DII National Title Game

[JackJD]

Early in the 3rd quarter, Northwest Missouri State leads Valdosta State 14-3. There some good athletes on both teams but it seems to me the overall pace is slightly slower than the DI FCS games I've watched this year.

[Grizzled_Jack]

Re: DII National Title Game

I used to make the Republicans (all ten or so legislators in our county are Republicans, this is St. Louis suburbia) upset by publicly asking why there was a Missouri Western and a North West Missouri AND a Missouri Southern and (Southwest) Missouri State since one of each pair was obviously unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money. Later I found that the state supported not one or two (knew Lincoln was land grant as well as UMC), but six or seven different agricultural programs, one at Northwest. Then I figured out what Maryville was for, it was a football team disguised as an institution of higher education.

I've never set foot in Maryville, but Warrensburg is a pit. Despite that, UCM is a school that could easily move to DI. It's interesting to speculate on how UNO will fare in that conference. I'd assume Northwest will become their big rivals.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: DII National Title Game

I used to make the Republicans (all ten or so legislators in our county are Republicans, this is St. Louis suburbia) upset by publicly asking why there was a Missouri Western and a North West Missouri AND a Missouri Southern and (Southwest) Missouri State since one of each pair was obviously unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money. Later I found that the state supported not one or two (knew Lincoln was land grant as well as UMC), but six or seven different agricultural programs, one at Northwest. Then I figured out what Maryville was for, it was a football team disguised as an institution of higher education.

I've never set foot in Maryville, but Warrensburg is a pit. Despite that, UCM is a school that could easily move to DI. It's interesting to speculate on how UNO will fare in that conference. I'd assume Northwest will become their big rivals.

I've been to Maryville once. I wasn't impressed by the town, but the campus was pretty nice from what I remember.

[Nidaros]

Re: DII National Title Game

I been to both towns more than once. I like Maryville the best. I would have liked to see our SD native Mel Tjeersma win another. Valdosta State is a very solid program and has been for years. The former coach is now at Geogia Southern Chris Hatcher. I thought the way NWSU took care of Grand Valley, that they would beat Vadosta.

As far as Central Missouri going D1, they have had great experience with baseball and have made the D2 World Series a number of times. From what I understand they put a lot of money into baseball. Their football program is up and down and they recruit the JUCO ranks real heavy since Kansas-Missouri has a ton of JUCO schools who play football.

When SDSU first begin the study for the D1 move, I recall talking to one of the HPER staff about other schools that might make the move and Central did come up. I was told they did not have budget and there was not much interest. Things change in a hurry though. I tend to think that success such as making the finals or winning a national championship kind of locks your thinking into being D2 forever. Some institutions are just plain fearful of taking the big step.

[JimmyJack]

Re: DII National Title Game

Early in the 3rd quarter, Northwest Missouri State leads Valdosta State 14-3. There some good athletes on both teams but it seems to me the overall pace is slightly slower than the DI FCS games I've watched this year.

I agree. And I didn't see as many game-changing play-makers as you see in a typical FCS game. There were plenty of good athletes, just not anybody who was unusually big or fast... or both.