Issue: Summer 2012 | Posted: June 18, 2012

A New Day for Union Athletics

Ann Elizabeth Lynch, of Jackson, Tenn., is a fourth generation Unionite who will be among the first recruiting class playing for women’s golf at Union.

It was a moment of both triumph and uncertainty.

In late spring 2011, Union University had submitted more than 400 pages of documentation supporting its application for membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level.

Finishing such a labor-intensive project brings a measure of relief and even triumph, especially when that project could have historic implications.

But how many such applications would the NCAA membership committee approve?

As the committee deliberated, Union and the other schools that applied had to operate as though they were already NCAA institutions. That requirement prompted some personnel moves.

Alignment with a Division II athletic conference would make scheduling far easier if the application was approved. Some view the support of an established conference as a potential plus in the application process. Gulf South Conference member schools unanimously endorsed Union’s Division II application. That word spurred further optimism, but the uncertainty remained until July 11, when word reached President David S. Dockery that Candidacy Status had been approved.

“We are so very pleased that the NCAA has opened the door for Union University to move forward with the membership process, which will allow Union to compete with NCAA Division II institutions,” Dockery said. “The Union community is quite hopeful for good days ahead for our coaches, student-athletes and fans.”

“Union University was a great candidate, possibly among the best ever for admission into Division II,” said Gulf South Conference Commissioner Nate Salant. “We hope this is the start of a very long, successful, exciting relationship.”

The Gulf South Conference: “Gigantically Pleased”

Seven Division II schools are current members of the GSC: University of Alabama-Huntsville, Christian Brothers University, Delta State University, University of North Alabama, Valdosta State University, University of West Alabama, University of West Florida and the University of West Georgia.

Union University and Shorter (Ga.) University start the transition process together and, pending NCAA approval, could become full members in 2014.

Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the GSC is a charter member of Division II, dating back to 1970. In that time, conference members have won 45 national championships in 12 sports and more than 100 regional titles.

Salant has served as commissioner since 1992. By 2000, he guided the nation’s largest NCAA conference at any level. The GSC had 18 member schools from Georgia to Arkansas. A decade later, six Arkansas-based schools broke away to form a new conference. Salant implemented what he calls an aggressive expansion plan to replace those institutions with schools that fit academically and athletically.

“We are grateful for the wonderful support that we have received from the Gulf South Conference commissioner and member institutions,” Dockery said at the time Union’s candidacy status was announced.

Salant celebrated the decision as well: “We are gigantically pleased, there’s no other way to say it,” Salant said.

NCAA Division II and “Life in the Balance”

A description from the NCAA website says “Division II is an intermediate-level division of competition, which offers an alternative to both the highly competitive level of intercollegiate sports offered in Division I and the non-scholarship level offered in Division III.”

According to statistics posted at NCAA.org, Division II has 302 member institutions, and 48 percent of them are private schools. They vary widely in size and mission, but the average enrollment of these colleges and universities is 4,236, which is nearly identical to Union’s fall 2011 enrollment of 4,205.

A more important signal of Union’s potential fit is Division II’s “Life in the Balance” philosophy. The idea is that competitors are students first, and the goal is for their work in the classroom and community to be in proper balance with the time they spend participating in intercollegiate athletics.

That fits well with Union’s mission as an academically excellent institution and as a school that is recognized nationally for community service. Dockery said Union first began considering the move in 2009, which is the year Division II began its new emphasis on balance.

Among the changes made in connection with Life in the Balance were shortened season schedules, a later reporting date in August for athletes playing fall sports and a “dead period” between Dec. 20-26 each year that prohibits competition and even on-campus workouts. Division II schools are also evaluating the amount of time student-athletes spend in practices, meetings and competition.

There are about 100,000 student athletes competing at the Division II level, and very few of them receive full athletic scholarships. Because so many pay some or all of their own costs, NCAA officials observe that in Division II, “athletically gifted students can compete at a high level, while maintaining much of a traditional student experience.”

So Union’s emphasis on excellence in academics and a Christ-centered mission fit well within the “Life in the Balance” model. Benefits to the move will include more competitive schedules; additional interest from prospective athletes, students and fans; reimbursement from the NCAA for postseason expenses; and the introduction of Bulldog athletics in new media markets such as Memphis, Pensacola, Huntsville and Chattanooga.

The Timetable and Realities of Candidacy Status

Union was among 10 schools granted candidacy status effective on Sept. 1. All university athletic teams continued to play existing NAIA Division I schedules for 2011-12.

The Union athletic program will be reviewed at the end of each year. Pending successful outcomes, the next steps beyond candidacy status are “year two of candidacy” (2012- 13) and “provisional membership” in year three (2013-14). The athletic program would be eligible for full membership in Division II in 2014.

During the second and third years of the process, Union will compete against Division II schedules in each sport within the Gulf South Conference. But rules stipulate that Union will not be eligible for Division II postseason play in any sport during those years.

Union currently fields 10 varsity squads for intercollegiate competition, which fulfills the number of varsity sports necessary to compete at the Division II level. But women’s golf has been added and will begin competition in fall 2012. It is possible that additional varsity sports could be added after the Division II transition is completed.