1-25-10 - The last couple of weeks I have received information on schools and conferences that are considering moves that will impact their athletic programs in the future. These moves will also impact others as well. The question is do you know what is going on in your conference or even in your association? When we hear about these issues we usually do our homework and contact those in charge at both ends.

One thing we stress is that we usually don’t go looking for these items they show up or we get an email from someone asking about a situation. I can honestly say we get the most viable information from message boards and it is usually spot on. One funny thing has happened, we applied to participate on a message board only to be denied because they knew we used sites for follow-up. We take a lot of heat for some of our research, only to tell those folks that someone with inside information is posting on a message board.

Our site THE SENIOR REPORTS is used by many folks to find out what is going on in their association. We have had some say it is our goal to “stir people up” and make extra work for the associations. We’ve even been told to mind our own business. While others have thanked us for letting us know what is happening on a national level. To be honest to those who think we actually have power with schools you are wrong, all we do is get the info out and once in a while give some what we hope is helpful advice.

Right at this moment I know of a conference of schools looking to change associations, I know a group of four schools in the same area looking to move, I know of a school looking to switch conferences in the NAIA. I know of schools looking to change associations so they can be in a conference. I also know that many of those mentioned are doing this without telling those it will impact. My suggestion to all of them, don’t do this in the shadows inform your conference and your association. To many time secrets like this harm more then they help.

If you are not looking to move and everything looks good in your conference or association, don’t rest on that feeling. I encourage conferences and schools to verify on a regular basis the status of your membership. The impact caused of losing members will effect you way more then it will the schools leaving, they are making there plans. Believe me this type of surprise is no fun.

Two associations who could be the “side-effect” of all of the shuffling is the National Christian College Athletic Association and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. In recent weeks members from these two associations are being targeted by NAIA conferences looking to “replenish” depleted membership.. Some schools are gaining conference membership before even being accepted into the NAIA. These two associations have served many smaller schools over the past years, we hope that all involved in these issues will be in continual contact on changes.

The information we know is not all that is going in college athletics, especially in the changes taking place in associations. Our hopes is that this can be a process deserving of college athletics.