2023 Out of Conference Games - Scheduled

[Matt Witwicki]

It depends. I'm not sure of the rules in NAIA, but for D3, there is no roster limit and no athletic scholarships. Many D3 schools are expensive private ones, so those factors combined can make it quite lucrative for some schools to add the sport. There was an article about how D3 was expanding a few years back, I'll have to see if I can find it. CSS was mentioned as one of the schools in the D3 boom at the time for a local connection.

SJU used to be known for their large roster - there is definitely a market out there of students that would happily wear a jersey and stand on a sideline. And given their tuition costs, I can imagine it was pretty nice for them on that end.

That being said, it still costs a lot of run a football program regardless of division - so it's not going to be a for every school to pursue.

NAIA is 24 scholarships. I don't think there's a roster limit either..but could be mistaken on that one. Often times the football program really supplements the school student enrollment as they are often smallish in size. D2 has plenty of that also.

[NSU4LIFE]

It depends. I'm not sure of the rules in NAIA, but for D3, there is no roster limit and no athletic scholarships. Many D3 schools are expensive private ones, so those factors combined can make it quite lucrative for some schools to add the sport. There was an article about how D3 was expanding a few years back, I'll have to see if I can find it. CSS was mentioned as one of the schools in the D3 boom at the time for a local connection.

SJU used to be known for their large roster - there is definitely a market out there of students that would happily wear a jersey and stand on a sideline. And given their tuition costs, I can imagine it was pretty nice for them on that end.

That being said, it still costs a lot of run a football program regardless of division - so it's not going to be a for every school to pursue.

Thanks for adding to the second part of my post, haha

[SW_Mustang]

When I was at Presentation they added football with HC and staff. First year they added like 54 football players and enrollment was up 45 (something like that).

Pretty expensive way to up enrollment unless it can lead to a big following and/or donors via businesses or privately.

It depends. I'm not sure of the rules in NAIA, but for D3, there is no roster limit and no athletic scholarships. Many D3 schools are expensive private ones, so those factors combined can make it quite lucrative for some schools to add the sport. There was an article about how D3 was expanding a few years back, I'll have to see if I can find it. CSS was mentioned as one of the schools in the D3 boom at the time for a local connection.

SJU used to be known for their large roster - there is definitely a market out there of students that would happily wear a jersey and stand on a sideline. And given their tuition costs, I can imagine it was pretty nice for them on that end.

That being said, it still costs a lot of run a football program regardless of division - so it's not going to be a for every school to pursue.

[laker]

Ahh, forgot about that. Yeah - that's a bummer, and strange. It's too bad so many JUCOs in MN dropped the sport. Only a handful left now.

Yes, down to 7 and that is counting NDSCS in Wahpeton.

[NSU4LIFE]

That was around the same time they went from D3 back to NAIA. Not sure if the decisions were related or not.

NAIA move came a few years after, they were not related.

[Inkblot]

When I was at Presentation they added football with HC and staff. First year they added like 54 football players and enrollment was up 45 (something like that).

Pretty expensive way to up enrollment unless it can lead to a big following and/or donors via businesses or privately.

That was around the same time they went from D3 back to NAIA. Not sure if the decisions were related or not.

[NSU4LIFE]

You'd think the D3 model could be quite lucrative for them, especially being such a small college. I'm sure it takes a lot of money to actually start one though, so I get it.

When I was at Presentation they added football with HC and staff. First year they added like 54 football players and enrollment was up 45 (something like that).

Pretty expensive way to up enrollment unless it can lead to a big following and/or donors via businesses or privately.

[SW_Mustang]

That and Title IX. As I said before, I don't know why they didn't have football when they were a junior college. Soccer wasn't that popular in the 1970s and I can't imagine how far they would have to go to schedule JC games. At that time, Anoka-Ramsey, Austin, Inver Hills, Lakewood, Normandale, North Hennepin, Rochester, Willmar, Waseca, and Worthington were the Southern Division of the Minnesota Junior College Conference. Bethany would have had easy travel for that.

Ahh, forgot about that. Yeah - that's a bummer, and strange. It's too bad so many JUCOs in MN dropped the sport. Only a handful left now.

[laker]

You'd think the D3 model could be quite lucrative for them, especially being such a small college. I'm sure it takes a lot of money to actually start one though, so I get it.

That and Title IX. As I said before, I don't know why they didn't have football when they were a junior college. Soccer wasn't that popular in the 1970s and I can't imagine how far they would have to go to schedule JC games. At that time, Anoka-Ramsey, Austin, Inver Hills, Lakewood, Normandale, North Hennepin, Rochester, Willmar, Waseca, and Worthington were the Southern Division of the Minnesota Junior College Conference. Bethany would have had easy travel for that.

[SW_Mustang]

I talked to someone involved with Bethany. They have a new soccer field and I was told that any thought of starting football was dead. I never did figure out why when they were a junior college that they had soccer instead of football.

You'd think the D3 model could be quite lucrative for them, especially being such a small college. I'm sure it takes a lot of money to actually start one though, so I get it.

[laker]

I always wished Bethany Lutheran started a football program. Would be fun to have an in-town rival. I suppose there's always Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter that could act as a de facto rival

I talked to someone involved with Bethany. They have a new soccer field and I was told that any thought of starting football was dead. I never did figure out why when they were a junior college that they had soccer instead of football.

[zimmy21]

A think this quote from the article describes the thoughts of many coaches around the league..

“We need to find an 11th game,” Laqua said. “The difficulty would be that schedules may have already been set for a portion of time and now we’re just finding out that we need one. I feel a little bit like we’re late to the party trying to find a game.”

The NSIC is yet to set its 2024 football schedule.

“You’re trying to find something that doesn’t put you on a bus for 12 hours,” Laqua added. “You’re trying to find the right setup. I think for us any option is on the table, any level, the right fit and the right match for everybody.”

Given how few D2 openings there are nationally on weeks after the first few, I could see schools looking at D3, NAIA, or maybe even FCS for games..or if things are too difficult, just take their bye week. The Concordia (D3) in Moorhead vs MSUM would make so much sense..it's too bad they couldn't buy out their opponent or something..as that contest would be the biggest on the schedule for both squads.

There might be some games like this for squads that don't involve a D2 opponent..if a rivalry makes sense..or maybe even a $$ game.

I always wished Bethany Lutheran started a football program. Would be fun to have an in-town rival. I suppose there's always Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter that could act as a de facto rival

[wscsuperfan]

I believe WSC will be playing Missouri S&T. There this fall and in Wayne in '24

[Supercal95]

Hopefully MSU uses it's brand to find a decent OOC opponent. Someone from the GLIAC/LSC or an FCS buy game

[Matt Witwicki]

would love to see both of them added to the conference, but doubt they would accept, as they need to play some teams in lower MI for recruiting, the GLIAC only has 8 teams so they are always looking for games. tech played UST and UW Oshkosh, NMU also has played Oshkosh the last couple of seasons.

Not sure the rest of the NSIC would be thrilled about that..given their location = outside the footprint of the league itself. I think UMD and BSU would like that, but I'm unsure about the others.