D2/D3 football

[Mike296]

So this has nothing to do with FCS but rather the divisions that lie below it. We all know the really good D3 teams(AKA Mount Union and Wisconsin Whitewater, which is where im enrolled right now) but beyond that, no average college football fan would know a single D3 team. I know a lot of the Wisconsin schools just on College Applications alone, but there's more than just the WIAC schools. You have Carthage college, Concordia University and a few more I can't be bothered to remember right now. You have Wisconsin Whitewater and Mount Union sure but have you ever paid any attention as to who they faced to just meet up with each other?


With D2 it's kinda lackluster here in Wisconsin with only 1 school that participates in D2 athletics(which doesn't include Football FYI) to my knowledge which is UW-Parkside.
In D2 it's not nearly as bad with the same teams winning every year. Northwest Missouri state has won 2 of the last 3 titles but then you have CSU Pueblo winning in 2014, Valdosta State in 2012, Pittsburg state in 2011, the list goes on but you get the point.

The point of this thread mainly is to bring some "Light" into the lower divisions(Keep in mind I used Wisconsin schools as an example in D3 mainly cause I knew the most about them)


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[Laker]

Minnesota only has one D1 football team and no FCS teams. So here I watch more D2 and D3 games in various sports. It is probably lucky for MSU-Mankato that WI doesn't have D2 football teams because we get a lot of players from there.

Here are the D2 from Minnesota and the surrounding states that touch it's borders. (IA,ND,SD,WI) that I have seen play. CAPS means at their place. I've seen a total of 97 D2 teams and have seen games at 20 venues. I've seen a lot of FCS teams play because we had several of them in our old conference, the NCC.

AUGUSTANA
BEMIDJI ST
Black Hills St
CONCORDIA
MARY
UMC
UMD
MSUMANKATO
MSUMOORHEAD
MINOT ST
ST CLOUD ST
SIOUX FALLS
SD Mines
SW MN ST
UPPER IOWA
WINONA ST
WI-Parkside (basketball)

D3 Total of 57 D3 schools seen- the following are from the same area as above.
AUGSBURG
BETHANY (basketball)
BETHEL MN
Buena Vista*
CARLETON
Central IA (basketball)
CONCORDIA
CROWN
Dubuque
GUSTAVUS
HAMLINE
Lawrence WI (basketball)
Luther
MCALESTER
Maranatha WI
M LUTHER
MilwaukeeSE (basketball)
MN-MORRIS
N Central MN (basketball)
NWESTERN
Northland (basketball)
Pillsbury (closed)
ST BEN’S (basketball)
St Cate’s* (basketball)
ST JOHN’S
St Mary’s MN (basketball)
St Norbert (hockey)
ST OLAF
St Scholastica*
ST THOMAS
Wartburg
WI-EauClaire (basketball)
WI-La Crosse (basketball)
WI-Oshkosh (basketball)
WI-River Fall (basketball)
WI-Stevens Pt (basketball)
WI-Stout (basketball)
WI-Superior (basketball)
WIWhtewater

[MR. CHICKEN]

....IN DELAWARE..........WE HAVE D-III WESLEY WOLVERINES........PERENNIAL POWERHOUSE......TIL DEY DRAW DUH MOUNT/WHITEWA-WA.......:(....BRAWK!

.....TWO FCS SKOOLS.....IN LITTLE OVERAH 100 MILES O' STATE/3 COUNTIES.......AWK!

[doolittledog]

In the Midwest you have much more opportunity to see D2/D3 than FCS/FBS. There are a lot of fans in Iowa/Minnesota/Wisconsin, that their 'favorite' team is an FBS/FCS school, but will follow the local D2/D3 school and likely even attended more of those games than their 'favorite' team.

