FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[merlecanlas]

http://www.d3sports.com/notables/2018/04/thomas-more-leaving-ncaa

So much for Thomas More replacing Wilmington in the OAC.  Wild last couple of days in D3

I saw this one coming.  They have 7 road games in 2018 and travel to MN twice, NY, AL and in between. 

The other option bandied about was moving up to Division 2.

Looks like OAC is now my home on the message boards.

can't we send Wilma to NAIA and take Thomas More in?  D3 Independent is no way to be.  Is NAIA just a stepping stone to NCAA D2?

I think there was a question for D2 about enrollment minimums and funding scholarships.  They aren't quite there yet.  Many of those current schools in the MidSouth are in Kentucky.  The conference footprint is Kentucky south through GA.  It will enable the school to continue to increase enrollment. 

Selfishly, I'd have liked them to stay in D3 but they had nowhere to go.

holy cow the Mid South is a huge football conference.  20 teams!

Do the current players at TMC start getting scholarship money?  Sorry for all of the questions, I have no idea how this transition happens

[SaintsFAN]

http://www.d3sports.com/notables/2018/04/thomas-more-leaving-ncaa

So much for Thomas More replacing Wilmington in the OAC.  Wild last couple of days in D3

I saw this one coming.  They have 7 road games in 2018 and travel to MN twice, NY, AL and in between. 

The other option bandied about was moving up to Division 2.

Looks like OAC is now my home on the message boards.

can't we send Wilma to NAIA and take Thomas More in?  D3 Independent is no way to be.  Is NAIA just a stepping stone to NCAA D2?

I think there was a question for D2 about enrollment minimums and funding scholarships.  They aren't quite there yet.  Many of those current schools in the MidSouth are in Kentucky.  The conference footprint is Kentucky south through GA.  It will enable the school to continue to increase enrollment. 

Selfishly, I'd have liked them to stay in D3 but they had nowhere to go.

holy cow the Mid South is a huge football conference.  20 teams!

Do the current players at TMC start getting scholarship money?  Sorry for all of the questions, I have no idea how this transition happens

Some of those teams are only associate members.  I'm not exactly how the transition will work.  But I don't think they can give out scholarship money until 2019. 

The recruiting will be the same kinds of kids - Thomas More was running into Georgetown, Lindsey Wilson and others on the recruiting trail.  So I'm sure there will be kids currently on the roster who receive some money. 

This conference really should help them make great progress in Florida. 

[merlecanlas]

http://www.d3sports.com/notables/2018/04/thomas-more-leaving-ncaa

So much for Thomas More replacing Wilmington in the OAC.  Wild last couple of days in D3

I saw this one coming.  They have 7 road games in 2018 and travel to MN twice, NY, AL and in between. 

The other option bandied about was moving up to Division 2.

Looks like OAC is now my home on the message boards.

can't we send Wilma to NAIA and take Thomas More in?  D3 Independent is no way to be.  Is NAIA just a stepping stone to NCAA D2?

I think there was a question for D2 about enrollment minimums and funding scholarships.  They aren't quite there yet.  Many of those current schools in the MidSouth are in Kentucky.  The conference footprint is Kentucky south through GA.  It will enable the school to continue to increase enrollment. 

Selfishly, I'd have liked them to stay in D3 but they had nowhere to go.

holy cow the Mid South is a huge football conference.  20 teams!

Do the current players at TMC start getting scholarship money?  Sorry for all of the questions, I have no idea how this transition happens

Some of those teams are only associate members.  I'm not exactly how the transition will work.  But I don't think they can give out scholarship money until 2019. 

The recruiting will be the same kinds of kids - Thomas More was running into Georgetown, Lindsey Wilson and others on the recruiting trail.  So I'm sure there will be kids currently on the roster who receive some money. 

This conference really should help them make great progress in Florida.

I generally don't like NAIA programs, but I'll be rooting for Thomas More.  Put a NAIA wall around Cincy and dominate. 

