CHANGES IN THE NCC

[wsufan]

Re: CHANGES IN THE NCC

If the NSIC or NCC thinks a school (Upper Iowa) of 700 on campus students is the right fit for their respective conferences more power too them. It just reinforces why SDSU,NDSU,UNC and others that don' resemble these schools are moving on to greener pastures.    

Well the NSIC took a vote on last Wednesday, and UIU was not accepted to the NSIC. Any news on the NCC or MIAA yet?

[tony]

Re: CHANGES IN THE NCC

No news on the NCC front.

Kearney wasn't interested before, don't think anything has changed. UND still insists that DI-AA foosball is the devil.

[89rabbit]

Re: CHANGES IN THE NCC

Here is a story about the NSIC and NCC from the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

NSIC mulling options
BY RAY RICHARDSON
Pioneer Press

The financial impact isn't quite the same, but administrators in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference can relate to the fallout created by the University of Miami's defection from the Big East to the ACC.

Minnesota-Duluth's decision last fall to leave the NSIC for the more prominent North Central Conference is beginning to sink in. Every Duluth sporting event in 2003-04 against an NSIC rival, including its football game today at Northern State, adds to an uncomfortable farewell tour for the Division II conference.

Duluth, which moves to the NCC next fall, helped raised the profile of the NSIC since joining the league in 1976. After Minnesota-Morris left the NSIC last year to step down to the Division III Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, the conference is faced with a tough choice — make it work with eight schools or find two replacements.

"We've had informal conversations with some schools that could be a good fit for us, but nothing definite,'' NSIC commissioner Mike Lockrem said. "We feel we're in a good situation with eight schools. There's no rush to get back to 10.''

The departures of Morris and Duluth leave the NSIC with Concordia (St. Paul), Bemidji State, Minnesota-Crookston, Wayne State (Neb.), Northern State, Winona State and Southwest Minnesota State, formerly known as Southwest State.

The fact that Southwest State made an official name change in July reflects the concern in the NSIC. The conference is struggling to maintain visibility and corporate support. Southwest Minnesota State is hoping to capitalize on the name association with "Minnesota.''

Losing two schools is not good timing considering the unstable economic climate. The NSIC has two fewer members that can help promote a sponsor. Lockrem said some corporations have cut back this year on league sponsorship dollars. Northland Ford, a conglomerate of Ford auto dealerships in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska, ended its four-year relationship with the NSIC in July.

Northland's decision, which ends an annual $13,000 contribution to the conference, could mean no televised games for the league's Metrodome Classic in November. Northland helped fund at least one telecast (tape-delayed) each year of an NSIC game in the Metrodome.

"The question now is how do we rally and strengthen ourselves,'' said David Herbster, Concordia-St. Paul athletics director. "I think we'll be okay with eight schools, but some of our members hope we get back to 10.''

Upper Iowa University (Fayette, Iowa), a Division III school, has submitted an application to join the NSIC. NAIA members such as Jamestown College (Jamestown, N.D.), University of Mary (Bismarck, N.D.) and Dakota State University (Madison, S.D.) have shown casual interest.

NSIC presidents and athletics directors might make a decision on Upper Iowa at league meetings in the spring. League officials plan to get a head start on discussing the conference's future at the annual NCAA meetings in Nashville in January.

If the NSIC wants to add two teams, options could be limited. Most candidates are either Division III or NAIA institutions, and the NCAA has intensified the transition process into Division II, including a four-year provisionary period before schools can qualify for Division II national championships.

It is doubtful any schools in the Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference would consider the NSIC.

"A school would have to improve its resources and recruiting to move into Division II,'' MIAC commissioner Carlyle Carter said. "With the philosophical and financial commitments a school would have to make, I just don't think any of our members are thinking along those lines.''To reach the author of this article, click Contact Us at the top of this page and go to Pioneer Press Contacts.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...es/6871924.htm

Looks like Upper Iowa isn't done just yet. Glad we are moving up where we belong. Div I/I AA all the way!

Go SDSU!