Rob Demovsky, sports reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, tweeted Thursday afternoon that Oakland University would be joining the Horizon League in the near future.
Amidst the reports, Scott MacDonald, assistant athletic director for Oakland, spoke with Fox 11 in Green Bay to clarify the reports of Oakland shifting conferences. Oakland says they have not agreed nor spoke with the Horizon League about making a move.
MacDonald told Fox 11, “We have not been contacted by the Horizon League at this point.
“Our athletic director, Tracy, made it known in the summer that we had interest in the Horizon League if we were ever approached. But we are also very happy with being in the Summit League. That was his stance and we have not been contacted since that date.”
According to Demovsky’s tweet, a Oakland shift from the Summit League to the Horizon League is a “done deal.” If this happens, the Golden Grizzlies will have more opportunities presented to them for tougher competition both in conference and out, as well as a higher chance to return to the NCAA Tournament.
Other obvious benefits are national exposure and recruiting strength for the Golden Grizzlies.
MacDonald told Fox 11 that he wishes he knew who the source Demovsky refers to was, but word would have come from MacDonald himself, as he would have written the press release.
When Butler left the Horizon League last year, talk was running wild that Oakland would be the best candidate to fill the shoes of the Bulldogs. Oakland, located in Rochester, Michigan of Metro Detroit, is within 25 miles of Horizon member Detroit. Detroit has vetoed a proposal to bring Oakland into the league before, and is seen as the possible deciding factor in the conference move.
Demovsky also tweeted that the University of Illinois at Chicago will be leaving Horizon for the Missouri Valley Conference. Their departure would open up another spot that needs to be filled. In addition to Oakland, Denver and Kansas City, also from the Summit League, are favorites to make the switch.
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