MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

cwm1276 · May 23, 2006, 08:54:23 AM

Check this out:
http://northernathleticsconf.com

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · May 23, 2006, 08:59:45 AM

They really are using NAC as their abbreviation? I emailed the new commissioner to inform his it was already taken. We'll see what they decide.

Just Bill · May 23, 2006, 10:19:11 AM

From the new wesbiste:

"The Northern Athletics Conference, an NCAA Division III member conference, will be eligible for automatic NCAA postseason berths in 2008-09. For the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons the NAC will gain access to the NCAA postseason through both independent (Pool B) and at-large (Pool C) berths."

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · May 23, 2006, 10:23:34 AM

Quote from: Just Bill on May 23, 2006, 10:19:11 AM
For the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons the NAC will gain access to the NCAA postseason through both independent (Pool B) and at-large (Pool C) berths."

That's a bit presumptuous isn't it?

Greek Tragedy · May 23, 2006, 10:45:52 AM

I guess they'll be good enough to get two bids! lol.

...one for the former LMC members and one for the former NIIC members?

Pat Coleman · May 23, 2006, 03:01:46 PM

They can use NAC for themselves if they like but we're not going to.

Similarly, the MAC sent out a release a couple weeks ago as the "MASCAC" and we didn't print it that way. I am pretty sure the Massachusetts folks have claim to that moniker.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · May 23, 2006, 04:08:48 PM

Ah yes, the good old Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletics Corporation. Such a blatant ripoff of an utterly mediocre league.

Ralph Turner · May 23, 2006, 07:19:59 PM

The situation with Clarke is not as clean as with MSOE. Clarke is really geographically isolated from the balance of the new conference. As a member of the NIIC, they had some leverage as a member of the NIIC conference.

Do they have as much leverage as an independent?

Is that long road trip to Dubuque really necessary to fill out a schedule? For basketball, they can go double round-robin and get 22 games for the women and 20 for the men!

Even in divisions, that means at least more conference games than they have now.

Now we are talking classtime for the students and the cost of diesel for the busses.

The travel question may come up as they consider the application. I really suspect that Clarke did not recognize their value to the NIIC relative to the value of the NIIC to them.

I won't place odds, but I will not be surprised if the NAthCon says "thanks but no thanks".

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · May 23, 2006, 09:25:11 PM

Yeah. I'll give Clarke more credit though. I think they knew it was MWC or bust for them. I'm guessing this attempt at joining the NAsCon is more to appease certain parties. I think it is in their best interests to pursue other options.

Pat Coleman · May 24, 2006, 12:00:16 AM

What are those options, though? The IIAC requires that all schools sponsor all 18 sports, which means Clarke would have to add football.

fishguy · May 24, 2006, 12:07:36 AM

Both MSOE and Clarke had a chance to join the new league when the LMC and NIIC merged - but unlike the other schools, they wanted to try to get into the MWC. The NAC is giving MSOE a gift by letting them in after one year of playing as an independent - especially since they walked out of one of the meetings where the new league was being discussed. MSOE and Clarke deserve absolutely nothing from the new league.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · May 24, 2006, 08:44:46 AM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 24, 2006, 12:00:16 AM
What are those options, though? The IIAC requires that all schools sponsor all 18 sports, which means Clarke would have to add football.

All that saved travel might be worth adding football. I'm sure there's a decent number of people who wouldn't mind seeing it added anyway. Maybe this is all a giant conspiracy to force the school to add a football program?

keith45 · May 24, 2006, 11:09:01 AM

please add football!!
Can you imagine the drive from Lakeland to Clarke??? JEEZ!! Clarke has a natural rivalry with UD anyway, with Davidson leaving Dubuqque for Clarke..the Loras/UD/CLarke games are always well attended, make sense......

The Roop · May 24, 2006, 06:56:19 PM

Lakeland to Clarke is still shorter than Lawrence or St. Norbert to Grinnell. Yet you don't hear a lot of complaining about it in the MWC. Complaints about "The System" perhaps but not the travel.

fishguy · May 25, 2006, 12:04:45 AM

not much reason to complain about a trip when you have to take it - but since the Lakeland to Clarke trip isn't a reality at this point, it seems smart to me to try whatever to avoid it.