Conference changes

[KnightSlappy]

Thanks Caz. Edited.

Thanks for moving the list forward and updating! +K!

Edit: And now I've caused us to be on a new page.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Um ... Staten Island is apparently leaving immediately (if accepted). They will honor their schedules next year, but as their press release said, "effective for the 2019-20 athletic year." They will start the three-year provisional status this upcoming year. UT-Tyler took a year and starts their provisional three-year status this year as well (as I understand it): https://csidolphins.com/news/2019/3/1/general-csi-announces-intention-of-reclassification-to-ncaa-division-ii.aspx.

UT Tyler will be entering the second year of the three-year provisional D2 process this fall. Frostburg State and Staten Island, if approved, will enter year one. I gather that provisional D2 members aren't required to play a D2 schedule until year two.

Let me put it a different way ... UT Tyler will now start offering scholarships starting with the upcoming academic year. Frostburg and Staten Island will start offering them right away this year without the transition year UTT (and Benedictine at one point) used.

[thebear]

At least on the women's side, UT-Tyler hired Jeannette Yeomans away from SUNY Cortland, She is a great coach and wouldn't be surprised to see them move another level in a few years.

[Ralph Turner]

Just moving this forward (again). I am adding Franciscan's move to the Pres AC in 2020-21.


Provisional Pipeline for 2018-2019
First year full members: Alfred State, Illinois Tech, Iowa Wesleyan, McMurry (reclassifying)
*4th year provisional members: Belhaven
*3rd year provisional members: none
2nd year provisional members: Brevard, Dean, Pfeiffer
1st year provisional members: SUNY-Delhi, Johnson and Wales (Col.)
Exploratory: Pratt, University of St Thomas (TX), Mississippi University for Women.
*Games against Year 3 and 4 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Conference Changes Starting in 2019-2020
Alfred State leaves the ACAA for the AMCC
Benedictine leaves D3 for D2
Frostburg State leaves D3 for D2
Manhattanville leaves the MACF for the SKY
New Rochelle (IND) closes
Newbury (NECC) closes
Penn State-Harrisburg leaves the CAC for a return to the NEAC
Southern Vermont (NECC) closes
Staten Island leaves D3 for D2 (plays full D3 schedule. Not eligible for post-season)
Stevens leaves the E8 for the MACF
St. Elizabeth leaves the NEAC for the CSAC
SUNY-Delhi joins the NAC
Texas-Tyler leaves D3 for D2
Thomas More possibly leaves D3 for the NAIA

Provisional Pipeline for 2019-2020
First year full members: (presume Belhaven)
*4th year provisional members: (presume none)
*3rd year provisional members:  (presume Brevard, Dean, Pfeiffer)
2nd year provisional members: (presume SUNY-Delhi, Johnson and Wales (Col.))
1st year provisional members: Pratt, University of St Thomas (TX), Mississippi University for Women.
Exploratory: Bob Jones, Lindenwood-Belleville, Warren Wilson
*Games against Year 3 and 4 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Conference Changes Starting in 2020-2021
Keuka leaves the NEAC for the E8
SNC moving from the MWC to the NACC
York PA moving from the CAC to the MAC Commonwealth
Franciscan moving from AMCC to Pres AC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

If we're working on precision of language, Staten Island will be playing a full CUNYAC schedule next year; I'm not sure about their non-conference schedule.  I suspect they might try to schedule as many of their new conference mates as possible (assuming the division change goes through).

[gordonmann]

https://arcadiaknights.com/news/2019/5/7/general-mac-announces-realignment-for-2020-21.aspx

A bunch of teams move around in the MAC Freedom and Commonwealth when York and Stevens will both be in the fold.

[Greek Tragedy]

https://arcadiaknights.com/news/2019/5/7/general-mac-announces-realignment-for-2020-21.aspx

A bunch of teams move around in the MAC Freedom and Commonwealth when York and Stevens will both be in the fold.

So they are two conferences in some sports but one in other sports. Nice loophole to get two AQs in some sports. They want to be separate, but they can also just swap teams at free will. Sounds like having two fantasy teams and trading players back and forth.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

https://arcadiaknights.com/news/2019/5/7/general-mac-announces-realignment-for-2020-21.aspx

A bunch of teams move around in the MAC Freedom and Commonwealth when York and Stevens will both be in the fold.

So they are two conferences in some sports but one in other sports. Nice loophole to get two AQs in some sports. They want to be separate, but they can also just swap teams at free will. Sounds like having two fantasy teams and trading players back and forth.

It's the dreaded "Grandfather Clause."  This is precisely what the USAC would love to do, I suspect.  Sadly, it's no longer allowed.

[lefty2]

When is the last time a school crossed over within the MAC? 

[WUPHF]

Lindenwood Belleville is exploratory for Division III... Very interesting. Definitely did not expect that.

[Ralph Turner]

Lindenwood Belleville is exploratory for Division III... Very interesting. Definitely did not expect that.

Where do they land?  SLIAC?

https://lindenwoodlynx.com/  Football, Ice Hockey, Wrestling and Rugby for men.

Ice Hockey, Lacrosse and Wrestling for Women.

[Gregory Sager]

I talked about this a month or so ago on the SLIAC men's basketball board. Lindenwood-Belleville will be in a unique position, because it offers a whole bunch of sports that the SLIAC doesn't sponsor, but, nevertheless, the SLIAC is by far the most logical place for the Lynx to land if LUB does in fact choose to transition from NAIA to D3.

I'm going to follow this closely, because NPU's former head football coach is now the defensive coordinator for LUB's football program.

[WUPHF]

I talked about this a month or so ago on the SLIAC men's basketball board.

I guess I do remember talking about it.

I am still shocked.

In terms of institutional culture, Lindenwood is not a Division III-type school.  I mean, to the extent that there is a type...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I talked about this a month or so ago on the SLIAC men's basketball board.

I guess I do remember talking about it.

I am still shocked.

In terms of institutional culture, Lindenwood is not a Division III-type school.  I mean, to the extent that there is a type...

I wonder if it's a case of wanting to be NCAA and finding D3 a little easier to access than d2 for a school that's still developing.

[WUPHF]

I wonder if it's a case of wanting to be NCAA and finding D3 a little easier to access than d2 for a school that's still developing.

That is an interesting idea and seems more likely than not in my mind.

Then again, maybe they see a good business strategy in a varsity athletics program that does not offer scholarship.

This is unrelated to Division III, but it seems as though Lindenwood Belleville will have a more difficult time finding a Division II conference because the options are the GLVC and the MIAA.  Lindenwood is leaving the MIAA for the GLVC so for obvious reasons, it is hard to imagine either conference being open to the sister university.