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An interesting story from the Fargo Forum (sub. site but it is free). Here are some highlights:
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/ind...section=Sports
Schools undeterred by waiting period
By Jeff Kolpack, The Forum
Published Sunday, June 26, 2005
If NCAA Division II schools are scared of the five-year wait to become a full-fledged Division I member, they're not showing it.
Early results of a 2002 NCAA Management Council decision to increase the reclassification period from two years to five indicates Division I is continuing to see a normal infusion of at least two schools per year. This year's trio that will be fully eligible in 2009-10 are Kennesaw State (Ga.), New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of North Florida.
"The thought may have been that by increasing the length of the period, there might be less (teams moving up)," said Steve Mallonee, NCAA managing director of membership services. "But I don't think that's necessarily happened at all."
It didn't happen at Kennesaw State. The Owls completed the first year of their transition - called the exploratory year because it gives schools the chance to return to Division II without penalty - and are moving forward.
Kennesaw will be ineligible for postseason competition for the next four years. "That four-year wait certainly made us stop and look but we were going to do it anyway," said Kennesaw athletic director Dave Waples.
Waples said one of the motivations for Kennesaw to move up was the decision by North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Colorado and California Davis to do the same.
"And when North Dakota State joined, it was a 13-year wait in basketball," Waples said. "We went in at the worst possible time. What's that tell you? It tells you we're determined to do this and whatever hurdles we have to jump over, we were going to do so."
The Division I Management Council reduced the men's basketball dead period from 13 years to five last year.
The first schools to go through the five-year plan - Davis, Northern Colorado and Longwood University (Va.) - are past the halfway point.
They will be eligible for postseason in all sports in 2007-08.
NDSU and SDSU began their transition periods in 2003-04 and will be eligible in 2008-09. Two sports, wrestling and volleyball, will be tournament eligible in 2005-06 (*note not from the story* I believe this should read 2006-2007 for Volleyball and Wrestling) because of an NCAA special exemption.
Schools rumored to be next on the Division I reclassification block are Central Arkansas, Indiana University (Pa.), Tarleton State (Texas), California State Bakersfield and Winston-Salem State (N.C.). All have expressed interest in looking at the move.
NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor said he's received calls from about six schools in the last year inquiring about the Division I move. Cal Davis athletic director Greg Warzecka has fielded similar requests. . . .
Warzecka said Davis wouldn't have made the Division I leap if the reclassification period was two years. He said that would not be enough time "to get our infrastructure built."
Mallonee agrees, saying the intent of changing the period from two to five years was to make sure schools were better prepared for Division I athletics in terms of tougher academic standards, higher budgets, scheduling and administration.
"I think that's the key," Mallonee said. "The concern before was that two years was hardly ample time for schools to get on their feet. Once they got there, they were floundering. At five years, the hope is they will be fairly successful."
Savannah State (Ga.), and Stony Brook University (N.Y.) - two of the last schools to go through the two-year waiting period - are still struggling. This spring, the NCAA placed Stony Brook on probation for three years for several violations in 1999-00 and 2000-01 - the first two years following the school's move to Division I. . . .
"Schools that aren't ready for Division I puts fuel to the fire for people to say 'don't do it,'" Waples said. . . .
Money is also a primary concern. An NCAA study released in Saturday's Chronicle of Higher of Education found schools moving from Division II to Division I had shortfalls of about $3 million a year.
Still, they continue to look at Division I. At the current rate, Taylor wonders if the NCAA will put a moratorium on Division I membership similar to the two-year ban it implemented in 2000.
"I'm actually surprised people are still looking to make the move," Taylor said. "Then there are more talking about it, which is interesting." . . .
There have been rumors of another moratorium floating around for some time and you might see tougher requirments in the future. I believe SDSU made the move at the exact right time. Our University was ready and it was time. I still believe with all the trasition that is going on in the D-I ranks, as far as conference membership goes, that this is a great time to be looking for a new conference home. I remain confident that with a little patience we will be in an established conference on or before our 1st year of full Division I active membership (2008-'09).
