I think June 30th is somehow a magic date, by which you must announce a conference change or face another year's delay in the process. I'm not sure why this is so, but it may have to do with filing schedules with the NCAA....

Assuming this to be true, we should hear an announcement on the Southland Expansion and also official acknowledgement of the Big Sky inviting and admitting Northern Colorado, on or prior to June 30, 2005.

The Southland will expand to twelve teams, taking UCA and Centenary. (Why else would the Southland ask Centenary to join the talks ?) Unless the Southland takes in four new teams (highly doubtful) Tarleton State’s move to DI will have to wait, and Corpus Christi and UTPA will left in fragile positions. This will give the following travel partner arrangement.

UT-Arlington / Central Arkansas (Southwest Airlines flight)
Centenary / NW St
UT-SA/ Texas St
SeLa / Nicholls St
McNeese St / Lamar
Sam Houston St / SF Austin

Two interesting links:

http://www.caller.com/ccct/islanders/article/0,1641,CCCT_820_3797836,00.html (reg required)

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050522/SPORTS02/505220323/1001

Corpus Christi threw the Southland Conference a big bone to chew on:




I would still handicap the winners as Centenary/Central Arkansas, but Corpus Christi would be a tough school to turn down.

If Centenary moves to the Southland and Corpus Christi gets left out, it might actually make sense for the Mid-Con to consider a Tarleton State/Corpus Christi combo. With Tarleton growing as a school, close to the metroplex and an easy/cheap flight to Corpus Christi, it would probably make more sense for the MidCon than a UTPA-Corpus Christi combo. Oral Roberts U would probably be thrilled, as they want a Texas presence (and near the metroplex) and Tarleton could play Great West Football.

Centenary Yes
Texas at Pan American Yes
Texas A&M at Corpus Christi Yes
Central Arkansas No
Tartleton State No

More news from the Southland and Centenary. Here are highlights and a link.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050522/SPORTS02/505220323/1001

Third time's a charm for Centenary and SLC?
Centenary takes another run at SLC
May 22, 2005

By Scott Ferrell

sferrell@gannett.com

Introductions weren't mandatory Saturday when Centenary College officials met with Southland Conference presidents and a select group of athletic directors in Houston.

Many of the Southland officials and Centenary officials were familiar with one another from the school's previous attempts to join the SLC in 1998 and again in 1999.

Six years later, though, Centenary's chances of joining the Southland appear to be better than at any time in the 1990s. . . .

So it's been 2 (?) weeks since the 5 schools made their presentations. Does anyone out there have an clue as to when something may be announced ?

I thought maybe the Southland folks were re-convening last weekend ?

I wonder if the Mid-Con has a quick reaction plan, should Centenary announce a departure ?

Are there any Mid-Con meetings scheduled in the near future ?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Does anybody want to see this ?

Southland Conference
Central Arkansas
Centenary
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana
Texas at Arlington
Texas at Pan American
Texas at San Antonio
Tarleton State
Texas State at San Marcos

I don't. That will be just as bad as the Atlantic 10 and Big East conferences.

split those teams up put the texas teams in a conference and rest in one too and add harding and delta state universities

Try this for the Southland.

East
Central Arkansas
Centenary
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Southeastern Louisiana

West
Lamar
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Texas-Arlington
Texas-San Antonio
Texas State

Travel Partnets:
Central Arkansas/Centenary
McNeese State/Northwestern St
Nicholls State/Southeastern Louisiana
Lamar/Stephen F. Austin
Texas-Arlington/Texas-San Antonio
Sam Houston St/Texas St

Other than Arlington/San Antonio everybody matches up pretty even.

Southland Conference Advances with Decisions on Membership Issues

League will continue discussions with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the University of Central Arkansas.

http://southland.collegesports.com/genrel/060705aaa.html

Basketball
Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Sam Houston State
Southeastern Louisiana
Stephen F. Austin
Texas at Arlington
Texas at San Antonio
Texas A&M at Corpus Christi
Texas State at San Marcos

Football
Central Arkansas
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana
Texas State at San Marcos

According to the quote and if it's possible, will Texas at Pan-American be added alongside with the rest of the Southland Conference teams (now that Louisiana at Monroe would be withdrawing or departing out of the Southland Conference for a possibility of joining another conference)?

And P.S.: I can guarantee that Oral Roberts and Centenary will maintain in the Mid-Continent Conference. But I'm not sure if Central Arkansas might join an NCAA DI conference YET after leaving the Gulf South Conference.

_________________
Florida State Seminole fan for life (mostly on football, basketball and baseball)!