Mississippi College sez No Mas to football…

[Maroon Eagle]

…changes name to Mississippi Christian University.

Important Message from Mississippi College

www.mc.edu

 

[615dawg]

You can tell a lot about whats going on at a private university after their fall board meeting. Giving away tuition sounds good but when Birmingham Southern cut their tuition in half, it was a sign of what was to come. Cutting football is a huge deal.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

…changes name to Mississippi Christian University.

Important Message from Mississippi College

www.mc.edu

Was just about to post this. Interesting. I've seen similar name changes, but making that coincident with dropping football is different.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

You can tell a lot about whats going on at a private university after their fall board meeting. Giving away tuition sounds good but when Birmingham Southern cut their tuition in half, it was a sign of what was to come. Cutting football is a huge deal.

Birmingham Southern had a president screw up their investment portfolio and it took a beating 2007/2008 and never recovered. My guess is that simply accelerated the downfall, but who knows. I think we are heading for some lean times for colleges and universities. I wonder how many companies were built just on supporting higher ed? Banner, Workday and Canvas are a few SW packages that I know have substantial market share in higher ed. If universities take a dive, supporting business will as well.

 

[Walkthedawg]

…changes name to Mississippi Christian University.

Important Message from Mississippi College

www.mc.edu

Our transfer portal issues are ovah!!! Linemen on the cheap!!!**

 

[615dawg]

8 of the 12 schools in the Gulf South Conference no longer have football. That used to be the SEC of Division II football. With West Florida seriously considering D1 (UWF is the only non-D1 public college in Florida), that would bring them to three full members with football - Valdosta, West Alabama and Delta State.

Delta State is going to be the next domino to fall. I suspect they will seek a conference change soon. But they are in a real financial strain. If they dropped football you might as well close the doors.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

8 of the 12 schools in the Gulf South Conference no longer have football. That used to be the SEC of Division II football. With West Florida seriously considering D1 (UWF is the only non-D1 public college in Florida), that would bring them to three full members with football - Valdosta, West Alabama and Delta State.

You think they’ll join Conference Carolinas with their football affiliates?

 

[TippahDawg]

…changes name to Mississippi Christian University.

Important Message from Mississippi College

www.mc.edu

I started my undergrad at Blue Mountain College in Tippah County, and they just changed their name last year to Blue Mountain Christian University. The gray hair ladies in the alumni association was about to riot when they found out. They never had football, but their big sport was basketball. I think it is still going strong. I haven't been on campus in twenty years. I wonder if all these name changes have something to do with the MS Baptist Convention.

 

[615dawg]

You think they’ll join Conference Carolinas with their football affiliates?

Delta State needs to look at the Great American Conference. They have six teams in Arkansas.

Valdosta and West Alabama might make more sense in the South Atlantic Conference.

 

[8dog]

8 of the 12 schools in the Gulf South Conference no longer have football. That used to be the SEC of Division II football. With West Florida seriously considering D1 (UWF is the only non-D1 public college in Florida), that would bring them to three full members with football - Valdosta, West Alabama and Delta State.

Delta State is going to be the next domino to fall. I suspect they will seek a conference change soon. But they are in a real financial strain. If they dropped football you might as well close the doors.

I’d assume dropping football is a drastic step to paying the bills bc I’d guess all these schools lose a ton of money on it.

 

[615dawg]

I started my undergrad at Blue Mountain College in Tippah County, and they just changed their name last year to Blue Mountain Christian University. The gray hair ladies in the alumni association was about to riot when they found out. They never had football, but their big sport was basketball. I think it is still going strong. I haven't been on campus in twenty years. I wonder if all these name changes have something to do with the MS Baptist Convention.

The name changes are simple. In potential students minds: University > College. Belhaven jumped on it 20 years ago and went from a few hundred students to 4000.

 

[bulldoghair]

Since they’ve been caught cheating a couple of time in the past, put on probation, and stripped of titles….with dropping football that’s one less sin they have to worry about. Amen?

 

[SteelCurtain74]

The name changes are simple. In potential students minds: University > College. Belhaven jumped on it 20 years ago and went from a few hundred students to 4000.

Is that on campus students or on campus plus online MBA students?

Meanwhile, Millsaps is down to around 600 - 700 students, most of which are athletes.

 

[615dawg]

Since they’ve been caught cheating a couple of time in the past, put on probation, and stripped of titles….with dropping football that’s one less sin they have to worry about. Amen?

Apparently the MC cheating scandal was amongst the worst in NCAA history. Doesn't get the attention that SMU gets, but to avoid the death penalty, MC dropped to Division III. Stripped their '89 national title as well.

