MIAA To Add a New Team???

[Bison_Kent]

It looks as if Missouri-Rolla is looking to leave the MIAA. There has been the rumor of Nebraska-Omaha leaving the NCC to go to the MIAA. This might just open the door for that move. This might be truely put the end to the NCC. Here is the article from the St. Joseph's (MO) paper:

From Weds St Joseph(MO) paper:

Missouri-Rolla ponders life outside of the MIAA
By BRENT BRIGGEMAN

Talks have begun that could change the face of the MIAA conference.
Whispers indicate that Missouri-Rolla may leave the league to either
change conferences or switch from NCAA Division II to Division III
athletics.

A move, if it happened, would open the door to changes around the
league.

"It's very preliminary in this stage as to Rolla and their
situation," said MIAA commissioner Ralph McFillen, who said the topic
was discussed at the league's meetings last week in Kansas
City. "They didn't have anything to report to us at this time."

Rolla athletic director Mark Mullin acknowledged that the school is
considering a move — but would not comment on the level of
discussions or a timetable.

"We've made no decisions yet," Mullin said. "What we're looking at
isn't any different than any other department that assesses where
they are. I certainly don't want to go out and say we're getting out
of the MIAA at this point, because that's not the case. Many Division
II or I and III schools do the same thing. I think you always have to
look at what's best for your institution."

Only charter members Central Missouri State, Northwest Missouri State
and Truman State — which all joined in 1912 — have belonged to the
conference longer than Rolla, which began its MIAA affiliation in
1935.

However, in recent years, the school has struggled to compete in high-
profile sports.

The football team hasn't won a conference game since 1997, the men's
basketball team has averaged about four conference wins in the past
four seasons and the women's basketball team has gone 4-50 in MIAA in
the last three years.

"There's no specific thing that's causing us to consider things,"
Mullin said. "There's nothing the MIAA has done. There's no question
the MIAA is one of the best leagues in the country. We're proud to be
a part of it, but you've got to consider all aspects of things."

If Rolla leaves — McFillen said league officials wouldn't address the
topic again until the fall meetings in September — the league would
have decisions to make.

Western athletic director Mark Linder said scheduling with an odd-
number of teams is tricky. He hypothesized that another team would be
added in Rolla's place.

"It's hard to say much with the uncertainty of Rolla's situation
coming out of the meetings," Linder said. "We tabled all discussions
until we have a better understanding of the situation, but I know
it's nice to have an even number for football scheduling and
basketball to have a double-round robin."

The University of Nebraska-Omaha, Fort Hays State and Nebraska-
Kearney have all been mentioned as possible additions.

"We didn't get to that point because (Rolla's) status is still
committed to the conference," McFillen said. "It's not quite the Big
East and ACC, but the same concept."

[tony]

If Kearney doesn't want to join the NCC, it's unlikely that they'd go to the MIAA.

Fort Hays, maybe. I just don't think they could compete in football with the MIAA teams.

UN-O maybe. They're closer to the MIAA schools, recruit in the same area, and have mentioned moving that conference before. Still, it seems like a long shot that UN-O would leave.

[wsuwarrior]

I saw this one come up and my first reaction was UNO. If they were to go (and SDSU finds a conference) then that leaves the NCC with SCSU, MSU-Mankato, Augustana, UND, USD, and UMD.

I have a feeling a conference is going to collapse soon. If the NCC still has 6 members after teams go to D-IAA, then look for the NSIC to get raided. But I don't know how many NCC teams are going to be willing to fill dates in Crookston (sorry, Eagles, you were the first team I thought of).

My gut says that IF: 1) SDSU finds a conference AND 2) UNO goes to the MIAA; then UND and possible others will leave D-II for D-IAA, and the NSIC will pick up whoever is left.

[mojobison]

UND won't go DI with their current administration and would be perfectly happy playing Crookston three times a year if they could.

[purplemavfan]

WSU Warrior is right in that a six-team NCC would likely take Winona and maybe Northern State to make an eight-team league. I have heard nothing to indicate that any of the six schools he named are contemplating division I, at least publicly, so a merger of the stronger NSIC teams with the remaining NCC is likely, assuming SDSU carries through with their current divison I plans.

[SDSUFAN]

Purplefan.

With or without a conference, I think SDSU will send a letter prior to Sept 1 to the NCC in Sioux Falls that tells them that we will withdraw from the NCC. Since the NCC added a three year commitment clause, I dont think SDSU will want to be part of that. Finding a conference was an SDSU requirement and the Board of Regents is not likely to hold the President to this one specific requirement. * So I think SDSU is 99.5% gone from the NCC.