Possible Upgrade Candidate: Grand Canyon University

Quinn · **Joined:** Thu Oct 17, 2002 8:05 am **Posts:** 3753

From Jeff Goodman about Russ Pennell taking the job there:

"The university plans to build a 6,000-seat arena and petition to move up to Division I in basketball, a process that would likely involve a four-year transition period"

Great West, you've got a new candidate.

GCU is currently in the Pacific West conference, so the Great West might actually be less travel (the PWC has multiple Hawaii teams)

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:43 pm

sweet, the school almost dropped to the NAIA now they wanna go D-I. They used to be D-I in baseball.

dbackjon · **Joined:** Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:50 pm **Posts:** 267

BTW - I broke this story on cs.com

I am not sure how they are coming up with 4 year transition.

Can't move up until 2011, then 5 years makes it 2016...

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:35 am

good job dback. keep me up to date on this. yep, 2016 they would be post season eligible but it will be a while before the Great West(GCUs future conference) will count as a auto-bid conference. Are they still gonna have football? It seems moving to D-I means using the $$ for that instead of football.

wbyeager · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:13 am

The Big Sky could add them as a travel partner for Northern Arizona.

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:21 pm

I could be the next President of the USA too

nomorespinsports · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:56 pm

I read somewhere that Grand Canyon University is a for-profit institution. I can't think of any other institutions in Division I that are considered for-profit colleges or universities. Would this be a first? Additionally, would that affect their ability to transition to Division I?

Quinn · **Joined:** Thu Oct 17, 2002 8:05 am **Posts:** 3753

Fresno St. Alum wrote:

I could be the next President of the USA too

That was my big plan. But it all ended the day I got confused and started kissing hands and shaking babies.

Possible Upgrade Candidate: Grand Canyon University

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