After the University of Mary football season concluded, I sat in coach Myron Schulz's office rehashing the season.

One of the things we talked about was scholarships. The Northern Sun teams had problems keeping pace with the former North Central Conference teams.

The NSIC teams were just 2-30 against the former NCC schools - Wayne State and Winona State were able to clip Augustana.

The former NCC schools still field talented athletes in all areas, which stems from their allotment of 36 scholarships. The NSIC allows 24.

Of all the NCAA Division II conferences, the NSIC and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference are the only two that don't allow the maximum 36. The RMAC allows 28.

Not all of the schools issue their allotted 36. NSIC commissioner Butch Raymond said the average number of scholarships issued is 26 or 27.

Schulz's eyes sparkled when he thought about an allotment of 36 scholarships or even more scholarships. That would allow him to build depth on the offensive line something his team lacked this season because of injuries.

It would help him build depth on defense and to spruce up special teams.

In essence, Schulz could possibly put a steak on every plate instead of settling for ground beef at some positions.

Commissioner Butch Raymond said the NSIC is in the midst of a strategic four- to five-year plan for the conference. One of the many issues that are being looked at is scholarships.

"As you look at scholarships, the Northern Sun is the bottom scholarship conference in Division II," Raymond said. "Do I feel the Northern Sun will get 36?I don't think we'll see that in my life time. I'm hoping we'll see continued improvement in the next five years."

For me, it's easy to write in favor of the allotted 36 scholarships. I think it would be wonderful for the NSIC teams to be able to have the chance to compete with the likes of Grand Valley State (Mich.) on the gridiron on a consistent basis.

But it's not my purse strings that will be getting pulled. It's easy for me to want the University of Mary or any other NSIC institution to fork out more money for more competitive football teams.

Raymond took into the account of our nation's broken economy.

"It's not the best economic times with what's happening in our country,"Raymond said. "In most cases, these are dollars that have to be raised outside the university. They are raised out in the community."

Raymond added that equivalency scholarships will be looked at.

For example, some NSIC schools offer the minimum of 10 sports. Some schools, like U-Mary, allow the maximum of 18 sports. U-Mary offers 19, but men's soccer isn't an NSIC-sanctioned sport.

The NSIC is looking at possibly allowing a percentage of scholarships based on the number of sports offered. A school that offers 18 sports could offer the maximum. A school that offers fewer sports, couldn't allow the max.

Raymond added that the NSIC has earned its share of recognition on a national level. The Winona State men's basketball team is highly known nationally. The Warriors have advanced to the national title game for the past three years, winning two of them.

The Concordia-St. Paul volleyball team is the defending national champs. The Golden Bears will be competing in their fourth Elite Eight in six years, hosting it this time.

NSIC schools have been known to field All-Americans in track and field.

"Our people are proud of the standards we have in the Northern Sun, both academically and athletically," Raymond said. "We are becoming more competitive in the conference from top to bottom. Athletically, our schools are doing marvelous."

Other topics of interest to be discussed in the NSIC is should it expand from 14 teams to 16?

Marketing the league and compliance will also be brough up.

These things will be talked about in January at the NCAA convention.

"We will continue to work on our strategic plan," Raymond said.

(Cindy Peterson is a Tribune sportswriter)