A Beef with the NAIA

I know that they say "Nothing is fair in Life." But this situation is as wrong as it gets. The Bryan College(TN) Men's Soccer Team finished the 2008 regular season at 12-4-2 and won the Appalachian Athletic Conference Regular season title with a record of 5-1-1 by beating Montreat College (NC), the very team that defeated the #1 team in the country, Lindsey Wilson College (KY).

To qualify for the NAIA National Tournament in Soccer, each team must win their conference's tournament unless a team is ranked in the top 5 Nationally by the end of the season. Never mind if a team wins their regular season championship.

There is no reason that teams such as Bryan, who win the regular season conference title but don't win their conference tournament, should be denied a birth in the National Tournament. The NCAA has no problem including teams who not only win their regular season title but even those who don't but have had a strong season. March Madness is one classic example.

The NAIA only has 16 teams in its National Soccer Tournament. More teams are deserving to be in the tournament. The NAIA should expand the field of participants to create and generate more interest, and to make the Association more relevant like the NCAA. The student-athletes at these colleges and universities deserve better. This goes for all sports in the NAIA. Expand the field of participants in the national tournaments.