Scholarships at USD

[jackmd]

Re: Scholarships at USD

My guess would be gymnastics, rugby or lacrosse. None require large investments in facilities and all allow decent numbers of scholarships.

I think it will be gymnastics for sure and probably lacrosse as well. Any USD supporters around to give us any insight? They have a club hockey team for men but they play there games over here in Yankton. I don't think they want to make the investment in hockey. Most of the other sports don't offer enough scholarships.

I would think gymnastics would be a logical choice.

[thebluehatman]

Re: Scholarships at USD

I would think gymnastics would be a logical choice.

I definately agree MD.

There certainly is no shortage of good gymnasts in the state of South Dakota if you look at Madison, the Rapid City Schools, even Clark I believe has showed some dominance. That would be a perfect sport for them and the state to show the country what South Dakota girls have to offer.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Scholarships at USD

I'm not so sure about gymnastics. I thought I had heard that women's gymnastics programs were decreasing, so I quick went to USA Gymnastics web site and found an article that discussing the decreasing number of programs. Reasons cited were the expensive equipment that requires frequent replacement, declining participation at high school level, and a preceived lack of interest. The article appears to be kind of old, so it may no longer be valid.

http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/statis...llegestats.pdf

[Hammersmith]

Re: Scholarships at USD

I'm not so sure about gymnastics. I thought I had heard that women's gymnastics programs were decreasing, so I quick went to USA Gymnastics web site and found an article that discussing the decreasing number of programs. Reasons cited were the expensive equipment that requires frequent replacement, declining participation at high school level, and a preceived lack of interest. The article appears to be kind of old, so it may no longer be valid.

http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/statis...llegestats.pdf

64 DI programs according to the NCAA. 7 MAC schools participate as well as another 7 in the Big 10. The WAC has 6, while the Big 12 only has 4. I think the largest group is the independents at 13, including 2 Illinois, 2 Utah, and a Missouri school.

84 DI programs offer W Lacrosse, but they are almost all in the east plus a few along the Pacific coast. I think you can count the programs in the midwest on one hand. Let me put it this way, CA and NY schools are considered in the same geographic region for lax(West/Midwest).

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Scholarships at USD

64 DI programs according to the NCAA. 7 MAC schools participate as well as another 7 in the Big 10. The WAC has 6, while the Big 12 only has 4. I think the largest group is the independents at 13, including 2 Illinois, 2 Utah, and a Missouri school.

84 DI programs offer W Lacrosse, but they are almost all in the east plus a few along the Pacific coast. I think you can count the programs in the midwest on one hand. Let me put it this way, CA and NY schools are considered in the same geographic region for lax(West/Midwest).

Well that would mean the article is old (some of the stats were for 2001 or 2002), but the trend has continued. In the article, the number was dropping from 89 to 84. It also noted that gymnastics was the only sport where there were fewer opportunities at the DIII level than at the DI level.

EDIT: Woops, just re-read Hammersmith's post and I didn't catch the DI qualifier on the 64 programs. My mistake, not sure what this means other than everyone should trust the Hammer and not me.

[Hammersmith]

Re: Scholarships at USD

I didn't bother to look at DII or DIII. I should have, since gymnastics is much like hockey. 64 DI + 5 DII + 16 DIII = 85 total. It looks like one program changed their mind or a new school added it. A bunch of MN and WI schools participate at the DIII level, but that probably wouldn't help a DI SD school.

[jackbusiness09]

Re: Scholarships at USD

Since it looks like U. will be needing some more money I would suggest they go with a womens rugby program. (I may be biased after playing for a mens rugby club)
When you consider the start up costs, that fact that they can play pretty much anyone they want(lots of collegiate clubs) and it is an emerging sport(only 1 DI varsity program so far) they can be pioneers and help promote this full contact womens sport, so when other schools start adding their rugby programs USD will have an edge, and they could use that in something. Also, there is already a decent women's rugby club to build off of.

There are already 3 rugby pitches on the Vermillion campus, take away some of the holes, mow, paint lines and you're good to go.

cheap. effective. fun to watch.

Should be fun to watch and see what they do down there this coming year.

http://www.usarugby.org/default.asp

[West-River_Jack]

Re: Scholarships at USD

I'm not so sure about gymnastics. I thought I had heard that women's gymnastics programs were decreasing, so I quick went to USA Gymnastics web site and found an article that discussing the decreasing number of programs. Reasons cited were the expensive equipment that requires frequent replacement, declining participation at high school level, and a preceived lack of interest. The article appears to be kind of old, so it may no longer be valid.

http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/statis...llegestats.pdf

While I won't address the declining number of collegiate gymnastics programs I think that the statements about other gymnastics programs need to be looked at in a different context. Two of the reasons for declining interest in high school programs are the inability to recruit qualified coaches and the increasing number of club/commercial gymnastics programs such as the ones in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Perhaps these two reasons are one and the same. In the commercial/club programs, the qualified gymnastics coaches can coach the entire year. Both the coaches and the gymnasts can reap the benefits of year-round work.

Judging by the numbers presented in this thread it looks to me like the 'yotes could/should try gymnastics and apply for associate status for gymnastics in the Big 12!

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Scholarships at USD

The U may be screwed in this case.

Looking at the list of available sports, there aren't any that I see with the exception of bowling that is not going to require extensive travel just to find competition and conferences. You factor those costs and add them to the scholarship bill and you are talkings some enormous $$$$$$$!

They are in a real pickle here and these realities are going to hit them real hard!

Lookings at the "Three Prong" analysis, the only logical out for USD would be for the BOR to step in and lower their requirements. After what went down with our transition, would they be willing to even consider that?

This is going to be very interesting to watch play out.

GO JACKS!

SUPERBUNNY