Former SID Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Thought this might interest many of you... From CollegeSportsInfo.com: http://news.collegesportsinfo.com/2010/ ... eague.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oruvoice Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Southland just makes more sense, geographically. I would also think it would help recruiting. We recruit a lot in Texas and a Texas kid might be more interested in us, knowing that they'd get to play in Texas multiple times each year. I can't imagine a recruit gets excited to play IPFW, South Dakota, or IUPUI... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUTerry Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Very interesting movements apparently taking place. It sure appears that SUU, UND and USD are leaving/not joining the Summit League. At eight conference members, the league is susceptible to losing its automatic bid if other members leave. The counter is that the members get to share more NCAA money (divided eight ways instead of ten or twelve). If ORU is invited to the Southland Conference, would we go? What are the advanatage & disadvantages? Any move needs to be well thought out and considered. The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.... just ask Valpo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oruvoice Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 If we get an invite the Southland, we have to go. The reasons are too numerous to list... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUTerry Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Link to Southland Conference web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cornelius Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 The Southland isn't exactly The Horizon... there isn't a Butler or even a Milwaukee-Wisconsin waiting. The strongest team in The Southland is Sam Houston. The league has actually finished lower than the Summit in RPI the past several years. The biggest boost would probably be in baseball. Yeah, if offered we jump on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcboy2000 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 The Summit will need to work fast to find another team or two in ORU's region if they really want to solidify things. No doubt they are already on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcboy2000 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I will say that playing in the Southland could garner more fan interest because the team wouldn't be traveling so far for a majority of the season. Not to mention the decrease in travel expenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oruvoice Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 The Southland isn't exactly The Horizon... there isn't a Butler or even a Milwaukee-Wisconsin waiting. The strongest team in The Southland is Sam Houston. The league has actually finished lower than the Summit in RPI the past several years. The biggest boost would probably be in baseball. Yeah, if offered we jump on that. Less travel costs. More conference stability. Regional rivalries. RPI is close. Remove ORU's RPI from the Summit. Add ORU's RPI to the Southland and the rankings might change a bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLO_Gold Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 The Southland isn't quite the move I have dreamt about as a fan, but I can see the advantages. In my mind the best case scenario is that we lose SUU and get the other Dakota schools. I'd prefer to stay put for another 5-10 years until we're legitimately ready to make a move to a Horizon or MVC type of league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcboy2000 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 The University is focusing on recruiting more regionally than ever before. Competing in our own backyard could also assist in getting ORU's name in more of the regional communities of Arkansas, Texas & Louisiana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Titan Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Less travel costs. More conference stability. Regional rivalries. RPI is close. Remove ORU's RPI from the Summit. Add ORU's RPI to the Southland and the rankings might change a bit? Southland membership would maintain our annual upper-division contention in most sports, while reducing travel costs and bolstering our recruiting efforts in Texas and Missouri. Honestly, what's not to like, should the opportunity present itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLO_Gold Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Good points, OT. I also think we increase the probability of having alumni at road games. I like this idea the more I think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoopsdude18 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 You guys know your school best so I won't chime in on this in that regard. I will say that it would be a huge blow to the Summit League to lose Oral Roberts, in my mind. I'm sure it could find a middling directional school independent or reclassifier to fill in but it just wouldn't be the same. I for one feel like this league has made some significant strides in the past 3-4 years. The top three schools are great basketball schools, NDSU/SDSU have dedicated fanbases, and the IPFW basketball program is coming along rather nicely. As with any conference, you have the doormats (UMKC, WIU) but the top 6 in my mind set up the Summit for a bright future. Again, I only look at things from a basketball perspective so take that for whatever it is. Would just be really bummed to see ORU leave, let alone for the Southland. I'm always a believer in sticking around to make something better instead of bolting for a different scenario (please note I'm only talking about lateral movement, if a current Summit school gets an opportunity to truly "move up" then by all means take it. Southland does not accomplish that, at least in my view). Anyway, can wait to see how the dust settles with the new Dakotas and SUU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oruvoice Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Southland may be a 'lateral' move in some regards. In other regards, it would be an improvement. The stability that we'd enjoy in the Southland, would be worth the move, in and of itself. The scenarios for the Summit League improving are very slim. The scenarios for the Summit League going down hill or tanking altogether are scary... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUTerry Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Here is a picture showing the locations of the current member schools. ORU would be the northern-most school. And the only private university. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUTerry Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 More information about the Southland Conference from Wikipedia: Link ORU would have the largest basketball arena with Lamar (10,080) at second largest. The article states that Texas State and UTSA are leaving the conference - which would result in 10 remaining teams. Would the Southland be happy to remain at 10 or try to 'proactively' expand back to 12 in case Lamar or other schools leave? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Titan Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Here is a picture showing the locations of the current member schools. ORU would be the northern-most school. And the only private university. ...and would make perfect geographic sense as a travel partner with Central Arkansas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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