the independent years

[YSUinBoston]

Does anyone here know the history of leaving the OVC?  It seems like such an odd period of the program to be a small "independent program".  What happened there?

[Wick250]

We joined the OVC with Akron.  When the Zips left, the southern schools in the OVC made it quite clear that they had no interest in continuing to affiliate with a lone Ohio institution.  So they "invited us to leave" at the conclusion of the 87-88 season.  Ironically, that did not harm the football program as Tressel built the powerhouse by scheduling many MAC schools, some home-and-away, as well as playing other IAA independents such as Northeastern, Hofstra, Liberty, Towson, and Georgia Southern.  However, the basketball program was devastated by Independent status....a condition from which we have not fully recovered to this day.

[YSUinBoston]

Thanks!  That makes sense.  Historically, it seems like such a bizarre period---to be an independent Men's basketball program...it's like "why even have a season"?  There is no hope for any kind of postseason for a school of YSU's stature.   

[Double ET]

Thanks!  That makes sense.  Historically, it seems like such a bizarre period---to be an independent Men's basketball program...it's like "why even have a season"?  There is no hope for any kind of postseason for a school of YSU's stature.

IMO, I don't think leaving OVC destroyed the YSU MBB program. The coaches between Rice and Calhoun did that!

[go guins]

Thanks!  That makes sense.  Historically, it seems like such a bizarre period---to be an independent Men's basketball program...it's like "why even have a season"?  There is no hope for any kind of postseason for a school of YSU's stature.

IMO, I don't think leaving OVC destroyed the YSU MBB program. The coaches between Rice and Calhoun did that!

Agreed! We joined the Hoizon league in 2001, so Slocum can't blame leaving the OVC for his failings.

[ucfpengbuck]

Thanks!  That makes sense.  Historically, it seems like such a bizarre period---to be an independent Men's basketball program...it's like "why even have a season"?  There is no hope for any kind of postseason for a school of YSU's stature.

IMO, I don't think leaving OVC destroyed the YSU MBB program. The coaches between Rice and Calhoun did that!

Agreed! We joined the Hoizon league in 2001, so Slocum can't blame leaving the OVC for his failings.

We also played in the Mid-continent conference from 1992 to 2001 prior to the Horizon.

[IAA Fan]

I don't feel the OVC really indicated they would drop us. In fact, I would think the opposite, given the conference name. We left the OVC because the new rules came out in Football that expanded the # of teams and allowed the independent schools who petitioned (mainly one GAS, who was refused entrance into the SoCon) to play in the post-season. JT knew that the OVC was a 1-man, one-bid conference with EKU, so we probably never would get into the play-off. So we left on our own initiative & created "cake" schedules to guarantee ourselves 7-wins, lots of home games and a spot in the post-season. Also, we could schedule local MAC schools and reduce travel & they would count as a win. JT was able to build a team that played exactly the style of ball that he wanted (aka GAS). Very smart.

Think about it, you never have to recruit players or design offenses/defenses to win a conference, only your own staff likes/dislikes ...you just play to win. We would never have joined the Gateway had EIU not left and GAS not been accepted into the SoCon & the NCAA refused to sanction the Great West, making 8 more good independent schools arriving over the next 2-years (as SDSU & NDSU have shown) and taking our chances again down to nothing for a post-season berth.