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Here is an article that appeared in the Omaha World Herald yesterday. Somehow the existing NCC members are still doubting or hoping the SDSU move will not happen.
Published Saturday
August 9, 2003
More change expected in NCC
BY ROB WHITE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
NCC Sports
The North Central Conference could soon be in for one more round of reshaping.
South Dakota State is expected to announce its decision before Sept. 1 to either stay in NCAA Division II or follow Northern Colorado and North Dakota State into Division I.
"Every time we have had a change, we've ended up maintaining our position at the very top of Division II and as one of the finest in the country at any level," NCC Commissioner Mike Marcil said.
But the recent changes to the NCC are the most drastic in decades. First Morningside dropped to the NAIA level. Then Northern Colorado bolted for Division I, ending its run in Division II last spring.
Most damaging, though, was the defection of North Dakota State, which like SDSU is a charter member of the 82-year-old conference. The Bison are in the final year of NCC competition.
Minnesota-Duluth joins the NCC next year. If SDSU departs, the search would begin for another school to keep the league at eight teams.
"The concern I have is that you are losing both those institutions, which have been fine members of the conference," University of Nebraska at Omaha Athletic Director Bob Danenhauer said. "But we are excited that we're bringing in a school that fits the profile in Minnesota-Duluth.
"Now, if South Dakota State leaves, it will be a challenge for us in the conference to find someone to fit the profile once again."
That profile consists of respected academic tradition and fully funded athletic programs. That includes the maximum Division II standards in scholarships for athletes, including 36 for football.
As of now, the University of Nebraska at Kearney probably isn't a candidate to join the NCC. UNK has won eight consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference all-sports championships.
UNK Athletic Director Jon McBride said the school is already offering well under the RMAC limit of 36 football scholarships. The Lopers' athletic department budget of $2.5 million would be near the bottom of the NCC.
"If there were to be any formal discussions - and we haven't had any in the least - that would be the first issue," McBride said. "It would take a major infusion of money, and the financial climate is not great at this time."
With NDSU on the way out and SDSU possibly ready to join the Bison, many people in the league fear that North Dakota and South Dakota would soon follow their instate rivals and the NCC would break apart.
"If North Dakota or South Dakota looks at going, that definitely makes us look at other options," Danenhauer said. "But those schools have assured us that they are staying put."
SDSU proposed that the NCC move forward to Division I as a conference, thus keeping its traditional rivalries alive and easing the transition for all. But the Jackrabbits found no takers.
"Our decision will be based on what is best for our institution 20 years from now," SDSU Athletic Director Fred Oien said. "There are some really powerful decisions why not to do it in the short term. But the NCC would be very formidable over time in Division I."
UNO and fellow NCC teams North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State-Mankato field Division I hockey teams, but all have indicated they aren't interested in joining Division I on a full-time basis.
Minnesota-Duluth has Division I hockey. South Dakota has discussed starting a Division I hockey program, but also remains committed to Division II. Augustana is the other member of the NCC.
Danenhauer said studies done by UNO have indicated that additional costs in moving to Division I would be at least $800,000 a year. Those include increases in scholarships, coaching salaries and staff size; an additional men's sport to meet the Division I minimum; and a women's sport to maintain gender equity.
"At this point we're not interested in Division I, simply because we're firmly behind the conference and keeping it strong," Danenhauer said. "We feel that Division II and the North Central Conference, and Division I hockey, is the best fit for us."
©2003 Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved.
Published Saturday
August 9, 2003
More change expected in NCC
BY ROB WHITE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
NCC Sports
The North Central Conference could soon be in for one more round of reshaping.
South Dakota State is expected to announce its decision before Sept. 1 to either stay in NCAA Division II or follow Northern Colorado and North Dakota State into Division I.
"Every time we have had a change, we've ended up maintaining our position at the very top of Division II and as one of the finest in the country at any level," NCC Commissioner Mike Marcil said.
But the recent changes to the NCC are the most drastic in decades. First Morningside dropped to the NAIA level. Then Northern Colorado bolted for Division I, ending its run in Division II last spring.
Most damaging, though, was the defection of North Dakota State, which like SDSU is a charter member of the 82-year-old conference. The Bison are in the final year of NCC competition.
Minnesota-Duluth joins the NCC next year. If SDSU departs, the search would begin for another school to keep the league at eight teams.
"The concern I have is that you are losing both those institutions, which have been fine members of the conference," University of Nebraska at Omaha Athletic Director Bob Danenhauer said. "But we are excited that we're bringing in a school that fits the profile in Minnesota-Duluth.
"Now, if South Dakota State leaves, it will be a challenge for us in the conference to find someone to fit the profile once again."
That profile consists of respected academic tradition and fully funded athletic programs. That includes the maximum Division II standards in scholarships for athletes, including 36 for football.
As of now, the University of Nebraska at Kearney probably isn't a candidate to join the NCC. UNK has won eight consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference all-sports championships.
UNK Athletic Director Jon McBride said the school is already offering well under the RMAC limit of 36 football scholarships. The Lopers' athletic department budget of $2.5 million would be near the bottom of the NCC.
"If there were to be any formal discussions - and we haven't had any in the least - that would be the first issue," McBride said. "It would take a major infusion of money, and the financial climate is not great at this time."
With NDSU on the way out and SDSU possibly ready to join the Bison, many people in the league fear that North Dakota and South Dakota would soon follow their instate rivals and the NCC would break apart.
"If North Dakota or South Dakota looks at going, that definitely makes us look at other options," Danenhauer said. "But those schools have assured us that they are staying put."
SDSU proposed that the NCC move forward to Division I as a conference, thus keeping its traditional rivalries alive and easing the transition for all. But the Jackrabbits found no takers.
"Our decision will be based on what is best for our institution 20 years from now," SDSU Athletic Director Fred Oien said. "There are some really powerful decisions why not to do it in the short term. But the NCC would be very formidable over time in Division I."
UNO and fellow NCC teams North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State-Mankato field Division I hockey teams, but all have indicated they aren't interested in joining Division I on a full-time basis.
Minnesota-Duluth has Division I hockey. South Dakota has discussed starting a Division I hockey program, but also remains committed to Division II. Augustana is the other member of the NCC.
Danenhauer said studies done by UNO have indicated that additional costs in moving to Division I would be at least $800,000 a year. Those include increases in scholarships, coaching salaries and staff size; an additional men's sport to meet the Division I minimum; and a women's sport to maintain gender equity.
"At this point we're not interested in Division I, simply because we're firmly behind the conference and keeping it strong," Danenhauer said. "We feel that Division II and the North Central Conference, and Division I hockey, is the best fit for us."
©2003 Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved.
I think the article shows exactly what the NCC is feeling about the SDSU move, and that is fear.
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