Representatives from DIA colleges met last weekend in Houston to discuss issues related to the 2014-2015 season.

 

The meeting was at times contentious, but according to reports, contentious in a way that produced results.

 

The overriding question seemed to be, how does DIA define itself? Member teams were painfully aware that the vast majority of the sports fan public doesn’t know the difference between DIA and DIAA, and thus Central Florida’s impressive victory in DIAA is seen as equivalent to St. Mary’s winning DIA.

 

How that will be addressed in come months is a major issue. USA Rugby had hoped to fix these sorts of questions years ago with a nomenclature overhaul that produced the College Premier Division (later renamed DIA). But today, with two Division I titles, and a private Varsity Cup competition that touts itself as a national championship, the waters are as muddied as ever.

 

A motion was put forward in Houston to rename the divisions from DIA, DIAA, and DII, to DI, DII, and DIII, with NSCRO remaining its own entity. The motion passed, but one wonders how DIAA teams will respond. 

 

Some other fixes are in the offing. The invitation aspect of the playoffs will be ramped back. With between 29 and 39 teams expected in six conferences for next season, the conference champions will be in the playoffs, which will feature 12 teams - the top four ranked conference champions will get a bye, and host a quarterfinal. The other two conference champions will be guaranteed a home playoff game. The remaining at-large bids will be determined by rankings.

 

To make this happen, league organizers have set forth a rule that conference champions must participate. They will incur harsh penalties for skipping the playoffs - potentially bringing a ban on not only their own team, but their conference.

 

This past season, for example, Indiana won the Big Ten in the fall and opted not to play in the playoffs, and that's why an 0-6 team (Davenport) and a team that hadn't played a league schedule (Army) made the playoffs. This is a deal-breaker for DIA going forward. In addition, DIA teams that are also in the Varsity Cup appear to have committed to playing in the DIA playoffs. 

 

DIA will be increasing its budget to help teams with travel expenses, and it was interesting to note that in the 2014 spring season, programs were generous in sharing funds. Arkansas State University paid for hotel accommodations for teams visiting them. St. Mary’s reportedly returned their travel allowance for the final (since the final was played at nearby Stanford University) and asked that Life get the money instead. This camaraderie of programs happened frequently, and will strengthen the league in the future. 

 

Going forward, the teams want to be on TV. The coaches were displeased that the Varsity Cup was on live television while DIA was webcast only. This is likely to change for 2014-2015.

 

But overall, the mood seemed to be one of at least some sort of cooperation. Programs are starting to see that what happens at the top end - televising championship games, agreeing on travel share, and populating the playoffs correctly - matters to everyone, while what happens at the lower end - ensuring program health, being clear about goals and seasonality, and helping with planning - matters to everyone too.

 

Expected DIA teams and conferences for 2014-2015. Among the areas to note - UC Davis and Sacramento State have dropped out of the California Conference, and UC Santa Barbara might drop down, also. Arkansas State is on the fence at the moment with the Mid-South, while in the Rugby East Army and Delaware, both coming back from suspension (Delaware not confirmed), and Kutztown should be joining but didn’t confirm:

 

 

Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Possible Teams: TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor,


Michigan, Indiana, Michigan St, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio St, Illinois, Purdue, Iowa, Nebraska


(Northwestern not confirmed) 

 

Cal Poly, Santa Clara, San Diego State, and St Mary’s 

(UC Santa Barbara not confirmed)

UC Davis and Sacramento State have moved out.

 

Life, Lindenwood, and Davenport 

(Arkansas State not confirmed)

 

Penn State, St Bonaventure, Buffalo, Iona, Wheeling Jesuit 

(Delaware, Kutztown, and Army not confirmed)

 

Colorado State, Wyoming


(Colorado, Air Force, New Mexico not confirmed)

 

 

For many teams who haven’t confirmed, the issue might be whether the Varsity Cup is a better fit, or they are waiting for stronger assurances on the business end. Other teams have talked about the ability to clearly articulate the competitive structure and meaning in American college rugby. Facetiously, we could say “good luck with that,” but really the question reverts to the beginning of this article. DIA can play rugby, but it has to be able to say to the public what it is.