Simon Fraser University joins NCAA Div II

Last week, Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, BC is the first Canadian university to be admitted to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).  For the past 35 years, it competed under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

As much as I would have preferred “Div I” status, it will compete under Division II.  The first official season will become fully active in the 2011-12 season.

This is big news.  It’s too bad cross town rival University of British Columbia (UBC) didn’t follow suit.  At least not yet.

Now, a Canadian College and University will actually have an outdoor Track and Field season compared to the CIS (formerly CIAU)!  And no more obscure events like the 300m and 600m indoors.

The 49th Parallel

I always believed Vancouver belongs to the same status as Washington State, Oregon, and California because the Rocky Mountains separate Canada and the USA, not the 49th parallel.

Flights to Seattle or Idaho are much cheaper than flying to Calgary or Edmonton.  Even Las Vegas is slightly over 2 hours away.

Now, we have to convince athletes from staying closer to home rather than going south with the warmer weather.