Should Jamestown be accepted into the NSIC?

[SW_Mustang]

Since this is the catch all thread on this site. Zeke Strand 6'4" of Bloomer, WI. same town as MSUM quarterback Jack Strand is most likely a brother. He holds offers from MSUM, UMD, MSU and AU. He is a TE or WR. Will be interesting to see if he follows big bro' or forges his own path.

Zeke Strand (@ZekeStrand) / X (twitter.com)

He'll fit nicely into the Jimmie offense.

[BulldogFan]

Does anyone else hate this thread????????

[MrMustang]

Does anyone else hate this thread????????

I love it. becuase it was always preordained Jamestown was in despite the NSIC leaders pretending there was an actual application process. No different than the dance when the NCC dissolved and we all pretended like they maybe wouldn't accep those 4 schools. all a charade!

[Stanger86]

I love it. becuase it was always preordained Jamestown was in despite the NSIC leaders pretending there was an actual application process. No different than the dance when the NCC dissolved and we all pretended like they maybe wouldn't accep those 4 schools. all a charade!

Welcome to life. Always have to follow the proper channels even if it feels inevitable.

Within the general footprint of the NSIC, any school deciding to move to Division II will be preordained to join the NSIC. If St. John's were to move to Division II, they're not doing it to join the GLIAC or the MIAA. Same with University of Northwestern, Bethel, or Bethany Lutheran. They will do it because they have their eyes set on the NSIC. Until we get to a point where we are big enough to splinter off (probably 20+ schools minimum, that will always be the case).

[Finchwidget]

Until we get to a point where we are big enough to splinter off (probably 20+ schools minimum, that will always be the case).

Just to keep this thread going even longer: if the NSIC ever does get that big and a fracture occurs, where do you think the split would be? Would it be a geographical split, with the Dakota/Dakota-adjacent schools splitting off from the Minnesota schools, or a competitive split with the haves breaking off from the have-nots?

[Stanger86]

Just to keep this thread going even longer: if the NSIC ever does get that big and a fracture occurs, where do you think the split would be? Would it be a geographical split, with the Dakota/Dakota-adjacent schools splitting off from the Minnesota schools, or a competitive split with the haves breaking off from the have-nots?

It might just depend on what the conference looks like. I think it might end up being financially/competitively split. I think it makes sense to have some geographic overlap between conferences

[Purple Mav Man]

I love it. becuase it was always preordained Jamestown was in despite the NSIC leaders pretending there was an actual application process. No different than the dance when the NCC dissolved and we all pretended like they maybe wouldn't accep those 4 schools. all a charade!

While this is true on the surface, comparing Jamestown to those 4 schools is apples and oranges. None of them were transitioning up with a 60% student body made of athletes that will have to be cut.

[Stanger86]

While this is true on the surface, comparing Jamestown to those 4 schools is apples and oranges. None of them were transitioning up with a 60% student body made of athletes that will have to be cut.

They might be apples and oranges, but that means they're both fruit.

[Purple Mav Man]

They might be apples and oranges, but that means they're both fruit.

I suppose. But it’s a giant stretch to compare the situations. At best.

[Stanger86]

I believe Jamestown will serve as an excellent case study. I'm eager to observe how Jamestown evolves over the next five years. It appears Jamestown may have underestimated the profound impact this change will have across the board. The scholarship structure in the NAIA differs significantly from that of the NCAA. The prospects for Men's Soccer and Men's Volleyball thriving at UJ seem uncertain—who will they compete against? JV teams might disappear, as they are not commonly maintained at the D2 level. Teams may have fewer home games scheduled for 2024 compared to 2023—indeed, the Men's Soccer schedule has yet to be released. These are just my thoughts, and I wish them the best. The next two years will be pivotal. How will FAFSA, declining birth rates, exempt salary increases, and the transition affect enrollment at a school in North Dakota?

Why do people think they underestimated the impact? I'm sure all of those questions were a part of the vetting process as they considered whether or not to apply.

[SW_Mustang]

The GLVC just announced they are adding men's volleyball - maybe an option for the Jims?

Men’s Volleyball Announced as Next GLVC Sport in 2025-26 - Great Lakes Valley Conference (glvcsports.com)

[SW_Mustang]

These are just my thoughts, and I wish them the best. The next two years will be pivotal. How will FAFSA, declining birth rates, exempt salary increases, and the transition affect enrollment at a school in North Dakota?

This is just my opinion, but at this time higher education in the Midwest appears to be a lot more robust in the face of the impending enrollment cliff compared to schools on the coasts and down south.

Obviously, I'm not saying that can't change in a hurry, and there are absolutely signs of things not being ideal - and cutting sports is one way to kick out a bunch of students relatively quickly. That being said Jamestown seems to have a fairly robust online offering, they have (had?) a satellite campus in Fargo, and recorded their second highest enrollment just two years ago.

And before anyone jumps down my throat - no, I'm neither an advocate nor a detractor for UJ. I just don't have an ultra-dreary outlook on the future of the school.

[wscsuperfan]

Just to keep this thread going even longer: if the NSIC ever does get that big and a fracture occurs, where do you think the split would be? Would it be a geographical split, with the Dakota/Dakota-adjacent schools splitting off from the Minnesota schools, or a competitive split with the haves breaking off from the have-nots?

My opinion....if there was a split, it'd be more the "haves/have-nots" of a split than a geographical one.

[Stanger86]

My opinion....if there was a split, it'd be more the "haves/have-nots" of a split than a geographical one.

This is why I don't think it would happen until the conference gets big enough....not only do you need both conferences to be big enough to survive, but splitting by haves and have nots also increases the possibility that a fringe/isolated school like Wayne might consider the MIAA if the haves would decide they don't want them.

[Purple Mav Man]

Why do people think they underestimated the impact? I'm sure all of those questions were a part of the vetting process as they considered whether or not to apply.

Jamestown was stuck. They didn’t have anywhere to go. The NSIC did them a huge unnecessary favor and Jamestown isn’t ready. They’ve had quite a bit of turnover just since the announcement. That’s quite indicative that they don’t have their sh!t together like you think they do.