The State of the Conferences--Part 1--The Gulf South Conference

After a lengthy, indefinite hiatus, the posts finally resume on D-II South Sports, just in time to tip-off the 2010-11 basketball season.  However, it won't be the ordinary kind of post to get this season underway, as D2SS will have a brief analysis on what the future of each of the three conferences this blog covers.  Of course, we'll start with the Gulf South Conference.

First, though, click on one of the respective links to find out who will finish on top in both the women's and men's races, respectively, in the GSC.

Analysis: With the decision of the six Arkansas schools to leave the Gulf South Conference, and form their own league in time for the 2011-12 academic year, the future of the nearly 40-year old, Southeastern-based circuit, is in serious doubt. 

When the six schools in question (Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Harding, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, and Southern Arkansas) eventually leave the GSC to join forces with the three Oklahoma institutions (East Central, Southeastern, and Southwestern) to form the still yet-to-be named conference, the former league will be left with just eight schools.  Of the remaining eight schools, five (Delta State, North Alabama, Valdosta State, West Alabama, and West Georgia) currently have football programs, while the other three (Alabama-Huntsville, Christian Brothers, and West Florida) don't.

If that wasn't enough, there's talk that North Alabama may eventually decide to move up to the NCAA Division I level in the coming years, therefore accelerating the potential, eventual disbanding of the GSC.  Or, there could be efforts to form some sort of a scheduling alliance with the football-playing schools of the GSC, with say, some of the schools in the SIAC, or maybe current Peach Belt Conference member UNC Pembroke, whose football program competes as an independent, to keep the league going. 

Additionally, Lambuth University of Jackson, Tennessee is still in the process of becoming a full NCAA Division II member.  That leaves yet another outside chance of the GSC staying afloat.  Still, if the conference does disband, don't be surprised if leagues such as the PBC and SIAC either try to extend invitations schools as Alabama-Huntsville, Valdosta State, West Alabama, and West Georgia, or if schools such as Christian Brothers choose to drop down to the NCAA Division III level, especially if UNA decides to move up to D-I.

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