ncaanopaawaa2000 wrote:
fighting muskie wrote:
I'd say that now would be a good time for the Horizon to get on the phone with Oakland, IUPUI, IPFW, and WIU/Chicago St and build a 12 team conference.
I'm with you on that. But here are the difference exceptions. Instead of having Western Illinois, they should be into the OVC (in case Belmont gets an invite from the MVC) or going to the MVC. And I believe that that 12th member should be a school from D-II (and of course, from the Midwest area [GLIAC, GLVC]). Eventually, the remaining Summit schools should be invited by either the WAC or the Big Sky.
If WIU can manage an OVC invite that would be great for them; I doubt the Dakota schools plan on including the Leathernecks in any of their future realignment moves.
As for going to DII for replacements for the Summit or Horizon that could be a little difficult. All the GLIAC schools in Ohio are small and private and the state schools in Michigan all seem comfortable where they are at. I'm not an expert on the GLVC but the school in the league most capable of moving up was UM-St Louis and with UMKC now in the WAC I don't see them moving. I think the DII schools in the region that are most likely to move are in Minnesota. St Cloud St, Minnesota St-Mankato, and Minnesota-Duluth might be able to move up and help out the Dakota schools but that would probably mean the Summit League picking up football (and UND).