I live in Iowa. My dad, uncle, and 2 sisters went to Iowa, I've been a Hawkeye fan my entire life. I love game day in Iowa City. I live 30 minutes from UNI, and always considered UNI my FCS team and have gone to many games at the UNI-Dome. I love the comforts of the UNI-Dome. I went to a D3 school, and my wife and I have had a great time packing up our kids and following Dubuque all over the state. Conference games have been all within the state, non-con games usually in IL/MN/WI, free parking, $6 tickets, kids under 12 free, surprisingly strong tailgating scenes, many D3 players that were 1st team all-state in high school, some have gone on to NFL training camps.

Moral of the story, if you love college football, you can find enjoyment at all levels of the sport. I've never been disappointed on a Saturday out watching college football. Be that D3, D2, FCS, FBS.

[catamount man]

Here in Upstate SC we have quite the plethora of D2 teams but no D3 teams but that will change in 2017 when current D2 member Brevard College begins D3 competition in the USA South Athletic Conference. I am only 40 miles from the town of Brevard, NC so catching their games, from time to time, is not much of a chore. North Greenville is roughly 35-40 miles away while Mars Hill, Limestone and Newberry are all within a 2 hour drive and, of course, when it comes to FCS, Furman is 25 miles away, Wofford roughly 50 miles and WCU, from my house to the parking lot in Cullowhee, is 81 miles. For the really big, Clemson is 12 miles down the road.

So blessed with all these different football options.

[melloware13]

In Pennsylvania, the entire state system is in a Division II conference (PSAC). The PSAC also has 3 non-PASSHE members (Gannon, Mercyhurst, and Pitt-Johnstown). I think Lincoln is the only non-PSAC DII school in PA, they are in the CIAA. The private schools in PA are primarily spread between FCS and DIII. The 3 FBS schools are all part of the Commonwealth System (similar affiliation as UD, Cornell, and Rutgers)

[Bisonoline]

Minnesota only has one D1 football team and no FCS teams. So here I watch more D2 and D3 games in various sports. It is probably lucky for MSU-Mankato that WI doesn't have D2 football teams because we get a lot of players from there.

Here are the D2 from Minnesota and the surrounding states that touch it's borders. (IA,ND,SD,WI) that I have seen play. CAPS means at their place. I've seen a total of 97 D2 teams and have seen games at 20 venues. I've seen a lot of FCS teams play because we had several of them in our old conference, the NCC.

AUGUSTANA
BEMIDJI ST
Black Hills St
CONCORDIA
MARY
UMC
UMD
MSUMANKATO
MSUMOORHEAD
MINOT ST
ST CLOUD ST
SIOUX FALLS
SD Mines
SW MN ST
UPPER IOWA
WINONA ST
WI-Parkside (basketball)

D3 Total of 57 D3 schools seen- the following are from the same area as above.
AUGSBURG
BETHANY (basketball)
BETHEL MN
Buena Vista*
CARLETON
Central IA (basketball)
CONCORDIA
CROWN
Dubuque
GUSTAVUS
HAMLINE
Lawrence WI (basketball)
Luther
MCALESTER
Maranatha WI
M LUTHER
MilwaukeeSE (basketball)
MN-MORRIS
N Central MN (basketball)
NWESTERN
Northland (basketball)
Pillsbury (closed)
ST BEN’S (basketball)
St Cate’s* (basketball)
ST JOHN’S
St Mary’s MN (basketball)
St Norbert (hockey)
ST OLAF
St Scholastica*
ST THOMAS
Wartburg
WI-EauClaire (basketball)
WI-La Crosse (basketball)
WI-Oshkosh (basketball)
WI-River Fall (basketball)
WI-Stevens Pt (basketball)
WI-Stout (basketball)
WI-Superior (basketball)
WIWhtewater

You missed Coe, Simpson, Loras and Cornell in IA and Carroll College in WI? :)

[ursus arctos horribilis]

So this has nothing to do with FCS but rather the divisions that lie below it. We all know the really good D3 teams(AKA Mount Union and Wisconsin Whitewater, which is where im enrolled right now) but beyond that, no average college football fan would know a single D3 team. I know a lot of the Wisconsin schools just on College Applications alone, but there's more than just the WIAC schools. You have Carthage college, Concordia University and a few more I can't be bothered to remember right now. You have Wisconsin Whitewater and Mount Union sure but have you ever paid any attention as to who they faced to just meet up with each other?


