Staying the course

Southeast Missouri State University has undergone several name changes since being established in 1873, but its current moniker makes the institution a dying breed of sorts.

Southeast is among just a few universities across the nation that compete in NCAA Division I athletics and still carry a double-directional name, including only three state universities. At one time, there were quite a few.

"I think a lot of universities have gone away from that [a double-directional name]," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman acknowledged.

The prevailing theme among officials at schools that have changed their names in recent years is that double-directional monikers portrayed them as small, regional institutions instead of legitimate, state-wide universities.

From a sports perspective, the question is just how much -- if any -- changing from a double-directional name affects those universities' athletic departments, specifically in the areas of recruiting and scheduling.

"I guess that's the prevailing feeling, that the double-directional name makes it hard to stand out as anything more than a regional institution," Kaverman said. "I think the perception can be to cause potential prospects to view our institution as a smaller program, a mid or lower major.

"Some people may disagree with that, and frankly I haven't heard our coaches talk about that. There's really nothing they can do about it."

When Southwest Missouri State becomes Missouri State later this month, Southeast and two Louisiana schools -- Northwestern State, located in Natchitoches; and Southeastern Louisiana, located in Hammond -- will be the only three Division I, double-directional state universities remaining.

Of course, there are numerous single-directional state universities across the country, including Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Illinois of the Ohio Valley Conference in which Southeast competes.

And double-directional names are prevalent in Division II, including Northwest Missouri State. (Although Northeast Missouri State became Truman State University in 1996.)

But when it comes to double-directional, state institutions in Division I, it's Southeast and only two others. Since 1999 alone, three universities dropped their double-directional names. Southwest Texas State became Texas State, Northeast Louisiana became Louisiana-Monroe and Southwestern Louisiana -- which briefly called itself the University of Louisiana in the 1980s -- became Louisana-Lafayette.

From SMS to Missouri State

On Aug. 28, Southwest Missouri State officially becomes Missouri State, much to the delight of former athletic director Bill O'Neill, who has spent more than 30 years at the Springfield school and currently serves as special assistant to the athletic director.

"I think it's great for the university. We're anxious and excited," O'Neill said.

Legislation enabling the name change to Missouri State passed the state Senate in February and was signed into law by Gov. Matt Blunt on March 17. Supporters of the change contended it was long overdue for the school, which has grown to become Missouri's second-largest campus with more than 20,000 students, ranking behind only the University of Missouri-Columbia.

"I don't think there's any question it will have a strong impact on our athletic program, the visibility of it alone, and I think it will be great for the entire university. I think it will attract more students," O'Neill said. "I think they [double-directional schools] are looked down upon. I think it impacts your scheduling, your recruiting.

"I think about 25 [double-directional schools] have changed over the fairly recent years, which tells you something."

As for the reaction from the public, O'Neill said, "I think it has been real positive. There are always going to be some people that just don't want to make change, but overall I think it's been good."

Texas State, the former Southwest Texas State, has the largest enrollment of the former double-directional schools, with more than 26,000 students attending the San Marcos campus.

"Texas State more accurately reflects the size of the school," former athletic director Greg LaFleur told the Austin-American Statesman at the time of the change in 2003. "We will no longer be perceived as a small school."

The athletic directors at Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe said they really weren't sure what kind of effect the name change -- both schools switched in 1999 -- has had on sports.

"I can't tell you that there has been a direct benefit tied to the name," Lafayette's Nelson Schexnayder said, "but I think indirectly, a statewide name more fits who we are, given the size of the institution [nearly 17,000 students], where our students come from, the academic and athletic success we've had.

"Many of the instances you find a double-directional name, the school is small -- a few thousand -- with limited course offerings, and that's not what we had become. We were among the nation's best in some sports, so I think we were ready for a change."

Added Schexnayder: "It's only been a short period of time. In about 15 or 20 years, we might be able to look back and say whether it really helped us or not [athletically]."

Louisiana-Monroe's Bobby Staub has only been on the job one year, so he's still getting a handle on the name change and how it might impact sports at the university with more than 8,000 students.

"I've only been here for a year, so it's hard for me to get a real feel for it," he said. "I can understand the mentality of it being more prestigious, but whether the institution is enhanced by a different name, to be honest with you, I haven't thought about it."

A name change certainly couldn't have caused Northwestern State or Southeastern Louisiana to perform much better athletically than they did during the 2004-05 school year, as both reached unprecedented heights.

Northwestern State, with an enrollment of more than 10,000 students, became the first Southland Conference school to win football, basketball and baseball titles in the same year. Southeastern Louisiana, with an enrollment of more than 15,000, earned its first NCAA Division I basketball tournament berth in school history.

But those schools compete in Division I-AA football -- Southeastern Louisiana recently revived its long-dormant football program -- while Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette are at the I-A level.

"I wasn't here at the time," said Southeastern Louisiana athletic director Frank Pergolizzi, "but my understanding is that when Monroe and Lafayette did that, there was discussion about that here. It was soundly rejected and there's no discussion here about that topic anymore. We're not going to become Louisiana-Hammond.

"I don't think it matters that much [in athletic success], but that's just me. We've focused on the university name. That's what we are, and it's not a big deal."

Still Southeast

Back to Southeast, which has an enrollment of less than 10,000. Men's basketball coach Gary Garner said he doesn't feel hampered trying to recruit to a double-directional school, but he can see where it could hurt. He believes Southwest Missouri State will benefit by the change to Missouri State.

"There's definitely some kids out there that we recruit that it does have an affect on, and there are some that it doesn't. A lot of kids call us a directional school," Garner said. "I think Missouri State gives the impression of a big-time university. I don't think there's any question it will help in their recruiting."

Asked whether a name change would help Southeast athletically, Kaverman said, "I think it certainly has the potential to. It's hard to quantify that. But I don't think it would harm it, and I think it could help it."

Still, it's unlikely the institution that started out as Third District Normal School in 1873 before changing to Southeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1919, Southeast Missouri State College in 1945 and Southeast Missouri State University in 1972 will be switching gears any time soon.

"I think in the context of what has gone on at Southwest Missouri State, soon to be Missouri State, not specifically athletics, but the university in general, there was some talk about whether there would be some interest here, but I haven't heard much about that lately," Kaverman said.

"We just went through it in athletics changing our identity with the nickname and mascot [from Indians and Otahkians to Redhawks]. When you do something like that for an entire university with a name change, it's just a huge undertaking."

And one whose benefits continue to be debated.