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Timing couldn’t be worse. I think some of you are forgetting that we’re still in a pandemic. This is definitely not the time to make the jump to D1, with or without that generous donation from the former Mrs. Amazon. It’s fun to talk about it, but don’t look for it to actually happen. And Chicago State and Kentucky State? Now that’s just comical.
Quote from: TheBlackPanther on May 11, 2021, 07:45:12 PMTiming couldn’t be worse. I think some of you are forgetting that we’re still in a pandemic. This is definitely not the time to make the jump to D1, with or without that generous donation from the former Mrs. Amazon. It’s fun to talk about it, but don’t look for it to actually happen. And Chicago State and Kentucky State? Now that’s just comical.Chicago State? I must have missed that! They already traveling hither and yon as a part of the Western Athletic Conference. And now they gonna go exactly the opposite way? MAAAAAAAAN they ain't gonna add a football program, and they are halfway across America, even further than kentucky St. Someone is smoking that "good-good"!
Quote from: FunCkMaster on May 11, 2021, 08:14:32 PMQuote from: TheBlackPanther on May 11, 2021, 07:45:12 PMTiming couldn’t be worse. I think some of you are forgetting that we’re still in a pandemic. This is definitely not the time to make the jump to D1, with or without that generous donation from the former Mrs. Amazon. It’s fun to talk about it, but don’t look for it to actually happen. And Chicago State and Kentucky State? Now that’s just comical.Chicago State? I must have missed that! They already traveling hither and yon as a part of the Western Athletic Conference. And now they gonna go exactly the opposite way? MAAAAAAAAN they ain't gonna add a football program, and they are halfway across America, even further than kentucky St. Someone is smoking that "good-good"!Chicago State left the WAC.
I think the MEAC is going to be fine with new members or not. Many people may disagree, but the current MEAC is actually more ideal. More important than expanding is the retention of its current members. The original MEAC had seven members and quickly became a viable conference. Hypothetically speaking, if the remaining members stay put, that would be the original MEAC minus A&T. All of the remaining members made short work of filling their respective ooc schedules and I do not expect that to change.
Division I membership, especially among the HBCU community, generally indicates transformative vision from leadership. Not only are there increases in athletic funding, but it often includes better branding, better caliber students, more diverse degree offerings, a more diverse student body, more graduate level programs, and other factors. These things tend to go hand-in-hand. Universities looking to position themselves for the next thirty years should examine all options.I agree Fayetteville State isn't ready to move up currently. Had they made a decision back in 2005 to move, they would be larger, probably bigger than NCCU and have more doctoral programs. In the span since 2005, UNC-Pembroke has grown by almost 3000 students; and FSU has pretty much been stagnant. A move to D1 likely would have allowed them to grow.Albany State has political obstacles, that's true. But the MEAC brass should have been recruiting them as soon as they were forced to merge. Who knows, maybe they were already recruiting them.
Punchy, I don't think the improvements to Rogers Stadium and building baseball and softball facilities on campus had anything to do with going D1. The baseball team used to play in Colonial Heights and the softball team in Ettrick Park. the renovations to the stadium were desperately needed. as far as the MPC, the bulk of that money came from the state of VA and Chesterfield County. even with a brand new facility, attendance for games is hit and miss. People will show up for Union, Bowie, Norfolk (when they came to us), but people aren't coming to see Elizabeth City or Lincoln. the fee to move up is $1.7M. I guess the people that want to make that move, want to take the $ that was donated. where is the $ supposed to come from to fund the other 30 football scholarships to move to FCS level? to pay the additional staff needed for coaches and support staff? Scholarships for the non revenue sports? I would rather spend that donation $ on improving our academic offerings and campus facilities than to join the already in trouble MEAC just so some can puff their chest out and say my school is D1. There's a difference between D1 and HBCU D1
Quote from: WileECoyote06 on May 11, 2021, 10:50:40 AMDivision I membership, especially among the HBCU community, generally indicates transformative vision from leadership. Not only are there increases in athletic funding, but it often includes better branding, better caliber students, more diverse degree offerings, a more diverse student body, more graduate level programs, and other factors. These things tend to go hand-in-hand. Universities looking to position themselves for the next thirty years should examine all options.I agree Fayetteville State isn't ready to move up currently. Had they made a decision back in 2005 to move, they would be larger, probably bigger than NCCU and have more doctoral programs. In the span since 2005, UNC-Pembroke has grown by almost 3000 students; and FSU has pretty much been stagnant. A move to D1 likely would have allowed them to grow.Albany State has political obstacles, that's true. But the MEAC brass should have been recruiting them as soon as they were forced to merge. Who knows, maybe they were already recruiting them. You do know that Fayetteville State has nearly 7k students...not too far off from NCCU.