FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Capn34]

The NCAA calendar says the final meeting only went until 4, so we should be hearing something shortly.

Is that Eastern or Central time?

5 eastern.  I suppose it's anybody's guess how long they delay the announcement.

Looks like they won't vote on a path until next year and if approved it would take 5 years to transition.

[OzJohnnie]

Yeah, I'm surprised.  I thought UST would get the straight in.  I wonder what now.

St. Thomas still waiting for NCAA clearance to go Division-I

The NCAA will wait another nine months to vote on a proposal to allow schools to reclassify directly from Division III to Division I, but it will allow St. Thomas to request a waiver to begin the process.

St. Thomas has been waiting for several months to learn whether it will be permitted to make the DIII to DI leap. It hoped for a vote from the NCAA's Division I Council during its June meetings, which ended Wednesday. The NCAA announced Wednesday afternoon that its Strategic Vision and Planning Committee has forwarded a proposal for a direct DIII to DI transition, and the Division I Council introduced it into the 2020-21 legislative cycle.

The proposal will be reviewed by Division I members, who will give feedback before a vote no later than April 2021. In a news release, the NCAA said the Division I Council "would be receptive to a formal waiver request" from St. Thomas that would allow it to start the process of moving from DIII to DI.

Actually, I bet the waiver allows them to compete as if D1 but still not officially D1.  So D1 for all intents and purposes.

[OzJohnnie]

Here's the NCAA press release.

Division I Council proposes pathway for DIII schools to become DI members

The current 12-year process requires Division III schools to first reclassify to Division II before joining Division I. If adopted, the process to transition directly from Division III to Division I would require at minimum five years.

“We have spent several months examining data that reflect outcomes for schools transitioning to DI based on certain benchmarks, including academic profile, financial aid awards, sports sponsorship, competitive equity and financial sustainability,” said Rick George, chair of the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee and athletics director at Colorado. “This proposed pathway for Division III schools to successfully make the transition to Division I accounts for any additional challenges those schools may face in reaching membership requirements.”

Under this proposal, Division III members planning to reclassify to Division I would be required to spend at least one year in the pre-application process. Criteria to move forward from that pre-application period to the existing Division I reclassification process would include, but not be limited to, the following:

* Submitting a strategic plan.
* Conducting a feasibility study for Division I requirements, including provision of athletics scholarships and meeting compliance standards.
* Securing a formal invitation to join a Division I conference.
* Establishing school policies and procedures that reflect a commitment to Division I principles, including academic integrity, diversity and inclusion, and student-athlete health and well-being.

“The existing process for Division II schools transitioning to Division I has been successful in preparing those schools for meaningful membership in Division I, and we believe that with additional time meeting certain benchmarks, Division III schools could be equally well-positioned to make that transition,” George said.

So it looks to me that the transition from DIII to DI will be very similar to the one from DII to DI, only with more time to meet hurdles and whatnot.  A reasonable proposal, actually, and not a really setback for UST.  Perhaps our expectations of going straight in were a little unrealistic.  But a five year path instead of a 12 year one is much more achievable and, honestly, pretty reasonable.  In my opinion, anyways.

EDIT: Plus, with the waiver UST can get started on that first year of the pre-application process, meaning that they only have four years to go after leaving the MIAC.  They schedule a few non-conference games each year with their future conference foes, maybe an almost entire D1 schedule their last year in DIII, and you'll hardly know the difference.  UST will be DI in no time and in two years will be virtually competing DI, I bet.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Yeah, I'm surprised.  I thought UST would get the straight in.  I wonder what now.

St. Thomas still waiting for NCAA clearance to go Division-I

The NCAA will wait another nine months to vote on a proposal to allow schools to reclassify directly from Division III to Division I, but it will allow St. Thomas to request a waiver to begin the process.

St. Thomas has been waiting for several months to learn whether it will be permitted to make the DIII to DI leap. It hoped for a vote from the NCAA's Division I Council during its June meetings, which ended Wednesday. The NCAA announced Wednesday afternoon that its Strategic Vision and Planning Committee has forwarded a proposal for a direct DIII to DI transition, and the Division I Council introduced it into the 2020-21 legislative cycle.

The proposal will be reviewed by Division I members, who will give feedback before a vote no later than April 2021. In a news release, the NCAA said the Division I Council "would be receptive to a formal waiver request" from St. Thomas that would allow it to start the process of moving from DIII to DI.

Actually, I bet the waiver allows them to compete as if D1 but still not officially D1.  So D1 for all intents and purposes.