Go State! ;D
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/ind...section=Sports
Schools undeterred by waiting period
By Jeff Kolpack, The Forum
Published Sunday, June 26, 2005
If NCAA Division II schools are scared of the five-year wait to become a full-fledged Division I member, they're not showing it.
Early results of a 2002 NCAA Management Council decision to increase the reclassification period from two years to five indicates Division I is continuing to see a normal infusion of at least two schools per year. This year's trio that will be fully eligible in 2009-10 are Kennesaw State (Ga.), New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of North Florida.
"The thought may have been that by increasing the length of the period, there might be less (teams moving up)," said Steve Mallonee, NCAA managing director of membership services. "But I don't think that's necessarily happened at all."
It didn't happen at Kennesaw State. The Owls completed the first year of their transition - called the exploratory year because it gives schools the chance to return to Division II without penalty - and are moving forward.
Kennesaw will be ineligible for postseason competition for the next four years. "That four-year wait certainly made us stop and look but we were going to do it anyway," said Kennesaw athletic director Dave Waples.
Waples said one of the motivations for Kennesaw to move up was the decision by North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Colorado and California Davis to do the same.
"And when North Dakota State joined, it was a 13-year wait in basketball," Waples said. "We went in at the worst possible time. What's that tell you? It tells you we're determined to do this and whatever hurdles we have to jump over, we were going to do so."
The Division I Management Council reduced the men's basketball dead period from 13 years to five last year.
The first schools to go through the five-year plan - Davis, Northern Colorado and Longwood University (Va.) - are past the halfway point.
They will be eligible for postseason in all sports in 2007-08.
NDSU and SDSU began their transition periods in 2003-04 and will be eligible in 2008-09. Two sports, wrestling and volleyball, will be tournament eligible in 2005-06 (*note not from the story* I believe this should read 2006-2007 for Volleyball and Wrestling) because of an NCAA special exemption.
Schools rumored to be next on the Division I reclassification block are Central Arkansas, Indiana University (Pa.), Tarleton State (Texas), California State Bakersfield and Winston-Salem State (N.C.). All have expressed interest in looking at the move.
NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor said he's received calls from about six schools in the last year inquiring about the Division I move. Cal Davis athletic director Greg Warzecka has fielded similar requests. . . .
Warzecka said Davis wouldn't have made the Division I leap if the reclassification period was two years. He said that would not be enough time "to get our infrastructure built."
Mallonee agrees, saying the intent of changing the period from two to five years was to make sure schools were better prepared for Division I athletics in terms of tougher academic standards, higher budgets, scheduling and administration.
"I think that's the key," Mallonee said. "The concern before was that two years was hardly ample time for schools to get on their feet. Once they got there, they were floundering. At five years, the hope is they will be fairly successful."
Savannah State (Ga.), and Stony Brook University (N.Y.) - two of the last schools to go through the two-year waiting period - are still struggling. This spring, the NCAA placed Stony Brook on probation for three years for several violations in 1999-00 and 2000-01 - the first two years following the school's move to Division I. . . .
"Schools that aren't ready for Division I puts fuel to the fire for people to say 'don't do it,'" Waples said. . . .
Money is also a primary concern. An NCAA study released in Saturday's Chronicle of Higher of Education found schools moving from Division II to Division I had shortfalls of about $3 million a year.
Still, they continue to look at Division I. At the current rate, Taylor wonders if the NCAA will put a moratorium on Division I membership similar to the two-year ban it implemented in 2000.
"I'm actually surprised people are still looking to make the move," Taylor said. "Then there are more talking about it, which is interesting." . . .
There have been rumors of another moratorium floating around for some time and you might see tougher requirments in the future. I believe SDSU made the move at the exact right time. Our University was ready and it was time. I still believe with all the trasition that is going on in the D-I ranks, as far as conference membership goes, that this is a great time to be looking for a new conference home. I remain confident that with a little patience we will be in an established conference on or before our 1st year of full Division I active membership (2008-'09).
Go State! ;D
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