Should Jamestown be accepted into the NSIC?

[njmav1]

As for MSU - they have a D1 sport that they can be a legit competitor in once the Hasty fallout settles and they can compete again. Why risk that to play FCS football and Summit League basketball?

Moving up to D1 has some advantages for the hockey program- the biggest would be a vote in D1 matters that affects the hockey team. Right now, they rely on Bowling Green and St Thomas to make the right choice. I've always felt that the only reason to move up is to protect men's hockey.

[oldyellaHer69]

Let’s be honest, the NSIC will let anybody in, there is no “criteria” just ask nicely. Dakota State & Valley City will be joining once they have they courage to ask. It’s like ordering a steak well done, you know it ain’t right but u finally ask and to your surprise they will ruin it just to keep you happy. #itsabouthejimmiesnojoes

[SW_Mustang]

Moving up to D1 has some advantages for the hockey program- the biggest would be a vote in D1 matters that affects the hockey team. Right now, they rely on Bowling Green and St Thomas to make the right choice. I've always felt that the only reason to move up is to protect men's hockey.

That is a true point too, and relying on UST for anything is scary.

I was thinking more in terms of financially - but admittedly I don't know how all of that works.

[njmav1]

That is a true point too, and relying on UST for anything is scary.

I was thinking more in terms of financially - but admittedly I don't know how all of that works.

Agreed. MSU administration has been consistently saying that moving up to D1 doesn't make financial sense. So without a big check from almuni, I don't see it happening. We can barely raise the funds for a new stadium.

[SW_Mustang]

Agreed. MSU administration has been consistently saying that moving up to D1 doesn't make financial sense. So without a big check from almuni, I don't see it happening. We can barely raise the funds for a new stadium.

When Hastings departed for Wisconsin - I realized just how far MSU was behind the true big boys. These transitions are expensive enough without considerations for new football stadiums. I'm not sure how funding works beyond that, but any action that could take the financial food off of hockey's plate makes me nervous - as much as I do enjoy the other sports.

If I could rewrite 150 years of history between the Mavs and Gophers to allow MSU to be a true second flagship (like Iowa State or Michigan State) with an FBS program in the Big 10/Big 12 and a 40,000 seat stadium - I absolutely would. That would be cool.

[vikingfaithful]

Agreed. MSU administration has been consistently saying that moving up to D1 doesn't make financial sense. So without a big check from almuni, I don't see it happening. We can barely raise the funds for a new stadium.

Both SD and ND D1 schools athletic budgets are supplemented by state aid or the taxpayer, 45% at SDSU, 66% at USD. Don't know ND numbers. This is quite common I read. If you're a private school it would mean raising an additional 15 million dollars yearly or more to make budget work if FCS football is offered. That's why so many D1 private schools do not sponsor football. Only the power 4 conferences make money on football for the most part.

[njmav1]

When Hastings departed for Wisconsin - I realized just how far MSU was behind the true big boys. These transitions are expensive enough without considerations for new football stadiums. I'm not sure how funding works beyond that, but any action that could take the financial food off of hockey's plate makes me nervous - as much as I do enjoy the other sports.

I don't see that happening IMO. Even if MSU made the jump tomorrow, men's hockey would remain the crown jewel of MSU athletics.

[Purple Mav Man]

I don't see that happening IMO. Even if MSU made the jump tomorrow, men's hockey would remain the crown jewel of MSU athletics.

I agree with this 100%. Nothing would change the fact that this is still a hockey first state, and athletic department. And that program has been long established now.

Even if football was fully funded at 63 and spent more money, the hockey program would still be the boss cow on the farm.

[Supercal95]

We are somehow too financially rough to move up which I don't understand. We are top 5 in size in D2 and plenty of southern schools with less funding are D1. Hell ULMs athletic budget is less than ours currently. We definitely have above average fan support for D2 and have experience running a highly competitive D1 program in hockey. And many olympic sports nattys to go along with it.

The only reasons I can think of is because we have a big AD of 20 sports, we don't know what to do with football, MNSCU administrators require lots of money for their salaries, and we do the Minnesota thing where we don't improve because it would make some other schools sad.

