Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

[sdman]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

After the big sky disappointment I am not going to get my hopes up but think the mid cont would do well taking the 2 of us. I do hope their people don't read this board bc before the big sky turned us down most people here weren't too excited about the mid cont. But I am cautiously optimistic that we are at least in the game.
I assume the 2 dakotas are not the only schools that want into that conference. Can anybody list the other schools that we would be competing against to get into that conference if they do decide to expand.

[filbert]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

I think it's pretty obvious that the Missouri Valley is where we want to be.

Unfortunately, with both Wichita State and Bradley advancing to the Sweet 16, that just makes it more difficult to break into the Valley. We're going to need three or four straight 20+ win seasons peppered with quality wins such as NDSU's Wisconsin win in order to catch the Valley's attention.

The Mid-Con's short list of potential candidates are:

IPFW
SDSU
NDSU
Utah Valley State

Long-shots would include D-II move-ups:
UND
Northern Kentucky
SIU-Edwardsville

Along with maybe Grand Valley State and/or Saganaw Valley State in Michigan. (Note I've not heard any rumors about the latter two--just speculating based on their location, enrollment, and D-II success. I suppose St. Cloud State might also be in the mix if UND moves up and they want to follow.

The Mid-Con has always been my preferred conference over the Big Sky--in large part because I'm in Kansas City to begin with.

IMHO it's much easier to get by in D-I as a football independent than it is as an independent in basketball or most other sports.

[sdman]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

WE seem to match up well with most of the schools listed and I would think most reasonable people would think the 2 dakota schools would be nice additions to the mid cont. But has there been any real league overtures to us or is everything just wild speculation. I actually had several trips planned for our big sky fb games that never materialized and I don't plan to make that mistake again.
Also, does anybody know if we are going to get a fb school to replace UNC. I already miss them. We had a lot of history with that school.

[filbert]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

WE seem to match up well with most of the schools listed and I would think most reasonable people would think the 2 dakota schools would be nice additions to the mid cont. But has there been any real league overtures to us or is everything just wild speculation. I actually had several trips planned for our big sky fb games that never materialized and I don't plan to make that mistake again.
Also, does anybody know if we are going to get a fb school to replace UNC. I already miss them. We had a lot of history with that school.

Total speculation at this point. The Rabbits have a nose and perhaps a paw under the Mid-Con tent right now, with our swimming & diving teams now associate members of the Mid-Con, and the GWFC being administered out of the Mid-Con offices.

I'd think that there have been a number of phone calls between SDSU, NDSU, and the Mid-Con offices. I'm sure there were some informal discussions at the NCAA Convention this past January (where, if I recall correctly, the UBC scheduling alliance was finalized). I suspect there may also be some discussions at the Final Four. Folks are always talking.

The target group for membership in the Mid-Con is the presidents of the conference, however, not the coaches or athletic directors, and not the conference commissioner.

If there have been talks at the Chapman/Peggy Miller level (i.e. President-to-President), that would be an enormous development.

Regarding a UNC replacement--I haven't heard of any likely candidates, unless you start looking at D-II move-ups like UND or St. Cloud. Savannah State was the only I-AA independent last season, and they're on the wrong coast.

[89rabbit]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

The target group for membership in the Mid-Con is the presidents of the conference, however, not the coaches or athletic directors, and not the conference commissioner.  

Although it doesn't hurt that the new commissioner of the Mid-Con is Tom Douple, former AD at Southern Utah and one of the people that worked with Dr. Oien to get the  Great West off the ground.  

Here are highlights from a Fargo Forum story that ran back in Dec.

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/ind...192§ion=Sports  (sub site but it is free)

Mid-Con looks more reasonable
Jeff Kolpack, The Forum
Published Friday, December 02, 2005

Two reasons that the Mid-Continent Conference is more user-friendly: The commissioner actually returned a phone call from a sports scribe and the commissioner actually answered every question with sincerity.

Or as much as Tom Douple could anyway.

Douple, who took over for Ron Bertovich last summer, was not considered a pro-expansion guy. But then again, we’ll never know, because he refused to answer questions that came within two miles of the subject.

At least Douple got within a couple of hundred yards.

“We recently added two teams to our men’s and women’s swimming,” he said. “That was a good move for our league. I think it will prove beneficial for that sport. We’re excited about that.”

Good move. Beneficial. Excited. Granted, it added South Dakota State and Eastern Illinois as affiliate members, meaning the schools are in the Mid-Con for swimming only. But at least the league seems to be in a better mood for expansion.  .  .  .

A commissioner doesn’t have the power to add a team. The school presidents do. But he can set an attitude that can be contagious and in this case, NDSU should hope the Mid-Con gets expansion fever.

It’s a better basketball league than the Big Sky and it fits NDSU’s recruiting territory better. . . . (read more)



Go State!  ;D

[SDSUFAN]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

I was invited to sit in on a meeting at Tomkins yesterday with the consultant who is helping SDSU in finding the replacement to Peggy Miller. The consultant's question was what kind of things would the next president have to deal with. I said nothing during the meeting but sat back and listened. There were many more articulate alums present so did not have to say boo.

One of my fellow alums made a big point about the next president being able to find a conference for SDSU sports. The consenus of the alum group seem to feel that this  is one of the priorities. Turning back to D2 was NOT even mentioned as an option. Crips we dont mention that to consultant people who has big ties to Ohio State. Besides she said she met Peggy Miller years ago.

Maybe this is one of the the things the Board of Regents and the search committee will consider when hiring the next President. So if some VP from UMKC as a for instance applies it might be a good thing.

