NAIA vs. NCAA

[SonomaCat]

In light of the discussion about Carroll, I remembered a question I was asking myself as I watched part of their game on Saturday. What is the difference between NAIA and NCAA? And why did the Frontier schools opt for NAIA instead of NCAA?

It's my understanding that NAIA is actually better than most NCAA D-III sports, so I know it's not simply a level of competition.

Does anybody have some insight as to why schools choose to be NAIA instead of everyone being a part of the NCAA at the appropriate level?

[whizonthegriz]

In light of the discussion about Carroll, I remembered a question I was asking myself as I watched part of their game on Saturday. What is the difference between NAIA and NCAA? And why did the Frontier schools opt for NAIA instead of NCAA?

It's my understanding that NAIA is actually better than most NCAA D-III sports, so I know it's not simply a level of competition.

Does anybody have some insight as to why schools choose to be NAIA instead of everyone being a part of the NCAA at the appropriate level?

NCAA Div. III does not offer athletic scholarships, and NAIA schools do. The NAIA schools are just below Div. II.

[SonomaCat]

In light of the discussion about Carroll, I remembered a question I was asking myself as I watched part of their game on Saturday. What is the difference between NAIA and NCAA? And why did the Frontier schools opt for NAIA instead of NCAA?

It's my understanding that NAIA is actually better than most NCAA D-III sports, so I know it's not simply a level of competition.

Does anybody have some insight as to why schools choose to be NAIA instead of everyone being a part of the NCAA at the appropriate level?

NCAA Div. III does not offer athletic scholarships, and NAIA schools do. The NAIA schools are just below Div. II.

So what compels a school to go NAIA instead of going D-II? Is it purely a talent level thing, or is it something else?

[kmax]

I found this that may help explain the NAIA point of view: http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/032907aad.html

Of note from that:

Our different approach also makes the NAIA a solid financial decision for institutions that believe the arms race of intercollegiate athletics is a poor model. The NAIA does not impose minimum financial aid or staffing requirements. The NAIA offers a straight forward rules system and allows institutions to allocate a large percentage of resources to coaching and athletics aid. In the NAIA, the average athletics budget is one half of NCAA Division II and evidence suggests there is very little difference in the caliber of play.

[Billings_Griz]

I found this that may help explain the NAIA point of view: http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/032907aad.html

Of note from that:

Our different approach also makes the NAIA a solid financial decision for institutions that believe the arms race of intercollegiate athletics is a poor model. The NAIA does not impose minimum financial aid or staffing requirements. The NAIA offers a straight forward rules system and allows institutions to allocate a large percentage of resources to coaching and athletics aid. In the NAIA, the average athletics budget is one half of NCAA Division II and evidence suggests there is very little difference in the caliber of play.

That's interesting. I would think the Chadron States of DII would run circles around the Frontier Conf.

[kmax]

I found this that may help explain the NAIA point of view: http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/032907aad.html

Of note from that:

Our different approach also makes the NAIA a solid financial decision for institutions that believe the arms race of intercollegiate athletics is a poor model. The NAIA does not impose minimum financial aid or staffing requirements. The NAIA offers a straight forward rules system and allows institutions to allocate a large percentage of resources to coaching and athletics aid. In the NAIA, the average athletics budget is one half of NCAA Division II and evidence suggests there is very little difference in the caliber of play.

That's interesting. I would think the Chadron States of DII would run circles around the Frontier Conf.

From what I have seen I think that the top of NAIA would belong even with the top of DII, however I think it drops off much faster from the top in NAIA. JMO.

[SonomaCat]

When my sister played college bball at Rocky, I didn't get to see many games, but I did see them play some teams in tournaments in California, and the range of skill on the teams was amazing. Some teams were just stacked with talent (athletic and otherwise, but let's focus on the athletic for this conversation), while some teams literally looked like pretty mediocre intramural teams that my sister's high school team probably could have beat.

[CSC]

I watched Carroll play Black Hills State 2 years ago in Spearfish and the top D2 schools would pound the top NAIA schools most years. I bet Carroll would be a top 20 team quickly with more scholarships to give.

