CIS expansion & Realignment Thread

finiteman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:03 pm

It occurred to me that we have had trivial discussions of SFU and UBC possibly playing in the NCAA, but we really have not discussed Canada's version of the NCAA, CIS. It occurred to me that this site should totally track CIS movement as well! To that end I am opening a CIS expansion and Realigment thread that I hope can be stickied up with the others.

Most posters on the thread are pretty US-centric, soI think the first post in this thread should explain the CIS.

There are 52 Canadian universities who play in the CIS, essentially the Canadian government run (or at least heavily sponsored) version of the NCAA.

CIS Membership

Acadia University Axemen / Axewomen - http://www.acadiau.ca/sports
University of Alberta Golden Bears / Pandas - http://www.bears.ualberta.ca - http://www.pandas.ualberta.ca
Bishop's University Gaiters - http://www.ubishops.ca/gaiters
Brandon University Bobcats / Bobcats - http://www.gobobcats.ca
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds - http://www.gothunderbirds.ca
Brock University Badgers - http://www.brocku.ca/athletics
University of Calgary Dinos - http://www.goDINOS.com
Cape Breton University Capers - gocapersgo.ca
Carleton University Ravens / Ravens - http://www.goravens.ca - http://www.carleton.ca/athletics
Concordia University Stingers - http://www.stingers.ca - athletics.concordia.ca
Dalhousie University Tigers - http://www.athletics.dal.ca
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades - http://www.ucfv.ca/athletics
University of Guelph Gryphons - http://www.gryphons.ca
Lakehead University Thunderwolves - http://www.thunderwolves.ca - http://www.thunderwolveshockey.com
Laurentian University Voyageurs / Lady Vees - http://www.luvoyageurs.com
Université Laval Rouge et Or - http://www.rougeetor.ulaval.ca - http://www.peps.ulaval.ca
University of Lethbridge Pronghorns - horns.uleth.ca
University of Manitoba Bisons - http://www.gobisons.ca
McGill University Redmen / Martlets - http://www.athletics.mcgill.ca
McMaster University Marauders - http://www.marauders.ca
Memorial University of Newfoundland Sea-Hawks - http://www.mun.ca/athletics
Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus - http://www.umoncton.ca/sports
Université de Montréal Carabins - http://www.carabins.umontreal.ca
Mount Allison University Mounties - athletics.mta.ca/
University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds - vreds.unb.ca
Nipissing University Lakers - http://www.nipissingu.ca/athletics
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks - http://www.uoitridgebacks.com
University of Ottawa/Université d'Ottawa Gee-Gees - http://www.geegees.ca
University of Prince Edward Island Panthers / Panthers - http://www.upei.ca/athletics/
Université du Québec à Montréal Citadins - http://www.sports.uqam.ca
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Patriotes - http://www.uqtr.ca/Patriotes
Queen's University Golden Gaels - http://www.gogaelsgo.com
University of Regina Cougars and Rams (Football only) - http://www.uregina.ca/cougars
Royal Military College of Canada Paladins - http://www.rmc.ca/athletics/
Ryerson University Rams - http://www.ryerson.ca/sportsandrec
Saint Mary's University Huskies - http://www.smuhuskies.ca
University of Saskatchewan Huskies / Huskies - http://www.huskies.usask.ca
Université de Sherbrooke Vert & Or - http://www.usherbrooke.ca/sport - http://www.usherbrooke.ca/vertetor
Simon Fraser University Clan - http://www.sfu.ca/athletics - http://www.sfu.ca/recreation
St. Thomas University Tommies - http://www.stthomasu.ca/athletics
St. Francis Xavier University X-Men / X-Women - http://www.goxgo.ca
Thompson Rivers University WolfPack / WolfPack - http://www.tru.ca/athletic/index.htm
University of Toronto Varsity Blues - http://www.varsityblues.ca
Trent University Excalibur - http://www.trentu.ca/athletics
Trinity Western University Spartans - http://www.gospartans.ca
University of Victoria Vikes - http://www.govikesgo.com
University of Waterloo Warriors - http://www.gowarriorsgo.ca
The University of Western Ontario Mustangs / Mustangs - http://www.westernmustangs.ca
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks - http://www.laurierathletics.com
University of Windsor Lancers - http://www.golancers.ca
University of Winnipeg Wesmen - http://www.wesmen.ca
York University Lions - http://www.sport.yorku.ca

