September 27, 2012
This afternoon I received a press release that Mississippi College has come to the conclusion on Thursday (Sept 27) to ask the NCAA permission to rejoin Division II athletics. The Choctaws currently are classified as a Division III institution in sports.
If MC is allowed to move to Division II athletically, the university would like to join the Gulf South Conference after leaving 16 seasons ago. Currently, the Choctaws play in the American Southwest Conference (a Division III Conference).
Mississippi College decided on moving from Division III after the Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the recommendation from President Lee Royce and its executive committee to move forward with an application to pursue Division II membership.
MC was a member of the Gulf South Conference from 1972 until leaving in 1996. Joining the Gulf South Conference would rekindle a rivalry with Delta State, who is a current member of the GSC.
Moving up a division gives Mississippi College a chance at more exposure on television as CSS and other regional cable networks have begun showing GSC universities. The Choctaws, if their request is granted, could give athletic scholarships by moving to Division II. Currently, Division III universities are prohibited from giving athletic scholarships.
The NCAA Division II membership committee should reach a decision on Mississippi College application to move up around July of 2013.
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