Because my statement was not an absolute statement about NDSU posters. I use the term "mostly". When something sticks to what a number of posters state, that is not condemning them, but simply being critical. Calling someone a jerk is extreme.




Right, and every instance of expansion is just that, and instance in time. Those candidates that were in far distant locations were chosen because they offered the most or best advantages more than their disadvantages at that point in time. Those circumstances can change with a different instance in time, depending upon the needs of the conference, and the characteristics of the conference candidates. The total number of expansion members needed at any point in time can change as well. Just because they did it the last time in taking far distant candidates, doesn't necessarily mean they will take them again. If GVSU and NKU were candidates at this time, and if they took IPFW along with them and expanded, and they split into two divisions, that would reduce the number of far distant trips for a large majority of their members. Instead of traveling to Cedar City, Tulsa and Shreveport every year, they would just go to maybe one or two of those far distant locations per year, and in exchange go to Ft. Wayne, IN, Allendale, MI and Covington, KY, which are much much closer to Valparasio, IN, Indianapolis, IN, Chicago, IL, Macomb, IL and even (save Tulsa and maybe Shreveport) Kansas City, MO. That would reduce travel costs significantly.




It may be that way now, but things can change in the future. USD has some characteristics of a I-AA school, and MN has no mid major schools, and only have 1 1-A school. Missouri, Colorado, and Wisconsin are all a similar size and have multiple I-A/I-AA/I-AAA, and there is certainly a market that is there for a group of midmajor schools in that region (refer to filbert's very open minded post on page 5, I believe). In time, they could overcome the financial challenges, especially if they feel there is problems with staying at D II (competitiveness, other teams moving up to DII, etc). Its shortsighted to say that the conditions of today are fixed forever in time.

Theres a lot of ideas out there. Naturally the two most discussed being NDSU and SDSU join either the Mid Con or BSC. At this point any other NCC schools are irrelevant.

From the posts it seems like these ideas are emerging too:

The key to the BSC may be the WAC. The WAC could look to the BSC for auto bid insurance teams. This has happened in the past. That could open it up to NDSU, SDSU and und. It could be 1, 2 or all 3.

NDSU and SDSU accept Mid Con invites under several different scenarios, They remain in the GWFC. Several yrs later und makes the move to join the BSC in lieu of NDSU, which Fullerton is now speaking favorably of.

NDSU & SDSU accept Mid Con invites under several different scenarios. They remain in the GWFC. The Mid Con splits into 2 divisions. und joins the west and the GWFC playing as provisional members for 4 yrs.

The BSC takes NDSU. SDSU and IPFW go the Mid Con. SDSU remains in the GWFC to be joined by und in the Mid Con/GWFC.

The Dakota Universities get no invites and remain in the GWFC. und stays DII but continues to explore DI by moving up the sports allowed by the NCAA without reclassification. Competition in these sports is resumed with NDSU and SDSU. I think their swimming could join the Mid Con?

Except for the "At this point any other NCC schools are irrelevant.", your post above is a very open minded post. Very objective. I like it. Good job. :)

Once again, metro. Acting like the arbiter of all things objective.

I have never made such a claim. I am stating my opinion on what I thought of his post. I thought it was fair and open minded.

Hence, the "Very Objective." comment.?!?

You posted like you were his junior high English teacher.

No, I posted as someone who wanted to give supportive criticism to someone's post. I sincerely meant it.

Great, now maybe there will be more objectivity in this discussion.

WDAY radio reported yesterday that NDSU and SDSU have formed a basketball scheduling alliance with four other independents, Utah Valley State, Longwood (VA), Texas-Pan American, and New Jersey Instintute of Technologies I think. The league will play thursdays and Saturdays in both mens and womens BB.

Its a new league with a very questionable future but it is a step in the right direction, will help stabalize schedules and give the teams a chance to enjoy conference benefits including player of the week and conference titles.

My understanding from www.bisonville.com and www.diaafootball.com is that right now its just a scheduling alliance for the purposes of having scheduled games during January and February when teams that are in other conferences are playing conference schedules and are less likely to be available. Its a way to guarantee 10 games during those 2 months:

http://www.bisonville.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=BB;action=display;num=1136950047;start=6#6

http://diaafootball.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=sdsuetc;action=display;num=1136950274;start=2#2

There is not NCAA bid and it would take some time period for a NCAA bid to be granted. It does fit in with Mr. Ouija's Conference 32 concept though, but has a lot to accomplish to be a real conference. The travel distances are its biggest hurdles to make it sustainable. The future BE split and potential MWC raid will have an effect on all these teams. If UTPA is one of the teams, they could be swept up in a future college conference landscape domino effect, like the any and all Dakota schools available as well and UTPA would as well, just different, present day conferences (more of a southern conference).

Yes, thats correct. As I mentioned a scheduing alliance, but it will have conference perks including as you reiterated, scheduling benefits and conference awards. Nobody is really expecting it to last but it will be a good alliance with an open future.

I think the only sports without a conference are now wrestling which is looking into a new conferenence with several Universities, Baseball/sofetball and track and field.

I keep asking you, what the other sports' conferences are? Do you have the list of them? It would be interesting to see them.

What this new scheduling alliance lacks, which is the most important in viewing it as some semblance of a conference, is the NCAA autobid. Without that, it is closest to, I believe, what used to be called the American West Conference, which included a couple of California schools with Southern Utah. There were only 4 members of that conference, IIRC. It may also be viewed in the same light as the Great West Football Conference. But without the autobid, it really lacks the complete legitimacy of a conference.

Seems like a good interim solution. I would like to see something similar developed for baseball. Also, should we assume this could carry over to volleyball perhaps in '07?

I couldn't agree more. This is one of the reasons that I think a D-I NCC is highly unlikely (13 years is a long time to wait for an autobid). I am glad to see the formation of a scheduling alliance, for although not a conference, there are advantages with working with schools that are in similar circumstances.

Go State! ;D

True, 89Rabbit.

However, there are inherent advantages of a D-I NCC over a geographically sprawling collection of independent teams getting together to form a conference. That is geography, as well established rivalries and series. A D-I NCC, though would take 13 years to get an autobid, is likely to be more sustainable than a D-I Collection of Sprawled-Out Independent Teams Conference, which would also take 13 years to move up.

That said, what is more likely is NDSU, SDSU, and up to 1 to 3 more NCC teams that move up over the next few years all landing in the same conference, either the Mid Con or the BSC. This is due to the potential split of the Big East Conference and the potential of a MWC raid of the WAC. If either or both of these events happen, and they are quite possible, it would set place a grand domino effect on the college conference landscape, that if 1 or more NCC teams move up they would likely land in the same conference as NDSU and SDSU in order for those conferences, or their remnant teams, to survive as a conference or an alignment with a new conference name.

This will likely also land Longwood, Savannah State, IPFW, UVSC, and UTPA in a conference as well. UVSC and IPFW would likely land in the Mid Con with NDSU, SDSU, and potentially other NCC move ups in future years. If not the Mid Con, then the BSC, with the Mid Con still being the likely destination for IPFW and UVSC.