What was once one of the best football conferences in all of Division 2 athletics has all but gone to the great gridiron in the sky.
In pursuit of what its president calls the "competitive experience," the University of South Dakota has decided to move its athletic programs from NCAA Division II to the Division I level.
..."We felt very comfortable in Division II and in the NCC, but with the University of North Dakota's Division I announcement earlier this year, it is clear that the competitive experience our student-athletes have enjoyed for nearly a century will no longer be available in Division II," USD president Jim Abbott said Wednesday in making his decision public.
...South Dakota State University, North Dakota State University and Northern Colorado have left the NCC for Division I. The University of North Dakota announced this year it will do the same.
...Another NCC member, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is studying Division I status or membership in another conference. Augustana has decided to remain at the Division II level but is interested in leaving the NCC for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
The other current NCC schools are Minnesota-Mankato, St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth.
Um, that's Minnesota State, Mankato. No biggie.
My alma mater, Morningside, left the NCC for Great Plains Athletic Conference in NAIA. Knock one back for the old NCC. Looks like she's done for.