[SaintsFAN]

I generally don't like NAIA programs, but I'll be rooting for Thomas More.  Put a NAIA wall around Cincy and dominate.

As I was telling Pat, I hope they can find a way to make the playoffs in 2018 in D3 for a final time. 

[Frank Rossi]

Merle - NAIAFootball.com is still available.  Just sayin'...

[merlecanlas]

Merle - NAIAFootball.com is still available.  Just sayin'...

oh frank....another swing and a miss.  there has been much discussion about TMC joining the OAC when it was announced TMC was leaving their conference.

The OAC board is Merle country.  I won't take over the East boards until the playoffs.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Sadly for TMC, OAC was never an option... nor was the HCAC or NCAC. They had danced with the MIAC, but that fell apart. There was even talks with the SLIAC - no go. The SAA could have been an option, but I believe that go no where as well.

Per the '16 title for UMHB... just a reminder... a vacated trophy doesn't go to anyone. You aren't awarded a trophy for losing a game when that game is vacated (not forfeited; very different).

And I don't think the NCAA would view Mount as being "back-to-back" champions... they lost in '16

[merlecanlas]

as the newly elected voice for Mount Union fans, nobody wants the '16 trophy.  I was simply trying to inject some levity into a turbulent time in D3 football.  We will miss Thomas More and we hope that they earn a shiny 2nd place ring in 2018

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Sadly, many people think that when a program vacates a trophy... it comes to the team that lost the game. So... I was clarifying to be sure.

[MUC57]

d-Mac

Of course you are right about a vacated championship! Not sure why we are even discussing this. Not sure this is even an issue. We'll let merle live in his own world.

[bluestreak66]

I generally don't like NAIA programs, but I'll be rooting for Thomas More.  Put a NAIA wall around Cincy and dominate.

As I was telling Pat, I hope they can find a way to make the playoffs in 2018 in D3 for a final time.

I agree with that. With their schedule, I'd say they'd be worthy at 8-2! I was kind of hoping they would stick around in DIII, but I can understand why they didn't. Before it was announced that Ferrum was joining the ODAC, I was kind of thinking that they would end up there. Hope they have much success in their new conference! (Thomas More was actually my 1st collegiate opponent back in 2009! We lost that game 14-7 I believe  )

[Pat Coleman]

Sadly for TMC, OAC was never an option... nor was the HCAC or NCAC. They had danced with the MIAC, but that fell apart. There was even talks with the SLIAC - no go. The SAA could have been an option, but I believe that go no where as well.

Still the MIAA here, not the MIAC, pretty sure.

[bluestreak66]

as the newly elected voice for Mount Union fans, nobody wants the '16 trophy.  I was simply trying to inject some levity into a turbulent time in D3 football.  We will miss Thomas More and we hope that they earn a shiny 2nd place ring in 2018

Not so fast my friend! What makes you think you can claim the vacated 2nd place trophy for Mount? If anyone one is going to claim an imaginary trophy that the team doesn't want and the school didn't earn, it's going to be me! 

[D O.C.]

Aren't there any fans of real championship contenders that want to be on my side?

I'll be your friend.
Can you send me one of those friendship rings now?

[SaintsFAN]

I generally don't like NAIA programs, but I'll be rooting for Thomas More.  Put a NAIA wall around Cincy and dominate.

As I was telling Pat, I hope they can find a way to make the playoffs in 2018 in D3 for a final time.

I agree with that. With their schedule, I'd say they'd be worthy at 8-2! I was kind of hoping they would stick around in DIII, but I can understand why they didn't. Before it was announced that Ferrum was joining the ODAC, I was kind of thinking that they would end up there. Hope they have much success in their new conference! (Thomas More was actually my 1st collegiate opponent back in 2009! We lost that game 14-7 I believe  )

That season started so well for Thomas More, to have it end at home in the 2nd round on a 43 yard FG by Johns Hopkins on the final play.  I was providing color commentary that day and remember it well.   The Saints never got over the 2nd round hump in the tournament.