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Abilene Christian University's long road to Div. I in the NCAA is on it's last leg.
The program has transitioned to the final and fourth phase of the transition process, and they're also starting work on the new football stadium.
The steps to get to this point have been harder than what most would assume.
They've had to do a lot more than just wait, and Athletic Director Lee DeLeon says getting to this point feels really good.
Lee De Leon said, "We finished three years and we're going into the fourth and final year. I mean that means we're 75% of the way there, and man that feels good. Third year is probably the hardest year of the transition because you have to turn in the NCAA Self Study, it's a 355 page document."
The next phase of the transition involves the NCAA sending a peer review team to check out ACU and see if they have been doing what all the paperwork says they have.
Asides from NCAA rules and terminoloy, the Wildcats say the best part of the transition is finally getting to compete in the post season.
De Leon says, "That's the best part of this whole, entering the fourth part of the transition is that we can finally now recruit athletes that we don't have to overcome the obstacle of you can't play in the post season. The people that sign with us during this 16-17 season, are now going to be able to be eligible starting their freshman year for post season play.
All the construction and work being done to the future Wildcat stadium can get loud, but De Leon finds the sounds to be exciting.
He thinks that there's no better indication of hard work and progress than to actually hear it being done.
De Leon says, "That little beeping sound that those machines make when they're moving, like, that's music to my ears because it sounds like progress. It fires me up everyday because it means we're getting closer to having that stadium built."
We can look forward to seeing big things from ACU and the opening of the new stadium for the 2017 season starting in July.
More...
The program has transitioned to the final and fourth phase of the transition process, and they're also starting work on the new football stadium.
The steps to get to this point have been harder than what most would assume.
They've had to do a lot more than just wait, and Athletic Director Lee DeLeon says getting to this point feels really good.
Lee De Leon said, "We finished three years and we're going into the fourth and final year. I mean that means we're 75% of the way there, and man that feels good. Third year is probably the hardest year of the transition because you have to turn in the NCAA Self Study, it's a 355 page document."
The next phase of the transition involves the NCAA sending a peer review team to check out ACU and see if they have been doing what all the paperwork says they have.
Asides from NCAA rules and terminoloy, the Wildcats say the best part of the transition is finally getting to compete in the post season.
De Leon says, "That's the best part of this whole, entering the fourth part of the transition is that we can finally now recruit athletes that we don't have to overcome the obstacle of you can't play in the post season. The people that sign with us during this 16-17 season, are now going to be able to be eligible starting their freshman year for post season play.
All the construction and work being done to the future Wildcat stadium can get loud, but De Leon finds the sounds to be exciting.
He thinks that there's no better indication of hard work and progress than to actually hear it being done.
De Leon says, "That little beeping sound that those machines make when they're moving, like, that's music to my ears because it sounds like progress. It fires me up everyday because it means we're getting closer to having that stadium built."
We can look forward to seeing big things from ACU and the opening of the new stadium for the 2017 season starting in July.
More...