FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

People are posting that a deal has been finalized between Depauw and the NCAC; the announcement is forthcoming. Anyone over here have any insight?

Everything I've heard from DePauw's side is the exact opposite.  The last information I got was that the NCAC didn't want DePauw.  There were a boatload of schools interested in that North Coast spot and DePauw wasn't even on the radar to get it.  DePauw was very interested, but the administration was painting the picture that the feeling was not mutual.

[BashDad]

Wes,

See NCAC board for the rumor... Seinfeld isn't one to yell and he seems pretty steadfast in his declaration.

[Ralph Turner]

If speculation can run wild at this minute on DePauw's going to the NCAC, then I look for Berry to move to the SCAC.  That consolidates Atlanta, gives a close travel partner for Oglethorpe.

[DPU3619]

Wes,

See NCAC board for the rumor... Seinfeld isn't one to yell and he seems pretty steadfast in his declaration.

I'm not doubting him or the report. That's just the story that the DPU admin is telling. I think it's a little bizarre to say that if you're joining the conference. I can understand the "we're in the SCAC and we like the SCAC" PR trick, but I guess I don't see a point in concocting a tall tale like that if you're going to turn right around and join the conference anyways. Who knows... DPU administration has surprised me before.

[Ron Boerger]

If speculation can run wild at this minute on DePauw's going to the NCAC, then I look for Berry to move to the SCAC.  That consolidates Atlanta, gives a close travel partner for Oglethorpe.

What indication do you see that Berry is unhappy w/the NAIA, Ralph?  

No football team at Berry ... teams will have to work hard to find that fourth non-conference game (or play nine games or an NAIA/D2 opponent).   At least with B-SC becoming eligible the conference wouldn't lose its AQ.

I still don't want to see DPU go to the NCAC, even though it makes geographic, financial, and scholastic sense.       But this guy says he's seen the documents, so maybe it's all over but the shouting:

OK, one last comment on DePauw and then I'll let it go for now (at least as it pertains to the validity of them joining the NCAC), because:

1) It will become official this coming Wednesday so we'll know then
2) I can't prove definitively on this site now anyway

I'll just say this. My information isn't based on second-hand info or what one person told me. It is based on actually viewing, with my own two eyes (not using the blurry glasses in my Seinfeld bio photo), an announcement of this agreement, which just went down yesterday. So unless high level people in the NCAC are involved in some sort of large scale hoax, this is 100% a done deal.

So now the conversation, at least as it relates to football, should switch to what this means for overall conference strength and the chances of making the playoffs, and what it means for the schedule. Ideally, I would like to go with what the OAC does, and have everyone play each other, leaving one non-conference game. But at the very least they need to get up to eight conference games.

[Ralph Turner]

If speculation can run wild at this minute on DePauw's going to the NCAC, then I look for Berry to move to the SCAC.  That consolidates Atlanta, gives a close travel partner for Oglethorpe.

What indication do you see that Berry is unhappy w/the NAIA, Ralph?  

No football team at Berry ... teams will have to work hard to find that fourth non-conference game (or play nine games or an NAIA/D2 opponent).   At least with B-SC becoming eligible the conference wouldn't lose its AQ.

I still don't want to see DPU go to the NCAC, even though it makes geographic, financial, and scholastic sense.       But this guy says he's seen the documents, so maybe it's all over but the shouting:

OK, one last comment on DePauw and then I'll let it go for now (at least as it pertains to the validity of them joining the NCAC), because:

1) It will become official this coming Wednesday so we'll know then
2) I can't prove definitively on this site now anyway

I'll just say this. My information isn't based on second-hand info or what one person told me. It is based on actually viewing, with my own two eyes (not using the blurry glasses in my Seinfeld bio photo), an announcement of this agreement, which just went down yesterday. So unless high level people in the NCAC are involved in some sort of large scale hoax, this is 100% a done deal.

So now the conversation, at least as it relates to football, should switch to what this means for overall conference strength and the chances of making the playoffs, and what it means for the schedule. Ideally, I would like to go with what the OAC does, and have everyone play each other, leaving one non-conference game. But at the very least they need to get up to eight conference games.

