Sports forum: NDSU's prediction holding true for membership change in Division II

By Jeff Kolpack

July 29, 2003 at 11:00 PM

One of the major reasons given by North Dakota State athletic department for the school's impending move to Division I in 2004-05 is the influx of smaller schools into Division II. Last week, the Division II Membership Committee granted active membership status to 10 schools.

None appear to be household names to Division II followers.

The new members include four from Puerto Rico -- University of Puerto Rico at Bayamon, Cayey, Mayaguez and Rio Piedras. The others are Goldey-Beacom College, Green Mountain College, Holy Family College, North Greenville College (N.C.), Nyack College and the University of Sciences of Philadelphia.

The Membership Committee also waived two years off of Florida Gulf Coast University's five-year reclassification period. Don't expect that to happen at the Division I level, however.

"Only because these are such new rules and they're not going to give waivers on that," said NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor.

Taylor, however, is hoping the NCAA will review membership requirements for individual sports like wrestling and track and field. The goal is to get those sports eligible for post-season competition sooner.

By Jeff Kolpack

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough" and "Covid Kids." He is the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August.

Sports forum: NDSU's prediction holding true for membership change in Division II

One of the major reasons given by North Dakota State athletic department for the school's impending move to Division I in 2004-05 is the influx of smaller schools into Division II. Last week, the Division II Membership Committee granted active me...