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TOP STORY
1. Is DIII Conference Realignment Becoming a Thing?

by Steve Dittmore, Glory Days

“While much deserved attention is heaped upon the seismic conference realignment taking place in Division I, palace intrigue, at least from an outsider perspective, is brewing around realignment in Division III. The primary drivers for this movement, however, are not television markets and broadcast revenues. Instead, it might be merely a case of survival of the fittest institutions.

The consolidation has been ongoing, but it is Thursday’s announcement that John Carroll University (JCU) is leaving the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) for the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) this week that should create concern among Division III traditionalists. The OAC is the nation’s third oldest athletic conference, founded in 1902. Only the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1888) and the Big Eighteen Ten Conference (1895) are older. The OAC was the first conference home for Ohio State University.

It is true the NCAC was likely seeking one more school following Allegheny College’s departure in 2022 for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The addition of JCU brings the conference back to 10 institutions. And, the move, theoretically, positions JCU for athletic success.”

» Situational Awareness. “This got me thinking about the landscape of Division III athletics which has 434 total members, many of them small, private liberal arts-based institutions. Where does the sweet spot between elite academics and competitive athletics exist? In other words, how many of those 434 schools really provide the “rigorous academics and high-level athletics” that JCU aspires to according to its release?”

» The Bottom Line. “The conference to which a university belongs says a lot about what the university values and how it sees itself. The Ivy League has had the same eight schools since the 1950s. The NESCAC last added a school, Connecticut College, in 1982. The NCAC prides itself on creating an inclusive environment for scholar-athletes (note the distinction from student-athlete). From my perspective, JCU’s move strikes me as a strategic decision for the university.”

» Why It Matters. “A decade ago, these conference movements might not have registered as big news, but the environment has changed. I can’t help but feel more consolidation is on the horizon, some of which might be strategic and some of which might be merely survival.”

» Keep Reading | Subscribe to Glory Days

THE FUTURE OF DIII
2. The NCAA’s Existential Question: Can You Pay Players and Still Call Them Amateurs?

by Amanda Christovich, Front Office Sports

“On Monday, in a conference room in Los Angeles, a National Labor Relations Board trial will resume, with the goal of resolving whether college athletes should be considered employees - the existential question of NCAA sports.

The trial is one of the many places where the debate over the future of amateurism is playing out across the country. Pressure to label collegiate athletes professionals is mounting through other National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) cases and multiple federal cases. The NCAA, meanwhile, is battling in Congress (most recently in a hearing on Thursday) to pass a law preventing those athletes from attaining employee status.

Amid all the noise, NCAA President Charlie Baker is trying to appease all sides with a new athlete-pay proposal. But it may not be enough to stop momentum toward an employment model.

» What’s Next. “The NCAA is now trying to convince Congress to pass an anti-employee status law under the guise of “reform.” In December, Baker introduced “Project DI,” a short, broad proposal for how schools could begin to pay athletes in a way that satisfies not only their demands, but also those of public opinion.”

» Reality Check. “But the proposal is less radical than some initially believed. While it tries to placate reformers by offering athletes increased pay, it stops short of giving them employee status. That’s by design.”

» The Bottom Line. “Employment status is “not really up to athletes,” UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin said during Thursday’s Congressional NIL hearing. “That’s up to the NLRB. But I do think it’s important to note that currently—based on the number of time, effort, and hours - we operate as employees.” (The NLRB’s general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, does believe many athletes should be considered employees.)

» What They’re Saying. “It’s [athletes’] voices that are often sidelined in conversations about the future,” Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) said during Thursday’s hearing in Congress. But “athletes have more power today than ever before.”

» Continue Reading

VOLLEYBALL (M)
3. #2 Wentworth Tops #1 Stevens

An early-season showdown between the top two teams in DIII men’s volleyball was all it was expected to be as second-ranked Wentworth won the final two sets to outlast #1 Stevens, 23-25, 25-19, 17-25, 22-25, 15-10.

The Leopards (2-0) broke open a 10-10 fifth-set by scoring the final five points for their first-ever win against the Ducks (3-1). Jacob LaBouliere led Wentworth with 17 kills while Josh Milke handed out 44 set assists.

» Continue Reading

TRACK AND FIELD
4. Wayt For It

Mount Union standout Kenadee Wayt set a NCAA Division III record in the 300 meters Saturday at the SPIRE Midwest Indoor Open, covering the distance in 39.33. That time bested the old mark of 39.46 set by Stevens’ Gina Dello Russo in 2018.

Wayt, a three-time DIII national champion and 15-time All-America performer, was the 2023 Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for Division III as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).

» Complete Release

NEWS
5. Lightning Round

🗞 News. Even the R1 schools are feeling the financial pinch these days. The University of Chicago, with a $3.1-billion operating budget and $10 billion endowment, is running a $239-million deficit and carrying a heavy debt load.

🏀 Basketball. There is just one unbeaten team remaining in DIII men’s basketball after Westminster (Pa.) toppled Saint Vincent, 90-80. Trinity (Conn.) held off Wesleyan, 79-77, in overtime to improve to 18-0. There are six undefeated teams on the women’s side - Rhode Island College, Catholic, Transylvania, Webster, UW-Whitewater and NYU.

🤺 Fencing (W). Top-ranked NYU was upset by Johns Hopkins, 14-13, as Rosy Cepero and Czarina Alfonso led the Jays’ foil squad to a 7-2 win to pull out the match.

STREAMING
6. What 2 Watch Tonight

 
🏀 WBB: Husson (8-8) vs. Maine Maritime (10-4), 530
🏀 MBB: Johns Hopkins (12-4) vs. Mary Washington (9-6), 700
🏀 MBB: Wesleyan, Conn. (10-6) vs. Yeshiva (10-7), 800

TRANSACTIONS
7. Comings and Goings

• ALFRED STATE - Mike Yarosz named assistant football coach

• CAPITAL - Announced addition of men’s and women’s bowling as varsity sports beginning in 2024-25

• CURRY - Curtis Fraser stepped down as assistant athletic director for communications

• HAMPDEN-SYDNEY - Ryan Wilson named assistant football coach

• ILLINOIS WESLEYAN - Dennis Martel announced his retirement as head baseball coach after the 2024 season

• LESLEY - Announced addition of men’s golf as a varsity sport beginning in 2024-25

• ROCHESTER - Chris Apple announced his retirement as head men’s soccer coach at end of academic year.

• WESTFIELD STATE - Seth Kaplan named head baseball coach

VIDEO
8. Plays of the Weekend

Lots of choices this week … but here are the five we thought should make the cut.

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