Augusta used to be D1 at one time and dropped to D2 back in the 80s. They have been thinking of rejoining D1.

Kentucky Wesleyan right now is cutting expense on sports. I think they might be the next school to drop down to the NAIA. There are not enough schools close by for them in Kentucky which is one of the reasons.

Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

I have to question the ethics of running an athletic department in which it’s a newsworthy aberration when they actually score a victory. Seems somewhat exploitative to me.

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

So VUL is TRACS accredited, like Pensacola Christan College?? Hmm. That is interesting, and good for them, btw!!

(10-21-2023 10:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

I have to question the ethics of running an athletic department in which it’s a newsworthy aberration when they actually score a victory. Seems somewhat exploitative to me.

If I recall, there aren't many football schools in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association), so I can see why it's hard for VUL to compete. Maybe they should look into NAIA?? Most NCCAA schools are more like Pensacola Christian-no football.

(10-21-2023 10:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

I have to question the ethics of running an athletic department in which it’s a newsworthy aberration when they actually score a victory. Seems somewhat exploitative to me.

I know what you mean. They would likely say they are giving an opportunity to student athletes who would not otherwise have one. And as a “Bible college” that has virtually no one majoring in anything related to religion, I think they’d say that they are fulfilling their mission by ministering to their students who may not have been exposed to Christianity before.

With that said, it is a TRACS accredited college and doesn’t cost very much. It’s a college that no one really wants to go to that recruits students no one else wants.

They are certainly not the only school doing the same thing. In my mind, I tend to give them a pass because they are so small and in survival mode. If it was a big money machine with thousands of students, I might feel differently. And some schools that have struggled go on to thrive later. Virginia University of Lynchburg goes back to 1886, so I’m sure they have had their ups and downs.

Virginia University-Lynchburg was actually a CIAA school for a few decades in ancient history. There might be a few CIAA alums alive today who remember it.

(10-21-2023 10:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 10:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

I have to question the ethics of running an athletic department in which it’s a newsworthy aberration when they actually score a victory. Seems somewhat exploitative to me.

I know what you mean. They would likely say they are giving an opportunity to student athletes who would not otherwise have one. And as a “Bible college” that has virtually no one majoring in anything related to religion, I think they’d say that they are fulfilling their mission by ministering to their students who may not have been exposed to Christianity before.

With that said, it is a TRACS accredited college and doesn’t cost very much. It’s a college that no one really wants to go to that recruits students no one else wants.

They are certainly not the only school doing the same thing. In my mind, I tend to give them a pass because they are so small and in survival mode. If it was a big money machine with thousands of students, I might feel differently. And some schools that have struggled go on to thrive later. Virginia University of Lynchburg goes back to 1886, so I’m sure they have had their ups and downs.

Thought so.

VUL spent decades (60’s-90’s) in a very, very limited operation mode. They were (at that time) an unaccredited Bible run by a staff of just a few individuals helping to credential Baptist ministers. I think they were just living in donations and support from a small number of churches.

Previously, they were more of a religious liberal arts college like many others. But they fell on hard times, lost regional accreditation, and scaled back their operations by about 90%.

Then, in the mid 90’s they came out of hibernation mode, and began to slowly expand and add a few programs and renovate their campus to be able to accommodate more students. Now they are TRACS accredited, are eligible for federal financial aid, have housing and a cafeteria, have a very active online education division, and look much like many very small colleges.

They aren’t in great shape. They have inconsistencies. They are not especially stable or organized. But on a very limited budget, in 20 years or so they have mostly bootstrapped their way from barely existing (some people from Lynchburg have stated they didn’t even know it was there, or where it was located if they’d even heard of it) to at least having something to offer some students and on a trajectory to try to keep growing and hopefully improving.

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

Virginia-Lynchburg used to be D2, but got booted out of the NCAA when they lost their accreditation for their regionals. Now, they can join the NAIA since they have TRACs.

Another school that is starting football next year for the NCCAA is Carolina Christian College.

In other news. Kentucky Wesleyan is having financial issues and just cut spending on athletics. I could see them moving from D2 back down to the NAIA.

(10-22-2023 12:58 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)Todor Wrote:  Today D2 Lane lost to NCCAA Virginia-Lynchburg. For those that don’t know, VUL is one of those tiny Bible colleges that become a sports school where nearly all of their ~200 regular undergrad students are athletes, mostly football. Not regionally accredited, very, very few people graduate (awarded only 9 Bachelors degrees in 2022) Sports live on pay game beatdowns primarily.