The team advanced to the NCAA Division II playoff, ultimately defeating Jacksonville State in the national championship game. It was the school's only national football championship. However, in January 1993, the NCAA vacated the national championship after concluding that the program had gained a "tremendous competitive advantage" based on multiple violations, including awarding twice as many scholarships as was allowed, providing extra benefits to student-athletes, and allowing 12 "partial qualifiers" to participate in practice sessions with the football team on a routine basis

 

[615dawg]

Is that on campus students or on campus plus online MBA students?

Meanwhile, Millsaps is down to around 600 - 700 students, most of which are athletes.

That's all students.

 

[17itdawg]

Without completely doxing myself, I left a meeting a few hours ago with the provost, president, and athletic director of a D1 school that is fairly academically prestigious while also having significant athletic success in the past 20 or so years. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss rev sharing and how it will impact them and similar institutions. They like many others are at a crossroads with athletics. Continue to try to prop up an athletic department that operates in the red for all sports except football, or attempt to break through the glass ceiling into the upper echelon academic institutions.

 

[HailStout]

Without completely doxing myself, I left a meeting a few hours ago with the provost, president, and athletic director of a D1 school that is fairly academically prestigious while also having significant athletic success in the past 20 or so years.

Could it be any more obvious you are talking about State? Geez, dude. At least cover your tracks a little

 

[FreshAsHail]

…changes name to Mississippi Christian University.

Important Message from Mississippi College

www.mc.edu

they still going to be Choctaws?

 

[17itdawg]

Could it be any more obvious you are talking about State? Geez, dude. At least cover your tracks a little

17! I'll have to edit it! In that case my suggestion was to bring in some Chickasaw and Choctaw tribal members and burn David Wade to the ground. Then let them bless the grounds and build a new stadium elsewhere! Second was to fire Hutzler immediately.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Every small college and JC should get rid of sports that don't produce enough revenue to support the sport. MS, the poorest state and one of the least populated, has 13 JC football programs, not even Texas or California try to do that. It's insanity.

 

[615dawg]

Every small college and JC should get rid of sports that don't produce enough revenue to support the sport. MS, the poorest state and one of the least populated, has 13 JC football programs, not even Texas or California try to do that. It's insanity.

That's a good offseason thread. Why junior colleges don't need sports at all and how it hurts Mississippi. Here's a preview. There are only 65 junior college football teams in the entire country. 38 are in California. 13 are in Mississippi. 14 are in the rest of the country combined.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Is that on campus students or on campus plus online MBA students?

Meanwhile, Millsaps is down to around 600 - 700 students, most of which are athletes.

Millsaps is in the middle of an existential crisis.

 

[El Perro Grande]

Without completely doxing myself, I left a meeting a few hours ago with the provost, president, and athletic director of a D1 school that is fairly academically prestigious while also having significant athletic success in the past 20 or so years. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss rev sharing and how it will impact them and similar institutions. They like many others are at a crossroads with athletics. Continue to try to prop up an athletic department that operates in the red for all sports except football, or attempt to break through the glass ceiling into the upper echelon academic institutions.

How are keenum and selmon doing?

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Without completely doxing myself, I left a meeting a few hours ago with the provost, president, and athletic director of a D1 school that is fairly academically prestigious while also having significant athletic success in the past 20 or so years. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss rev sharing and how it will impact them and similar institutions. They like many others are at a crossroads with athletics. Continue to try to prop up an athletic department that operates in the red for all sports except football, or attempt to break through the glass ceiling into the upper echelon academic institutions.

We prefer uneducated opinions, thanks.***

 

[Podgy]

Without completely doxing myself, I left a meeting a few hours ago with the provost, president, and athletic director of a D1 school that is fairly academically prestigious while also having significant athletic success in the past 20 or so years. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss rev sharing and how it will impact them and similar institutions. They like many others are at a crossroads with athletics. Continue to try to prop up an athletic department that operates in the red for all sports except football, or attempt to break through the glass ceiling into the upper echelon academic institutions.

That's an issue with a lot of schools that don't have sugar daddies. Demographics are an issue and regionals are now competing with large state schools for students. You might see admission standards end, or at least drop them for something like 25% of incoming freshmen, to avoid financial issues. I know football is king but for State, I'd accept becoming Vandy in football and spending money on having good basketball and baseball. It's going to be hard to compete with all the major SEC schools with deeper pockets but you can't give up that SEC cash.

