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Post by letsgoeagles on Jan 12, 2022 10:10:57 GMT -6
Might have to pump the breaks on the USI to D1 talk. I'm not sure how much sway this survey holds in the decision-making process and admittedly it's a small number of survey responses but that is not an encouraging sign for a school possibly looking to move up. I wouldn't read too much into those surveys. Most of the concern is centered upon the potential for added student fees. USI president, Dr John Rochon, had never considered division 1 until now, when he had been contacted by several division 1 conferences. Something obviously has got his attention, and I am sure it is centered upon student enrollment, and the profile of the school itself. The two major committees involved will be presenting very soon this month and give their recommendation. Perhaps I am reading too much into some of Dr Rochon's recent comments in the news websites, but he seems to be leaning in favor of it. My personal hope is the USI ends up with the Horizon League. But given that the OVC tournament is now in Evansville, and all the now existing teams in the OVC are an easy bus ride away, I think they may end of there. There is zero question in my mind the OVC wants them. What I hold onto is that it seems fairly certain that USI has had at least some conversation with the Horizon.
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Post by commissioner on Jan 12, 2022 17:03:12 GMT -6
They had 2233 people respond. The groups were retirees, support staff, administration, faculty, current student athletes and current students. To no surprise the first 4 groups were not in favor. Stop me if you have ever heard faculty and staff don't like athletics. The current athletes and current students were split. I'm sure this is a mix of concerns such as being at correct competitive levels and increasing student fees. Missing is the community interest which is larger than any of the groups surveyed. Also, the current students have 4 years or less at USI. It's hard to answer but what will future students want? Kids who will be coming in at a higher price point because they will know the university is D1 and will have less of an issue with it. Basing your future on what less than 800 current students want seems silly. Did they poll alumni at all?
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Post by vugrad1314 on Jan 12, 2022 21:15:29 GMT -6
Might have to pump the breaks on the USI to D1 talk. I'm not sure how much sway this survey holds in the decision-making process and admittedly it's a small number of survey responses but that is not an encouraging sign for a school possibly looking to move up. I wouldn't read too much into those surveys. Most of the concern is centered upon the potential for added student fees. USI president, Dr John Rochon, had never considered division 1 until now, when he had been contacted by several division 1 conferences. Something obviously has got his attention, and I am sure it is centered upon student enrollment, and the profile of the school itself. The two major committees involved will be presenting very soon this month and give their recommendation. Perhaps I am reading too much into some of Dr Rochon's recent comments in the news websites, but he seems to be leaning in favor of it. My personal hope is the USI ends up with the Horizon League. But given that the OVC tournament is now in Evansville, and all the now existing teams in the OVC are an easy bus ride away, I think they may end of there. There is zero question in my mind the OVC wants them. What I hold onto is that it seems fairly certain that USI has had at least some conversation with the Horizon. The OVC would be a terrific fit for them starting out. They could compete right away in a league that lets them get their D1 sea legs and then make the move to the HL at a later time when after a few successful years in the OVC they have some power and cache behind their name and can parlay that into recruiting success. Plus I don't think the HL takes members that aren't D1 yet according to their bylaws or at least I think that was the rule when Valpo was there but maybe it changed when NKU was added because I don't think the Norse had fully completed their transition when they joined.
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Post by vugrad1314 on Jan 14, 2022 1:03:22 GMT -6
This article covers a lot of what has already been said. I'm not sure what to make of it as to whether or not USI will be going D1. Sounds like they still need a good bit of work. The decision will come in mid February and the OVC Atlantic Sun and Horizon League are the three leagues under consideration. My instinct says we need to pump the breaks on this for now but maybe they will in fact make the jump. If USI makes the jump I strongly doubt they will be able to jump directly to the Horizon League. The OVC seems most likely followed by the A-Sun. The Horizon League will probably be monitoring them closely and could call them up in a few years if the transition goes well and the HL feels they are ready. www.courierpress.com/story/news/local/2022/01/13/usi-releases-internal-report-moving-division-sports/9158844002/usi.edu/explore-Di
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Post by gbphoenix1 on Jan 14, 2022 6:31:56 GMT -6
In the FAQ it indicates USI has studied 3 regional conferences but only 1 has approached them with interest.
