The only problem I could see with Malone joining would possibly be the scholarships as I thought that some of the Mid-States schools offer football scholarships, although I am not sure.  If I recall correctly, it used to be the NAIA had two divisions, Div I for scholarships, Div II for those schools who did not offer scholarships. On the other hand, didn't Trine offer scholarships when it was NAIA before transitioning to NCAA Div III? I thought they did, yet I also thought they were in the lower division of NAIA football.  I may be mistaken on that and perhaps some of our Trine followers on the boards here can freshen my memory and provide us with the exact info on this.  Would it be a possible for Malone to join the Mid-States and not offer scholarships despite if the other schools did so?  I am not sure on that speculation-I attempted to locate information regarding that on the Mid-States website but couldn't find any.  Perhaps I did not look close enough and/or in the wrong section.  Further thoughts anyone?  I've enjoyed this on-going discussion-always great to have some good relevant topics such as this in the off-season.  At least you have been active here-our MIAA board has been DEAD!

[Dr. Acula]

Walsh was in the MSL too.  I believe ODU was as well.  That's the league I would think Malone would rejoin if they went back to NAIA.  In a vacuum D3 may be a better fit for the school, but I just can't imagine jumping to D3 without a conference affiliation.  That's so hard for your entire athletic dept.

I'm pretty sure NAIA DII still offered scholarships.  Both Malone and Walsh were in that one and I know they offered athletic aid.  Perhaps it's a matter of more scholarship aid in the higher division?

[Raider 68]

Walsh was in the MSL too.  I believe ODU was as well.  That's the league I would think Malone would rejoin if they went back to NAIA.  In a vacuum D3 may be a better fit for the school, but I just can't imagine jumping to D3 without a conference affiliation.  That's so hard for your entire athletic dept.

I'm pretty sure NAIA DII still offered scholarships.  Both Malone and Walsh were in that one and I know they offered athletic aid.  Perhaps it's a matter of more scholarship aid in the higher division?

The issue for Malone is can they be competitive in any league? While you hear about other schools in Northeastern Ohio, Malone does not seem to be in the conversation.

[formerd3db]

Walsh was in the MSL too.  I believe ODU was as well.  That's the league I would think Malone would rejoin if they went back to NAIA.  In a vacuum D3 may be a better fit for the school, but I just can't imagine jumping to D3 without a conference affiliation.  That's so hard for your entire athletic dept.

I'm pretty sure NAIA DII still offered scholarships.  Both Malone and Walsh were in that one and I know they offered athletic aid.  Perhaps it's a matter of more scholarship aid in the higher division?

The issue for Malone is can they be competitive in any league? While you hear about other schools in Northeastern Ohio, Malone does not seem to be in the conversation.

Obviously, you guys know Ohio college football better than I.  Yet, I believe Malone can be competitive.  I go back to that old discussion about schools like Olivet (MI) as one example (or Northwestern for DI or even Duke at present).  For years, they were/have been the doormat in the MIAA (Kalamazoo is another example).  However, while they will never be powerhouses, they have improved in stretches and can compete.  Of course, you have some similar schools in the OAC and some of the other D3 leagues.  Regardless, I think it would be a shame if Malone were to drop the program permanently.  IMHO, no need to do that-no need for another Swarthemore debacle.    

[Dr. Acula]

Congrats to Berg's Donteea Dye who signed as an undrafted FA with Tampa.  Good luck to him.

[Sir Battlescars]

That's awesome, good for him. It's amazing the number of NFL receivers that have come out of the OAC.

[section13raiderfan]

Is  Jasper Collins still trying to make a team? Last I heard he was in Cinci.