Aug. 25, 2005
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University will begin establishing some new football rivalries in 2006, and it will do so with some of the top programs in NCAA Division II.
Western has formally been admitted as a member in football only to the North Central Conference, one of the nation's most prestigious NCAA II alignments. Announcing the three-year agreement was Western director of athletics Lynda Goodrich.
The Vikings, along with arch-rival Central Washington University, will begin playing a full slate of eight NCC games in 2006. The two schools had been competing as part of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
"This is a step we are taking to enhance the long-term stability of our football program," Goodrich said. "But more than that, it is an opportunity to be a part of an outstanding conference that has a history and reputation unparalleled in NCAA Division II."
Western will continue to play GNAC schools Humboldt State and Western Oregon, but just once each season. The four GNAC football teams played one another twice last season and will do so again in 2005.
The Vikings will remain a member of the GNAC in the sports of volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, and softball. Western will also retain independent status in men's and women's golf and women's rowing.
The NCC, founded in 1921, currently has seven members - Augustana SD, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State Mankato, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State MN, and South Dakota.
Over the past three years, the NCC has had three of its member institutions leave to move up to NCAA Division I. North Dakota State and South Dakota State left after the 2003-04 academic year, and Northern Colorado left after 2002-03.
"The NCC is a great fit for our football program," said Western president Karen Morse. "Not only is it an outstanding athletic conference, but just as importantly, it is made up of institutions which share our academic standards and mission."
Morse said that Western will evaluate the agreement after two seasons. In 2004, NCC member North Dakota finished 11-3 and reached the semifinals of the NCAA II national playoffs. St. Cloud State, which reached the first round of the playoffs, and NCC champion Nebraska-Omaha each had 8-3 records. North Dakota, which Western will visit on Sept. 17, played in the NCAA II national championship game in 2003 and won a national title in 2001.
"It certainly raises the bar as far as level of competition, and in terms of national credibility, it's a very positive move," said Western head football coach Rob Smith. "The NCC is widely regarded throughout Division II as one of the top two or three conferences in the country."
"With only four Division II football schools west of the Rocky Mountains, developing rivalries with the NCC schools and having the opportunity to compete for a conference championship and league honors is a great step forward for our program."
Last season, Western split a pair of games with NCC schools, defeating Nebraska-Omaha, 31-21, and losing to St. Cloud State, 44-29. The Vikings have played six games with NCC foes over the past three seasons, splitting with Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota State, and losing twice to St. Cloud State. The Vikings host St. Cloud State on Sept. 10.
As part of the agreement, Western's conference game against Central will take place at Qwest Field in the "Battle in Seattle.
Central Washington, Western Washington to Join NCC As Football Affiliate Members
Central Washington University and Western Washington University will become affiliate members of the North Central Conference in the football beginning with the 2006 season. The announcement was made today by NCC Commissioner Roger Thomas.
"We are excited to welcome Central Washington and Western Washington to the North Central Conference in the sport of football." said NCC Commissioner Roger Thomas.
"This arrangement will benefit the North Central Conference by giving the seven full-time members of the NCC two more games as part of their conference schedules and it will benefit Central Washington and Western Washington because there are only four NCAA Division II football-playing institutions west of the Rocky Mountains."
The arrangement will have each full-time North Central Conference school making one trip to Washington each year of the three-year deal. Each Washington school will make either three or four trips to the Midwest depending on the season and still face each other in the annual "Battle in Seattle" game at Qwest Field. The agreement will be reviewed following the completion of the second year with the possibility of extension beyond three years.
The North Central Conference is a NCAA Division II conference comprised of Augustana (S.D.), Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, Mankato, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and South Dakota. North Dakota and St. Cloud State advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship last season with North Dakota reaching the semifinal game. North Central Conference teams have won 11 NCAA Division II Football Championships with North Dakota claiming the NCC's last title in 2001.
Central Washington, known as the Wildcats, is located in Ellensburg, Wash. and has an enrollment of about 9,200 students. Western Washington, nicknamed the Vikings, is located in Bellingham, Wash. and has an enrollment of about 12,900 students. The schools previously played football with Humboldt State and Western Oregon in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with and both schools are full-time members of the GNAC. Ellensburg is located 100 miles southeast of Seattle while Bellingham is 90 miles north of Seattle.
