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Following NCAA Appearance, Saint Francis University Announces Move to Division III
Posted on 3/25/25 at 12:29 pm
Posted on 3/25/25 at 12:29 pm
quote:
Today, Saint Francis University announced a decision by its Board of Trustees that directs the president and the leadership team to pursue a reclassification of its NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program to Division III. The shift in athletics offerings for men's and women's athletic competition would occur concurrent with the 2026-2027 academic year and fall 2026 athletic competition, with the Red Flash participating in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
quote:
"This was not an easy nor a quick decision for the Board of Trustees," stated Chairman and the Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, T.O.R., Ph.D. "The governance associated with intercollegiate athletics has always been complicated and is only growing in complexity based on realities like the transfer portal, pay-for-play, and other shifts that move athletics away from love of the game. For that reason, as a Board, we aim to best provide resources and support to our student-athletes in this changing environment that aligns with our mission, Catholic institution,
LINK
Same thing happened at University of Hartford. Made tournament in March of 2021, announced transition to DIII in May 2021
4
Posted on 3/25/25 at 12:33 pm to danilo
Going to be more of this as it become increasingly economically inviable for small schools to have D1 athletics.
Posted on 3/25/25 at 12:35 pm to usc6158
Many small private schools are running into financial problems and are struggling to stay open. Due to decline of population schools are facing an enrollment cliff. Many are looking to attract international students. Some are even changing their name to attract international students LINK
Posted on 3/25/25 at 1:20 pm to usc6158
quote:
inviable
Excellent word choice.
Posted on 3/25/25 at 2:57 pm to danilo
I’m a self-admitted jackass, but I also think you should have to have D1 football in order to be D1 in basketball.
Posted on 3/25/25 at 3:02 pm to danilo
It's for the best, how colleges and universities got tied up trying to run professional level sports teams is one of the great WTF's of the past century.
It's more trouble than it's worth for 99% of schools out there.
It's more trouble than it's worth for 99% of schools out there.
Posted on 3/25/25 at 3:28 pm to everytrueson
quote:
I’m a self-admitted jackass, but I also think you should have to have D1 football in order to be D1 in basketball.
Goodbye Gonzaga
Posted on 3/25/25 at 3:28 pm to danilo
I suspect some relatively large schools will also make this decision before long.
ETA: the small private schools, especially high academic ones with significant endowments, with no path to a power conference imo will eventually have a pretty straightforward decision to drop to D3. If I’m the President of a Rice or Davidson, I’m looking enviously at the simpler and more academically-aligned D3 model right now. I very much doubt they’re making enough money to make this new world worthwhile.
ETA: the small private schools, especially high academic ones with significant endowments, with no path to a power conference imo will eventually have a pretty straightforward decision to drop to D3. If I’m the President of a Rice or Davidson, I’m looking enviously at the simpler and more academically-aligned D3 model right now. I very much doubt they’re making enough money to make this new world worthwhile.
This post was edited on 3/25/25 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 3/25/25 at 4:29 pm to everytrueson
quote:
but I also think you should have to have D1 football in order to be D1 in basketball.
This school is
Posted on 3/25/25 at 4:32 pm to Crowknowsbest
quote:
I very much doubt they’re making enough money to make this new world worthwhile.
Davidson already plays non-scholarship football (Pioneer League). Rice's American Conference Membership will generate enough to keep them going in the current landscape. Not saying they'll be successful, but they can survive.
Posted on 3/25/25 at 5:07 pm to usc6158
quote:
Going to be more of this as it become increasingly economically inviable for small schools to have D1 athletics.
This isn't just going to hit small schools in D1 this is going to hit large schools too once they realize they can no longer compete financially.
Posted on 3/25/25 at 5:52 pm to MrLSU
Even worse, the smaller ones can no longer build decent programs due to NIL and the portal.
Southern Miss thrived for years off of Favre, Winder, Surtain, Collier, et al. Think it could keep those players today? Remember Neal Lomax at Portland State? Howie Long at Villanova? Hell, let's look at our own NLU. Bobby Hebert, Delaney, Humphreys and others. The smaller schools are going to start looking at this and saying screw it.
Southern Miss thrived for years off of Favre, Winder, Surtain, Collier, et al. Think it could keep those players today? Remember Neal Lomax at Portland State? Howie Long at Villanova? Hell, let's look at our own NLU. Bobby Hebert, Delaney, Humphreys and others. The smaller schools are going to start looking at this and saying screw it.
Posted on 3/25/25 at 6:25 pm to TriStateAreaFootball
quote:
Rice's American Conference Membership will generate enough to keep them going in the current landscape.
For now, but you have to think the AAC has pretty low TV value moving forward.
It also isn’t just about surviving. At some point, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
This post was edited on 3/25/25 at 6:26 pm
Posted on 3/25/25 at 6:28 pm to prplhze2000
Southern Miss gave up on being D-1 in 1996.
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