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Topics - Northern_Explorer

#1
Women's soccer / NCAA Divisions. The hype vs. the reality
February 09, 2021, 01:01:53 PM
In trying to explain how the quality levels in various affiliations stack up... I finally think I've got a data driven illustration. The Power Ratings come from the Massey Ratings page and are based on 2019, but it's a great illustration of the diversity within each affiliation as well as how they kind of stack up (I think). It's worth pointing out that a team competing against an opponent with a Massey rating 2 points higher still has a significant chance of winning, so when you compare a team with a rating somewhere in the 5's with a team in the 7's (for instance), that's still a very competitive match...

The hype

The reality
#2
I've been following these lists and now they've added football... Some great programs highlighted (and some MIA).

https://collegeathleticadvisor.com/inspire/

THE TOP 20 (RANK, SCHOOL, AFFILIATION)
1.   St. John's University (MN, NCAA Division 3)
2.   University of Central Missouri (MO, NCAA Division 2)
3.   Wisconsin – Oshkosh (WI, NCAA Division 3)
4.   Texas A&M Commerce (TX, Division 2)
5.   University of West Florida (FL, NCAA Division 2)
6.   Salisbury University (MD, NCAA Division 3)
7.   Minnesota State University (MN, NCAA Division 2)
8.   Carroll College (MT, NAIA)
9.   Wisconsin - Whitewater (WI, NCAA Division 3)
10.    Valdosta State University (GA, NCAA Division 2)
11.    Grand Valley State University (MI, Division 2)
12.    Marian University (IN, NAIA)
13.    Linfield College (OR, NCAA Division 3)
14.    Chapman University (CA, NCAA Division 3)
15.    Savannah State University (GA, NCAA Division 2)
16.    Trinity College (CT, NCAA Division 3)
17.    Muhlenberg College (PA, NCAA Division 3)
18.    Union College (NY, NCAA Division 3)
19.    Benedictine College (KS, NAIA)
20.    Shepherd University (WV, NCAA Division 2)

Criteria:

These holistic program rankings are open to all 4-year U.S. collegiate level programs sponsoring football outside of NCAA Division 1 (so this is a top 20 out of over 500 colleges & universities). Rankings are based on a subjective assessment of student experience in four areas:

•   Holistic development of student-athletes in the institution
•   Academic achievement & support for the academic success of student-athletes
•   Overall college experience for participants within the program
•   Affordability/Graduation Rates/Student Satisfaction

These rankings are meant to highlight programs that may not be widely publicized despite having achieved consistent elite status in competition and in elevating the lives of participating student-athletes. While this is a subjective list, we believe these rankings present an informed starting point for a discussion about where student-athletes can excel as "triple-threat" competitors (academics, athletics, and socially) in college and in life.
#3
They did a very interesting women's list last week. I'll be curious what people think of the men's version. It's pretty D3 heavy.

The full top 20 and explanation is here... https://collegeathleticadvisor.com/inspire/

Top 5:

1. Amherst College (MA, NCAA Division 3)
2. SUNY – Oneonta (NY, NCAA Division 3)
3. Cal State – Los Angeles (CA, NCAA Division 2)
4. Ohio Wesleyan (OH, NCAA Division 3)
5. Centre College (KY, Division 3)
#4
Just saw this come out today from a college consultant group. They seem to be planning to release lists like these in most sports, interesting list of NAIA/D2/D3 programs from a student-athlete angle... I enjoyed looking at it anyway (and it started an argument almost immediately). The website lists criteria, etc... https://collegeathleticadvisor.com/inspire/

Women's Soccer, Fall 2020


The Top 20 (Rank, School, State, Affiliation)

THE TOP 20 (RANK, SCHOOL, AFFILIATION)
1.   William Smith (NY, NCAA Division 3)
2.   Western Washington (WA, NCAA Division 2)
3.   Christopher Newport University (VA, NCAA Division 3)
4.   College of St. Rose (NY, NCAA Division 2)
5.   University of Tampa (FL, NCAA Division 2)
6.   University of Chicago (IL, NCAA Division 3)
7.   Grand Valley State (MI, NCAA Division 2)
8.   Westmont College (CA, NAIA)
9.   Johns Hopkins (MD, NCAA Division 3)
10.    Sonoma State (CA, NCAA Division 2)
11.    Middlebury College (VT, NCAA Division 3)
12.    Benedictine College (KS, NAIA)
13.    The College of New Jersey (NJ, NCAA Division 3)
14.    Rollins College (FL, NCAA Division 2)
15.    St. Edward's University (TX, NCAA Division 2)
16.    Pomona – Pitzer (CA, NCAA Division 3)
17.    Indiana Wesleyan University (IN, NAIA)
18.    Hardin-Simmons University (TX, NCAA Division 3)
19.    Colorado School of Mines (CO, NCAA Division 2)
20.    UMass - Boston (MA, NCAA Division 3)


"It's critical, particularly in this moment, to recognize individual programs and coaches, as well as athletic departments that provide exceptional experiences to student-athletes. These athletic programs strengthen their institutions as a whole. Participating student-athletes develop into successful alumnae with powerful ties to the college and the capacity to pay their experience forward," says College Athletic Advisor's CEO, Dave Morris. "It's exciting to be able to recognize this particularly elite collection of programs and also remind folks that many programs in NCAA Divisions 2 and 3, the NAIA, and the USCAA are serving student-athletes and their institutions in life changing ways."