Consider this the home for discussing schools considering upgrades from D2 to D1.

You'll find some of them on the Conference Realignment Grid.

I hope everyone with an ear to D2 like freaked, FSA, tarkio and the rest of you CSI members keep me posted via this thread and I'll make all the updates to the Grid.

Thanks!

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Schools I have seen mentioned as possible upgrades to Division I not already in the Conference Realignment Grid (sorry, I do not have links but will try to find them):

School (date upgrade mentioned)
Bellarmine (Nov. 2009)
Lincoln Memorial (Nov. 2009)
Tarleton State (Nov. 2009)
West Florida (Jan. 2009)

Lincoln Memorial page on Wikipedia:

"Sports teams, called the "Railsplitters", compete in NCAA Division II in the South Atlantic Conference. The Chairman of the LMU Board of Trustees recently announced during a speech that the school is looking to move to Division I in 2011."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Memorial_University
Scroll down to "Athletics"

West Florida page on Wikipedia:

"According to local papers, UWF has recently created an "Athletics Visioning Team" for 2009. The purpose of this team is to find out whether or not the time is now appropriate for UWF to move its athletic programs up to NCAA Division I, and/or possibly add a football program."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Florida_Argonauts#Possibility_of_a_Football_Program.2C_Moving_to_NCAA_Division_I
Scroll down to "Possibility of a Football Program, Moving to NCAA Division I"

great stuff!

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I talked with Brandon, head of the D-II board for a couple of hours yesterday.
Every school I posted is or just has looked into D-I. You can't go D-I w/o a conference. Here are projections
N.Kentucky (OVC)
Lincoln Memorial (ASC)
W.Florida (ASC) Brandon says they need more money
W.Georgia (Big South)
LeMoyne (AEC) Brandon says they don't have the money
Bellarmine (want to move, no home?)

If/when the SLC loses UTSA and Texas St. to the FBS (Sun Belt?)
Tarleton St. (SLC) Brandon says they don't have the money
C.Oklahoma (SLC)

I vote that NKU, LMU and UWF should get a slot in D-I pretty quick.

Brandon said that UN-Omaha and Grand Valley St. are the most ready to be D-I but doesn't see them leaving D-II

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What is the status of Oklahoma City University ?

I have them in the Sooner Athletic Conference of NAIA, but they were issuing press releases about seriously wanting to jump to D-I, right about the time the moratorium was imposed.

I'm really not familiar with them, but read that at one time they were D-I (?).

That's a heck of a leap, and I am wondering if it was serious, or "pie in the sky" ?


I would appreciate any insight on that one.....

The new NCAA rules would prevent NAIA (Houston Baptist) or former JC's (Utah Valley State) from moving directly to DI. A school like Oklahoma City would first have to move to DII and stay there for five years, before it would be eligible to be invited by a DI conference.

With UN-Omaha's new AD, he has made DI a priority. The Summit will reach out to them, which will give it six schools along I-29 from KC to the Canadian border.

Saw a web reference that Francis Marion in SC and the Atlantic Sun had mutual interest.

Grand Canyon has definite interest in DI - the Big Sky would have to change it's sports requirements, but GCU would be an ideal travel partner with NAU.

W Washington has been rumored as a DI candidate - supposedly the President dropped football so that a DI move could be made.

W Georgia and Valdosta St are likely candidates and both have been planning DI moves for a number of years - the Big South and or Southern are thought to have interest.

N Alabama has been studying DI with the OVC as a target.

W Texas A&M and the Southland are possible.

The Big West prefers UC-SD to CSU-Bakersfield, which has already moved up. UCSD does not fit the DII profile whatsoever, but would need to add athletic scholarships in a difficult financial environment.

Southern Indiana has also studied DI - the Summit or OVC might have interest. Harding in Arkansas also had DI interest, but it might have difficulty finding a league.

Wayne St has DI intentions, but finances and Oakland's presence in the Summit prevent membership in that conference.

s2c, you got any links on...

Francis Marion (thought I heard something) (D-II guy said small school w/ small budget)
W.Washington (nothing) (D-II message board head said no way)
Valdosta St. (nothing) (D-II head said not enough money or their own stadium for football)
S.Indiana (nothing) (D-II head said they've been saying it for 20 years)
W.Texas A&M (only rabid fan wishing)
Harding (nothing) (D-II head says they are cutting costs)
UCSD (I thought I saw something on them too)(D-II head said this could happen)

Wayne St.(MI) did a study in 04 but decided not to.
I Know about Trev Alberts and UNO but Nebraska will try and block that.
Grand Canyon has no one that would take them except the GWC (which doesn't count as a conf.)