A D2 school losing to them is hilarious. But good for the VUL players, because they very seldom have games where they really have a chance, so I’m glad they pulled it off.

Virginia-Lynchburg used to be D2, but got booted out of the NCAA when they lost their accreditation for their regionals. Now, they can join the NAIA since they have TRACs.

Virginia Lynchburg was definitely never D2.

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/...-develops/

Not explicitly football related, other than being a private homecoming related event off campus, but has had significant impact on the IUP and broader Indiana, Pa communities so thought it might be worth posting. Two of the eight injured were IUP students, one person was killed.

(10-22-2023 10:27 AM)gwelymernans Wrote:  https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/...-develops/

Not explicitly football related, other than being a private homecoming related event off campus, but has had significant impact on the IUP and broader Indiana, Pa communities so thought it might be worth posting. Two of the eight injured were IUP students, one person was killed.

Definitely worth posting Gwelymernans!! Thank you for posting this!! I have long considered IUP to be Troy University's northern sister institution. Very sad to hear about this. RIP to the IUP students killed.

(10-22-2023 10:39 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(10-22-2023 10:27 AM)gwelymernans Wrote:  https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/...-develops/

Not explicitly football related, other than being a private homecoming related event off campus, but has had significant impact on the IUP and broader Indiana, Pa communities so thought it might be worth posting. Two of the eight injured were IUP students, one person was killed.

Definitely worth posting Gwelymernans!! Thank you for posting this!! I have long considered IUP to be Troy University's northern sister institution. Very sad to hear about this. RIP to the IUP students killed.

I'm hoping the police wrap up their investigation quickly so the Chevy Chase Community Center can remodel and reopen. Thankfully, the local Aging Services is allowing the community center to run their meals program from their facilities in the meantime. Hopefully some alumni or one of the banks headquartered in town will throw the center some funds... they do a lot of good work for the local residents, and w/ respect to bringing residents and students together.

Trevecca Nazarene joins the Gulf South!!!

https://gscsports.org/news/2023/9/14/gen...ence.aspx?

Also, Montevallo Lady Falcons clinched a GSC soccer tourny spot. No such luck for our men though.

Since Virginia Lynchburg (NCCAA school) has been discussed recently, thought it was worth a mention that today versus D2 Fort Valley State they put up a pretty good showing in a 37-26 loss.

Like Lincoln U California, VU-L primarily plays a money game schedule so they don’t get a lot of wins. Nice to see them really in this game today versus a pretty good 7-2 Fort Valley State squad.

Noteworthy is the fact that VU-L played them closer than 5 D2 teams have. That’s not scientific, but it does give at least a glimpse of where VU-L level of play is.

https://fvsusports.com/sports/football/schedule/2023

(10-28-2023 11:18 PM)DawgNBama Wrote:  Trevecca Nazarene joins the Gulf South!!!

https://gscsports.org/news/2023/9/14/gen...ence.aspx?

Also, Montevallo Lady Falcons clinched a GSC soccer tourny spot. No such luck for our men though. :banghead: :banghead: :weeping:

Kinda sad to say, but I don't think the GSC will have football much longer...

I'm like others thinking Valdosta State and West Florida to the ASUN is imminent, and not replacing West Georgia with another football school may make it even sooner. Not saying they had an option, just saying.

Hopefully West AL, and Delta, and Miss College can find good homes for football, or hell, the Southland needs real football programs...

(10-29-2023 08:17 AM)lion1983 Wrote:  

(10-28-2023 11:18 PM)DawgNBama Wrote:  Trevecca Nazarene joins the Gulf South!!!

https://gscsports.org/news/2023/9/14/gen...ence.aspx?

Also, Montevallo Lady Falcons clinched a GSC soccer tourny spot. No such luck for our men though.

Kinda sad to say, but I don't think the GSC will have football much longer...

I'm like others thinking Valdosta State and West Florida to the ASUN is imminent, and not replacing West Georgia with another football school may make it even sooner. Not saying they had an option, just saying.

Hopefully West AL, and Delta, and Miss College can find good homes for football, or hell, the Southland needs real football programs...

Trevecca, Union and Lee all were looking into adding football in the past several years, but seemed to tabled the idea. I wondering if they might decide to add football soon? There seems to be talks that Cumberland/s in Tennessee is talking about going to D2 again which would be another football school in Tennessee that the GSC would take as well.

Pace beat St John's earlier on this afternoon in Carnasecca Arena.

If I were MC/DS/UWA I'd look at affiliating with the GAC or something for FB if UWF/VSU both leave for ASUN. I could see MC-OBU having a good FB connection both being Baptist colleges.