—
By BEN JOHNSON
Press Sports Editor
The Lone Star Conference seems to be unraveling at the seams.
On Wednesday, Northeastern State submitted a formal application to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association to be considered for membership. NSU’s next step in the NCAA Division II realignment process comes two days after three Oklahoma institutions – East Central University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University – informed Lone Star Conference officials that they planned to withdraw from the league.
NSU Athletic Director Jeff Konya released this statement regarding the relationship between NSU and the MIAA:
“After submitting the letter of interest, Northeastern State University found that the MIAA, and its membership, seems to share philosophies that are congruent to our future institutional goals and objectives, both academically and athletically.
“Therefore, we have submitted a formal application to be considered for membership. The University is still exploring several options concerning athletics conference affiliation. But at this time, we felt it necessary to take the next step with the MIAA and continue our review of what that league could offer this institution.”
MIAA Commissioner Jim Johnson confirmed NSU’s formal application submission.
“These are necessary materials to move the process along,” said Johnson, whose conference recently increased its membership to 12 schools after Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Mo.) joined the MIAA on July 1.
According to Johnson, Central Oklahoma and Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Mo.) also submitted formal applications to join the MIAA.
Johnson said the next step in NSU’s quest to become a member of the MIAA would be a campus visit by MIAA representatives.
“That should happen pretty quickly,” he said. “I expect it to be in the next couple of weeks.”
When asked to estimate how soon NSU could be accepted into the MIAA, Johnson said, “I can’t give you a guess on that because 48 people (administrators) have a say the approval. I’m not in a position to speculate.”
If Northeastern State plans to exit the Lone Star Conference when ECU, SEOSU and SWOSU do – June 30, 2012 – NSU would have to notify LSC officials by Aug. 1.
If NSU waits until after Aug. 1 deadline, it would not be able to make the move to the MIAA until the summer of 2013 – unless NSU were to withdraw and pay a financial penalty, per LSC membership policy.
If NSU and Central Oklahoma are accepted into the MIAA, the lone remaining Oklahoma school would be Cameron University in Lawton. The LSC would still have nine schools in Texas and one in New Mexico.