The schools are divided into 4 regional associations (similar to what we would call conferences):

Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) - Canadian Universities West of Ontario
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) - Canadian Universities in Ontario
Quebec Student Sports Federation (QSSF) - Canadian Universities in Quebec
Atlantic University Sport (AUS) - Canadian Universities East of Quebec

In sports with heavy university participation, like basketball, some of the conferences have divisions. In basketball, CWUAA has 3 divisions: Pacific, Great Plains, and Central; OAU has two: West and East.

27 of those universities play the Canadian variety of Football under CIS organization.

Canada West Universities Athletic Association (under the name Canada West Football Conference)
University of Alberta
University of British Columbia
University of Calgary
University of Manitoba
University of Regina
University of Saskatchewan
Simon Fraser University

ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
University of Guelph
McMaster University
University of Ottawa/Université d'Ottawa
Queen's University
University of Toronto
University of Waterloo
The University of Western Ontario
Wilfrid Laurier University
University of Windsor
York University

QUEBEC STUDENT SPORT FEDERATION (under the name Quebec University Football League)
Bishop's University
Concordia University
Université Laval
McGill University
Université de Montréal

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (under the name Atlantic University Football Conference)
Acadia University
Mount Allison University
Saint Mary's University
St. Francis Xavier University

Here's a pretty dry history of CIS from the CIS site:
http://universitysport.ca/e/about/history.cfm

Like in the NCAA, the CIS does mass realignments from time to time and universities move from time to time. "In 1971, intercollegiate sport in Central Canada completely re-organised with the division of athletic associations along provincial lines and the Quebec University Athletic Association (QUAA) was formed" (wikipedia). It failed during the 1973 season. Reorganizations occured again in 1974 and 1980.

In 1998 Carleton University suspended it's football program. In 2001, Queen's University and University of Ottawa left what was then known as the Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference for affiliation with the other Ontario schools. (I hope someone might explain this. I have a a few possible thoughts about this, some of which are pretty ugly, but for now I am going with the PC idea that with the suspension of the program at Carleton, Queens and UO had only a single game in Ontario in football and 2 in other sports and felt if they were going to be total outliers, it made more sense to be an outlier in a conterence with Toronto schools.)

In 2005 Thompson Rivers University begain play in CWUAA. In 2006, the University College of the Fraser Valley (now University of the Fraser Valley) joined CWUAA. University of Northern British Columbia, University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Capilano University, & Vancouver Island University are scheduled to join CWUAA soon.

So there is conference movement, so lets start tracking this.

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:30 pm

I had the CIS(basketball) in my old college conferences notebook but not the new one. the helmetproject has a beakdown of the CIS football helmets and conferences.

You putting this up here makes me think I need to add it to my new notebook

finiteman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:30 pm

Really, IMO, It is time for this site to start looking at Canada with the US as a larger picture. There are very popular forums like skyscraper that draw educated Canadian Sports fans who would be totally into the high concept of conference realignment. We should open the door for them.

I think we should rename the "NCAA conference realignment directory" to be the "NCAA, NAIA, CIS conference realignment" directory. Nested under that there should be a folder for "Canadian Conference Realignment" and in there I would think stickied threads of:

CWUAA Expansion & Realignment Thread
OUA Expansion & Realignment Thread
QSSF Expansion & Realignment Thread
AUS Expansion & Realignment Thread
CWFC Expansion & Realignment Thread
OUAF Expansion & Realignment Thread
QUFL Expansion & Realignment Thread
AUFC Expansion & Realignment Thread