Also in one other meeting with the Board of Regents running the meeting, there seem to be many positive expressions about SDSU move to D1. Dean Krogman who would be SDSU's biggest advocate was not at that meeting, but the lady from Sioux Falls was, I forget her name, is a real big SDSU fan. She said she had enjoyed this past season of D1AA football.  

I am getting off topic here but I think the presidential search is going to find some real good candidates and who knows they may be the key to finding a conference.

Lastly, I think as others have stated, our chances for an invite to join a conference will get better with ending of the 5 year reclassification period. Its money that is speaking more often then we probably realize.

[West_River_Jack]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Lastly, I think as others have stated, our chances for an invite to join a conference will get better with ending of the 5 year reclassification period.  Its money that is speaking more often then we probably realize.

I agree that the money is a pretty big aspect, probably the biggest aspect, that is considered by a conference when it admits a new member. The distance to travel relates to money. The number and quality of home games relates to money (tickets sold). And of course, playoff and television payouts which are routinely shared among conference members are important!

Does SDSU have anything to offer in terms of financial gain for a conference before the five year reclassification period ends? For example, is there money that would have been shared from the three basketball games that were televised on ESPNU? The women's basketball team has to be looked at as a real possibility for the WNIT in the near future. Would there be a payout from that to be shared with other members of a conference?

Our teams played all over the country this year. Did the Jacks draw a significant number of fans to the games that we played on the road? In other words, do other schools' home games against the Jacks sell tickets?

[Jacks99]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

but the lady from Sioux Falls was, I forget her name, is a real big SDSU fan. She said she had enjoyed this past season of D1AA football.  

That would be Carol Pagones. I believe she wanted the game in SF last year. I think she is quite influential in SF and is a good ally to have.

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

That would be Carol Pagones.  I believe she wanted the game in SF last year.  I think she is quite influential in SF and is a good ally to have.

Carol Pagones is a regent, right? Would she have been at the alumni part of the search committee process yesterday?

[jackmd]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Our teams played all over the country this year.  Did the Jacks draw a significant number of fans to the games that we played on the road?  In other words, do other schools' home games against the Jacks sell tickets?

Our road attendance was considerably higher than our home.

HOME.................... 12 24842 2070
AWAY.................... 16 104126 6508
TOTAL................... 29 128968 4447

Attendance was 20K at Kentucky, 16.6K at Illinois, and greater than 11K at both Marquette and Minnesota. 9k for Nebraska and Utah St.

[Jacks99]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Here is her part of the Regents website:

http://www.sdbor.edu/board/regents/carole_pagones.htm

[JBB123]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

A good thing we can do is schedule into our alumni base as much as possible. I know if I lived in say KC and hadnt even thought of NDSU for a while and I saw the BISON in town I would probably go down. Id be looking for other fans too.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Carol Pagones is a regent, right?  Would she have been at the alumni part of the search committee process yesterday?

The meeting Carol Pagones was part of occurred on March 13th, and the one yesterday had nothing to do with a search committee. A few BOR members and Tad Perry and including Carol were on campus on March 13 to explain the process to various people who were interested in finding out how it all worked.

The consultant yesterday was just getting input and she will be advising the search committee which will be over a period of time that extents through mid September when the finalists will be interviewed. There should be a public announcement about the selection committee that includes only one representative from the alumni Association. The rest will come from community, the Board of Regents etc.

I happen to attend both meetings and I kind threw that part about Pagones being pro-SDSU in as I was a bit surprised to hear that from a BOR. Sorry if I confused anyone.

[filbert]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

Interesting article on the Mid-Con:

http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs...603090335/1006

TULSA, Okla. - The Mid-Continent Conference will celebrate its 25th birthday next year.

Newly hired commissioner Tom Douple has an idea for the perfect gift: A new identity.

As part of his vision to take the Mid-Con to the next level, Douple is exploring a name change, which he believes would improve the conference's national reputation.
"We hurt ourselves in a way," said Douple, who left his post as Southern Utah University's athletic director last October. "We call ourselves "Mid-Con." It's Mid-Continent, (and) that's a mouthful. So people don't know if that means "Middle Conference" or what, so we're looking at changing the name."

No final decision has been made, though. The conference is still researching the possibility of changing its name and logo. The league office has sent out a student survey, and school presidents are currently considering the possibility.

It wouldn't be the first time the league has changed its name. The Mid-Con was originally known as the Association of Mid-Continent Universities before changing to its current moniker in 1989-90.

"You look at some of the leagues that have changed, like Midwestern Colligate Conference changed to Horizon, (and)they hit a home run with that," Douple said. "Trans-America Athletic Conference changed to Atlantic Sun. We've just got to get a feel and we're studying that right now."

The "Mid-Continent" moniker also might not be a true geographical fit, as the conference now features schools that stretch from the Midwest to the South to the Southwest, a trend that's becoming more common to conferences throughout the country.

And the conference could add more teams.

"The decisions are do we really need to expand," Douple said. "Do we better ourselves by expansion, and who's out there to expand? Do we want to go into divisional play if we expand, or do we not?"

[sdman]

Re: Mid-Con's Centenary to D-III?

The good news is that the mid continent is willing to take members froma good distance away. The bad news is that if the mid cont wants to "upgrade" then it would seem doubtful they would take us earlier than the 5 year point at the very earliest after our probationary period is over. We can only hope.
I don't think though that there is much doubt that the 2 dakota schools would do fine in that conference but then I am not the one that has to be convinced.