Everything you need to know about NCAA Division III, delivered to your inbox
Send tips to [email protected] and/or via DM.

» ✨ Good Monday Morning! Let the countdown to the games begin.

» ⏰ A Reminder From D3Playbook: A reminder that beginning tomorrow, you will need a premium subscription to be able to continue receiving D3Playbook every Tuesday-Friday. Our Early Bird subscription rate is just $69/year - less than 33 cents per edition. Upgrade today.

» Worth Noting: For those who have asked about multiple subscriptions for an institution or conference, we have a solution. Email us.

TOP STORY
1. With Congress Eyeing College Sports Fixes, Are Students On Board?

by Veronica Roseborough and Caleigh Kelly, The Hill

“If lawmakers have their way, change is afoot in college sports.

After the Supreme Court in 2021 opened the floodgates for money into college sports, Congress appears ready to impose guardrails on universities and force transparency around deals that are making some student-athletes rich.

But it’s unclear how much these changes will benefit the more than half-a-million student athletes competing in NCAA championship sports.”

» Court Awareness: “The Supreme Court decision for the first time allowed college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, opening the way for multi-million “NIL deals” for some of the star players at major schools. But the benefits aren’t being felt by the vast majority of NCAA athletes.”

» What They’re Saying: “I’m worried that that’s going to completely reshape collegiate athletics, because it becomes less about talent, team, culture, community and becomes more about who has the most money and most connections.” - Nicole Goot, a synchronized swimmer for Stanford.

» Reality Check: “Students want to see Congress put the onus on universities to provide their student-athletes with the education, resources, health care, and financial aid guarantees to succeed during and after college — regardless of whether they are benefiting directly from NIL deals.“

» Read More

NEWS
2. Buckle Up For A Pivotal Fall

by Eric Prisbell, On3.com

“Buckle up for a pivotal fall in college athletics.

As college football readies for kickoff across the country, off-the-field developments promise to come fast and furious in the coming months and loom as far more consequential. The NCAA will continue its aggressive lobbying efforts in Congress, hoping by the end of the calendar year to secure a federal NIL bill. And developments emerging from the National Labor Relations Board hearing in November and the Johnson v. NCAA case in Pennsylvania could inch the enterprise ever closer to a potential employment model for student-athletes.”

» Situational Awareness: “In an exclusive wide-ranging interview with On3, Tom McMillen, former U.S. Congressman and current CEO of LEAD1 Association, set the stage for a significant fall that will help chart the course for the enterprise in the coming years.”

» Federal NIL Bill: “McMillen said he remains “hopeful,” but “not hugely optimistic” that the NCAA will land its long-sought federal bill by the end of the year.”

» NLRB: “There will not be a bill in Congress that comes out that codifies non-employment status,” McMillen said.”

» Women’s Involvement: “There are very few women involved in these bills. Women make up 28% of Congress, 25 women Senators and some 130 women House members – yet there are no women involved, and with Title IX and women’s sports. To me, that’s a real glaring omission that more women are not involved in this. That does not make me optimistic about it.”

» Continue Reading | Part One | Part Two

FOOTBALL
3. Preseason Conference Favorites

Thanks to our friends at D3football.com, here is a compilation of Division III football conference preseason coaches polls.  

It’s rare that coaches go against the grain and pick someone other than the defending champ and occasionally, the poll strangely resembles last season’s final standings.

Nonetheless, they are always a sure sign that the season is almost upon us.

» Keep Reading

2023 PREVIEW
4. Who, What to Watch in Men’s Soccer

Unlike other Division III fall sports, the United Soccer Coaches choose to post last season’s final rankings as their preseason poll for the next season. So despite graduation losses and the departure of its head coach, the University of Chicago is the preseason No. 1 men’s soccer team in the land.

Will the Maroons be there at the end of the season? Here is a list of teams to keep an eye on, as well as a list of some of the top players in the country.

» Worth Noting: Ohio Wesleyan and Messiah have the two longest consecutive winning-season streaks in Division III history - and both are still active. The Battling Bishops have not suffered a losing season since 1969 - a streak of 51 campaigns - while the Falcons have a run of 40 consecutive winning seasons dating to 1981.

» Coming This Week: Women’s Soccer (Tues.), Football (Wed.)

NEWS
5. Lightning Round

🏐 Volleyball. Cabrini has canceled its 2023 women’s volleyball season.

🗞 News. Bridgewater College announced that its tuition price is decreasing from $40,300 to $15,000 — an almost 62% decrease — starting in fall 2024, a move by the college to create a more transparent picture of the price to attend, the private college said.

TRANSACTIONS
6. Comings and Goings

• ALBERTUS MAGNUS - Vika Simons named assistant women’s ice hockey coach

• ARCADIA - Pat Carroll named interim head men’s ice hockey coach

• BABSON - Chris Hall named assistant men’s ice hockey coach

• CCNY - Dalliana Toussaint named head women’s volleyball coach

• CLARK - Erin Hunter named strength and conditioning coach

• EMORY - India Chiles named head softball coach

• GUILFORD - Mike Boyd named assistant athletic director

• JUNIATA - Max Chamberlain named assistant football coach. Kait Binotto named assistant sports performance director

• MARIAN - Tyler Jones named assistant men’s basketball coach

• MARIETTA - Annie Devorak named head women’s rowing coach

• MORAVIAN - Morgan Mullen named assistant field hockey coach. Yoni Offit named assistant football coach

• PENN STATE HARRISBURG - Will Cabrera and Mark Zerbe named assistant men’s basketball coaches

• ROCKFORD - Riley Swanson named associate head football coach. Kyle Avaloy named assistant football coach

• ST. SCHOLASTICA - Christian Butler named assistant men’s basketball coach

• STEVENSON - Megan Despres named head acrobatics and tumbling coach

• SUNY CANTON - Justin Brooks named esports coordinator

• SUNY POLY - Katie LaClaire named head women’s volleyball coach

• UW-EAU CLAIRE - Michael Rhodovi named head women’s lacrosse coach

• VASSAR - Blayne Fuke named interim head baseball coach

• WASHINGTON U. - Cameron McMullen named assistant baseball coach. Melissa Gentile named assistant softball coach

• WESTERN CONNECTICUT - Brian Leighton named associate athletic director

• WILMINGTON - Taylor Watts named assistant softball coach

1 THING
7. A Boozy Brunch In A Glass

There's a peculiar new brunch drink on the market from Eggo and Tennessee's Sugarlands Distilling, The Washington Post reports.

The concoction is supposed to taste like "toasted Eggo waffles, sweet maple syrup and rich butter, with a hint of smoky bacon."

The twist? It's quite boozy — at 20% ABV.

The companies released a series of cocktails to try with their new "Brunch in a Jar" liquor, including a particularly strange one called "Morning Chaos" which adds in even more breakfast elements, The Post notes.

It calls for the Eggo liquor to be mixed with spiced chai syrup, pineapple juice, blood-orange juice and rum.”

📬 Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today's newsletter?
 Please invite your friends to sign up for D3Playbook

Copyright © 2023, D3Playbook.com All rights reserved