Post by HLFanaticus on May 13, 2013 12:09:36 GMT -6
In 2010-2011, Northern Kentucky University was looking to upgrade to Division I. They knew, by NCAA regulations, they'd have a 4 year wait before being eligible for NCAA tourney play. After weighing things, their options were the A-Sun, the Summit League and the Horizon League. They really wanted to join the Horizon League, but at that time our "visionary" Commissioner stated that the HL wasn't looking to expand (maybe LeCrone and the Board were a bit leery about NKU "adding nothing" to the League in their wait for eligibility). NKU is invited by the A-Sun in 2011 for play in the 2012-13 season. During that time Butler is contacted by the A-10 and eventually invited. Also during this time and years before, Oakland University has made it known that they would like to be a part of the Horizon.
What if Commissioner Jon LeCrone and the Board (including Detroit, who blocked Oakland) had been proactive in all of this Conference Realignment and grabbed the bull by the horns and invited NKU and Oakland when they were seeking entrance? We would've had 12 teams. Now when Butler did leave, we react and make overtures to Belmont and Murray State. I believe if this was done quickly, both Belmont and Murray State comes to the Horizon League. Now the HL is up to 13 teams for the 2012-13 season. This move would've at the least, had the HL as the 9th or 10th rated League in the nation. At the end of the 12-13 season, the MVC invites Loyola, which along with YSU and UIC has been a bottom feeder, and now the HL is at a reasonable and very strong 12 teams and we don't have to go through any of this wait and see stuff that we just went through and still ONLY added ONE team!
Just imagine going into the 2013-2014 season with these teams:
NORTH DIVISION
Detroit
Green Bay
Milwaukee
Oakland
UIC
Valparaiso
SOUTH DIVISION
Belmont
Cleveland State
Murray State
NKU
Wright State
Youngstown State
Obviously, based on the recent history of the teams, this would be a very strong league, rivaling the strength of the A-10 and the MVC.
Seeing into the future is a very invaluable gift to have.
What if Commissioner Jon LeCrone and the Board (including Detroit, who blocked Oakland) had been proactive in all of this Conference Realignment and grabbed the bull by the horns and invited NKU and Oakland when they were seeking entrance? We would've had 12 teams. Now when Butler did leave, we react and make overtures to Belmont and Murray State. I believe if this was done quickly, both Belmont and Murray State comes to the Horizon League. Now the HL is up to 13 teams for the 2012-13 season. This move would've at the least, had the HL as the 9th or 10th rated League in the nation. At the end of the 12-13 season, the MVC invites Loyola, which along with YSU and UIC has been a bottom feeder, and now the HL is at a reasonable and very strong 12 teams and we don't have to go through any of this wait and see stuff that we just went through and still ONLY added ONE team!
Just imagine going into the 2013-2014 season with these teams:
NORTH DIVISION
Detroit
Green Bay
Milwaukee
Oakland
UIC
Valparaiso
SOUTH DIVISION
Belmont
Cleveland State
Murray State
NKU
Wright State
Youngstown State
Obviously, based on the recent history of the teams, this would be a very strong league, rivaling the strength of the A-10 and the MVC.
Seeing into the future is a very invaluable gift to have.