With D2 it's kinda lackluster here in Wisconsin with only 1 school that participates in D2 athletics(which doesn't include Football FYI) to my knowledge which is UW-Parkside.
In D2 it's not nearly as bad with the same teams winning every year. Northwest Missouri state has won 2 of the last 3 titles but then you have CSU Pueblo winning in 2014, Valdosta State in 2012, Pittsburg state in 2011, the list goes on but you get the point.

The point of this thread mainly is to bring some "Light" into the lower divisions(Keep in mind I used Wisconsin schools as an example in D3 mainly cause I knew the most about them)


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I'm fine with us having these sorts of threads. Think it's great to shine some light on them and so forth. You say in your opening line that it has nothing to do with FCS football. That alone should tell you that it does not go on the FCS Discussion board. I haven't had this problem with you before so I'll ask you to use this board for only it's intended topics. I really don't like having to come in and clean up and put it where it goes.xthumbsupx

[Mike296]

I'm fine with us having these sorts of threads. Think it's great to shine some light on them and so forth. You say in your opening line that it has nothing to do with FCS football. That alone should tell you that it does not go on the FCS Discussion board. I haven't had this problem with you before so I'll ask you to use this board for only it's intended topics. I really don't like having to come in and clean up and put it where it goes.xthumbsupx

I had no idea where to put it(I'll say that right away) i'll be careful not to do it again.

[Laker]

You missed Coe, Simpson, Loras and Cornell in IA and Carroll College in WI? :)

The ones that I have listed are the ones that I have seen in person. I didn't list the ones that I've seen outside the 5 state area, I should have been more clear on what the list was about. That may be why the numbers don't add up. I didn't list the NAIA schools or the JCs either.

[Bisonoline]

The ones that I have listed are the ones that I have seen in person. I didn't list the ones that I've seen outside the 5 state area, I should have been more clear on what the list was about. That may be why the numbers don't add up. I didn't list the NAIA schools or the JCs either.

Oh you were clear. I was just having some fun. BTW thats an impressive list.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

I had no idea where to put it(I'll say that right away) i'll be careful not to do it again.

I get it. New to the place somewhat so I figured it was a simple misunderstanding of things. If it's FCS Football it goes here, if it's anything else it goes in "Other Sports".

As I said though, glad you posted it here at AGS for some discussion and input so please continue to bring topics and we'll sort it out.:)

[Laker]

Oh you were clear. I was just having some fun. BTW thats an impressive list.

I'm up to 355- D1, D2, D3, NAIA, junior colleges and a couple of Canadian teams. Throw in another 46 pro teams.

And my Dad told me not to waste so much time on sports. I guess he was right. :D

[bonarae]

Well... FYI, I like discussing about the D-III whenever this topic brings up on any connected thread e.g. the status of the Ivies in the FCS.

My other team listed in My Team, UChicago, a former Big Ten powerhouse, is one of the "nobodies" that make up the majority of D-III that get lucky every once in a while to even get an autobid in the Road to Salem.

As some of you know by now, the D-III playoffs is an oligarchy of sorts - practically the same set of teams play in the Road to Salem's quarterfinals forward each year - and as always, the same set always gets the chance to play in the Stagg Bowl, which, ironically, was named for UChicago's coach that made the Maroons football team famous in the 1920's and 1930's.

The dropping of football in 1938 was the tipping point of UChicago's athletic reputation, which, sadly, tanked and has stuck with them since, even reviving football just a few years before the sport's 100th birthday has not done enough to return the university's athletic reputation back to its Big Ten levels.

[Mike296]

Back on topic though, do you guys think UW-Whitewater/Mount Union could be successful if in the near future they were to go D2? I don't even know what the requirements for that even are in all fairness or if it's even allowed for that matter anymore.


