Should Jamestown be accepted into the NSIC?

[Stanger86]

There is no Walmart in Madison....that's close to being an automatic disqualification for DSU haha. It's also a smaller town (roughly the size of Wayne America), with a smaller enrollment. I'm sure people will point to adding yet another school in "the Dakotas" (there's only one Dakota, right MrMustang?!)

On the other hand, they are making a clear investment in facilities. And while it's not situated directly on the interstate, it's a relatively easy drive for a good chunk of schools (I think I counted 7 NSICs within a 3 hour drive, including just a 50 mile drive to Sioux Falls).

This might surprise some people, but I'm lower on DSU joining than I was on Jamestown. I can see the positives, but I don't think it's as good of a fit as Jamestown.

[Stanger86]

Has anyone else heard that with the addition of Jamestown next season, the NSIC is going back to the division format with North/South. There would be 6 division games, 4 crossover, and 1 noncon. Minot, Mary, Jamestown, NSU, Moorhead, Bemidji, Duluth would make up the North.

It makes sense, I'd say.

[Finchwidget]

Any word on if the silo scheduling format will return next season?

[Stanger86]

Any word on if the silo scheduling format will return next season?

See Thunder's post above.

[SW_Mustang]

There is no Walmart in Madison....that's close to being an automatic disqualification for DSU haha. It's also a smaller town (roughly the size of Wayne America), with a smaller enrollment. I'm sure people will point to adding yet another school in "the Dakotas" (there's only one Dakota, right MrMustang?!)

On the other hand, they are making a clear investment in facilities. And while it's not situated directly on the interstate, it's a relatively easy drive for a good chunk of schools (I think I counted 7 NSICs within a 3 hour drive, including just a 50 mile drive to Sioux Falls).

This might surprise some people, but I'm lower on DSU joining than I was on Jamestown. I can see the positives, but I don't think it's as good of a fit as Jamestown.

Personally - while I'm not a huge fan of Madison itself, its geographic positioning is nice. Jamestown isn't the worst either in that regard, but I still prefer Madison in that category. I wish we could target schools in the bigger towns, but short of Morningside or the MIAC schools agreeing to join us - that idea is pretty dead in the water (and has been discussed to death previously).

It might sound funny to folks who don't have a front row seat to the college arms race along I-29, but I really like DSU's growth potential as an institution. I'm not sure if the DSARC will feed back into campus in any meaningful way, but just the fact they got it pushed through shows a lot of commitment and opportunity. Jamestown just can't compete on that end.

[Purple Mav Man]

There is no Walmart in Madison....that's close to being an automatic disqualification for DSU haha. It's also a smaller town (roughly the size of Wayne America), with a smaller enrollment. I'm sure people will point to adding yet another school in "the Dakotas" (there's only one Dakota, right MrMustang?!)

On the other hand, they are making a clear investment in facilities. And while it's not situated directly on the interstate, it's a relatively easy drive for a good chunk of schools (I think I counted 7 NSICs within a 3 hour drive, including just a 50 mile drive to Sioux Falls).

This might surprise some people, but I'm lower on DSU joining than I was on Jamestown. I can see the positives, but I don't think it's as good of a fit as Jamestown.

Dakota State has 3x the enrollment of Jamestown. 2950 undergrads, so almost that magical 3000 number you previously mentioned. I realize you’re joking in the first part, but I don’t understand the smaller part while advocating for Jamestown.

[CollegeFBGuy]

I would love to see something like that at BSU. I bet they have running water, working bathrooms and actual concession stands.

I've heard that they are extremely limited on what can be done, even if the money is there. If they can't build by the lake, I don't know if I'd want it. I think there are many hurdles and money might only be near the top. Do you know for sure Millsy?

[Finchwidget]

See Thunder's post above.

I had read his post as a question, seeing as he opened with "has anyone else heard", which made me think that the scheduling model for future seasons hasn't been explicitly confirmed yet

[Stanger86]

I've heard that they are extremely limited on what can be done, even if the money is there. If they can't build by the lake, I don't know if I'd want it. I think there are many hurdles and money might only be near the top. Do you know for sure Millsy?

Is it not possible to tear down and rebuild the bleachers, I wonder? That's the only issue that I really see personally. Or is it a matter of the structure being grandfathered in but new bleachers couldn't be built? I don't know if the steepness of the bleachers is an issue similar to Mankato, but I feel like they could build back farther on the west side and turn that roadway into a dead end and walking path only. It's different from Mankato to me, where it seems like there's no other choice than to reorientate the field in order to make a change.

[SW_Mustang]

I also looked and current state - Jamestown has more money, but DSU still has the bigger upside. Guessing they close that gap quickly.

[CollegeFBGuy]

Is it not possible to tear down and rebuild the bleachers, I wonder? That's the only issue that I really see personally. Or is it a matter of the structure being grandfathered in but new bleachers couldn't be built? I don't know if the steepness of the bleachers is an issue similar to Mankato, but I feel like they could build back farther on the west side and turn that roadway into a dead end and walking path only. It's different from Mankato to me, where it seems like there's no other choice than to reorientate the field in order to make a change.

It's been at least a year, maybe two, since I had more details...at my age, a lot can be forgotten in that time! I'm pretty sure it's a deeper issue and involves the land the stadium sits on. I'll do some asking and get my memory in gear!

[Thunder]

I had read his post as a question, seeing as he opened with "has anyone else heard", which made me think that the scheduling model for future seasons hasn't been explicitly confirmed yet

It was more of a question wondering if anyone else had heard the same thing I was hearing. I don't believe anything has been formally announced by the conference. I believe that will be the scheduling format, but am not 100% certain. I thought I had already seen someone in the NSIC announce a nonconference game for 2025 and 2026 but I don't recall who that was now.

[Stanger86]

It was more of a question wondering if anyone else had heard the same thing I was hearing. I don't believe anything has been formally announced by the conference. I believe that will be the scheduling format, but am not 100% certain. I thought I had already seen someone in the NSIC announce a nonconference game for 2025 and 2026 but I don't recall who that was now.

Wasn't it Wayne and Kearney?!

[Millsy]

It's been at least a year, maybe two, since I had more details...at my age, a lot can be forgotten in that time! I'm pretty sure it's a deeper issue and involves the land the stadium sits on. I'll do some asking and get my memory in gear!

I don't really know a whole lot. I know when they turfed the field, I had heard they wanted to build just on the Campus Side and maybe around the NW end zone. That would leave a view of Diamond Point Park and the lake in place. But, that is going on 12+ years now.

I had also heard at one time, since the bleachers were a WPA project, there are some historical things that have to be considered.

[Thunder]

Wasn't it Wayne and Kearney?!

Yes, I think that is what I was thinking of.