Tweet
Re: Why USD CAN go DI.
As usual, USD fans are late to the D-I party. I made a very similar argument back in June before any Coyote fan thought moving to D-I was a good idea:
http://www.medary.com/article.php?st...60601122340393
I did not envision the apparent opening in the Gateway Football Conference for NDSU and SDSU with Western Kentucky's departure for I-A and the Sun Belt. There will certainly be other unexpected developments which will either benefit or hinder USD's search for a D-I conference. For instance, while we all think it's likely, it is not certain that the Gateway will invite NDSU and SDSU. If not, the "Big North" scenario for the Mid-Con/GWFC would remain in full play.
The only certainty in the current situation is that the existing Mid-Con members will need to see a tangible benefit to them before they'll invite USD or UND. Their tangible benefit to invite SDSU and NDSU was the continuing existence of their conference. That's no longer quite the pressing concern it was in June.
If the status quo persists, I don't see how USD gets into the Mid-Con, let alone any other D-I conference except the GWFC. But it's unlikely the status quo will persist. Nobody knows for sure whether the changes which will come will help or hinder USD in gaining a D-I conference membership--Mid-Con or elsewhere. And that's where it stands.
Originally posted by Crashola
http://www.medary.com/article.php?st...60601122340393
The solution to the long-term survival of the Mid-Continent conference is to go north. Addition of four Division-II North Central Conference schools to the Mid-Con: North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State-Mankato, and South Dakota, provides a solid geographic core to a revitalized mid-continent Conference which could eventually look to replicate the success of the Missouri Valley Conference in men's basketball. It also stabilizes the Great West Football Conference as the football-playing affiliate of the Mid-Con.
North Dakota State and South Dakota State will continue to feel a pull toward an all-sports conference that offers football. The Great West Football Conference is largely administered by the Mid-Continent, but is a marginal Division I-AA football conference with only five members: NDSU, SDSU, Southern Utah of the Mid-Con, and football independents UC-Davis and Cal Poly. More GWFC members are required to provide a stable football home for NDSU, SDSU, and SUU.
North Dakota State and South Dakota State will continue to feel a pull toward an all-sports conference that offers football. The Great West Football Conference is largely administered by the Mid-Continent, but is a marginal Division I-AA football conference with only five members: NDSU, SDSU, Southern Utah of the Mid-Con, and football independents UC-Davis and Cal Poly. More GWFC members are required to provide a stable football home for NDSU, SDSU, and SUU.
The only certainty in the current situation is that the existing Mid-Con members will need to see a tangible benefit to them before they'll invite USD or UND. Their tangible benefit to invite SDSU and NDSU was the continuing existence of their conference. That's no longer quite the pressing concern it was in June.
If the status quo persists, I don't see how USD gets into the Mid-Con, let alone any other D-I conference except the GWFC. But it's unlikely the status quo will persist. Nobody knows for sure whether the changes which will come will help or hinder USD in gaining a D-I conference membership--Mid-Con or elsewhere. And that's where it stands.
:
Comment