As well as

University of Northern British Columbia upgrade status thread
University of British Columbia-Okanagan upgrade status thread
Capilano University upgrade status thread
Vancouver Island University upgrade status thread
UBC & SFU to NCAA status thread

and a series of
"X University to move up to CIS?" threads

and threads like
Will UT-Mississisagua and UT-Scarborough become independent sports entities ala UBCO?
Will Satellite UNBSJ ever be successfully merged with NBCC to create a standalone university in Saint John as per local wishes?
Will Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) Torrents & Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) Nordets ever move up from being golf only members of QSSF to full members of CIS?
Will the Université du Québec École de technologie supérieure (ETS) Piranhas rejoin CIS?

and
"X large college seeking University status" threads

Canada has an enormous number of large univerisities and a lot of movement. At some point their athletics situation will come together. We should track it. I think it will only help this site grow if we can pull in informed Canadians who can link in articles and news about their univesities.

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:36 pm

finite, can you post a breakdown of all the CIS conference members(like how you did for football by conf.)

finiteman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:42 pm

You are a devil dog, lol.

I'll work on it.

finiteman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:47 pm

I pulled the basketball standings off the CIS website and was able to generate this list of 43...I'll try and figure out where the 9 stragglers go.

CWUAA

Central
Calgary
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Lethbridge

Great Plains
Brandon
Regina
Winnipeg
Manitoba

Pacific
UBC
Trinity Western
Victoria
Simon Fraser
UFV
Thompson Rivers

OUA

East
Carleton
Ottawa
Toronto
Ryerson
Queen's
York
Laurentian
RMC

West
Western
Windsor
McMaster
Guelph
Waterloo
Laurier
Brock
Lakehead

QSSF
Concordia
Laval
UQAM
McGill
Bishop's

AUS
StFX
Cape Breton
Dalhousie
Saint Mary's
UPEI
Acadia
Memorial
UNB

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:49 pm

thanks, now I'm gonna have to add it. Hey I have the USCAA & NCCAA so might as well bring the Canucks in.

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:52 pm

AUS is missing 1 and QSSF is missing 2

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:56 pm

QSSF
Montreal Carabins
Sherbrooke Vert et Or

AUS
Mt. Allison Mounties

Future CWUAA
N.British Columbia Timberwolves
UBC-Okanagan Lakers
Malaspina Mariners

finiteman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:56 pm

I think that's got them all.

CWUAA

Central
Calgary Dinos (University of Calgary)
Alberta Golden Bears, Alberta Pandas (University of Alberta)
Saskatchewan Huskies (University of Saskatchewan)
Lethbridge Pronghorns (University of Lethbridge)

Great Plains
Brandon Bobcats (Brandon University)
Regina Rams (football only), Regina Cougars (University of Regina)
Winnipeg Wesmen (University of Winnipeg)
Manitoba Bisons (University of Manitoba)

Pacific
UBC Thunderbirds (University of British Columbia)
Trinity Western Spartans (Trinity Western University)
Victoria Vikes (University of Victoria)
Simon Fraser Clan (Simon Fraser University)
Fraser Valley Cascades (University of the Fraser Valley)
Thompson Rivers WolfPack (Thompson Rivers University)

OUA

East
Carleton University Ravens
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
Ryerson University Rams
Queen's University Gaels
York University Lions
Laurentian University Voyageurs
Royal Military College Paladins
Trent University Excalibur
Nipissing University Lakers
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks

West
University of Western Ontario Mustangs
University of Windsor Lancers
McMaster University Marauders
University of Guelph Gryphons
University of Waterloo Warriors
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks
Brock University Badgers
Lakehead University Thunderwolves

QSSF
Concordia Stingers (Concordia University)
Laval Rouge-et-Or (Université Laval)
UQAM Citadins (Université du Québec à Montréal)
McGill Redmen, McGill Martlets (McGill University)
Bishop's Gaiters (Bishop's University)
Université de Montréal Carabins (Université de Montréal)
UQTR Patriotes (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)
Sherbrooke Vert-et-Or (Université de Sherbrooke)

