This year the National Collegiate Athletic Association has decided to add McKendree University to the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. It was made official Thursday, Aug. 30 when university officials learned that they had been approved for their provisional year for the NCAA DII membership. However, they will not be eligible for championships until they become full NCAA DII members.
In addition to McKendree University being added to the GLVC, the NCAA has also accepted the application from Truman State to join the GLVC. When asked about the new additions to the GLVC, Kim Pate Athletic Director said, “Truman State has a great athletic tradition and has dominated the MIAA in various sports.”
“Truman State has a very strong academic reputation and is a top ranked school in the regions, which will only enhance the GLVC’s profile,” Pate continued. The Truman State Bulldogs will be added to athletic schedules next academic year (2013-14).
Back when UIS was still in the same NAIA conference as McKendree, the two schools had a rivalry. Will this rivalry continue now that McKendree has joined the GLVC? Pate said, “this is a certainly possible given the past rivalry as well as the close proximity.” She continued, “I hope that we can spur on a healthy rivalry as it is an opportunity for students to proclaim their allegiance with pride.”
After a successful year of their provisional status, McKendree will be allowed full membership for the 2013-2014 year. According to the GLVC website, McKendree president Dr. James Dennis said, “this has been a challenging transition for McKendree, and this announcement validates the hard work put forth by many groups and individuals.” He went on to say, “our student-athletes and coaches have done an excellent job in maintaining our traditions during this time. We’re excited to be in the final phase of this transition and look forward to becoming full and competitive members of NCAA Division II.”
During the provisional year, McKendree must act like a Division II program. This means that they must follow and adhere to all rules and regulations set for NCAA Division II programs. This year the Bearcats will only be able to participate in football, men’s soccer, cross country, indoor track and field, women’s golf and outdoor track and field.
“Our coaches, staff and administrators have worked hard to make this moment a reality. This is the beginning of a new era in the long and storied history of McKendree athletics,” said Chuck Brueggemann, director of athletics at McKendree, in a statement on the GLVC website.
Both McKendree University and Truman State will be able to compete right away in the GLVC however they will not be eligible for championships until they become active NCAA DII members.
You can see the McKendree Bearcats take on the UIS Prairie Stars men’s soccer team Sept. 14 at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. You can also see the men’s basketball team taken on McKendree on Jan. 3, 2013 at McKendree University.
Both McKendree and Truman coming into the GLVC has been allowed due to two other teams leaving. Kentucky Wesleyan College has announced that they will be leaving next year to join the new Great Midwest American Conference, a DII conference that recently formed last year. Northern Kentucky University is transitioning to NCAA DI and has been accepted into the Atlantic Sun Conference.
The GLVC will maintain 16 members throughout these transitions and due to these changes, the UIS athletics department, are anticipating that both UIS and McKendree will shift to the East Division in 2013-14 due to geographical location and composition of membership. “The location of both schools (McKendree and Truman) compliments the current regional footprint of the GLVC and are reasonably close to UIS, especially McKendree,” said Pate.
With new schools coming in and old ones leaving, it will be an interesting year for the GLVC and one worth paying attention to.
