I don't know. I don't know the rules on NCAA and NAIA playing regular season games. I know that the JV teams play each other on occasion. I believe TMC and GT JVs played a couple of weeks ago.

 

There aren't any rules against it on the NCAA side. It's just that the committee will throw the game result out and say the team played one less game in the Division, just like they do when teams play D2, and FCS teams. Or in some cases when teams play FBS teams, which a few have. Wesley College beat Charlotte in 2013 and Maryville beat East Tennessee State this past September. Maryville doesn't even receive votes in the Top 25 poll.

Why don't we see more KY NAIA teams playing Centre/Thomas More and the various OH D-III Schools given geographic proximity?

 

 

I can't speak for Centre but with the focus on athletics at Thomas More under President Armstrong, the Saints have to schedule the best D3 opponents as possible. They play 8 league games in a middle of the road conference for the Division and so in order to impress the committee, they have to do this. They can't have a game where the result is thrown out by the committee (see above) because that then would highlight the SOS numbers they get drug down by in the PAC.

I can't speak for Centre but with the focus on athletics at Thomas More under President Armstrong, the Saints have to schedule the best D3 opponents as possible. They play 8 league games in a middle of the road conference for the Division and so in order to impress the committee, they have to do this. They can't have a game where the result is thrown out by the committee (see above) because that then would highlight the SOS numbers they get drug down by in the PAC.

 

I would like to see TMC get either Wabash, Franklin, or Wittenburg on their schedule. I think a win over Franklin would help solidify Indianapolis recruiting. If you can get 2 or 3 talented kids that wouldn't have thought of TMC before, it can't hurt. Of course, the other teams need to be willing to schedule as well. Being next to a major city is a HUGE advantage for TMC, IMO. Being in a very small town (Madison/Hanover) got old quick if the bars were carding.

I'll throw this one out there too. The NAIA has no drug test policies. It's up to the individual school to test their players and deal with positive tests in what ever way they deem fitting. That's an advantage for NAIA schools, although many schools do test their players. I never got tested once in my four years.

Again - you are wrong. Even some of the greats who've played at Gtown would tell you so.

 

If NAIA is so great, why are schools leaving to join NCAA Division 3?

 

 

MONEY

I am more familiar with basketball than football but If I am ranking it:

 

NCAA D2

NAIA D1

NAIA D2

NCAA D3

 

again this is in basketball.

Here's a couple rosters to compare. Wis-Whitewater is and has been a top tier Div3 for the last 10 years:

 

Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics - 2015 Football Roster

 

LWC has been on the upswing the last two seasons in NAIA and are currently in the Top 20:

 

Lindsey Wilson Athletics - 2015 Football Roster

 

I'm going to give the edge to LWC in a matchup against Whitewater. Pick a player segment and compare whether it be OL, LBs, etc...LWC is bigger. Granted that doesn't reflect talent and execution. NAIA does have more Div1 transfers. G-town is the beneficiary of a couple each season.

 

I do think the Whitewaters and Mt Unions may be just 3-4 scores below the LWCs and Campbellsvilles ( this season ). I do however think they beat the lower tier mid south conference teams like Bluefield, KY Christian, and Cumberlands (TN).

 

To answer Mexituckys ? earlier Wabash and Wittenberg are the annual North Coast Athletic Conference winners over the last ten years. Wabash lost last year to Whitewater in the playoffs 38-14 in the second round of the playoffs to provide perspective.

 

I think it would be great to see TMC play a Wabash or Wittenberg as well each year! This could be a special year for TMC. I'm looking forward to seeing how far they go. They've benefited greatly from kids who want to stay close to home.

 

Has anyone attended any of the JV games discussed earlier and what typically are the outcomes?

I will give Wis-Whitewater the edge on having a nicer facility than many, if not all the NAIA teams!

 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/35/d7/70/35d770e1a91f596bf3c88f4940b2a146.jpg

Biggest difference? GPA and Test scores.

d3 schools also have the reputation for taking all comers into the football program. It increases enrollment and provides depth for when guys opt out for whatever reason. Same thing for NAIA. LWC has several huge classes recently. Not all of those kids will play but some will stay and get a degree, increasing enrollment.

Money

D3 is not as talented as NAIA

Again - you are wrong. Even some of the greats who've played at Gtown would tell you so.

 

If NAIA is so great, why are schools leaving to join NCAA Division 3?

There is such a HUGE gulf in talent and quality at the DIII level. Georgetown and teams in their conference would own Centre's conference and Thomas More's. They would be more evenly matched with the Wisconsin-Whitewaters and Mount Unions. There are only, really, 8 NAIA level teams in DIII. DII is a better comparison.

This is exactly right, NAIA teams by win % compare very closely to D2 competition.

Good stuff Mex.

 

How about I throw one more group of teams into the mix. Where do you think non-scholarship D-1 would be in the mix (Morehead, Dayton, Valpo., etc.)?

 

I don't know about now, but Campbellsville University played Austin Peay for a couple years about 11-12 years ago and beat them two years in a row.

 

One year, Campbellsville went 9-2 and the next they went 6-5. I believe Campbellsville also beat Valpo, @ Valpo in 02.

 

Of course, AP and Valpo were both members of the Pioneer League then.

 

NAIA schools are every bit as good, if not better as a whole than 1-AA non scholarship.

D-II Kentucky Wesleyan went 7-4 last year but lost to LWC 62-10. Beat them the previous year also. I know that UPIKE split regular season games with Morehead the previous two seasons also. DIII can be very good football and NAIA can also be very good football but I would give the edge to NAIA. I have been able to see many many Centre games through the years including a couple this year and I'm pretty sure LWC would take them by 2-3 scores. But I also think Centre would beat Union College pretty soundly this year also. So I really feel you have to look at it as more of a program to program comparison.

Again - you are wrong. Even some of the greats who've played at Gtown would tell you so.

 

If NAIA is so great, why are schools leaving to join NCAA Division 3?

 

They don't do it for athletic purposes, they do it for the academic prestige.