They are already in the Provisional pipeline.   

http://www.berry.edu/athletics/ncaa/

[Ron Boerger]

Right you are.  Thanks!

http://www.berry.edu/pr/pressdetail.aspx?id=1888&terms=+%28+%40summary_9+NCAA*+%29+

[Ralph Turner]

No football team at Berry ... teams will have to work hard to find that fourth non-conference game (or play nine games or an NAIA/D2 opponent).   At least with B-SC becoming eligible the conference wouldn't lose its AQ.

Isn't this where Hendrix is supposed to come thru for its fellow SCAC'ers?

[Ron Boerger]

Ralph, I don't think anyone in the SCAC, the braintrust at Hendrix included, have any idea when or even if that school is going to finally get its FB program going.

[D3_DPUFan]

The reports are true. DePauw is leaving the SCAC and headed to the NCAC in 2011. Official announcement expected Wednesday.

[D3_DPUFan]

DePauw football remains in the SCAC for 2 seasons, joining the NCAC for the 2012 season. All other sports have just one more season in the SCAC.

[cush]

That's a big obvious move for depauw and the ncac to make, should have happened years ago + noble to stick around for two more football seasons to ease the transition. As for the scac, its loss but travel  should be easier and maybe the w's for other programs. I would think berry college would be a lock to replace depauw with the hope they start a football program. I do wonder if Colorado college might also exit  but they don't have a landing spot, so maybe not.

[Ralph Turner]

That's a big obvious move for depauw and the ncac to make, should have happened years ago + noble to stick around for two more football seasons to ease the transition. As for the scac, its loss but travel  should be easier and maybe the w's for other programs. I would think berry college would be a lock to replace depauw with the hope they start a football program. I do wonder if Colorado college might also exit  but they don't have a landing spot, so maybe not.

Berry can come online in 2 years, if they want to.

Berry will be Provisional year #3 in 2011-12.  Results versus Berry will count towards the playoffs that year.  That seems to be part of the timing, a smart move to say the least.

Were Colorado College to leave, would UDallas be acceptable?

[Ron Boerger]

Official announcement:

http://www.northcoast.org/news/DePauwtoNCAC.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- DePauw University of Greencastle, Indiana, has accepted a unanimous invitation to join the North Coast Athletic Conference.

The NCAC was founded in 1983 based upon the principles of a strong commitment to equality for women, a firm belief in a broad-based athletic program as part of an institutions' greater academic mission and a reliance on presidential leadership. With the addition of women's golf for the 2010-11 season, the NCAC will sponsor 23 championship sports, 11 for men and 12 for women.

DePauw will begin NCAC competition in 2011-12 in all sports with the exception of football, which, due to existing contracts, will begin play in 2012.

[...]

"The move to the NCAC aligns DePauw with strong institutions with a similar focus on academic excellence and the overall development of the student with fewer strains on both schedules and budgets," explained DePauw President Brian Casey.

[more at link]

[Ron Boerger]

SCAC announcement, interesting that it does not say anything about football taking another year.  I guess the 2011 games v. DPU will be non-conference (and out-of-region?):

http://www.scacsports.com/news/depauw_leaves_scac

SUWANEE, Ga. - In an announcement made today, DePauw University has decided to leave the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and accept an offer of membership in the North Coast Athletic Conference. The move will be effective July 1, 2011.

"DePauw has been an exemplary member of the SCAC since joining our conference in 1998," said commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. "We trust this was not an easy decision for President Casey and the Board of Trustees, but respect that the decision was made in the best interest of the institution."

"The SCAC hates to lose DePauw, but we certainly respect their decision to switch conference affiliation in order for their student-athletes to compete in an area of the country that makes more sense geographically," said Southwestern University President Jake Schrum, who is chair of the SCAC Executive Council. "Speaking on behalf of all of the presidents of the SCAC, we wish them well in all future endeavors."

During its time with the SCAC (1998-2010), DePauw has captured 70 conference championships (32 in men's sports; 38 in women's sport). Over that 12-year span, only Trinity University with 98 championships has more total conference titles than DePauw.

DePauw's decision currently leaves the SCAC with 11 member institutions. The league's Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 9, in Atlanta, Ga., to attend to regular conference business.