I'm not sure they got 'royally screwed' by the OVC. It would have been a good fit, but it wasn't the right time. NKU would put the OVC at 13 teams. Not exactly the best number for a conference.

 

As far as EKU, Morehead and Murray being successful....yes they have stayed D1. I can't speak for Morehead and Murray, but EKU is far from financially successful. When you have budget of 8-10 million and only bring in 2 million in revenue, something doesn't add up.

 

I talked to someone who would know and there were several concerns in the OVC; here are three:

 

- scheduling blocks would've been significantly impacted; for example, road teams would have had to go from Tennessee Tech to EKU on a road swing, rather than EKU to Morehead State. That Tech to EKU drive would have been a tough trip.

 

- money; an extra team in the conference means another hand in the overall financial pot for revenue splits - remember, Belmont is already coming in

 

- NCAA Tournament goals; the OVC's major basketball goal is to get two teams in the NCAA Tournament. That goal will be obtainable when Belmont comes on board. Many felt that NKU would've hampered that goal, especially in the short term.

I talked to someone who would know and there were several concerns in the OVC; here are three:

 

- scheduling blocks would've been significantly impacted; for example, road teams would have had to go from Tennessee Tech to EKU on a road swing, rather than EKU to Morehead State. That Tech to EKU drive would have been a tough trip.

 

- money; an extra team in the conference means another hand in the overall financial pot for revenue splits - remember, Belmont is already coming in

 

- NCAA Tournament goals; the OVC's major basketball goal is to get two teams in the NCAA Tournament. That goal will be obtainable when Belmont comes on board. Many felt that NKU would've hampered that goal, especially in the short term.

 

If you're talking basketball for the scheduling blocks, that's a lame excuse. They play Thursday, Saturday on those trips. Thursday night/Friday morning is plenty of time to make a 4 hour drive from Nashville to Richmond in time for a Saturday night game.

 

The OVC is never going to get two teams in the NCAA Tournament. You'd think a quality basketball team like NKU would help their case, rather than hurt it.

Wasn't Dr. V at Michigan State and Dr. Eaton at Brown before NKU? D1 schools.

Wasn't Dr. V at Michigan State and Dr. Eaton at Brown before NKU? D1 schools.

 

I can't remember exactly what Dr. V's title was, but he did spend time at Michigan State. I don't really know much about Dr. Eaton before being the AD at NKU, besides the fact that he was the Asst. AD for quite a while.

- NCAA Tournament goals; the OVC's major basketball goal is to get two teams in the NCAA Tournament. That goal will be obtainable when Belmont comes on board. Many felt that NKU would've hampered that goal, especially in the short term.

 

How does NKU hamper that? Just wondering.

Wasn't Dr. V at Michigan State and Dr. Eaton at Brown before NKU? D1 schools.

 

He was an asst coach at Brown.

Fair enough. But I'm not sure they've rushed into this decision. This has been in the plans for quite a while, which is why the BOKC and Soccer stadiums were built. The BOKC has been open three years now, so you'd imagine that it had been planned for at least five years. I don't really think Dr. V retiring has anything to do with this (just my opinion) for the same reason that you stated for the AD. Dr. V doesn't have the experience to be President of a D-1 school. He retires, after an incredible 15+ years at NKU and they bring somone who does have some of that experience, who can lead NKU and help make this transisiton.

 

As for Dr. Scott Eaton, as much as I hate too admit it, I have to agree that him not having D-1 experience may hurt. I'm interested to see how all of that plays out. He is in a tough spot, but I will say that I think he is one of the hardest working men around and he will do whatever it takes to make NKU successful, there is no doubt in my mind about that.

 

I just feel like there are so many D-1 schools out there, who are obviously successful or they woudln't stay there, why can't NKU be the same? NKU got royally screwed by the OVC, if you ask me, which is why they were stuck going to a conference that doesn't totally excite anyone. I just don't see how NKU can't be successful in this climate if EKU, Morehead, and Murray are doing just fine. In my opinion NKU has a lot more going for them in moving forward than those schools (maybe some Admissions Office bias coming through there) but I really feel that way.

 

What programs have they cut? I don't think they have cut any to my knowledge and I don't think they will cut any. Maybe I'm naive, but this move isn't just because of atletics. That's very far from the truth, but all most see.

 

They were not stuck going to this conference, they could have held pat for a couple of years and explored other options and conferences they were interested in. NKU rushed this process once they were denied by the OVC, and IMO NKU has made a huge mistake that will more than likely set NKU back for many years to come.

They were not stuck going to this conference, they could have held pat for a couple of years and explored other options and conferences they were interested in. NKU rushed this process once they were denied by the OVC, and IMO NKU has made a huge mistake that will more than likely set NKU back for many years to come.

 

The Atlantic Sun was one of the four conference that the consultants recommended that they join. When the OVC turned them down, and the Horizon League said that they were not planning on expanded it really limited any options they had. I would rather them be in the Atlantic Sun, than still sitting in the GLVC.

^Curious, what was the 4th?

^Curious, what was the 4th?

 

The Summit League, which includes schools like Oakland, Oral Roberts, IUPUI and Fort Wayne.

 

@NKUNorse: #NKU athletic director Dr. Scott Eaton will be on @700wlw tonight at 7:05 to discuss #NKUD1 #ASunExpansion

They picked the worst of the worst, but I'm glad they made the move....Gotta get their foot in the D-1 door.

They picked the worst of the worst, but I'm glad they made the move....Gotta get their foot in the D-1 door.

 

Why? What was so big about them being a D-1 School?

^Attraction of students, better opponents, better recruiting pool, more revenues, etc.

^Attraction of students, better opponents, better recruiting pool, more revenues, etc.

 

There scores will be on the ESPN ticker so I will know if they won their bball game haha jk. It's definitely better for the school in regards to many things other than sports.

 

plantmanky, you seem to be against it. How does their move to D-1 affect you? Just wondering.

How will there be more revenues? Travel cost/administrative cost will be increased. Where is the money to cover those cost going to come from?