@optimaltennis @Clemson_tennis I always wondered why if U of Mich and Mich State were the two flagship universities for the state, how come Western Mich didnt have tennis scholarship restrictions but Mich State did. Was it a difference in philosophy between ADs at the time? Each ITA region had about 20 D1 schools. For the ******* Region, in the years right prior to the pandemic, Mich State never was in the top 10 out of that 20ish. Western Mich one year was once #5 after OH, MIch, Ill and Notre Dame and ahead of Northwestern and even had an ITA ranking of #44 one year. At the singles of the ******* Regional in one of those years, Mich State did not have a single player win a match in the R64 of the Regional while WMU had a SFist. There were usually 2-3 other MMs besides WMU in the top 10 for the ******* ahead of MSU. The MSU team was all Americans, and the WMU team was 8/10 international (ironic since WMU was one of the Kzoo boys' hosts)
Glad to hear MSU had the restrictions lifted. I remember when MSU got the Lansing ITF in Nov which meant they would probably get 3-4 guys in the MD but the best of the MSU players was around UTR 12.5. At that time (before the Accelerator program) there were guys playing 1 or 2 at top 16 unis who were still playing Qualis-guy with UTRs 13.8. I remember thinking I bet the Qualifiers who made the MD are hoping they draw one of the MSU WCs.
Obviously the Lansing area has a lot of tennis support to be able to sponsor a Future-wondered why U-Mich did try to nab one before as Illinois and OSU have hosted Futures and/or Challengers for years. Now with this scholarship change, top Americans, some transfers in the lineup, it will be interesting to see if MSU can make the NCAAs this year and provide a challenge within the Big 10 after years in its basement with Purdue.
You'd think MSU would want to compete with Mich in all sports. In light of Mich playing the football championship, I remember in 2020 that Mich State beat Mich in football. My son who was dating a girl from MSU at the time was there to watch the sofa burning the streets. Hopefully with these changes, MSU will be able to give Mich a run for its money during this rebuilding year for Mich.
