Bleak outlook for future of D2 athletics?

At least that was the cautionary note sounded when the Division II Championships and Legislative committees recently met. According to ncc.org, Metro State Athletics Director Joan McDermott was (paraphrased) saying "that while the desires of student-athletes to compete should be honored as much as possible, ADs across the country see a rapidly approaching need for major fiscal change." Some refer to the time that federal stimulus money runs out as "The Cliff." Uh-oh.

Cross country is an inexpensive sport. But schools look for blood from everybody, so expect travel budgets to get trimmed. This might be more evident when it comes to spring travel plans. This spring, a few meets determined many of the distance qualifiers. Maybe the qualifying times will come from more places -- and be slower.

A new start

Note: This first appeared on March 9, when I launched this blog. I thought it would be appropriate to reiteriate why I'm doing this.

I left a career in journalism for a job with a state legislature. The troubled economics of newspapers led me this way.

But through this blog I want to take my experience as an online editor and apply it to an old love: college cross-country.

I'm an Adams State alum and feel that the fiercely competitive spirit of Division II distance running deserves attention. A smaller mainstream media means more focus on sports or larger institutions we already know about. But modern online tools allow for (I hope!) a nationwide, niche audience.

This isn't an apologea for small colleges or my alma mater -- or an invitation to bash Western State! I'll use traditional media; college sports information; and your contributions, input and suggestions.

Fast 5s

Between the three schools, Abilene Christian (1), Adams State (4!), and Western State (2) put seven runners under 14 minutes in the various 5000m races at Mt. SAC Relays. (Adams State nearly had a fifth at 14:05). Nice work.

The small-school effort of the night might have been the 13:33 by Azusa Pacific's Aron Rono. Of course, if your name is Rono, you'd better be fast.

Not sure what D2 squads might be off to Drake and Penn, but I'll keep track.

Christmas cross?

The NCAA just can't get enough of its "festival" concept, which they appear intent on saddling D2 schools with the honor. The next festival -- mark it on your calendars! -- is fall of 2010.

What's interesting is the festival will run from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. That's a late date for nationals -- and a good week beyond DI's. So much for kicking back and pigging out at Thanksgiving.

Here's a list of my concerns:

• How will teams respond to such a late championship date, i.e. "peaking"?
  
• Will conference and regional championships be pushed back to accomodate this Jingle Bell special?
  
• How will this affect schools in the northern tier (read: snow belt) of the country? (Bring your crampons for regionals!)
  
• Whose idea was this?
  

indoor nats...from a distance perspective

Adams State certainly cleaned up in the distance events at the D2 nationals...er, festival at the University of Houston this weekend. Lessee: 2-8 in the 800m; 1-4-5-7 in the mile; 2-4-8 in the 5,000m (plus a DQ).

But the biggest win might have been Colorado Mines win in the distance medley relay, taking a tight one from Southwest Baptist. It is amazing that four of the top five relays squads hail from Colorado (Mines, Adams, Metro St. and Western St.). While certainly not a predictor of off-road running, there should be some great matchups this fall.

So just how big was that festival? An NCAA official calls it an "unique attribute." But a search of chron.com -- the Web site for the Houston Chronicle and one of the most-trafficked news sites in the United States -- yielded a couple of features stories. It appears the "festival" is taking an off year next year. Not a bad idea.

Festival

I see the NCAA is touting its "festival" concept again, which includes D2 indoor nats. Do they feel like wrestling, swimming and indoor track and field aren't compelling enough to stand by themselves?

I especially like this comment from the chairman of some committee: "I hear from colleagues and administrators who also tell me that the festival has created a state of mind in which student-athletes set the event as a team goal."

Hmmm. I just remember wanting to compete.

Perhaps the Olympic-like atmosphere will inspire. Best of luck to all.