 

[POTUS]

Millsaps The UMC is in the middle of an existential crisis also.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I'd accept becoming Vandy in football and spending money on having good basketball and baseball. It's going to be hard to compete with all the major SEC schools with deeper pockets but you can't give up that SEC cash.

Negative ghost rider. We've punched well above our weight for a long time. A very unfortunate circumstance, followed by some very poor decisions put us in our current state. We're not staying down, we'll be back to a regular 7-5 program.

 

[johnson86-1]

Every small college and JC should get rid of sports that don't produce enough revenue to support the sport. MS, the poorest state and one of the least populated, has 13 JC football programs, not even Texas or California try to do that. It's insanity.

I would agree with that, but I'm not sure it needs to stop at small colleges and junior colleges. WIth as expensive as schools are, shoveling a bunch of money to non-money making sports is tough to justify. Certainly some sports like Baseball and women's basketball can justify themselves as marketing expenditures (although baseball may not be able to do even that at many schools outside of the SEC), but not many. College sports shouldn't look that different from high school. Sure, have a little more money in it than club sports, but it doesn't make sense to spend that much on a small group of students that don't generate a return fo rthe university.

 

[SteelCurtain74]

Millsaps is in the middle of an existential crisis.

Yes they are. My wife worked there for several years. She left when the enrollment trend started going down. Dr. Pearegen didn't do the school any favors with his leadership. They cut lacrosse and I won't be surprised they cut more sports before long.

We'll see how the new president does. I've heard good things so far but Millsaps is a tough draw for Mississippi kids.

 

[bulldoghair]

Apparently the MC cheating scandal was amongst the worst in NCAA history. Doesn't get the attention that SMU gets, but to avoid the death penalty, MC dropped to Division III. Stripped their '89 national title as well.

The team advanced to the NCAA Division II playoff, ultimately defeating Jacksonville State in the national championship game. It was the school's only national football championship. However, in January 1993, the NCAA vacated the national championship after concluding that the program had gained a "tremendous competitive advantage" based on multiple violations, including awarding twice as many scholarships as was allowed, providing extra benefits to student-athletes, and allowing 12 "partial qualifiers" to participate in practice sessions with the football team on a routine basis

Amen brother.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Yes they are. My wife worked there for several years. She left when the enrollment trend started going down. Dr. Pearegen didn't do the school any favors with his leadership. They cut lacrosse and I won't be surprised they cut more sports before long.

We'll see how the new president does. I've heard good things so far but Millsaps is a tough draw for Mississippi kids.

Location is unfortunately not great, either.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Really? I was not aware. I do know that UMC is building some places in Ridgeland to support part of what they do. One building they will lease and the other they own.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I would agree with that, but I'm not sure it needs to stop at small colleges and junior colleges. WIth as expensive as schools are, shoveling a bunch of money to non-money making sports is tough to justify. Certainly some sports like Baseball and women's basketball can justify themselves as marketing expenditures (although baseball may not be able to do even that at many schools outside of the SEC), but not many. College sports shouldn't look that different from high school. Sure, have a little more money in it than club sports, but it doesn't make sense to spend that much on a small group of students that don't generate a return fo rthe university.

Honestly, K-12 + JUCO could benefit from some serious streamlining/consolidation, but it would require at least one set of nuts willing to be kicked in politically to even start that idea.

 

[onewoof]

Mississippi Christian, oh, the time has come
And you know that you're the only one to say, "Okay"
Where you going? What you looking for?
You know those boys don't want to play no more with you, it's true
You're motoring
What's your price for flight?
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight

 

[Dawgg]

Was just about to post this. Interesting. I've seen similar name changes, but making that coincident with dropping football is different.

I've seen similar name changes... just in the opposite direction. The college here in Waxahachie just renamed itself from "Southwest Assemblies of God University" (SAGU) to "Nelson University" because they wanted to appeal outside the Assemblies of God denomination (and, realistically, probably some outside the Christian faith).

 

[Dawgg]

8 of the 12 schools in the Gulf South Conference no longer have football. That used to be the SEC of Division II football. With West Florida seriously considering D1 (UWF is the only non-D1 public college in Florida), that would bring them to three full members with football - Valdosta, West Alabama and Delta State.

Delta State is going to be the next domino to fall. I suspect they will seek a conference change soon. But they are in a real financial strain. If they dropped football you might as well close the doors.

My cousins played football at Delta State. This was a few years ago when they were competing for the D2 Championship. I haven't really kept up since my cousins graduated, but it looks like they kind of fell off.

Honestly... I think football is probably going to be too expensive for most non-D1 colleges to afford going forward.