DAC 2.0 - New D2 Conference..?

[vikingfaithful]

Aren't they, though?! (I've always felt that Kearney and Wayne are more equal in athletics than Wayne and Chadron)

But valid points. Administration can many times be a driving force in these matters, whether good or bad.

It seems you are correct about Chadron St, being the weakest D2 program in Nebraska. Strange the 3 D2 schools are all in different conferences.

[sportsvine]

It seems you are correct about Chadron St, being the weakest D2 program in Nebraska. Strange the 3 D2 schools are all in different conferences.

Currently. But Chadron was superior to Wayne (at least in football) for the first 20 years since around the time both schools transitioned to D2.

Also, it's kinda difficult to outright say Wayne is superior, considering that Chadron and Wayne have not face each other in any sport over the last 10-15 years.

[UMary1]

As a fan of UMary during the DAC days I can say I am for this to come together. While the NSIC is one of the most competitive conferences in the country the travel and grind of competing with some of the NSIC powers wears on you from season to season. The rivalries in the DAC were rooted in bitterness and it was not uncommon to see sold out basketball games and attendance at football games was high. Games vs now the defunct Huron University were something to see. Moving to the NSIC took a lot of juice out of that atmosphere. It sounds like this has some real legs but at the end of the day it will take admin to see some real cost savings stand out and a grass roots approach where fans and communities embrace it as well. I think those two things are possible and when the SD schools commit the wheels will really be in motion.

As far as this being a weaker conference that would go without saying but I do not think that is on anyones radar as they try to navigate this process. If anyone hears anything as it unfolds please post away.

[Brandon]

(I've always felt that Kearney and Wayne are more equal in athletics than Wayne and Chadron).

What factors have led to that feeling?

[Stanger86]

What factors have led to that feeling?

Nothing specific. I know Chadron had the Woodhead years when they were a powerhouse, but over the past 15 or so years since I've really followed Division II, Wayne has developed pretty successful programs while I've hardly heard about Chadron. Obviously I keep tabs on Wayne a lot more, so that could have influenced my thinking.

[D2Rover]

I imagine the Central region biases towards Wayne, it would be interesting to know if RMAC people have a different view (or even have a view at all).

I know volleyball isn't a real needle-moving sport for many, but the fact Wayne is consistently near the top of the country in something does give it an edge in my mind. It means people who follow every sport at their school can look at a ranking or elite eight and know you exist. The fact they've been the better football program for the past few years just adds to that.

[Stanger86]

I imagine the Central region biases towards Wayne, it would be interesting to know if RMAC people have a different view (or even have a view at all).

I know volleyball isn't a real needle-moving sport for many, but the fact Wayne is consistently near the top of the country in something does give it an edge in my mind. It means people who follow every sport at their school can look at a ranking or elite eight and know you exist. The fact they've been the better football program for the past few years just adds to that.

Football
Men's basketball
Volleyball
Women's

Those are arguably the four biggest sports in Division II (this is definitely an Upper Midwest bias), and I feel like Wayne has had a significant advantage over Chadron in these sports over the last 2 decades (save for the Woodhead years).

[Brandon]

I imagine the Central region biases towards Wayne, it would be interesting to know if RMAC people have a different view (or even have a view at all).

I know volleyball isn't a real needle-moving sport for many, but the fact Wayne is consistently near the top of the country in something does give it an edge in my mind. It means people who follow every sport at their school can look at a ranking or elite eight and know you exist. The fact they've been the better football program for the past few years just adds to that.

Right. Volleyball wasn't even a thought to me. I couldn't tell you who the best programs in the NSIC are outside of CSP.

I have been to both places. I have seen the towns and the facilities and they're very equal to me. That's why I was curious why some thought Wayne might be superior.

[Stanger86]

I have been to both places. I have seen the towns and the facilities and they're very equal to me. That's why I was curious why some thought Wayne might be superior.

That makes sense. I was purely speaking from an on-court/field product...

[MrMustang]

St Cloud is more likely to close for good than restart football

correct

[Matt Witwicki]

I spoke with a source in North Dakota..and closer to the situation than I am..and he said that any such DAC 2.0 would likely cast a net further than just the schools mentioned..maybe including schools like Northern, Chadron, and Crookston..all with the idea that it'll likely take 15 potential schools to finally get 10 takers, etc. It seems that USF and Augie are kinda being side-stepped as they've expressed their interest in competing with the MN schools like they have been and such. NSU appears to be much the same but it far closer to the collection of ND teams that would seemingly drive any DAC 2.0 talks. He did mention that the only thing he saw with NSU was a possibility that somehow the SD or ND Board of Regents wanted their state schools to be part of this..but that feels like a long shot (his words). Side note....I know squat about the Board of Regents activity, so I'm not even going to speculate there.

His feedback was that Minot would go for this DAC 2.0 idea but that Mary wouldn't be a slam dunk.

All said, he mentioned that he felt they might be able to get to 10..but that it won't happen any time soon..and some type of waiver or exception would likely need to come into play in the future to accommodate such a conference.

[MrMustang]

I spoke with a source in North Dakota..and closer to the situation than I am..and he said that any such DAC 2.0 would likely cast a net further than just the schools mentioned..maybe including schools like Northern, Chadron, and Crookston..all with the idea that it'll likely take 15 potential schools to finally get 10 takers, etc. It seems that USF and Augie are kinda being side-stepped as they've expressed their interest in competing with the MN schools like they have been and such. NSU appears to be much the same but it far closer to the collection of ND teams that would seemingly drive any DAC 2.0 talks. He did mention that the only thing he saw with NSU was a possibility that somehow the SD or ND Board of Regents wanted their state schools to be part of this..but that feels like a long shot (his words). Side note....I know squat about the Board of Regents activity, so I'm not even going to speculate there.

His feedback was that Minot would go for this DAC 2.0 idea but that Mary wouldn't be a slam dunk.

All said, he mentioned that he felt they might be able to get to 10..but that it won't happen any time soon..and some type of waiver or exception would likely need to come into play in the future to accommodate such a conference.

Pretty interesting post. I see zero chance Northern would go there rather than remain in the NSIC, but who knows. Maybe they could be the top dog in everything there. Northern has made a good commitment to sports and facilites etc so i see them staying in the NSIC.

I do UMC going there. Makes total sense and they would know it.

Mary and Minot might make sense but both have good facilities and are competiive in most sports.... The real issue is if football drives this rather than all sports

[Matt Witwicki]

Pretty interesting post. I see zero chance Northern would go there rather than remain in the NSIC, but who knows. Maybe they could be the top dog in everything there. Northern has made a good commitment to sports and facilites etc so i see them staying in the NSIC.

I do UMC going there. Makes total sense and they would know it.

Mary and Minot might make sense but both have good facilities and are competiive in most sports.... The real issue is if football drives this rather than all sports

Agreed..I think NSU being mentioned is more about their proximity than anything else.

[MrMustang]

Agreed..I think NSU being mentioned is more about their proximity than anything else.

almost certainly correct. I also think those DAC schools feel Northern would give them some credibility which is accurate

[Thunder]

Agreed..I think NSU being mentioned is more about their proximity than anything else.

Zero chance of NSU joining DAC 2.0