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Francis Marion: a SC newpaper suggesting ASUN interest. Here a DI reference: http://www.entrepreneur.com/colleges/mba/1037581.html



UCSD: student newspaper article copied onto message board:

http://www.waterpoloplanet.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4889

Grand Canyon and discussions with WCC:

http://www.gcu.edu/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=105&cntnt01returnid=69

A Big West or even Big Sky also are possible. (It is my belief that the Big Sky will not be able to sustain it's mandatory sports lineup - non-football schools will be accepted in the upcoming decade.)

Valdosta State: studying women's soccer, women's golf, and men's soccer as step to meet DI requirements. While VSU plays in a HS stadium, the stadium quality exceeds most that of most FCS schools. If W Georgia goes DI, VSU would be so isolated in the GSC, that it would practically forced to follow.

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:OVMRzQanhUkJ:www.valdosta.edu/finadmin/bac/documents/PBCminutes03-13-2009.pdf+%22Valdosta+State%22+%22Division+I%22&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbT43FgKrKrH3QVoz_aiTrXyW1Mwrg

West Georgia
http://www.westga.edu/~stadium/game.html



Tarleton State

DI is an official strategic goal by the year 2017
http://www.tarleton.edu/policy/documents/StrategicPlans/Strategic%20Plan%202007-2011%20McCabe%20small.pdf

Nebraska-Omaha

What Omaha is doing in hockey and the revenue that Omaha will produce is very poorly understood, except by fans who follow hockey:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/sports/04alberts.html

Omaha World-Herald Article cut/paste:



Wayne State - DI plans seem to have been dropped - no longer reference in it's strategic plan
S Indiana - most recent newspaper article states USI is fine in DII

Harding - there were references to DI shortly after UCA moved up, financial issues seem to have changed their focus

W Washington - by dropping football, WWU now has a Title IX issue (few $'s for men). At least one reference - that I can not find - suggested that WWU's president dropped football so that WWU could afford DI.

W Texas A&M - Amarillo newspaper columnist demanding a move up - referenced the AD - can't find the link - nothing official

Good stuff, keep me updated on it.

D-II guy talked to W.Washington AD or SID. he said they have no intentions on moving to D-I. Like I said they don't have a home in D-I w/o football Sky only allows fb members, WCC private, Big West only in Cali.

I'm interested to see what the Big West will do. I don't think they'd go to 11 so will they wait for UCSD to move and screw over CS Bakersfield. Or will they add CSUB and if later Pacific leaves for WCC (One of the schools mentioned) add UCSD. I guess they could look for another CCAA move up and go to 12 if UOP stays.

You are right Valdosta St. will be f'd if UWG leaves but you can't go D-I without a conference now UWG just got busted for violations this week. A-Sun will go after non footballers like LMU and UWF. Maybe even Francis Marion. I read the article earlier on them. Sounds like wishful thinking. If UWG gets an invite it would probably be from the Big South puting them at 12 closing off VSU from getting in. I see the OVC adding NKU puting them at 12. If Jacksonville St. goes FBS, that could open a spot for VSU.

Yes I think that Tarleton St. and C.Oklahoma have a great shot at the SLC when Texas St. and UTSA leave. If WTAMU makes a play for D-I they'll have to compete with the other 2.

Grand Canyon doesn't have the money to start football like they said they were. They were supposed to have a team in 2010. Nope. I hope the WCC expands or Seattle is f'd. I think the 3 candidates (Seattle, Pacific, Denver, not West Coast but was mentioned) they had a couple of years ago would all get the nod over Grand Canyon.

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remember all of these articles were posted before the new rules of (a conference must invite you, you pay 1.4 million to join, No post season for 8 years instead of 5). That will eliminate some schools.

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Article out of Omaha with more speculation regarding a possible future UNO move to D-1.Link at http://www.omaha.com/article/20100123/SPORTS/701239833

Article out of San Diego with update on possible UCSD D-1 move at http://www.ucsdguardian.org/news/14818