A truly historic day---in that I had the exact same thought as Oz, word for word, which scares me and should scare you too, Oz   

[OzJohnnie]

It will be faster than that.  UST will be competing D1 after next season.  I read this FAQ from UMass Lowel who transitioned from DII to DI, the process that UST will follow as well, after their one-year prep period.

There is a bit of explanation about what is happening during the four years in terms of policies and audits they undergo to make sure all the new requirements of DI are being put into place, but this was the most interesting bit:

What happens once the process is completed?

As a transitioning Division I institution, the university is not allowed to participate in NCAA post-season competition during the four years of the reclassification process (except that field hockey was eligible after two years) or benefit from receiving revenues annually from the NCAA distribution fund. Once the university has completed the four-year process and is approved for full Division I status, those restrictions will be lifted.

Basically, the only restrictions on UST will be post-season competition and DI distribution gravy, which they don't get now anyways.  So they can play full Summit schedules day one after their pre-classification year is finished, which the NCAA will grant a waiver on anyways.

So it's full steam ahead.  Congrats, Tommies, they made it.  Champagne bottles should be popping on Summit Ave.

[OzJohnnie]

A truly historic day---in that I had the exact same thought as Oz, word for word, which scares me and should scare you too, Oz   

It's only 9:30am but I need a stiff drink.

[formerd3db]

Yes, congratulations to St. Thomas.

The one aspect of the NCAA press release that I had to laugh at was the last provision that stipulated they (St. Thomas and any DIII institution that would enter the transition process to DI in the future) would have to write and demonstrate policies that showed commitment to academic integrity, diversity and student well being! Is the NCAA committee that stupid? You've got to be kidding me! DIII schools already have that, so who are those NCAA committee/policy members trying to fool?! 🙄🙂 Anyway, indeed, as you say, it is onward for St. Thomas.

[OzJohnnie]

Man, this is going to be the last year of Johnnie/Tommie almost certainly.  Maybe there will be one or two more years for old-time's sake but non-division games won't be helpful for either side.  And the Aussie gov't just extended the jail order to until Sept 17.  People aren't allowed to LEAVE the country, much less enter, until Sept 17th now.  Farkin' East Germany.

It's getting very tight as to whether I'll be able to return for the final go around.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/government-extends-travel-ban-to-mid-september/ar-BB15pXIu

[AO]

Man, this is going to be the last year of Johnnie/Tommie almost certainly.  Maybe there will be one or two more years for old-time's sake but non-division games won't be helpful for either side.

I still think the Pioneer league is the obvious first step for Tommie football, so the rivalry can certainly continue as long as the Tommies are non-scholarship.  They're not going to want to lose the revenue from the game and it really doesn't hurt either team's postseason chances at all. 

Congrats Tommies.  You have been a great D3 rival and I look forward to seeing you flourish in D1.

[miac952]

Good news that the path is a bit more clear, although I am still in denial that this is happening. I like D3. The journey ahead for St Thomas will be a bumpy ride. It would be fun to look a decade into the future and see them coming out on the other side of this.

[sjusection105]

There is a bit of explanation about what is happening during the four years in terms of policies and audits they undergo to make sure all the new requirements of DI are being put into place, but this was the most interesting bit:
Basically, the only restrictions on UST will be post-season competition and DI distribution gravy, which they don't get now anyways.  So they can play full Summit schedules day one after their pre-classification year is finished, which the NCAA will grant a waiver on anyways.

So, UST will be neither D3 or D1 officially  until the 2025-2026 school year? They will be playing independent schedules of Summit League/Pioneer League schools with no chance of conference or NCAA titles? What, if anything, does that do to recruiting?

[art76]

They will be playing independent schedules of Summit League/Pioneer League schools with no chance of conference or NCAA titles? What, if anything, does that do to recruiting?

105, on our evening stroll last night, that's the exact conversation my wife and I had.

[sjusection105]

They will be playing independent schedules of Summit League/Pioneer League schools with no chance of conference or NCAA titles? What, if anything, does that do to recruiting?

105, on our evening stroll last night, that's the exact conversation my wife and I had.

My guess is UST will try to spin it as a positive and other schools competing for the same recruit will hammer home the point that if you don't really care about playing games the "count" then just play intramural sports. If you want to compete for a championship, then come to our school.

[RFMichigan]

They will be playing independent schedules of Summit League/Pioneer League schools with no chance of conference or NCAA titles? What, if anything, does that do to recruiting?

105, on our evening stroll last night, that's the exact conversation my wife and I had.

Wait. . .  your wife was discussing DIII recruiting with you? You, art76, are indeed a lucky man.

[OzJohnnie]

The Hawks played a good game against defending Premiers Richmond (after getting thrashed last week by Geelong).  Highlights are back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyC_BuOE51I