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The former Division II Troy St. Trojans, now a Division I team known as Troy, just pounded Rice in the New Orleans Bowl in front of an ESPN2 national audience. Their second bowl game in three years and first bowl victory.

They have clawed their way through the transition to Div. I by playing big name schools on the road to bring in big $$$. From what I hear they now have great facilities and this year they were Sun Belt co-champs.

This makes me wonder, had UNA made this move years ago would it have gone this well?
Does Troy's success open the door for UNA and new discussions about going to Div. I?
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This subject has come up several times. From all indications UNA prefers to remain in DII.If my memory is correct a study was also done. I may be wrong on this part. But the conclusion was that DII, mostly because of the money needed to begin the process, and it is a step by step process was the deciding factor. I think for football,not sure about sports but a university must complete a number of seasons at the DI aa level before moving on to the DI a level. However basketball has different rules. Alabama A&M did the samething. I'am not 100% that all I've started is correct but it's pretty close.
I think UNA could make a successfull jump to D1AA, especially if several current GSC schools would jump along with us(West Georgia, Delta State, Valdosta State to name a few). West Florida has also looked into starting football. They are a non football GSC member. I think it would be great to get back together with Jacksonville State, then add Samford, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Martin and perhaps Southeast Louisiana(they are east of the Mississippi River in a new Gulf South or Gulf Central Conference. Old rivalries would be renewed and this conference would be competitive on a national level in D1AA in many sports. TTU and UTM compete in the Ohio Valley Conference now and SELU competes in the Southland Conference(D1AA). You could throw in Austin Peay State also. Troy played D1AA sports for 12 years before moving up to D1(majors). UNA would need to go no higher than D1AA.

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