D2.ticker Top Ten - the most clicked stories of the past week |
| |
|
Game One is a one-stop shop for premium intercollegiate athletic uniforms, apparel, footwear, equipment, facility needs, compliance solutions, and more. Its mission is to inspire and elevate the spirit and identity of teams. For more information about Game One's elite sales and service model, please click HERE.
|
|
|
#10: More from Gulf South Commissioner Matt Wilson, as he shares on LinkedIn: “I wonder if it is time for college football outside the FBS to consider a radical change. Is it worth exploring non-divisional football competition? Should the group a football school competes with for championships be centered on resources and institutional aspirations instead of divisional alignment? This would potentially allow the top D2, D3, and/or NAIA programs invest and compete with FCS programs OR choose different affiliations altogether. If not this, are we at a moment where DI FCS should consider allowing multi-divisional members to join for football only? Could this help FCS conferences meet their needs without adding more schools to an already crowded competition for AQ spots in other sports? What other strategies should we be thinking about? I'm open to pursuing alternative solutions that help each institution meet their aspirations & goals for their athletics programs.” (link)
|
#9: Kennyhertz Perry attorney Mit Winter mentions that “an email from (NCAA President) Charlie Baker went out to all high school athletes & their family members registered with the NCAA eligibility center. It asks for support of the SCORE Act, warning college athletes may have indefinite eligibility without the bill. This email went to many people. To play in NCAA certified events (think club team tournaments), high school athletes must be registered with the eligibility center. The email doesn’t mention the other aspects of the SCORE Act beyond giving ‘legal clarity’ for eligibility rules.“ (link)
|
#8: Wisconsin-Parkside rolls out its Rangers Roadmap five-year strategic plan for athletics. Strategic priorities include Brand Enhancement, Championship Resources, Competitive Excellence, Facility Enhancement, Organizational Culture and Student-Athlete Success. AD Adam Schemm: “The Rangers Roadmap represents more than just a strategic document. It's a living standard that reflects who we are and where we're headed as Rangers. This plan is about clarity, purpose, and discipline — a commitment to serve, compete, and grow together in ways that strengthen not only our athletic programs but also our people and our purpose. [...] The Rangers Roadmap is designed to be a living document that adapts to the fast-paced environment of college athletics. This ongoing process of assessment, reflection, and accountability ensures that our vision stays active and responsive to the evolving needs of our department.” (link)
|
#7: Nine Concordia Irvine student-athletes are suing the institution in a sex discrimination class action lawsuit over the elimination of the Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving and Tennis programs. Arthur Bryant Law’s namesake: “CUI’s decision to eliminate the women’s swimming & diving and tennis teams is a flagrant violation of Title IX. According to the most recent publicly available information, women were 59% of CUI’s undergraduates in 2024-25, but they were given only 51.2% of the opportunities to participate in varsity sports. CUI needs to add about 100 opportunities for women to reach gender equity. It should not be eliminating any women’s teams.” (link)
|
#6: Pittsburg State promotes Deputy AD Natalie Cullen to Assoc. VP of Athletics/SWA and Senior Assoc. AD for Operations and Special Projects Anthony Crespino to Deputy AD. (link)
|
#5: Fort Lewis Assoc. AD for External Relations Shawn Jakubowski will serve as Interim AD for the Skyhawks. (link) |
#4: G-MAC Deputy Commissioner Leslie Schuemann is headed to the ASC (DIII) as its new commissioner. Mary Hardin-Baylor (DIII) President/ASC Council of Presidents Chair Randy O’Rear: “We are grateful to David for bringing stability to our conference and for his unwavering commitment to our member schools. […] [Leslie] is a proven leader, strong communicator, and is deeply committed to the student-athlete experience. Leslie’s rich background, athletic acumen, and strategic vision make her the perfect choice to lead the ASC to a bright future.” (link)
|
#3: Kentucky State Assoc. AD/SWA Jackie Duvall is no longer in the role after five years with the Thorobreds. (link) |
#2: Gulf South Commissioner Matt Wilson on the future of the league with four Football-playing members: “The inventory of potential partner schools is not very deep. It’s a difficult sell to institutions to come compete with teams that every one of these four teams have been a number one seed in just my time here, which is just unbelievable. […] We’re trying to find a way to continue our mission of helping our institutions meet their institutional aspirations for athletics.” On the future of the conference as a whole: “The future is really bright. I’m bullish on where the Gulf South is headed. We’ve got a lot of great things going for us or people that want to partner with us in sports besides football. We think we can get there. We think there’s an opportunity for a big tent in the Gulf South Conference, but this is a unique climate again for higher ed. There are challenges that they’re facing, particularly financial challenges. Travel has never been more expensive. Equipment costs have never been more expensive. Declining enrollment and declining subsidies from state institutions and philanthropy are making it a challenge. We want to come alongside our schools and make sure they can continue to provide the opportunities that they’re providing to hundreds and hundreds of young people on their campuses every year. Asked about securing future athletics opportunities: “We run the risk of damaging these opportunities in this current climate if we don’t focus on the educational model of college athletics.” (link)
|
#1: Western Washington AD Jim Sterk has transitioned to half-time, with Assoc. AD Steve Brummel serving as Co-AD/Interim AD making $171K including half of Sterk’s previous $198K in compensation. (link)
|
|
|
|