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[Laker]

Well... FYI, I like discussing about the D-III whenever this topic brings up on any connected thread e.g. the status of the Ivies in the FCS.

My other team listed in My Team, UChicago, a former Big Ten powerhouse, is one of the "nobodies" that make up the majority of D-III that get lucky every once in a while to even get an autobid in the Road to Salem.

As some of you know by now, the D-III playoffs is an oligarchy of sorts - practically the same set of teams play in the Road to Salem's quarterfinals forward each year - and as always, the same set always gets the chance to play in the Stagg Bowl, which, ironically, was named for UChicago's coach that made the Maroons football team famous in the 1920's and 1930's.

The dropping of football in 1938 was the tipping point of UChicago's athletic reputation, which, sadly, tanked and has stuck with them since.

Bonarae, I think I told you that I saw Chicago play at Bethel of MN in 2014. The Royals knocked off the previously undefeated Maroons. Lucky for me, MSU-Mankato had played the night before so I got a chance to see the former Big Ten power in person.

I did see St. Thomas beat Wabash in the playoffs last fall. You are right, there seems to be a limited number of D3 bluebloods. The Tommies have replaced St. John's as the top dog in the MIAC. Bethel is usually towards the top.

[bonarae]

Back on topic though, do you guys think UW-Whitewater/Mount Union could be successful if in the near future they were to go D2? I don't even know what the requirements for that even are in all fairness or if it's even allowed for that matter anymore.


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Not even allowed I believe. The NCAA changed the D-II joining requirements several years ago, which allowed some NAIA schools (e.g. Azusa Pacific) to join the NCAA. The NAIA offers a D-II style form of aid in the form of partial merit scholarships, which the D-III is not allowed to do by design.

Mount Union could be successful in D-II but the Wisconsin administration is hard-pressed for all of the non-big city WI colleges to go D-II, joining one already there (I forgot the name of the UW school already in D-II, it has escaped me.)

[Laker]

Not even allowed I believe. The NCAA changed the D-II joining requirements several years ago, which allowed some NAIA schools (e.g. Azusa Pacific) to join the NCAA. The NAIA offers a D-II style form of aid in the form of partial merit scholarships, which the D-III is not allowed to do by design.

Mount Union could be successful in D-II but the Wisconsin administration is hard-pressed for all of the non-big city WI colleges to go D-II, joining one already there (I forgot the name of the UW school already in D-II, it has escaped me.)

UW-Parkside. No football.

Even when St. John's was the king of the MIAC they wouldn't have consistently won in D2. One year for non-conference they played Bemidji from D2 who beat them. BSU was probably about middle of the pack or slightly higher. Over the long haul of a full season they would get worn down. Now of course, if they were able to recruit- and if you have been to either St. John's or St. Thomas they have tremendous facilities- they could compete.

I think it is more of a culture thing. The MIAC folks have a different thought practice than the NSIC folks. Having taught near D2 Mankato, D3 Bethany of Mankato, Gustavus Adolphus and Martin Luther and walking the campus of each I think they would like to stay D3.

As far as any local teams going FCS- I don't see the local state governments allowing it.

[Bisonoline]

Back on topic though, do you guys think UW-Whitewater/Mount Union could be successful if in the near future they were to go D2? I don't even know what the requirements for that even are in all fairness or if it's even allowed for that matter anymore.


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Of course they could.

[Thumper 76]

Back on topic though, do you guys think UW-Whitewater/Mount Union could be successful if in the near future they were to go D2? I don't even know what the requirements for that even are in all fairness or if it's even allowed for that matter anymore.


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I think the whole UW system could be good at DII. A lot of talent leaves the state because it's all DIII schools. I honestly think a couple could be solid FCS programs if they invested in it, but UW-Madison would never allow that to happen.

