NDSU invited to Gateway eventJeff Kolpack, The Forum
Published Friday, January 05, 2007
http://www.bisonzone.com/index.cfm?page=article_full&id=151810North Dakota State President Joseph Chapman will get another opportunity to promote the athletic department next month. He?s been invited to attend the Gateway Football Conference winter meeting in St. Louis.
The league is expected to address expansion on Feb. 19, with NDSU and South Dakota State possibly joining the league. Six of the league presidents will be present and another is sending a vice president, according to Gateway commissioner Patty Viverito.
?It?s mainly a chance to explore the Gateway and their future and whether we play a part in that,? Chapman said.
The Gateway lost Western Kentucky earlier this year to the Sun Belt Conference. It will be left with seven teams next fall: Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois and Youngstown State (Ohio). It is not considering any other schools for membership.
NDSU is currently a member of the Great West Football Conference. It will join the Mid-Continent Conference for most of its other sports next year.
?We?re in pretty good shape conference-wise,? Chapman said. ?We certainly don?t have the pressure that we had before. This will give us an opportunity to see what?s best for us.?
It?s the first time the Gateway has requested presidents attend the winter meeting, Viverito said. She said there is no directive that a vote be taken, but she said there is nothing preventing one either, provided the presidents have enough information. A two-thirds majority, or five votes, is required for acceptance.
?We knew the importance of this meeting and the importance that the membership question be answered sooner than later,? Viverito said.
SDSU president David Chicoine and athletic director Fred Oien are scheduled to attend as well as NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor.
The two schools are bonded by their Division I reclassification and Chapman said the Gateway issue will be a package deal.
?We?re committed to staying together whatever the process is in going forward,? Chapman said. ?They?ve been a great partner for us.?
Taylor said he expects to prepare for some type of formal presentation to the Presidents Council.
?Whether they take it further, it?s up to them,? Taylor said. ?I?m not expecting anything earth shattering other than a presentation.?
Depending on how the meeting proceeds, Viverito said it?s possible the presidents will alter their annual meeting in the spring to a conference call. She said it depends on whether the expansion issue is resolved.
?If it?s not alive and it?s more about routine business, then it will be a conference call,? she said.
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Bring on the Gateway
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