Future of Division III

[MCScots2013]

I'm sure it makes the old timers happy with annual games with Centre and Sewanee--lesser degree Rhodes.  Only thing that would make it better would be if E&H stayed D3 and could be an annual non-conference game. Carson-Newman, in the SAC with E&H now, is the other school that was an annual game back in the day.  Just over an hour away from each other.

As far as the SAA is concerned, I like it. Seems like a forever home (I hope).  So much conference membership changes in the Region over the last 15-20 years.  We were USA South for a while--Greensboro, NC Wesleyan, Methodist are the only ones left in the conference from back when I was in school (Averett, Ferrum, CNU, Shenandoah and Maryville being the rest of the 8 football schools).

[scottiedoug]

I hope the SAA affiliation for Maryville does not become a financial miscalculation...it is a long way to Texas and recruiting against well-heeled schools is hard....but I do think the school profiles are more similar than they have been since Maryville left the ODAC. Still, much of the SAA is wealthier than MC. And then there is FloSports to annoy us.

[MCScots2013]

I think we're most similar to Millsaps and Oglethorpe in the SAA.  Millsaps' endowment is tracking nearly identical to Maryville's ($100-110M) and revenues and expenses are similar as well. Oglethorpe's endowment is half of Maryville's.  I'm not saying that makes one better than the other, but I wouldn't think that Maryville's "wealth" is prohibitive to SAA success.  But, yeah, fair point about travel costs going out to San Antone a couple times a year.

Constant point of discussion on this thread: demographics are constraining enrollment (duh.).  Where we have an advantage is the fact Tennessee is growing and most MC students are in-state.  From 2020-2025, Tennessee's population grew almost 6% and over 22% of the population is under 18 years old (Census data).  I didn't go to high school in TN, but I think there are state grants for students to attend in-state private colleges.  That is naturally beneficial for MC as Tennessee--especially East Tennessee--grows.

A good time for a plug for the Alexander Institute.  If still on schedule, groundbreaking is slated for the Fall and then take 18 months to complete.  This will help get people on campus. Looking forward for all on the board to stop by on their vacations to the Smokies.  You'll literally drive past the entrance on US 321 in a couple years.

[y_jack_lok]

I think we're most similar to Millsaps and Oglethorpe in the SAA.  Millsaps' endowment is tracking nearly identical to Maryville's ($100-110M) and revenues and expenses are similar as well. Oglethorpe's endowment is half of Maryville's.  I'm not saying that makes one better than the other, but I wouldn't think that Maryville's "wealth" is prohibitive to SAA success.  But, yeah, fair point about travel costs going out to San Antone a couple times a year.

Constant point of discussion on this thread: demographics are constraining enrollment (duh.).  Where we have an advantage is the fact Tennessee is growing and most MC students are in-state.  From 2020-2025, Tennessee's population grew almost 6% and over 22% of the population is under 18 years old (Census data).  I didn't go to high school in TN, but I think there are state grants for students to attend in-state private colleges.  That is naturally beneficial for MC as Tennessee--especially East Tennessee--grows.

A good time for a plug for the Alexander Institute.  If still on schedule, groundbreaking is slated for the Fall and then take 18 months to complete.  This will help get people on campus. Looking forward for all on the board to stop by on their vacations to the Smokies.  You'll literally drive past the entrance on US 321 in a couple years.

All of this suggests to me that the notion of MC adding Greek life to enhance enrollment seems unnecessary.

[MCScots2013]

I think we're most similar to Millsaps and Oglethorpe in the SAA.  Millsaps' endowment is tracking nearly identical to Maryville's ($100-110M) and revenues and expenses are similar as well. Oglethorpe's endowment is half of Maryville's.  I'm not saying that makes one better than the other, but I wouldn't think that Maryville's "wealth" is prohibitive to SAA success.  But, yeah, fair point about travel costs going out to San Antone a couple times a year.

Constant point of discussion on this thread: demographics are constraining enrollment (duh.).  Where we have an advantage is the fact Tennessee is growing and most MC students are in-state.  From 2020-2025, Tennessee's population grew almost 6% and over 22% of the population is under 18 years old (Census data).  I didn't go to high school in TN, but I think there are state grants for students to attend in-state private colleges.  That is naturally beneficial for MC as Tennessee--especially East Tennessee--grows.

A good time for a plug for the Alexander Institute.  If still on schedule, groundbreaking is slated for the Fall and then take 18 months to complete.  This will help get people on campus. Looking forward for all on the board to stop by on their vacations to the Smokies.  You'll literally drive past the entrance on US 321 in a couple years.

All of this suggests to me that the notion of MC adding Greek life to enhance enrollment seems unnecessary.

I would agree.  Seems like an unnecessary hassle.