This comes up quite often. What state school is capable of making the leap? None of them, either because of funding or because of apathy.
In terms of funding, Mankato might be the most logical because of Mssrs. Taylor and Bresnan. However, apathy is rampant for MSU sports. I believe MSU has shuttered its football team at least once, if not twice, in the last fifty years. Despite some more recent success in a watered down DII on the court and on the field, its a horrible sports school.
St Cloud might be a candidate if money weren't an issue. Who's going to foot the bill for a jump when the athletic dept. is already in a deep hole?
UMD might be a mix of MSU and SCSU. Where's the money going to come from and would anybody really care? UMD has had some football success in the same watered down DII, but has not previously been known for sports. Facilities would be a big question mark here, as well.
Can't see Winona coming up with the cash or facilities, and unlike the previously aforementioned, no D-I hockey, which I believe has satiated the DI itch for the above, much like it did for UND when NDSU made the leap.
What people forget about the Dakota schools is that the xDSU's and UxD's are the land grant and flag ship institutions of each state, respectively and had loyal, and sometimes rabid followings even in DII days. Each school garnered statewide interest, even from non-alums, and have healthy alumni followings who chipped in when the moves were made t. I would wager that there is more interest for these schools throughout the states of North and South Dakota than there is for the U in Minnesota. These schools are not former normal schools of only regional interest only and are not a good comparison for MSU or SCSU. Those schools exist in the Dakotas, but they are not the xDSU's and UxD's.
It would be interesting to have another DI school in MN. It won't come from the public schools, however.
