Slippery Rock University has found its way into the PSAC Championship football game.

The refreshing thing about that is The Rock got there through, for the most part, recruiting and developing its own talent.

There are exceptions, of course. Quarterback Cody Endres is a transfer from the University of Connecticut. Receiver Geron James came from North Carolina State, linebacker Jake Wickline from Edinboro, noseguard Jack Charles from Fairmont State.

Wickline and Charles have always been Division II players.

With each year, Division II football programs are under more and more pressure to use transfers whose Division I careers didn’t work out for whatever reason to get them over the top.

California has won or shared the PSAC West title for six successive years by using that method. The Vulcans have had a number of former D-I players in their starting lineup for a few years now.

Indiana has used that practice for quite a while and always fields a team capable of winning a championship.

It can be argued that SRU would not be playing for the league crown if not for Endres, who has rejuvenated a much-needed passing game in lieu of a banged-up running attack.

Rock coach George Mihalik is adamant about building a winner “the right way,” meaning the development of high-character athletes over a period of years instead of taking the shortcut of bringing in Division I transfers.

Division I players can transfer to Division II schools and play right away. If they try another D-I school, they have to sit for a year.

No player wants to do that.

So these guys are often available to any D-II program willing to extend open arms.

The temptation must be there, especially in the PSAC West, where California and Gannon offer the equivalent of 35 full scholarships and Mercyhurst offers 33, compared to IUP’s 20, Slippery Rock’s 17, Clarion and Edinboro’s 12.

Mihalik and Clarion coach Jay Foster pretty much admit they’re on the four-year plan. Recruit and build toward having a title contender every fourth year or so.

Clarion finished 8-3 in 2009, but has struggled since. Slippery Rock finished 9-2 in 2007 and wound up with three average seasons before putting together its division title run this year.

Winning is always a great recruiting tool. So is running a first-class program with high ideals.

Money is still the best recruiting tool. A full scholarship offer usually trumps a partial scholarship offer.

The NCAA is divided into Divisions I, II and III for a reason — to slot different levels of athletes into competitive situations.

Adding a transfer or two to fill a hole is one thing. Loading up a roster with them is another.

Division II football is pure football. Here’s hoping it stays that way.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle