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Post by Commissioner on May 10, 2020 13:55:01 GMT -5
Looks like two more schools will be joining D-1 in the near future, with possible Horizon implications.
Again picking up steam are reports that Southern Indiana--long rumored to be joining D-1--is finally going to pull the trigger. The Screaming Eagles--now there's a nickname--none of this dull "Eagles" crap--are coming off of a 22-8 season, and in April hired Stan Gouard away from the University of Indianapolis. Some may recall that Gouard's name surfaced in the Titans search that eventually led to the hiring of Mike Davis. The 45 year old Gouard has had 11 straight winning seasons at UI, including 8 NCAA appearances and a #15 national ranking this year before the season was shut down. Sure, Southern Indiana is his alma mater and a long-time D-2 power, including a Final Four appearance last year, but would he really make what seems like a lateral move after building the program at UI? Perhaps he is expecting something more? USI is in the midst of a $66 million dollar facilities renovation that, it is said, will make their facility "the crown jewel" of D-2 Midwest arenas. The renovated facility, set to open in 2021, will seat about 4000. USI would definitely be a Horizon expansion candidate to bring the league to an even dozen schools. The University has about 7700 undergrads and 9000 total enrollment.
Also said to be moving up is Lindenwood, a small university about a half hour north of St. Louis, in St. Charles, Missouri. Lindenwood has about 6500 undergrads and already plays D-1 Men's Volleyball and women's gymnastics. They could also be a Horizon candidate, though that seems much less likely.
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Post by Rogobob77 on May 10, 2020 18:56:48 GMT -5
Looks like two more schools will be joining D-1 in the near future, with possible Horizon implications. Again picking up steam are reports that Southern Indiana--long rumored to be joining D-1--is finally going to pull the trigger. The Screaming Eagles--now there's a nickname--none of this dull "Eagles" crap--are coming off of a 22-8 season, and in April hired Stan Gouard away from the University of Indianapolis. Some may recall that Gouard's name surfaced in the Titans search that eventually led to the hiring of Mike Davis. The 45 year old Gouard has had 11 straight winning seasons at UI, including 8 NCAA appearances and a #15 national ranking this year before the season was shut down. Sure, Southern Indiana is his alma mater and a long-time D-2 power, including a Final Four appearance last year, but would he really make what seems like a lateral move after building the program at UI? Perhaps he is expecting something more? USI is in the midst of a $66 million dollar facilities renovation that, it is said, will make their facility "the crown jewel" of D-2 Midwest arenas. The renovated facility, set to open in 2021, will seat about 4000. USI would definitely be a Horizon expansion candidate to bring the league to an even dozen schools. The University has about 7700 undergrads and 9000 total enrollment. Also said to be moving up is Lindenwood, a small university about a half hour north of St. Louis, in St. Charles, Missouri. Lindenwood has about 6500 undergrads and already plays D-1 Men's Volleyball and women's gymnastics. They could also be a Horizon candidate, though that seems much less likely. I believe Southern Indiana’s new facility opened last year. Here’s a slide show of the arena, at 4,800 capacity a little bit bigger than Oakland’s building but appears much nicer in these photos: usiphotos.zenfolio.com/screamingeagleareana/hc7e0685dSIU drew an average of 1,850 fans last season, up from 720 the prior year.
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Post by bigchuck on May 10, 2020 20:28:25 GMT -5
I believe Southern Indiana’s new facility opened last year. Here’s a slide show of the arena, at 4,800 capacity a little bit bigger than Oakland’s building but appears much nicer in these photos: usiphotos.zenfolio.com/screamingeagleareana/hc7e0685dSIU drew an average of 1,850 fans last season, up from 720 the prior year. What a nice facility. Anyone think that a building like that is a much bigger asset than Historic CH? I paid special attention to the Women's locker room because I was involved in the renovation of ours a couple of years ago. The first thing that hits me is just the large space in the room. We can match the lockers and the furnishings, but cannot change the archaic structural limitations of the building. The men have similar constraints. The facilities are not inferior, they are not even in the same ballpark. You don't even want to look in the shower areas and other limitations of the building. That means something to today's recruits. (Don't mention the dorms which we have to hide as much as possible.) Yes, we provide a GREAT education if they want it, but there is much more that they are looking at. Then the suites and premium seating allow them to maximize revenue. We tried to find a layout for floor seating years ago and it was laughable. There was just no room. The lack of room means that we have to put the press/media behind the scorers table which would be prime seating in many arenas. I would love to be able to pay for floor seating or a suite, but alas, it is not possible. That's reality! We need some serious money in facilities before UDM compete on equal footing with where we want to be. I can only dream that we could get a building like theirs, or Bowling Green or Bradley or Eastern etc. Fortunately the HL has facilities like Wright State, and Oakland so we should be able to compete in this league.
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Post by rbj on May 11, 2020 19:01:32 GMT -5
Looks like two more schools will be joining D-1 in the near future, with possible Horizon implications. Again picking up steam are reports that Southern Indiana--long rumored to be joining D-1--is finally going to pull the trigger. The Screaming Eagles--now there's a nickname--none of this dull "Eagles" crap--are coming off of a 22-8 season, and in April hired Stan Gouard away from the University of Indianapolis. Some may recall that Gouard's name surfaced in the Titans search that eventually led to the hiring of Mike Davis. The 45 year old Gouard has had 11 straight winning seasons at UI, including 8 NCAA appearances and a #15 national ranking this year before the season was shut down. Sure, Southern Indiana is his alma mater and a long-time D-2 power, including a Final Four appearance last year, but would he really make what seems like a lateral move after building the program at UI? Perhaps he is expecting something more? USI is in the midst of a $66 million dollar facilities renovation that, it is said, will make their facility "the crown jewel" of D-2 Midwest arenas. The renovated facility, set to open in 2021, will seat about 4000. USI would definitely be a Horizon expansion candidate to bring the league to an even dozen schools. The University has about 7700 undergrads and 9000 total enrollment. Also said to be moving up is Lindenwood, a small university about a half hour north of St. Louis, in St. Charles, Missouri. Lindenwood has about 6500 undergrads and already plays D-1 Men's Volleyball and women's gymnastics. They could also be a Horizon candidate, though that seems much less likely. After Brad Soderberg turned UofD down in the spring of 2008 he took the job at Lindenwood in 2009, his son Kramer joined him and had a pretty decent career.
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