On April 4th, 2024 Mercyhurst University announced they would be moving to Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). This was very unexpected as the school did not seem like a top candidate to make the move. There are now over 350 NCAA Division I schools in the country. Here is what you need to know about Mercyhurst University, the newest D1 school.
Mercyhurst to D1
Last week Mercyhurst University announced that they would be taking a major leap to become a NCAA Division 1 school. This pertains to athletics much more than it does to academics which is what Mercyhurst is known for. While some sports at Mercyhurst were already playing in division one, the entire school now takes the jump. This came unexpectedly as there was not much talk about the school making the jump until the day Mercyhurst announced it. Now the question is why Mercyhurst decided to make the leap and what the future looks like for the Lakers.
Mercyhurst University History
Mercyhurst University is located in Pennsylvania, specifically around the city of Erie. Founded in 1926 Mercyhurst has a smaller campus spanning 75 acres. From 1926 to 1969 Mercyhurst was a women’s only college. In 1969 the school voted to become co-ed and has been ever since. Mercyhurst is known for its religious beliefs and great academics, but it also offers over 25 sports including football.
Since the inception of the Lakers football team in 1981 they have done nothing but climb the ranks of college football. From 1981 to 1992 Mercyhurst played in NCAA Division III independently. In 1993 Mercyhurst moved up to Division II while still playing independently. In 2008 They moved to the PSAC where they remained until just a week ago when they moved to Division I. The Lakers have never seen much success in Football but have been consistent at sticking to their roots. Throughout its 42 years of existence, the Mercyhurst University football team has only had six head coaches including current head coach Ryan Remedio.
What does the Future look like?
Previously, the Lakers football team played in the PSAC or Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Mercyhurst has struggled in this tough conference which has been dominated by teams like Slippery Rock and Kutztown. In 2023 the Lakers finished with a 2-9 overall and 1-6 in their conference.
Moving up to Division I also allows Mercyhurst to move to a new conference. With the leap, the Lakers go from the PSAC to playing in the Northeast Conference. The Northeast Conference is a small conference that primarily thrives in basketball rather than football. In 2023 eight teams competed for the NEC title in football. Duquesne led the way with a 6-1 record.
Moving up to Divison I is a major step up, but it could easily pay off for Mercyhurst. Moving from the PSAC to the NEC should highly benefit their football team while also helping to bring popularity and financial gain to the school. This will also give Mercyhurst University a big boost in recruiting which will also help their sports teams.
Hopefully, Mercyhurst University can make a smooth transition into Division I and see lots of future success in football and all other sports.
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