D-II and D-III Question

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

I probably asked this last year, but if so then I've forgotten. xoopsx

Watching their finals today led to looking at the web sites for NW Missouri and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Interestingly, UWW at 10.7K students was significantly larger than NWMSU at under 7K. Based on enrollment you'd almost expect the classification to be reversed.

But I guess my biggest question is how does a 10.7K public school fall into D-III? That must drive the typical small private D-III schools crazy. They obviously must adhere to the no scholarships philosophy, but I'd be surprised if they view it as an even playing field.

Are there other groups of publics in D-III beyond the group of Wisconsin publics?

[Grizalltheway]

Well Grand Valley State has 19K, so go figure. xeyebrowx

[JohnStOnge]

I don't think enrollment is necessarily a big factor in college football. Notre Dame's enrollment is only about 8,300. University of Miami's is only about 9,700.

I think the biggest factors are financial support and interest.

[hebmskebm]

Privates far outnumber Publics in D3, and the only real powerhouse public schools are the Wisconsin ones, maybe a few from New Jersey.

[OSBF]

I don't think enrollment is necessarily a big factor in college football. Notre Dame's enrollment is only about 8,300. University of Miami's is only about 9,700.

I think the biggest factors are financial support and interest.

Tulsa is FBS with a little over 2K.

[OB55]

Well Grand Valley State has 19K, so go figure. xeyebrowx

Think it is over 22k.

[dgreco]

wayne st. michigan has something like 33,000 students.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Privates far outnumber Publics in D3, and the only real powerhouse public schools are the Wisconsin ones, maybe a few from New Jersey.

Since Trenton State (College of NJ, IIRC) and Glassboro State (Rowan) have changed their names, I forget that they are still publics! xoopsx

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

wayne st. michigan has something like 33,000 students.

They're D-II, correct? Do they play in the same league as Grand Valley?

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

I don't think enrollment is necessarily a big factor in college football. Notre Dame's enrollment is only about 8,300. University of Miami's is only about 9,700.

I think the biggest factors are financial support and interest.

Absolutely, just look at schools like Baylor, Rice, Tulane, Tulsa, Wake Forest, Duke, Vanderbilt, etc. The financial support and interest allows them to compete in the FBS world. Note, I didn't say excel at the FBS level.

[dgreco]

They're D-II, correct? Do they play in the same league as Grand Valley?

That is correct. There are some big schools.

Pace University. One of the worst teams ever has over 16,000 students. SCSU has almost 12,000 students I think.

[walliver]

How many of the big public D-III schools are commuter schools (or suitcase schools)?