My understanding of the Bemidji situation is that this is their transition
year and will NOT be able to compete for the D-II title. I also believe
that there are only five teams left at D-II.
Bemidji released a tentative schedule the other day and has listed a HIT
Tournament in March. I am assuming that this is the Indy tournament that
has been discussed in various other posts.
Troy Mills
Bemidji State (96)
NAIA Champs 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1980
NCAA III Champs 1986
NCAA II Champs 1984, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997
NCAA I Champs ????
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From: Dr. Tim Newman <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: UAH Goes to D1, will not defend D2 title
Date: Wednesday, July 01, 1998 8:04 AM
> Will there be a D2 title to defend? Just how many D2 schools will be
> playing in 1998-99?
With all the defections from D-II, our newspaper claims there will
be only 5 schools eligible for the D-II title this year. I would guess
that St. Anselm now becomes one of the odds-on favorites to contend for
the title. One thing that I am not clear about is if Bemidji has formally
withdrawn from D-II. I know they have signalled their intent to go D-I,
but I don't know if they are using the current season as their transition
year to D-I, or if they are going to wait a year. Our paper implied
that this would also be Bemidji's transition year. Obviously, if they
are continuing in D-II this season, they would have to be considered
to be the team to beat.
(The NCAA apparently requires schools to play at least one transition
season before being eligible for D-I tourney and title play. So,
in this upcoming season, UAH will be in the transition season. I believe
that officially UAH remains classified as a D-II program for this season,
but they are ineligible for the D-II title since they are playing their
D-I transition year. Maybe someone can help us out with the official
classification for the transitioning schools this year - although it's
only a technicality because none of those schools are going to be
eligible for any post-season play during their transition season(s). )
It is my understanding that the current NCAA rules stipulate that
championships in all Olympic sports may not be dropped, so as things
stand at the moment, I guess the answer is that there should be a
D-II title this year.
However, there have been reports that the NCAA is going to consider
realignment of the Divisions in the very near future, possibly at
the 1999 Convention. At that time, the D-II tourney could be legislated
out of existence. I suppose they could eliminate the 1998-98 championship
at that time, although past practice suggests that they probably wouldn't
impact a season that's in progress.
Tim Newman
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