Today there were a couple of new articles on UND making the move to division I. The first from Kevin Fee where he says UND couldn't stay division II because of the diluted state the classification is in. He also takes the time to rip on the Mid Con as a division I conference even though he knows nothing about the conference or division I. Statements like his have a way of coming up from UND fans, administration and media. NDSU fans have gotten ahead of themselves as well when they state the Mid Con is a bad conference. NDSU needs to actually be a member of the conference before fans, coaches or administrators can judge the quality of the universities that are members of the conference. Mr. fee actually states that a group of NCC schools grouped together in division I would be a better conference than the Mid Con. He is way off base with that statement, especially since the Mid Con schools have been division I for many years and most of the current NCC schools have not made the decision to move and aren't sure if they can fund the move. Division I is a big step up from division II and that in itself should tell fans for current and transitioning schools that division I schools should be a step up from their level. I don't want to eat humble pie if NDSU gets invited to join the Mid Con and doesn't immediately become competitive and I will reserve my judgement on the quality of the athletic programs until NDSU is a member for a full season.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandf...s/14950135.htm
The Mid-Continent Conference, which is taking a look at UND rival NDSU, is disintegrating.
The Mid-Con lost two members in recent months: Chicago State and its flagship school, Valparaiso of Indiana.
Not only does the league have little status, it also is a geographical nightmare. Schools stretch from Southern Utah to Centenary (Shreveport, La.) to Oakland, Mich. (a Detroit suburb).
The other schools are Oral Roberts, Western Illinois, Missouri-Kansas City and Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis.
Now, the Mid-Con might add IUPU-Fort Wayne, NDSU and South Dakota State, where it will make campus visits later this summer.
If all the Sioux are hoping for is any conference when the school plays its first season of Division I in 2008-09, they shouldn't have any worries.
The Mid-Con likely will have a few spots.
Many of the current Mid-Con teams are looking elsewhere. At best, the conference would be a place for NDSU and UND to use their Division I training wheels.
When they want to hop on the Harley, they will join the Big Sky, which I think could be a savior for both, or form a conference with those from the North Central Conference who have left, such as NDSU and SDSU, or might leave in the next couple of years.
The latter scenario would be ideal, with lower travel costs and known rivalries. They also could play football in the same conference as their other athletic teams. The Mid-Con doesn't even have football (NDSU and SDSU play in the Great West Football Conference).
The key would be to find enough teams to form a conference of former NCC schools and others. Another problem with this scenario is a waiting period for the new conference to receive automatic berths into NCAA championships.
Or we just shoot for the Big Sky. Let's bring back the games against the Montana schools
NDSU and SDSU athletes were also interviewed and stated that they are enjoying competing in division I in this article.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandf...s/14950109.htm