MEAC Football: How the conference plans to rebuild

The MEAC has some options to keep the conference going

The easiest solution is for the MEAC is to reach down to Division-II and recruit HBCUs from there. Two schools: Kentucky State and Virginia State, have shown mutual interest in joining the MEAC. Moving to Division-I and the MEAC is not an overnight process. Both teams have some lifting to do to make the transition.

If the schools decide to begin the process to move up, both the Thorobreds and Trojans would not join the MEAC until possibly 2024 or 2025; the process could take even longer if there are issues.

For Kentucky State to join the MEAC, the University would likely have to charge students higher athletic fees due to enrollment under 3,000. “There have been conversations. No decision has been made. The University is weighing the opportunity,” KYSU President Dr. M. Christopher Brown said.

The MEAC would wave the conference entry fee ($250,000), but KSU would still have to pay the $1.7 million entrance fee to move to Division-I.

Virginia State would need both a fee and an enrollment increase. Per an article by Steven Gaither of HBCU Gameday, a VSU official said that a 30 million dollar gift by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gives the Trojans the capital to make a move. The official believes the MEAC would wave the conference entry fee as well.

There are legitimate concerns about the sustainability of moving up for the Trojans.

“This feasibility study has shown us a path, but to have the athletic budget that we want to be able to compete, we probably have to do both — raise fees and increase enrollment,” the official said.

One thing the MEAC could not afford is for these schools to go the way of Winston-Salem State and Savannah State; the conference could not afford another hit like that again.

Then there is Chicago State. The Cougars have shown interest in joining the MEAC after deciding to leave the WAC. However, Chicago State has serious barriers to overcome before moving to the MEAC. One barrier, which they cannot overcome, is location.

Every road trip for Chicago State would be over 600 miles and, conversely, the same for MEAC schools traveling to Chicago. The Cougars have financial issues as well. The university faces a $5 million deficit that could worsen even as pandemic conditions improve.

Also, Chicago State does not have a football program. However, the Cougars have been offered associate membership in one sport which could be a gateway to a full membership.

While these programs take time to transition, can the MEAC stay together?