Conference changes

[Mr. Ypsi]

Eastern Nazarene College announced today they'll be leaving the CCC for the NECC in the 2018-2019 season.  They're essentially replacing Daniel Webster, which is closing this summer.

I'm pretty sure it would feel very weird to be a graduate of a school that no longer exists.  There is a state park near Peoria IL that I used to go to regularly - it is the campus (and surrounding grounds) of the short-lived Jubilee College.  It somehow felt almost haunted.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Eastern Nazarene College announced today they'll be leaving the CCC for the NECC in the 2018-2019 season.  They're essentially replacing Daniel Webster, which is closing this summer.

I'm pretty sure it would feel very weird to be a graduate of a school that no longer exists.  There is a state park near Peoria IL that I used to go to regularly - it is the campus (and surrounding grounds) of the short-lived Jubilee College.  It somehow felt almost haunted.

Technically it doesn't exist now; I'm pretty sure some other school's name will be on diplomas this spring.

[KnightSlappy]

Bringing this forward for the 2017-18 season. Feel free to add anything I've missed.

Conference Changes Starting in 2017-2018
Alfred State joins the newly formed ACAA
Berea joins the USAC
Daniel Webster closes its doors
Finlandia joins the ACAA
Ithaca leaves the E8 for the LL
Maine-Presque Isle joins the ACAA
Pine Manor joins the ACAA
Regis leaves the NECC for the GNAC
Sage leaves the SKY for the E8
SUNIT leaves the NEAC for the ACAA
SUNY-Canton joins the ACAA
Valley Forge joins the ACAA
Pfeiffer joins the USAC (1st year provisional in 2017-18)

Provisional Pipeline for 2017-2018
First year full members: Berea**, Bryn Athyn**, Penn College**
*4th year provisional members:  Alfred State**, Illinois Tech**, Iowa Wesleyan**, McMurry (reclassifying)**
*3rd year provisional members: Belhaven**
2nd year provisional members: none
1st year provisional members: Brevard, Dean, Pfeiffer
Exploratory: SUNY-Delhi, Johnson and Wales (Col.)
*Games against Year 3 and 4 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes
** Assuming advancement as expected, I don't think we have confirmation yet.

Looks like Saint Anselm's dropped out.

Conference Changes Starting in 2018-2019
Colby-Sawyer leaves the NAC for the GNAC
Eastern Nazarene leaves the CCC for the NECC

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Saint Anselm has dropped out temporarily. They have announced that they are staying in DII for right now. They are still exploring leaving DII for DIII but they botched the process so badly the first go around that they were left rudderless and without sails. And I might be the only one who says this, but I think the status of their AD in relation to the UWSP investigation may have Saint Anselm trying to stay even keeled for right now. They have had too many missteps to continue pushing to DIII, but I would be somewhat surprised if they don't reemerge in the DIII conversation in a year or two (I believe they will work with other DIIs in New England on forming a conference so the jump is less jolting).

[iwumichigander]

Saint Anselm has dropped out temporarily. They have announced that they are staying in DII for right now. They are still exploring leaving DII for DIII but they botched the process so badly the first go around that they were left rudderless and without sails. And I might be the only one who says this, but I think the status of their AD in relation to the UWSP investigation may have Saint Anselm trying to stay even keeled for right now. They have had too many missteps to continue pushing to DIII, but I would be somewhat surprised if they don't reemerge in the DIII conversation in a year or two (I believe they will work with other DIIs in New England on forming a conference so the jump is less jolting).

Saint Anselm has struggled on a number if issues outside of sports.  With the proliferation of DIII New England schools, getting in a "right matched" conference would be important.  There are several DIII within short distance of St Anselm but IMHO not necessarily a "right match" academically or philosophically.  More homework required

[gordonmann]

End of an era -- Rust leaves for the NAIA

http://m.naia.org/mobile/ViewArticle.dbml?atclid=211556713&DB_OEM_ID=27900&

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not a bit surprised. Perhaps it's for the best. It's hard to be an indie, and Rust is not in a part of the country in which there are a lot of D3 conference options. Plus, nearby D3 competition isn't exactly thick on the ground for a school located in northern Mississippi.

[Pat Coleman]

Only surprise is that it took this long.

[joehakes]

The NAIA is doing some fishing among DIIIs for members.  We received an information packet with a letter that was somewhat customized to Illinois Tech telling us that there was an NAIA conference in our area.  Since we were a member of that conference for quite a few years, that did not come as breaking news.  The letter said that several NCAA schools were applying to the NAIA.  That part did not specify that they were DIIIs, but just a general statement.  I have not heard of any schools going that direction.  Some of the statistics that they sent were not the most forthcoming, IMHO.

[Gregory Sager]

The NAIA press release regarding Rust to which Gordon linked indicated that D2 Panhandle State is also moving to NAIA. So I guess that the NAIA's definition of several is "two".

Apropos of nothing, I love Panhandle State's logo:

[gordonmann]

I hope Panhandle State has a business degree. That would be awesome.

[Gregory Sager]

[Gregory Sager]

I wonder if OPSU added "Oklahoma" to the school's name in 1967 to aid people who are unfamiliar with the geographical salient and historical region called the Oklahoma Panhandle, or if it was to discourage jokes about panhandling.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The NAIA press release regarding Rust to which Gordon linked indicated that D2 Panhandle State is also moving to NAIA. So I guess that the NAIA's definition of several is "two".

Apropos of nothing, I love Panhandle State's logo:

So, is that a reflection of NAIA English departments, or NAIA math departments?

[Gregory Sager]

Yes.