I found this that may help explain the NAIA point of view: http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/032907aad.html

Of note from that:

Our different approach also makes the NAIA a solid financial decision for institutions that believe the arms race of intercollegiate athletics is a poor model. The NAIA does not impose minimum financial aid or staffing requirements. The NAIA offers a straight forward rules system and allows institutions to allocate a large percentage of resources to coaching and athletics aid. In the NAIA, the average athletics budget is one half of NCAA Division II and evidence suggests there is very little difference in the caliber of play.

That's interesting. I would think the Chadron States of DII would run circles around the Frontier Conf.

[pizzafan]

Don't you remember the conversation a little while ago. During the four consecutive national titles Carroll played Central Washington several times. In one of their last meetings Central was the preseason #1 in DII. Carroll did not have a problem with them. I think that Central ended the season as the #5 team in DII(I think)

[BelgradeBobcat]

I watched a lot of the D-III title game between Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater. I don't think Carroll could hang with either of those two teams-they're extremely good. But after those two teams-the level of D-III drops off pretty fast I think.

I also watched some of the D-II title game. Either of those teams (Valdosta State or NW Missouri State) along with Grand Valley State who lost to NW Missouri in the semis would finish in the top half of the Big Sky or most any FCS conference. But again-there's a pretty good drop off after the top 10 or 15 D-II's.

I guess my point is-there's some overlap between all levels of college sports.

[GrizinWashington]

There are exceptions. But in general, the NAIA teams cannot stack up against DII teams.

[CPACAT]

In light of the discussion about Carroll, I remembered a question I was asking myself as I watched part of their game on Saturday. What is the difference between NAIA and NCAA? And why did the Frontier schools opt for NAIA instead of NCAA?

It's my understanding that NAIA is actually better than most NCAA D-III sports, so I know it's not simply a level of competition.

Does anybody have some insight as to why schools choose to be NAIA instead of everyone being a part of the NCAA at the appropriate level?

I think the answer is in your question. NCAA!!!! Need more be said?

[SonomaCat]

In light of the discussion about Carroll, I remembered a question I was asking myself as I watched part of their game on Saturday. What is the difference between NAIA and NCAA? And why did the Frontier schools opt for NAIA instead of NCAA?

It's my understanding that NAIA is actually better than most NCAA D-III sports, so I know it's not simply a level of competition.

Does anybody have some insight as to why schools choose to be NAIA instead of everyone being a part of the NCAA at the appropriate level?

I think the answer is in your question. NCAA!!!! Need more be said?

Is the NAIA pretty hands-off with all of their policies? If so, I could see the advantages to that.

[SonomaCat]

Is the NAIA more hands-off when it comes to drug testing and acadmics and all of that sort of thing as well?

[SonomaCat]

Alright, so this is making sense to me. So if the Frontier decided to move to NCAA D-II status, not only would they likely need to upgrade their talent level to some degree, but they would also have to come into compliance with much stricter eligibility and drug testing regimes, all of which cost money and potentially limit the types of players they can recruit.

So this probably goes a long ways toward answering a question as to why they haven't explored that option.

[Weltercat]

In light of the discussion about Carroll, I remembered a question I was asking myself as I watched part of their game on Saturday. What is the difference between NAIA and NCAA? And why did the Frontier schools opt for NAIA instead of NCAA?

It's my understanding that NAIA is actually better than most NCAA D-III sports, so I know it's not simply a level of competition.

Does anybody have some insight as to why schools choose to be NAIA instead of everyone being a part of the NCAA at the appropriate level?

NCAA Div. III does not offer athletic scholarships, and NAIA schools do. The NAIA schools are just below Div. II.

That is interesting. Why do some schools that compete at Div II not give scholarships? Is it purely a financial thing? I know that it has only been in the last couple years that UC Davis has offered scholarships and they were competing quite nicely in Div II. They had something like 25 winning seasons in a row up until just this year.

[cats2506]

“That’s what NAIA stands for, No Athletic Investigations Allowed”

I heard that somewhere and it was attributed to MVD but I have no idea if he ever really said it or not.

[CSC]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2962812
Here is a good article on the "lower levels" of NCAA college football.