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Post by yotebewithyou on May 23, 2018 9:33:53 GMT -6
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Post by Yote 53 on May 23, 2018 10:25:04 GMT -6
Looks like us Dakota schools are all-in on the Summit. Forget upgrading to a different conference, we're going to have to build this one from within.
Signals a huge shift west for the conference too. I can't imagine those Indiana schools are long for this conference.
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Post by kiyoat on May 23, 2018 10:27:59 GMT -6
Positives: A brand-new building is a positive to the organization in many ways. It would be customized to fit their needs. It's easier to attract the best staff with a new facility that gives the impression of growth, stability, success. Proximity to their premier event would be a major plus, as well. An association with the Sanford Health organization is both good ($$) and bad. I can understand wanting to be closer to the geographic center of the conference, but realistically Omaha meets that criteria just as well as Sioux Falls, and with a much larger city. It's just a way to justify the move.
Negatives: It's hard to fight the perception that this conference caters to the Dakotas and Sioux Falls when you move there. For those that already have that impression (fairly or unfairly) It only reinforces that narrative. Schools that already have one foot out the door (Ft Wayne, ORU, Denver, even UNO) will probably be shifting their weight to that foot (good analogy, right?).
Overall, I'd say that this is a good thing for the Dakota-4, but a bad look for the rest of the conference. Basically just like the SLT. It's hard to fault the league. They know where their bread is buttered, and they know what programs are successful, have support, and are investing in their athletic futures.
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Post by kiyoat on May 23, 2018 10:35:08 GMT -6
This could also signal something about Augustana?.....
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Post by Yote 53 on May 23, 2018 10:46:05 GMT -6
This could also signal something about Augustana?..... Lord, I hope not.
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Post by GoYotes on May 23, 2018 11:06:43 GMT -6
I think the only thing it signals is that there will be no Summit League expansion to teams east of Chicago, which was highly unlikely anyway.
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Post by Yotes on May 23, 2018 14:53:18 GMT -6
Does the location of the league office mean much? It is affirmation of the writing on the wall, that this is the Dakota conference, but is there more to take away? I doubt this makes it any easier to recruit schools that will now be closer to the league office, not that anyone with good options would join anyways.
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Post by kiyoat on May 23, 2018 16:07:19 GMT -6
Really this was a long time coming. In 1994 the largest (non-merger) conference expansion in history happened when 6 teams moved from the Summit/Mid-Con to the Horizon/Midwest Collegiate. Currently 8 of the 10 Horizon League teams were formerly in the Summit/Mid-Con. The Horizon League is in the former footprint of the Summit, namely the rust belt, with Chicago and Indianapolis at the center. The Current geography of the Summit is like a giant cross in the upper midwest, using I-29 and I-80. The geographic center, with the addition of UND, is east of Sioux City. Close to Ida Grove, Holstein or Correctionville, IA. You could say that the "transportation" center would be Omaha, where those Interstates intersect. give this tool a try: www.geomidpoint.com/
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Post by Yotes on May 23, 2018 19:28:21 GMT -6
How many knew where the office was before? I think it was near Chicago. Kiyoat has a great point that this location no longer makes sense. It was logical when Valpo, EIU, Cleveland St and whoever were members. We're down to two members west of the Mississippi.
Honestly though, the success of the SL tourney in Sioux Falls is the entire reason behind this. A small major conference like this has no business getting the numbers they have and that's why they moved the office.
I just hope our administration doesn't feel tied to it. This conference blows.
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Post by golfingyote on May 24, 2018 7:14:31 GMT -6
I just hope our administration doesn't feel tied to it. This conference blows. Agreed. We need to get the Great West back together.
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Post by Yote 53 on May 24, 2018 8:36:26 GMT -6
I just hope our administration doesn't feel tied to it. This conference blows. Agreed. We need to get the Great West back together. Pretty sure Yotes is talking about moving on to bigger and better things. He's right, this conference does blow. It's a one-bid conference that is constantly on the brink of imploding due to lack of numbers. Other than the other Dakota schools and Denver, what is good about this conference? The awesomely crappy basketball scheduling? It's always a great idea to schedule the biggest rivalry games on a random Wednesday night or over break when the students aren't even around.
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Post by kiyoat on May 24, 2018 9:33:20 GMT -6
I just hope our administration doesn't feel tied to it. This conference blows. Agreed. We need to get the Great West back together. I'm reasonably confident that your post is 100% sarcasm. Just in case, wink once for yes, and twice for no...
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Post by kiyoat on May 24, 2018 9:42:53 GMT -6
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Post by golfingyote on May 24, 2018 10:08:18 GMT -6
Yes, kidding bout the GW of course.. Like it or not, I think this all but solidifies the push for Augie to D1. Assuming no one leaves, Augie would make it 10 teams. Thats about as stable as a middle of the road conference can get right now. I think we could obviously have UMKC at the drop of a dime as well-Not that we want them.
Just out of curiousity, what bigger conference is interested in gobbling up the Dakota schools? The Missouri Valley? Is giving up a tournament in our back yard worth that move? I think the dream of a MVC all sports conference is exactly that, a pipe dream, unless they have 2-3 of the private schools gobbled up by someone else.
I do agree that they cant seem to figure out the scheduling for BB. They change the methodology almost every year, and yes they need to cater to their rivalries-big ticket games. Personally I think they should backload the schedule a little more. Have the regular season lead into the Summit tourney, since that is all that really matters.
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Post by Yote 53 on May 24, 2018 11:14:22 GMT -6
If Augie is allowed to join the Summit the next call should be to the Big Sky to see if they would take us back. Orchestrate a move of all 4 Dakota schools to the Big Sky. Augustana is not D1 material, no way, no how. They more resemble Centenary, and we all saw how that turned out.
Not a big UMKC fan, but if they are the only one available to stabilize the Summit then we take them back. See why this is a crappy conference, we make decisions based on survival instead of strength.
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