Future of Division III

[johnnie_esq]

My point exactly. Let's do away with the NCAA as useless.

I have a veteran AD friend who expects the BCS conferences to do just that in a few years.

That wouldn't surprise me in the least.  Those schools already "control" the bulk of NCAA football revenue (read: TV deals) and could essentially control basketball revenue as well.  If they do break off, the remaining NCAA has lost its funding source. I am only surprised they have yet to try it to date.

Congress would be pi$$ed though.   College sports have been able to get the pass because of NCAA oversight, but if BCS broke off in the name of money, you can bet Congress would get involved.

[Ralph Turner]

My point exactly. Let's do away with the NCAA as useless.

I have a veteran AD friend who expects the BCS conferences to do just that in a few years.

That wouldn't surprise me in the least.  Those schools already "control" the bulk of NCAA football revenue (read: TV deals) and could essentially control basketball revenue as well.  If they do break off, the remaining NCAA has lost its funding source. I am only surprised they have yet to try it to date.

Congress would be pi$$ed though.   College sports have been able to get the pass because of NCAA oversight, but if BCS broke off in the name of money, you can bet Congress would get involved.

+1!  You bet they would.

As it is now, there are an additional 430 D-III schools that are constituent members of the NCAA, who have strong relationships with their members of congress.  This affiliation costs the NCAA ("BCS") 3.18%  What is the tax rate that tax-money hungry governments want to place on the revenue from the "entertainment fees" earned by big-time intercollegiate athletics?

D-III provides a huge buffer to BCS, because we conduct athletic competitions for our student-athletes.

[smedindy]

I feel that without the NCAA, there would be more rampant abuse of 'student' athletes. Before the NCAA, things were really a 'wild west' with players jumping around at will and there was no pretense of class attendance.

[NYBB]

the NCAA is necessary. end of story

[old ends]

Attached article is from the Morning Call of the Allentown PA area. Surveys will be made public in March, but the comments, lets just say even in the article they do not think so.

Click here: http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/all-d3.6279455feb20,0,4754103.story?page=1
and here for page two jus in case: http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/all-d3.6279455feb20,0,4754103.story?page=2

enjoy the read

[Pat Coleman]

The Capital Athletic Conference issued a statement on restructuring today. I've posted it on the Daily Dose.

http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/2008/02/21/one-conferences-take-on-d-iv

You guys have had some great conversations on this board on the topic but I'd love to see you bring it to the blog so we can get some new readers to see it. Hope you'll join us. If you haven't registered for the blog, it's quick and easy.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

the NCAA is necessary. end of story

That doesn't mean the NCAA isn't filled with hypocrisy and capable of being run much much better than it currently is.

[old ends]

The Capital Athletic Conference issued a statement on restructuring today. I've posted it on the Daily Dose.

http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/2008/02/21/one-conferences-take-on-d-iv

This may force other Conferences to make a statement and bring forth those who wish for change, as well as those who do not.

[Ralph Turner]

The Capital Athletic Conference issued a statement on restructuring today. I've posted it on the Daily Dose.

http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/2008/02/21/one-conferences-take-on-d-iv

This may force other Conferences to make a statement and bring forth those who wish for change, as well as those who do not.

I can think of no better spokesperson to make the case for D-IV than Franklin and Marshall President John Fry.  President Fry has cited the legislative differences.  The Centennial Conference has been one of the leading conferences in what has been described as the "more restrictive" legislation.

The survey should be an opportunity for those conferences who perceive the stated needs to respond in their surveys in a manner that 150 schools can "design" their own division.

[Coach K]

I guess I am not understanding why all the talk about a breakup? The only thing I could figure, is that maybe the schools that compete in conferences that are comprised of mainly private institutions might want to have their own division because of their perceived inability to compete with larger state institutions. Conferences like the MAC and the PAC in the mid-atlantic region might feel that they lack the resources to battle against the SUNYAC and NJAC with their slightly larger student bodies and state funding.

If that is the case though, lets be realistic, Division 1 basketball should be split. Does a school in the MEAC or in the Big Sky Conference legitimately believe that they can compete against the ACC or the SEC come conference time. You could legitimately argue that basketball at the D-1 level should go the route of football, and give those conferences a level playing field.

[smedindy]

Well, since the MEAC and Big Sky have beaten the big boys in the NCAA hoops tourney, then yes, they can compete on occasion.

In D-1, it's all about the Benjamins. D-3 vs. D-4 is something else...

[Knightstalker]

Coach K, I don't know about the other State School conferences but the NJAC schools have had a big chunk of the state funding taken away and seem to be losing money from the state every year.  I know at NJCU they hired a VP of fundraising.  I also believe the other NJAC schools have had to raise funds on their own, this has lead to so re-god-dam-diculous tuition and housing increases.  Private schools seem to do a better job of providing financial aid then the state colleges do.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Coach K, I don't know about the other State School conferences but the NJAC schools have had a big chunk of the state funding taken away and seem to be losing money from the state every year.  I know at NJCU they hired a VP of fundraising.  I also believe the other NJAC schools have been had to raise funds on their own, this has lead to so re-god-dam-diculous tuition and housing increases.  Private schools seem to do a better job of providing financial aid then the state colleges do.

This is not totally relevant, since all Michigan state universities are either d1 or d2, but state funding has declined so dramatically in recent years that several schools (including U of M) have researched the possibility of going private.  Being a 'state-funded' school has some advantages, but there are also drawbacks.

[Ralph Turner]

Coach K, I don't know about the other State School conferences but the NJAC schools have had a big chunk of the state funding taken away and seem to be losing money from the state every year.  I know at NJCU they hired a VP of fundraising.  I also believe the other NJAC schools have been had to raise funds on their own, this has lead to so re-god-dam-diculous tuition and housing increases.  Private schools seem to do a better job of providing financial aid then the state colleges do.

This is not totally relevant, since all Michigan state universities are either d1 or d2, but state funding has declined so dramatically in recent years that several schools (including U of M) have researched the possibility of going private.  Being a 'state-funded' school has some advantages, but there are also drawbacks.

University of Michigan is #9 on the list of endowments.

You see some Ivies, some UAA's and D-1 privates in the realm of UMichigan's endowment.

[NYBB]

No point in creating a D-IV.  That's just too much, no?