Do they have the established fan base, tradition or monitary support to make this step? I have attended many SIUE events with fewer than fifty spectators. If that is division I than what constitutes lower divisions?

SIUE would be much better off to, as they did with soccer in the seventies, to be happy as a large fish in small pond in niche sports such as wrestling and ice hockey. Expansion in this direction would make more sense than to pretend to compeate at the same level as the big schools in major sports.