By Jim Henry
Globe Sports Editor
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As speculation continues about changes in NCAA Division II area conferences, the Lone Star Conference made the first move.
The University of Incarnate Word officially became a Lone Star member on Thursday, becoming the 28th school to join the league in its 79-year history. The LSC Council of Presidents extended an invitation to Incarnate Word in January 2009, and the Cardinals will start Lone Star competition this fall. Ironically, Incarnate Word will be the only school that plays all 16 sports offered by the Lone Star.
Incarnate Word, located in San Antonio, has been a member of the Heartland Conference since 1999 and advanced 36 teams to NCAA postseason play.
“There will be challenges in travel,” UIW athletics director Mark Papich said in a press release. “And we will be competing for positions in postseason play in a larger conference.
“We, however, had reached the point that with the inception of football (in 2009) at Incarnate Word, it was in the interest of the university to find a place, a conference to support that initiative.”
The addition of Incarnate Word makes nine Texas teams in the Lone Star that currently has 16 members. But all of the league’s Oklahoma schools except Cameron have hinted at leaving. Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State are looking at the MIAA, and East Central, Southwestern Oklahoma and Southeastern Oklahoma are considering forming a new league with six Arkansas schools that would exit the Gulf South Conference.
Northeastern State athletics director Jeff Konya confirmed the school has sent a letter of interest to the MIAA.
“We are currently a member of the Lone Star Conference,” Konya told the Tahlequah Daily Press. “We did submit a letter of interest to the MIAA to explore if there is a common ground between all parties there for a fit potentially down the road. But we do not have an active — or actionable application — with the MIAA right now.”
Nebraska-Kearney and Lindenwood have also been mentioned as potential new members if the MIAA expands.
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference meetings concluded last Tuesday, and the league discussed expansion and Nebraska-Kearney’s future.
“Some people feel there is an advantage to having as many schools as possible and go to a regional format ... that would make it easier and less costly,” UNK athletics director Jon McBride told the Kearney Hub. “Everybody is trying to help us out to find ways with less travel.”
Travel is one big reason Nebraska-Kearney is looking at the MIAA. The Lopers travel at least 600 miles for four league games, including a 1,040-mile jaunt to Western New Mexico. The shortest trips are 350 miles to Chadron State and to Denver.
Checking mileague in the current structure of the MIAA, Nebraska-Kearney is within 200 miles of Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Omaha, and its longest trip would be 480 miles to Missouri Southern.
Lindenwood, located in St. Charles with an enrollment of approximately 15,000, is looking to move up from NAIA. The school submitted its proposal to join the NCAA on June 1, and it expects to learn its NCAA fate on July 12.
School spokesman Scott Queen said Lindenwood has been in talks with MIAA officials since December.
“We’re very optimistic and everyone is energized about the possible move,” Queen told the Suburban Journals. “A lot of people have worked very hard on this, and the administration has been very supportive because this isn’t a cheap thing to do.”
Lindenwood has been a Heart of America Conference member for more than 20 years and offers 46 sports — 22 for men, 24 for women — but its proposal would move 26 sports to the NCAA. Lindenwood has won 41 national championships since 1998, including 15 by programs that would play in the NCAA.
