NCAA Divisions question

[quinn14]

I realize that this question should probably be posted in the College Wrestling section, but since the season is in full swing, I didn't think people would want to bother with it there.

Here is the question. I feel a bit dumb, but a friend of mine asked me how they separate divisions in college. I wasn't sure what to say. I think it has to do with the number of scholarships a school is allowed to give, but I am not sure. For example, Dayton is DI in basketball, but DIII in football. So, I have always thought that enrollment wasn't the detemining factor. Please let me know. I have tried googling it, but my google skills have been off lately. (could be the Natty Light, but.....nah!)

And what the heck is NAIA?

Moderators, you can move this if need be, but I just don't want to disturb the other section with my stupidity.

[r.payton@att.net]

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-I THINK they are non scholarship schools -unsure . Many fine programs and great wrestlers.

[M Richardson]

Don't worry quinn. None of us here are bothered by your stupidity - we're used to it.
Meanwhile, somebody who knows what they are talking about answer his question so I don't have to look stupid by asking it too.

[quinn14]

Well, either I am not alone in my ignorance or people "in the know" just haven't replied. If anyone who does know reads this, please let me know. It is really starting to bug me.

[Spider]

When I was in college, there was just long division and short division. Then calculators came along and both became obsolete.

[RYou]

The schools have a choice in which org the want to affiliate with - NCAA, NAIA or go independent. Both orgs have rules for competition.

Again each school has the choice in which division they want to compete at, FBS, FCS for Football, I, II or III for other sports. The NCAA has established guidelines for participation in Div I football and basketball which include attendance, facility size, season ticket holders etc. Some schools opt to participate at the Div I level in one or two sports but at Div II or III in others. Examples RPI in DIV I hockey, but Div III in all others, Johns Hopkins in Div I lacrosse, Davidson in Div I basketball. A while back the NCAA tried to bundle all schools into participation in a single division but Lehigh, RPI, Hopkins and other small schools that compete in a single Div I sport fought it furiously and were able to alter the ruling to - if a team was already established in Div I, that team could remain in competition but no new that typically compete in Div II or III can bump to Div I in a single sport - now all sports move up or down or none move.

It is the facility size requirement that is preventing Villanova from returning to Big East FBS football, it's just too big an investment for the school to take on.

[quinn14]

Thank you for the information! I couldn't find it anywhere on the web. I can now rest easy.

[Spider]

Thank you for the information! I couldn't find it anywhere on the web. I can now rest easy.

You're quite welcome.

[quinn14]

You're quite welcome.

lol. I was going to thank you, too, until I realized that you were less than honest. It wasn't the calculator that came along and ended your long division. Didn't people of your age use an abacus?