HSU, OBU leaving GSC

The annual Battle of the Ravine sporting competitions that occur between hometown rivals Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist create the shortest road trips in intercollegiate play anywhere in the country. The “traveling” opponent can, and sometimes do, literally walk across the highway to the home team’s field or court. However, these two schools, as part of the Gulf South Conference, also make regular road trips to conference opponent Valdosta State in southern Georgia. The approximately 750 mile, 13 and half hour trip is just one example of expensive and class-time consuming trips both Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State athletes are asked to make.

“The football travel budget provided by the university last year was $26,843,” Dr. Charles Welch, president of Henderson State, said. “According to Head Football Coach Scott Maxfield, the trip to Valdosta State cost approximately $21,500, or around 80 percent of the total institutional travel budget for football.”

This issue, along with missed class time for students, prompted nine schools, six of which are GSC members and three others are Oklahoma schools from the Lone Star Conference, to begin plans for creating a new NCAA Division II conference.

The schools meet recently in Russellville to discuss the move. Presidents representing the following schools were present: University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas Tech University, East Central University, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southern Arkansas University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In a joint message made by the chief executive officers of the nine Arkansas and Oklahoma schools, it was stated that, “The intent of the conference is to group together similar institutions in terms of budgets and goals. Furthermore, the conference is intended to be made up of universities that field an intercollegiate football program. Our most important goals in this new endeavor are to limit time away from class and limit our travel costs.”

Nate Salant, the commissioner of the Gulf South Conference, told the Democrat Gazette that he thinks a little differently. Though he empathized with the financial and travel oriented challenges of the GSC schedule, Salant said the conference was prepared to offer other solutions. “Lets face it, this is also about competitive equity,” Salant told the Democrat Gazette. “This is really not about cost. This is really not about lost class time. It’s about other things. And that’s OK.”

Ouachita Baptist President Dr. Rex Horne Jr. reiterated the importance of the travel, but also touched on the nature of competitiveness he anticipates from the member schools of the proposed new conference in information released from his institution. “It is has been a pleasure to compete in the Gulf South Conference,” Horne stated. “The friendships formed and the competition engaged have been good for Ouachita. We wish the member schools only the best. Now we have the wonderful opportunity of joining with five other Arkansas schools and three from Oklahoma to form a new conference. The schools are much closer geographically. The size and philosophy of the schools related to student athletes, budgets, travel and days away from class are highly consistent. I also believe the keen competition of our athletic teams will introduce greater excitement and participation from our constituents.”

Though the proposed conference is being designed from the ground up and will be a completely new establishment, several relationships already exist from the days prior to Ouachita Baptist’s membership in the GSC. “One of the most significant benefits of making this move is partnering with schools that we have known and competed against for years before we went into the Gulf South Conference,” Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Director Coach David Sharp said.  “We will be renewing relationships that we have had going back into the 70s.”

Regardless of the final results of these discussions, the athletic schedules for Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist for the 2010-11 academic year will not be affected. The nine-member group plans to submit a strategic plan, a conference constitution and conference by-laws to the NCAA by Dec. 1, 2010. No decisions have been made regarding the name of the new conference or the location of the conference office.

The Gulf South Conference office issued an official statement that makes schools joining in GSC departure conversation sound as if their leaving is a sure bet. “The Gulf South Conference has been officially notified that its six Arkansas members plan to leave the league,” the statement says. “The GSC will continue to communicate with those Arkansas schools regarding the official departure process. The group’s decision creates a few challenges in football scheduling, but the Conference is moving forward with solutions that solve those issues and will actually strengthen us. The GSC is excited about the future thanks to the academic excellence and athletic success of its remaining core member institutions, likelihood of expansion and potential football scheduling alliances with like-minded leagues.”

And Welch echoed that likelihood, citing the formalities and approval process by the NCAA as the only parts remaining. “The presidents of the nine institutions have each made a solid commitment to this endeavor and are excited about the possibility of creating a new athletic conference,” Welch said. “Of course, we must make application to the NCAA and be approved to create this new conference, but with the strength of our member institutions and the many benefits a new conference will bring, we are very optimistic that the NCAA will view our application favorably. We simply must go through the appropriate processes at this point, but our institutions are strongly committed to this new conference alignment because of the many positive benefits it will bring to our respective universities.”

If the new conference is formed only of the schools currently taking part in the discussion, the farthest travel distance for an Arkadelphia school will be to Weatherford, Okla., to face the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs. The trip is approximately a 390 mile, seven hour drive. And the shortest road trip: Still just a walk across the street.