Getting a vote in D1 (for as long as that matters at this point), moving our olympics into the Summit with similar sized local institutions, and a bonus of parking wrestling (if it stays) in the Big 12. Football is tricky but we could go independent through our transition while we increase our women's sports and scholarship count. 7500 is enough capacity but obviously we will need a new pressbox like what UMD has.

[njmav1]

We are somehow too financially rough to move up which I don't understand. We are top 5 in size in D2 and plenty of southern schools with less funding are D1. Hell ULMs athletic budget is less than ours currently. We definitely have above average fan support for D2 and have experience running a highly competitive D1 program in hockey. And many olympic sports nattys to go along with it.

The only reasons I can think of is because we have a big AD of 20 sports, we don't know what to do with football, MNSCU administrators require lots of money for their salaries, and we do the Minnesota thing where we don't improve because it would make some other schools sad.

Getting a vote in D1 (for as long as that matters at this point), moving our olympics into the Summit with similar sized local institutions, and a bonus of parking wrestling (if it stays) in the Big 12. Football is tricky but we could go independent through our transition while we increase our women's sports and scholarship count. 7500 is enough capacity but obviously we will need a new pressbox like what UMD has.

I think the alumni like having competitive athletics and the administration would be hard pressed to fund above current levels, which is nowhere near what it needs to be for D1/FCS unless alumni step up big time. That's why I think it won't happen any time soon.

Now if the Summit League got really serious about sponsoring football, I can see them knocking on MSU's door. Would that get the attention of alumni? I don't know.

[Purple Mav Man]

We are somehow too financially rough to move up which I don't understand. We are top 5 in size in D2 and plenty of southern schools with less funding are D1. Hell ULMs athletic budget is less than ours currently. We definitely have above average fan support for D2 and have experience running a highly competitive D1 program in hockey. And many olympic sports nattys to go along with it.

The only reasons I can think of is because we have a big AD of 20 sports, we don't know what to do with football, MNSCU administrators require lots of money for their salaries, and we do the Minnesota thing where we don't improve because it would make some other schools sad.

Getting a vote in D1 (for as long as that matters at this point), moving our olympics into the Summit with similar sized local institutions, and a bonus of parking wrestling (if it stays) in the Big 12. Football is tricky but we could go independent through our transition while we increase our women's sports and scholarship count. 7500 is enough capacity but obviously we will need a new pressbox like what UMD has.

Many of those southern schools, the Louisiana ones in particular, are broke and/or bleeding money. And none are competitive.

If a move is made to go D1…IMO it has to be about more than just saying “We’re D1 now!” And if the move is to some no-name D1 conference (the summit has a semi-name here, but is nothing nationally), then why spend the extra money? Again, just to say “we’re D1”

Independent in FCS football? Yikes. I’m afraid that would be many years, and that would then set that program back even further.

There has yet to be any type of feasible plan to make the jump. The cost is more than most want to admit and think it’s just a matter of administrators inaction. Not the case. If the school jumps to D1, so do those administrators salaries. I bet they’d like that.

[Stanger86]

Now if the Summit League got really serious about sponsoring football, I can see them knocking on MSU's door. Would that get the attention of alumni? I don't know.

I've LONG believed that the Summit, Missouri Valley AND the MVFC need to do a major realignment/shift like the Big East/Conference USA did a few years ago now. Have one big conference for but separate football from non-football/non-scholarship.

[SW_Mustang]

Imagine the Mavs drawing that basketball crowd in the Summit League lol.

Maybe against SDSU I suppose.

[SW_Mustang]

I don't see that happening IMO. Even if MSU made the jump tomorrow, men's hockey would remain the crown jewel of MSU athletics.

That's reassuring. Would absolutely hate to see hockey suffer just so basketball can play UMKC or NDSU.

[Supercal95]

Basketball and Hockey are likely prioritized in a full D1 move. Wrestling might be cooked, unfortunately. Women's sports are more or less untouchable unless they would want to swap hockey for something cheaper like bowling. Realistically they just add a few women's sports like lacrosse and bowling and get the scholarships up that way since we take our olympic sports very seriously. And I wonder if we would improve in basketball by being only the 2nd D1 public university in this state. But none of this will happen unless the summit football league forms and they need members and the whole superleague thing clears up.

I wish that DII-A football division became a thing. Maybe let it include the PFL and NEC and other barely-funded FCS teams as well.