I would say it's clear the OVC is interested in them while USI may be interested in the HL.
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Post by vugrad1314 on Jan 14, 2022 9:20:02 GMT -6
In the FAQ it indicates USI has studied 3 regional conferences but only 1 has approached them with interest. I would say it's clear the OVC is interested in them while USI may be interested in the HL. I'd have to agree that it's probably the OVC because the OVC is in full on survival\take anyone mode. The trouble is they don't help the OVC in some important sports like soccer and swimming. I do think the A-Sun is a possibility so long as Bellarmine sticks around but I think they have a real chance to replace UIC should the Flames depart the Horizon League. I don't think it's the HL at this time as they have no present pressing need for them or anyone for that matter. They are stable in their membership and would likely only add to balance numbers or to expand for competitive reasons.
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Post by letsgoeagles on Jan 19, 2022 10:26:37 GMT -6
USI will be announcing no later than mid-February is they will continue to choose to pursue Division 1. The Board of Trustees are going over every detail thoroughly. I don't believe it won't be a unanimous decision at all, but I think the school will choose to be D-1. I do know from earlier reports that USI has spoken to both the OVC and Horizon. I simply have a strong feeling that they (USI) will chose the OVC based on the location of the other schools, and the OVC tournament being hosted in Evansville. Not implying that the Screaming Eagles would be invited to the Horizon...I wish they were. Given the precarious situation of the OVC, I believe there commissioner is, IMO, probably begging them to join.
Perhaps the Horizon might later consider USI if they have success.
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Post by vugrad1314 on Jan 22, 2022 11:23:45 GMT -6
I'd love to see USI go D1 and I just can't fathom building an arena of that caliber and not going D1 but I have two concerns: 1. How do you overcome the apparent lack of support since I believe only 39% responded positively to the survey which admittedly only received a small response sample and (more importantly) 2. How are they going to come up with the money especially if they are targeting the Horizon League? Their athletic budget would need to almost double to compete at even the bottom of D1 let alone be competitive in the HL which has higher budgets than say the OVC. I believe the OVC is certainly their target IF they move up and I don't believe moving up is assured by any means.
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Post by HLFanaticus on Feb 7, 2022 13:19:58 GMT -6
USI board of Trustees voted unanimously in the "yea" on the school going Division 1. They now have to file paperwork.
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Post by freewind on Feb 7, 2022 14:44:34 GMT -6
They'll be competing for the OVC title pretty quickly with Belmont and Murray St leaving. That leaves only Morehead State with a decent NET ranking left, all other teams are around 300.
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Post by vugrad1314 on Feb 8, 2022 11:50:33 GMT -6
Congratulations and good luck USI! I also assume this is for the OVC and they will do fine in that new look conference. Only Morehead State and Little Rock will be competition there. I do think this is good for the stability of the OVC at least as a conference. It could be the first of a few announcements and while the conference may or may not survive as a football conference it will continue as an Olympic Sports conference. Interestingly it appears that Queens University in North Carolina might be going D1 as well (A-Sun or Big South as possibilities). They don't sponsor football but it makes one wonder if maybe other moves are coming as well (Bellarmine to the HL? A MEAC school to the Big South? The CAA making another move with Howard or NC A&T?) It appears that this realignment chapter is not yet over and we will see more interesting moves before the dust settles.
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Post by rogobob77 on Feb 8, 2022 14:23:58 GMT -6
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Post by topstraight on Feb 8, 2022 22:21:04 GMT -6
USI announces which conference Wednesday (Feb. 9th).
Most are saying OVC and a few the HORIZON.
Thoughts??
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Post by freewind on Feb 9, 2022 7:38:27 GMT -6
Probably the OVC. I think Bellarmine is coming to the Horizon League at the end of the season. I think USI will be first in line for the next call up which should give them a few years in the OVC.
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Post by rogobob77 on Feb 9, 2022 11:13:07 GMT -6
Southern Indiana has announced that its athletics department will become an OVC member.
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