I'm going to play devil's advocate...what if in between this time and 2010 the sorority selected for 2010 drastically revamps their pledge program or merges with another group or something else of that ilk? Does Bama have the option to say "hey, we want to look at that other group again"?

This applies to every time this happens at a school, not just Bama.

Not a bad question -- I guess the reverse could also be true -- What if the #s don't dictate the need for another group in 2010? I would assume that the decision is not binding, but it sure does cut down on time & money for both the university and the NPCs who would have to rev up another dog & pony show in two more years.

I think it's very smart to rank the groups presenting. There will not be significant changes in an NPC group in 2 years that would affect a colonization.

I'm going to Tuscaloosa for a visit in two weeks... I am really excited.

When UAB expanded in the early 90's, they invited 3 groups to present. The idea at the time was they would pick one for that year, one for 2 years out and one for 4 years out. As it turned out, DG got the first nod. Alpha Xi got the second nod but ended up waiting another year (or maybe 2) before they came on. Phi Mu was not asked to be
3rd.

I don't understand why, when they know they want two groups, they don't invite more than three to present. It'd seriously suck to be the group not selected but also, what if the campus Panhell is not that excited about two of the groups. Why not start with 5 or 6 group presenting?

As far as I know, Alpha Phi, AXiD and DG were the only groups to submit application packets to Alabama's Panhellenic.

KK_Bama is correct. Of the 11 groups not on campus, only those 3 submitted packets.

What chapters do these 3 have at other SEC schools?

from a quick search (so I might have missed some)-
Auburn- AXiD, DG
Florida- DG
Georgia- DG
LSU-DG
Tennessee- DG
Vandy- DG
UK- DG
Ole Miss- DG
Arkansas- none
South Carolina- none
Mississippi State- DG
Kentucky-DG

Thanks FR!

Oops...add Kentucky - DG (before TSteven catches this!)

^^ Got it- it was on my slip of paper I just didn't transcribe it into the computer!

ROTFLOL! Boy, do you know me.

DG is at Montevallo and Alpha Xi is at Jacksonville State (both smaller Alabama schools).

DG chapters also at University of Alabama at Birmingham and Spring Hill College in Mobile.
Closest Alpha Phi chapter is at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C.