So one of the things I will try to improve upon is writing about things, news-wise, I see and think its something to make more than a common "think out loud" thought. And the news out of Long Island/Brooklyn was pretty damn interesting. So like a lot of schools, there is one main school with branches in different locations and yesterday Long Island-Brooklyn and Long Island-Post decided to come together and become one brand. So, what the hell does this have to do with college football? Well, LIU-Post has a pretty good D-II football program and with the merger, it now will make the jump to FCS and join the Northeast Conference. Which is pretty interesting and will get to why in a second. But, that wasn't the only school to make the jump, as Merrimack College a couple weeks prior is making the Division I leap and also joining the NEC as well
First things first, in my NEC post, I did call for a school to combine campuses and become a full-blown FCS program, it just wasn't LIU. Maybe Farleigh Dickinson will still do it but my dart went to the wrong horse. This kinda came out of nowhere...there is always talk about this but I had never seen anything saying that this could be a possibility, shame on me for that. Also Merrimack College? not the first choice either. But these are pretty interesting moves and I had some thoughts on everything and how it affects the FCS landscape moving forward.
What it means for the NEC
Well, that's a good question. This is probably more significant on a conference/regional level than when Bryant made the move to the NEC about a decade ago but on a national scale, this feels like a small ripple. But then again, almost every D-II to FCS rise isn't really felt across the landscape. Only time will tell how good LIU and Merrimack will be in FCS play but for the conference, it can only help to improve its FCS footprint and rise the ranks of the conferences. if one or both turn into, say on par with Kennesaw St then you have a conference that could potentially jump closer towards the Ohio Valley in terms of conference respectability and in turn those advantages come playoff time that comes with it
What it means for everyone else
Expectations for the new members
LIU - This one is interesting, at first glance, it means nothing more than a merger but when you look at it and think about it this could be very boom or bust for the football program and here is why. No, LIU-Post is not a national champion but is one of the regions best programs and to make that jump up and become an FCS school is a bit of an unknown for every team but the microscope shines harder on some of the top teams in the lower division that come to a higher level.
Best case scenario, you get a version of what North Dakota did when they made the jump and is good, but not great program but is among the more steady newcomers in the FCS. Worst case, this is something along the line of like an Alibline Christian who has done alright for themselves but have yet to make any type of leap into a conference contender. Oh, and before anyone thinks of NDSU, remember, not only did they struggle out of the gate, they are easily a once in a lifetime program and to duplicate that is nearly impossible.
Merrimack - This one is more along the line of a "steady as she goes" route. To expect the Warriors to jump out of the gate and become a power would be hoping for a lot. What will be interesting to see how recruiting goes for the program as being in northern Massachusetts and nearby the recruiting grounds of UNH will make getting the FCS level recruits a struggle in the beginning. I would say, Bryant is just now getting to the level of depth needed to take that next step as a program and following that path is about what you should hope for if you are Merrimack. If things go bad, and they could, this could be an FCS doormat for years to come. Don't expect them to be that bad since the jump from the NE-10 to the NEC isn't as significant as one would think
First things first, in my NEC post, I did call for a school to combine campuses and become a full-blown FCS program, it just wasn't LIU. Maybe Farleigh Dickinson will still do it but my dart went to the wrong horse. This kinda came out of nowhere...there is always talk about this but I had never seen anything saying that this could be a possibility, shame on me for that. Also Merrimack College? not the first choice either. But these are pretty interesting moves and I had some thoughts on everything and how it affects the FCS landscape moving forward.
What it means for the NEC
Well, that's a good question. This is probably more significant on a conference/regional level than when Bryant made the move to the NEC about a decade ago but on a national scale, this feels like a small ripple. But then again, almost every D-II to FCS rise isn't really felt across the landscape. Only time will tell how good LIU and Merrimack will be in FCS play but for the conference, it can only help to improve its FCS footprint and rise the ranks of the conferences. if one or both turn into, say on par with Kennesaw St then you have a conference that could potentially jump closer towards the Ohio Valley in terms of conference respectability and in turn those advantages come playoff time that comes with it
What it means for everyone else
- Well, one thing is probably certain, they likelihood of Hofstra coming back probably took a nice dip. Which really stinks because they would be an interesting program and would make for a really fun race between Stony Brook, LIU, Hofstra in terms of Long Island's best and add in Wagner and Columbia you have an interesting Best of NYC
- It'll be interesting to see if this is the continuation of movement in FCS. Past couple of years have seen a number of teams either change conferences, move up/down to FCS or drop to Divison II.
- Does the MEAC find replacements for its two departing members...and maybe a third if South Carolina St. financial woes continue?
- Does any of the Florida based programs either start-up or bring up one of their programs?
- What about programs out west? We've seen Idaho and North Dakota make moves...any more coming?
- And as always, who will be tempting to make the move up to FBS next? James Madison? NDSU? SDSU? Someone else?
Expectations for the new members
LIU - This one is interesting, at first glance, it means nothing more than a merger but when you look at it and think about it this could be very boom or bust for the football program and here is why. No, LIU-Post is not a national champion but is one of the regions best programs and to make that jump up and become an FCS school is a bit of an unknown for every team but the microscope shines harder on some of the top teams in the lower division that come to a higher level.
Best case scenario, you get a version of what North Dakota did when they made the jump and is good, but not great program but is among the more steady newcomers in the FCS. Worst case, this is something along the line of like an Alibline Christian who has done alright for themselves but have yet to make any type of leap into a conference contender. Oh, and before anyone thinks of NDSU, remember, not only did they struggle out of the gate, they are easily a once in a lifetime program and to duplicate that is nearly impossible.
Merrimack - This one is more along the line of a "steady as she goes" route. To expect the Warriors to jump out of the gate and become a power would be hoping for a lot. What will be interesting to see how recruiting goes for the program as being in northern Massachusetts and nearby the recruiting grounds of UNH will make getting the FCS level recruits a struggle in the beginning. I would say, Bryant is just now getting to the level of depth needed to take that next step as a program and following that path is about what you should hope for if you are Merrimack. If things go bad, and they could, this could be an FCS doormat for years to come. Don't expect them to be that bad since the jump from the NE-10 to the NEC isn't as significant as one would think
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