NSIC expansion possible; neighborhood may get crowded

Augustana College may soon have a new neighbors in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), as the University of Sioux Falls (USF) and Minot State prepare for a NCAA D-II move and hope to join the local conference.

USF Athletic Director Willie Sanchez is excited for the move, and hopes the NSIC strength will help his school.

"For us to compete against Augustana, St. Cloud, etc. it just ups our level of competition," Sanchez said.  "You can be NAIA champions, but at some point you need more competition."

That drive for more competition has driven Sanchez as he brings success to USF sports.

"Personally, I like to take on the big boys," Sanchez said.  "You play better teams, you are only going to get better."

In this case, the "big boys" are only two blocks from the USF campus, something that could prove interesting for years to come.

One year ago, prior to a USF and Augustana game, a riot broke out on Augustana's campus. Officials from both schools are aware of the situations that could arise quickly.

For Bill Gross, Augustana's athletic director, one concern is being so close to each other. 

"We need to have a positive thing with this," Gross said.  "Not too many places where you have two colleges two blocks apart.  I think there will be strong interest, but we need to have both colleges shown in a positive light for it to work out."

For Sanchez, the threat of escalation to injury is a concern, but the idea of a rivalry is an added bonus for USF's move.

"I look at it in two ways," Sanchez said.  "Rivalries are rivalries.  Those things have been going on for years.  I look at it as a healthy thing.  I understand the concern about somebody getting hurt though.  Last year, every trip escalated, and someone can really get hurt."

While the move to D-II is a near-success, the move to the NSIC could prove more interesting for USF and Minot State.  Gross, though, realizes that eventually, a decision needs to be made.

"It's getting to the point of simply making a decision," Gross said.  "One thing that is still cloudy and needs to be resolved before they vote is how they are going to split up-divisions.  That has to be settled before they will vote."

While all schools in the NSIC will vote on possible expansion, Augustana has made it a point to not take a position at this time.

"Augustana has not taken a position yet because we don't know what the process is going to be yet," Gross said.  "We don't know if Minot and USF will get in as a package or individually, which could change people's votes, and plus, we don't know what division schools will be in."

The breakdown of divisions could prove to be an interesting dilemma in expansion, as, according to Gross, some people want Northern State in the north division while some people want Concordia-St. Paul in the north division.

"The issue centers around the fact that we don't really want them (Northern State) in the north," Gross said.  "It would mean we'd only play Northern once every four years in football and once every other year in basketball.  Cost would go way up for Concordia if they joined the north."

While many dilemmas remain to be resolved for the NSIC, USF is looking forward to full NCAA membership after a March 28-29 site visit, and hoping to see the involvement of the NCAA as a positive brand for the school.

"The driving force is the NCAA and the branding of the NCAA," Sanchez said.  "We feel it helps us athletically, but more important, academically.  The NCAA is an academic institution."