Northern Sun Conference Commisioner visits MSU

copy of article from

Minot Daily News

By MICHAEL LINNELL, Staff Writer

mlinnell@ndweb.com

Minot State University is not making a jump to the NCAA Division II. It is not looking for a conference, applying for a status change with the NCAA or preparing to leave the Dakota Athletic Conference.

MSU is, however, making sure that if that day comes it will be ready.

Part of that process concluded Tuesday as the commissioner of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Butch Raymond, concluded his two-day tour of the campus. Raymond, in his first year as commissioner, said he was a "resource person."

"This is the first time I have spent this much time with a school that hasn't asked to be in the conference," Raymond said at a press conference in the MSU Student Union. "The NSIC is always keeping the door open (to adding schools)."

But, the NSIC is not actively recruiting MSU and the school does not have any immediate plans to change designation.

"We invited Mr. Raymond to help us prepare for the future," MSU Athletic Director Rick Hedberg said. "We are gathering information so we can be prepared for the future. It's a process."

Raymond believes that MSU has a solid structure and would make an attractive member of Division II.

"There are many things we evaluate when it comes to adding schools," he said. "One, we are an athletic conference, so we look at facilities and scholarships. As far as facilities go, MSU has a very high mark. The scholarships also have to fit with the restrictions of the NCAA and with the restrictions of our conference. We look at both the athletic and academic side."

Both Hedberg and Raymond indicated the school needs to evaluate the current situation in the DAC-10 and then make a decision accordingly. With the departure of the University of Mary and Si Tanka-Huron, the DAC-10 will have a much different look starting as soon as ne xt school year. Mary announced it will make the jump to Division II and join the NSIC. Si Tanka has filed for bankruptcy.

"We need to study what would be a correct fit for MSU athletics," Hedberg said. "We have our conference meetings coming up and we have some questions."

"MSU will need to ask itself if it wants to be an NAIA member and if the move to Division II is a positive one," Raymond added.

The NSIC is important to Minot State because a conference affiliation is one of the biggest hurdles a team that moves faces.

"I wouldn't suggest being an independent school," Raymond said. "It is tough to get games as an independent. You might get a game at their home, but you can't get them to come to your school."

Raymond toured the campus and met with current MSU coaches as well as the Beaver Boosters while on his visit. Hedberg will meet with the various coaches later in the month to determine their opinion.

"Butch met with the coaches (Tuesday) and they had some good questions," Hedberg said. "I am interested in what they have to say now. I will definitely take their opinion in consideration. We have to have everybody on board."

Raymond's visit to MSU comes less than two months after the conference officially named Mary as a new member. Mary will compete in the DAC-10 next season as an independent and will join the NSIC the following season. Mary, along with Upper Iowa, will join the conference, giving it 10 members in five states.

"We are happy with 10 schools," Raymond said. "I think 10 is the perfect number for our conference. But, 12 is also a very attractive number."