[Mike296]

I think the whole UW system could be good at DII. A lot of talent leaves the state because it's all DIII schools. I honestly think a couple could be solid FCS programs if they invested in it, but UW-Madison would never allow that to happen.

UW-Madison would most likely allow 1-2 Wisconsin FCS teams. They don't play in the same division so they most likely wouldn't play each other unless they schedule non conference. The only thing that'd be affected would be recruiting and that might actually be a good thing to balance out the Recruiting here.

[Laker]

UW-Madison would most likely allow 1-2 Wisconsin FCS teams. They don't play in the same division so they most likely wouldn't play each other unless they schedule non conference. The only thing that'd be affected would be recruiting and that might actually be a good thing to balance out the Recruiting here.

UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee would be big enough but since they don't have football............

I can't see the Badgers, the Gophers or the Huskers allowing any competition to occur. They have the legislatures locked up. And it is divide and conquer for everyone else. Look what happened to UN-Omaha's football and wrestling teams when they went D1.

[Hambone]

I got my MBA at St. Thomas and one of my buddies had a brother playing on the team at the time, so I went to a decent amount of Tommie games. Have followed them online ever since. I do enjoy keeping up on what's going on with D2 and D3.

[clenz]

The state of Iowa has an insane number of college football teams, and I wouldn't be shocked to see a few more added in the coming few years.

[Laker]

The state of Iowa has an insane number of college football teams, and I wouldn't be shocked to see a few more added in the coming few years.

Didn't Grand View start football a couple of seasons ago?

Who do you think is next?

[Laker]

I got my MBA at St. Thomas and one of my buddies had a brother playing on the team at the time, so I went to a decent amount of Tommie games. Have followed them online ever since. I do enjoy keeping up on what's going on with D2 and D3.

The Tommies are on 830 WCCO, who used to cover the Gophers. I bet that there is no D3 school in the country that has radio coverage that wide. I think that St. John's has three stations that cover them, of course not as wide a coverage.

I had three former student-athletes associated with the football team at St. Thomas last fall. It seems like these things go in cycles- I had three on the Augsburg team a few years ago, one at Bethel, a couple at Gustavus, some at MSU-Mankato. I like to go watch them a couple of times a season. Nice to get on the different campuses too.

[clenz]

The state of Iowa has an insane number of college football teams, and I wouldn't be shocked to see a few more added in the coming few years.

Here's a map I did of all D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO's in Iowa.

Red is FBS
Green is FCS
Light Blue is D2
Yellow is D3
Dark Blue is NAIA
Brown is JUCO

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z0UL394M6BRE.ky7HEGPwWUeg&usp=sharing

No, I didn't mess Briar Cliff University up. They are no the north side of Sioux City by have played at the DakotaDome (USD's stadium) for about 5 years now). It's 40 miles from campus to stadium



I wouldn't be shocked to see one or two JUCO's start football in the next decade. Kirkwood CC in Cedar Rapids has a great athletic department and a ton of students. I'm shocked they don't have football already.

Hawkeye CC in Waterloo would be interesting to watch. A decade ago there was no sports at all. They've redone much of campus and added real nice facilities. They've stared club sports. I could see them eventually going to NJCAA


30 teams may not seem like a ton, but in a state of barely over 3 million that's a whole lot of football.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

In terms of Wisconsin-Whitewater, how much is it that they are prevented to going to D-II, and how much is it that they simply don't want to? If they chose to go to D-II (and then maybe D-I), I could see them being successful, but I get the impression that they're happy dominating D-III and playing Mount Union for the de-facto D-III championship every year (or almost) in football.

Perusing the EADA reports W-W's athletics department is not the largest in D-III. Williams College spends more on athletics than the Warhawks.

[clenz]

Didn't Grand View start football a couple of seasons ago?

Who do you think is next?
They did and they are dominant. They beat Drake, won a national title, and spent every week in the top 25 all in their first 4 years...while playing in a HS stadium across town.

Clarke, in Dubuque, is starting football in 2018.

Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids will start football but the time table isn't set. It was initially supposed to be 2018 but they ran into an issue with conference affiliation and it's been pushed back. The conference they were in dissolved and they've been trying to find a new one. It was recently announced they'd be joining the Heart of America Conference, which is what Clarke is also joining, this coming year. Same conference Grand View is in. There was a lot of flux around that but that's finally stabilized. I think there's been a change at the top at MMU, which slowed football some as well. It will be starting though. They have land purchased a half mile from campus and renderings for the new football/track/baseball/softball/soccer complex. Looks gorgeous.

http://www.thegazette.com/2013/06/07/mount-mercy-announces-new-athletics-complex
http://www.thegazette.com/storyimage/GA/20130607/NEWS/306079963/EP/1/1/EP-306079963.jpg

http://www.mountmercymustangs.com/images/2013-14/athletic_complex_3D_11-6-2013.jpg
http://www.mountmercymustangs.com/images/2015-16/hfa_rendering_12-2015.jpg






That's just a giant abandoned lot right now. It will be a real nice upgrade
https://www.google.com/maps/place/1799+I+Ave+NE,+Cedar+Rapids,+IA+52402/@41.999438,-91.6532975,876m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x87e4f0c66d23e15d:0xd8bc3 15258e3b097

That's also where I'm getting my Masters at, so it will be nice to have a football team at both my alma maters to support

[BisonFan02]

I really......REALLY wish my alma mater could join DIII in the MIAC.....just got that pesky state thing in the way for the University of Jamestown. :D They have a lot more in common with Concordia and co. than they do with Valley City and Mayville....

[Bisonoline]

In terms of Wisconsin-Whitewater, how much is it that they are prevented to going to D-II, and how much is it that they simply don't want to? If they chose to go to D-II (and then maybe D-I), I could see them being successful, but I get the impression that they're happy dominating D-III and playing Mount Union for the de-facto D-III championship every year (or almost) in football.

Perusing the EADA reports W-W's athletics department is not the largest in D-III. Williams College spends more on athletics than the Warhawks.

At one time they were NAIA. But I think since they are no longer labeled as a state school and are under the UW umbrella Madison as in the legislature will have a bigger say.

[dgtw]

In Alabama....

DII:
North Alabama
West Alabama
Tuskeegee
Miles

DIII:
Huntingdon

NAIA:
Faulkner

We do not have any junior college football in Alabama. Marion Military used to have one, but seem to no longer sponsor the sport. Concordia-Selma had a USCAA team, but dropped it after last season.

Also, Talladega College does not sponsor football, but does have a marching band that has performed at Jax State games the last few years.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

UW-Parkside. No football.

Even when St. John's was the king of the MIAC they wouldn't have consistently won in D2. One year for non-conference they played Bemidji from D2 who beat them. BSU was probably about middle of the pack or slightly higher. Over the long haul of a full season they would get worn down. Now of course, if they were able to recruit- and if you have been to either St. John's or St. Thomas they have tremendous facilities- they could compete.

I think it is more of a culture thing. The MIAC folks have a different thought practice than the NSIC folks. Having taught near D2 Mankato, D3 Bethany of Mankato, Gustavus Adolphus and Martin Luther and walking the campus of each I think they would like to stay D3.

As far as any local teams going FCS- I don't see the local state governments allowing it.


St Thomas could easily go D2 and be very successful. A lot of money in that program.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Laker: Wow, that is an impressive list of games you have watched in person!

Now add a Bison game this fall....xthumbsupxxnodx

[Laker]

Laker: Wow, that is an impressive list of games you have watched in person!

Now add a Bison game this fall....xthumbsupxxnodx

That is just the partial list. I'll have to post the full list sometime. And I'll take you up on that Bison game even if I've been there twice for football and twice for basketball. :D

[Hood]

Only football playing DIII in Louisiana is Louisiana College in Pineville. To my knowledge none of the NAIA schools have football. I am unaware of any D2 programs, period.