There are MANY athletes that choose D2 because it's competitive, the money offered is good and most of all they want to PLAY! Great example to the poster who pointed out Spallina took his "D2" players and created the Stony Brook D1 force with them, anyone can go to Niagra or Arizona and say they're D1 but in the end they have the same majors as local (tristate) area D2 schools. Bonus is you can still "go away" in tristate and family and friends get to see you, plus the intern opportunities are better.