(01-18-2018 12:41 PM)AZcats Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 01:44 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(01-17-2018 08:46 PM)AZcats Wrote:  The SWAC is a non-starter for the top reason of they do not participate in NCAA football postseason championship.

If ATU was to move up to the SLC, we would need to:
*Triple the athletic budget to compete with the top of the conference.
*Increase scholarships by 29 just for football.
*Add at least 4 sports for which there are currently no facilities available.
*Major improvements for current facilities.

ATU does not need to be D1. We grew from 3,000 to 12,000 in D2 and there is no real additional exposure being in the Southland compared to where we are now. There is no substantial revenue increase to outweigh the high costs.

The Great American Conference was formed to reduce travel costs and missed class time. This is the first time in our history that we have not been at the extreme end of the conference footprint. All of that goes away in any D1 conference. ATU does place an emphasis on academics so having a close-knit conference is important. In the GAC, we have only 2 trips of more than 300 miles with the longest one at 385 miles. The longest conference trip is 550 miles (Monticello, AR - Alva, OK).

The ultimate goal in sports is to win championships. We can do that in D2 but not a snowball's chance in Hades of that happening in D1. Since the formation of the GAC in 2011-12, we have advanced to NCAA postseason play 28 times in 8 of the 10 sports we sponsor (all but women's cross country and football). Football had 3 postseason appearances while in the Gulf South Conference. Cross Country has competed in the regionals but I don't count it because there is no formal selection process similar to all other sports and every school runs in that meet to qualify for the national meet. All of this brings excitement and energy to campus that would not happen if we were D1.

Our biggest accomplishments in D2 have been:
*1998-99 Women's Basketball Runner-up, losing to North Dakota 80-63 in the championship game.
*2017 Men's Golf 3rd place, losing to Lynn in the semifinal match by 1 stroke.
*Hosting NCAA postseason events 9 times, which are additional opportunities that we have been able to give back to the community.

So, this has been a very long-winded way to say "NO". I really don't see anything that would benefit Arkansas Tech in academics or athletics in a very significant manner that is any different than what we have experienced since moving to D2 in 1995-96. D2 gives us the opportunity to keep the balance of strong academic achievements and a highly competitive athletic program.

I don't mind your "long-winded no." In fact, I rather appreciate it. I can see what you are saying in one way in that you really can't see much of a difference between FCS & D2; but there is at least two key differences for sure: a chance to parparticipate in the NCAA March Madness Tournament, a chance at the NIT Tournament, and a chance to go to the College World Series.

That's all nice but we would only make those tourneys if we win the conference title to get the auto-bid which would not be an annual thing. Yes, it would be national exposure but it would be a fleeting moment; who really remembers all the one-and-dones. Our men's basketball team has been in the NCAA tourney 5 of last 6 years and the women's 4 of 6; baseball only once. I recognize that there is a difference from D2 to D1-AA but what are the actual tangible benefits to moving up. To me it's primarily the economics; what is the real rate of return on that $12M increase to the budget and all the various start-up costs. And, do we have a legitimate fair access to a national title; in D1 the odds are stacked heavily against you in all sports if you are not a P5.