AUS
Acadia Axemen, Acadia Axewomen (Acadia University)
CBU Capers (Cape Breton University)
Dalhousie Tigers (Dalhousie University)
Memorial Sea-Hawks (Memorial University of Newfoundland)
Mount Allison Mounties (Mount Allison University)
Moncton Aigles Bleu, Moncton Anges Bleu (Université de Moncton)
UNB Varsity Reds (University of New Brunswick)
UPEI Panthers (University of Prince Edward Island)
Saint Mary's Huskies (Saint Mary's University)
St. Francis Xavier X-Men, St. Francis Xavier X-Women (St. Francis Xavier University)
St. Thomas Tommies (St. Thomas University)

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:35 pm

Done, I had to put the CIS on the page behind small schools with basketball & schools looking to start sports.

What was Naranjo talking about with St.Clair (Can) looking at the NCAA. They aren't on the list of CIS schools

Quinn · **Joined:** Thu Oct 17, 2002 8:05 am **Posts:** 3797

A good thread indeed. But every member can start new threads so that is a starting point. If the Canadian threads grow in number, then we can easily create a new forum to put them all in. Sound good? We can start one right away if you really wish, but how many threads are there right now?

finiteman · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:17 pm

Fresno, I'm guessing he is talking about St. Claire College in Ontario. CIS seems to be for universities and a select few colleges that are defacto universities. Colleges in canada seem to mean either what we mean when we talk about small colleges or effectively JR. colleges.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Clair_College

He could very well be right that a Canadian COLLEGE could be looking for admission into the NCAA. I don't have any details on this particular situation. I don't think there is anything that would prevent this in theory, unless the NCAA or whoever more or less considered them the equivilant of a JR. College.

The colleges do play atheletics, but I have not dug down enough yet to give you any kind of oversight on who is the entity regulating their play and how it works.

Quinn, It's your site. I apologize if you feel that was me pushing a direction in which you'd prefer the site not to go. I am only advocating for this because I think it will help the stories to come to you.

I found the other boards using a google search for the material and reading wikipedia. If there aren't any threads here that reflect that subject matter that kind of traffic won't come here and the readers here won't be able to benefit from Canadian eyes looking out for stories.

I think creating one or a small handful of threads under what Canadian readers might consider miscatorized headings won't deliver an audience. It send the message that we just aren't into their scene. This is the kind of site that might naturally pull posters also interested in Canadian Football, but if there is nothing here for them, they won't come.

I know you have a real interest in efficiency at the site, but I would advocate to spend the space to open at least a folder for "Canadian Conference Realignment" or even folder for "Canadian Conference Realignment...and sports talk" lol. But these are just suggestions. You might really not want to deal with non-US stuff and that is totally understandable too.

There is a point where there is too much information to track. I wouldn't, for example, advocate tracking Mexican universities realignment because they don't seem to have any schools pushing for NCAA membership and there aren't obvious ties between US schools and a Mexican pro football league that would create interest both ways like Canada does, but I can understand if you prefer to draw the line at the US border. You track a lot of stuff.

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:38 pm

The Canucks are important right now because Simon Fraser and maybe others are coming to the NCAA. It doesn't have to be a CIS realignment thread. Finite can still keep me up on CIS realignment cuz I care. If the thread is called CIS reclassifying to the NCAA. That should bring in more readers besides just Finite and I.

tarkiokid · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 12:14 am

Finite,
As far as I know, and a lot of this is from what I can gather online, as well as talking with a lot of people from colleges there around the time, there were no particular animosities with Queens and Ottawa joining with the Ontario schools. A lot of it was Carleton suspending fb, wanting to foster rivalries with more "local" schools, and a bit of it is that for a lot of non-hockey sports, Ontario is seen as more competitive. I'm sure there might be a bit of trash talk back & forth, but I've never seen anything dark as the catalysts for those changes, and that's on both sides of the Ottawa River.

As far as actual team movements, so far I think you all have got everything covered. I only see teams moving to the CIS from the CCAA, and the only possible moves into the CCAA would be either new colleges or some that compete in the NCCAA, and most of those seem to be from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, which IIRC don't have any CCAA conference nearby.

CIS expansion & Realignment Thread

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