University of New Orleans & D3-D1

[Slidell]

There is a lot of uncertainty right now and the athletic department has to sort through it once the committee appointed by the LSU board to oversee operations in the interim gets up to speed.

My thoughts?  It's unlikely that we can just simply reverse course and go backt o D-I.  Regardless of Ryan's actions or motives, there was a huge problem with the way our athletic department was managed and it was bleeding red ink.  To comply with D-I requirements, six sports had to be added.  As it is, three have to be added for next year in D-III.

I think we will continue our reclassification process, add football, women's soccer and women's golf.

I think we will remain in D-III for the foreseeable future and any future moves to reclassify will be up to our next permanent chancellor.

But that's just one fan's opinion.

[Ralph Turner]

Winston-Salem State did this just recently but that was a move from Division II to Division I and they realized that the finances just weren't there. With a lot of Division I not liking teams like NJIT and Houston Baptist joining their ranks because of the supposed (and sometimes actual) inferority of the programs the NCAA was willing to let Winston-Salem State go back to Division II. I don't know how this situation would pan out if New Orleans tries to go back to Division I.

If New Orleans does return to Division I what happens to their football team? The athletic department down there has been trumpetting the start of intercollegiate football for the past few weeks. If they were moving to Division III for financial reasons then there is no way they could support a Division I football team along with the rest of their programs. Even if it did join the non-scholarship Pioneer League.

Travel in the Pioneer League (from isolated New Orleans) is a budget buster.

[Tacttm1]

""I think we will remain in D-III for the foreseeable future and any future moves to reclassify will be up to our next permanent chancellor.""

Based on remarks made by others here months ago, I think the 'forseeable future' would be nigh on 8-10 years, esp. since UNO isn't even officially D3 quite yet.

It wil take a couple years just for the Athletic Department to stabilize during this transition and sports addition period.

Slidell - glad you are such a reasoned (i didn't say seasoned!!) and passionate supporter!

[sunny]

I hope if UNO continues its Division III move it is done with full intentions of being a Division III school going forward - not as a stopping ground or some place to cool their jets while they get their finances in order.  Division III deserves better than that.

[Slidell]

UNO appears as the September 17, 2011 opponent on Birmingham Southern's football schedule.

http://www.bscsports.net/schedule.aspx?path=football&schedule=92&

The athletic department has been dropping hints about football next year and the schedule, etc. But this is the first confirmation that we will be playing as an NCAA program next season.

[Hawks88]

I was told several weeks ago that Huntingdon will be playing at New Orleans next season. Not sure of the date but looking at the future schedule that was on HC's web site this summer before they redid the website, it would have to be either 10/29 or 11/12 unless one of the other games that was on the schedule has changed. Below are the nine games that were listed before it was lost to the new website.

2011 Football Season

Date    Opponent    Location    Time
9/3     at Maryville       Maryville, Tenn.   TBA
9/10    at Birmingham-Southern    Birmingham, Ala.    TBA
9/17    vs. Faulkner        Samford Stadium    TBA
9/24    vs. Hampden-Sydney        Samford Stadium    TBA
10/1    at Wesley    Dover, Del.    TBA
10/8    vs. Wittenberg    Samford Stadium    TBA
10/15   at Trinity    San Antonio, Texas    TBA
10/22   vs. Webber International    Samford Stadium    TBA
11/5    vs. LaGrange    Samford Stadium    TBA

[radiodavel]

We have listed on our site an article and also have an embedded video. 

UNO is facing additional money issues.  Can't imagine what the athletic department is facing, this is a complete mess at this time. Enrollment figures at UNO are going down as well...really do feel sorry for the student-athletes. 

www.theseniorreports.com/naiadiv3.htm

[Ralph Turner]

We have listed on our site an article and also have an embedded video.  

UNO is facing additional money issues.  Can't imagine what the athletic department is facing, this is a complete mess at this time. Enrollment figures at UNO are going down as well...really do feel sorry for the student-athletes.  

www.theseniorreports.com/naiadiv3.htm

From D-3 and football to D-2 and no football...

Thanks for the link.

Travel for D-3 would be a real budget nightmare.  They are three hours from Mississippi College and 3.5 hours from Louisiana College.

I don't think that any one in the ASC wanted UNO.  (UTD may have been cordial and not refused the request to mentor/advise UNO.)

UNO can get by with 5 men's and women's sports in D-2.  The ASC was offering 8 sports for men and women.

[Tacttm1]

There is alot that will take place before a decision to reverse the D3 plan is made, namely, a new Chancellor should be in place by April/May, alternative funding being discussed and State Legislative involvement.


I'm not saying it won't happen, but it is no slam dunk.

[smedindy]

It's tough for urban, commuter schools to really get students and others to rally around their sports teams. It can be done, but it is difficult. Most of them do without football because of the cost.

[radiodavel]

UNO official response to The Senior Reports about possible move to D2... www.theseniorreports.com/naiadiv3.htm

they have been doing the study...

[Ralph Turner]

UNO official response to The Senior Reports about possible move to D2... www.theseniorreports.com/naiadiv3.htm

they have been doing the study...

The "study" includes ...

"questions covering topics such as sport sponsorship, compliance, conference affiliation, facilities, budgets and departmental infrastructure."

Yep, Jason Plotkin (UNO's Director of Athletic Media Relations) gave a pretty generic answer.  The D-II's in that region would be the Gulf South Conference, which is losing its Arkansas teams to a new conference forming with schools in Oklahoma and Arkansas.  If UNO had Football, they would be a lot more attractive to the Gulf South.

Thanks for the links.

Here is Mike Wagenheim's article at www.neworleans.com titled "UNO Athletics: Easy as I, III, II".

[Ralph Turner]

Installment #8 of the series, "UNO Athletics: Easy as I, III, II is a multi-part series looking at a Privateer athletic department in a state of flux" makes the case for UNO to add football as a D-1 FCS member in the Southland Conference.

[smedindy]

Because of the expense involved, the only logical way for UNO to have football is D-3, IMHO.

[radiodavel]

UNO eyes Division II for its athletic program
interesting as this develops...
www.theseniorreports.com/naiadiv3.htm