bincitysioux

I actually agree with Darrell1976 on the subject of the significance of wins vs. FBS opponents...................... Of course I'd rather win against Idaho and Fresno, but losing to them doesn't bother me nearly as much as losing to UC Davis or South Dakota.................. The biggest benefit of winning an FBS game is on the recruiting trail.............UND doesn't recruit Idaho much. A good showing against Fresno would be more beneficial in that respect. The second thing is notoriety. Other than Texas Tech, UND hasn't played an FBS team that even a win against would garner an exorbinant amount of media attention. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa won't play us. Those are the 3 big FBS programs in our region. I'd rather be a 7-4 team against FCS competition than a 4-7 team with a win over a WAC or MAC team........................

This is an important game for North Dakota. Coming off a horrid 3-8 season, the Sioux must go out with guns blazing and treat Drake like our 2007 team would have, with a 45-7 beat down. I really like the scheduling of this game. It is nice to get a home game against what really should be a program that North Dakota should beat before back-to-back FBS games. Drake is no push-over, they are one of the better non-scholarship programs in FCS, but IMO, when things are the way they should be, North Dakota shouldn't really have trouble with any non-scholarship program. We need the chance to develop a rhythm, not just for a game, but for the season. If we come out and struggle, and eek out a win by a narrow margin, or worse yet lose................that could make the season another long one. Win big, like we should, and it should build confidence for the rest of the way. There are alot of question marks at quarterback, running back, and in the secondary. This is a good game to have some of those questions answered. I'll say: 38 North Dakota 14 Drake

This year, half of them are...................

Televised game, Thursday night, coming of a 3-8 record.................. 4 of the last 5 home openers have attracted over 10,000 fans............ I'll be the optimist and say more than 10k will show....................

Another blurb about new turf going into the Alerus............ SFI

I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm sure that Davis has a webcast available for a fee. At least they have in the past............

According to the SFI guys, Bradley is a QB in the mold of Danny Freund. That's good to hear and I hope they are right. That is the type of QB that thrived in Mussman's offense's...............

I mean no offense to Goska, the kid is a very hard worker and I appreciate what he has done in the past for this program and what he will do this season, but.................... I hate that philosophy. IMO all it does is further antagonize the situation and helps to create more of QB controversy. A decision should be made one way or the other, and stick with it unless it is an apparent failure. I don't think it is alot different than our Co-defensive coordinator situation, which I feel has been a failed experiment.

I'll defer to you on that then...............it was generally packed when I went to school from '96 to '00.

Not so much because of weather. Because a half full outdoor stadium is a horrible atmosphere. Same reason I hated it when the basketball teams used to play in REA, because there were more empty chairs than filled ones (except for NDSU). I agree that if UND is on top of the Big Sky, interest and attendance will climb. If we were on top of the Great West it would climb. Attendance was bettter when we were on top of the NCC. But even when we were winning a a national title and were a perennial favorite to win a national title, it was never hard to get a ticket to a football game. You can't compare football in Green Bay to football in Grand Forks. But you could compare it to hockey in Grand Forks..........

I am all for having big aspirations, but am also for being realistic. As I said football attendance has been holding steady for two decades despite some big acheivements by the program. The prior facility wasn't full consistently when we moved to the Alerus, and the Alerus has not been consistently full since moving there. I have little desire to attend outdoor games in a 20,000 seat stadium with only 9,000 fans there. Yes, the Ralph is full all of the time, and it probably could have been larger. But the old Ralph was full all the time too.

If you live in the apartments on campus, then that means you personally are even closer to the Alerus than someone from Wilkerson in the green teams example..................... Also, most of the campus expansion seems to be trending west and south.................toward the Alerus. The Alerus is a great location......................for all of the reasons you mentioned among others. The railroad track is not that busy. I went to UND for 4 years and probably waited 4 times for a train. Those parking lots you speak of are gradually being widdled away and have been for years. If the current ramp and a potential future one are your solution, then you discount the value of tailgating at college football games. Who wants to tailgate in a ramp? Parking is a major problem at REA, and it would be even worse at football games if they were held at the current site of Memorial. Perhaps I am pessimistic, but I don't see demand for seats at a North Dakota football game getting to the point where we will need 25,000 seats in order to accomodate everyone that has a desire to attend a game within the next 10-20 years. What is the possible basis for assuming that attendance could triple in the next 20 years when it has basically stayed the same for the past 20 years? Especially when the past 20 years has included unprecedented success within the 100+ year old program including a national title, two national title game appearances, and brand spanking new stadium, and a move to Division I............................

I do this every year. Here is a list of the days you can take in multiple Sioux sporting events. I'd encourage anyone who can to do so. All the programs need your support, and UND does a great job of making multiple events accessible on the same day................it's a great way to spend a weekend! September 24 WHKY vs Manitoba @ 2:00 FB vs Black Hills St. @ 6:00 October 8 FB vs Montana Western @ 1:00 VB vs Chicago St. @ 5:00 MHKY vs Ice Breaker @ 7:30 October 15 WHKY vs Vermont @ 2:00 MHKY vs. Maine @ 7:00 October 22 FB vs Cal Poly @ 1:00 - Homecoming WHKY vs Ohiso St @ 7:00 November 19 FB vs South Dakota @ 1:00 VB vs Great West Tournament @ TBA WHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00 November 26 MBB vs Western Illinois @ 2:00 MHKY vs Colorado College @ 7:00 January 12 WBB vs Jamestown College @ 6:00 MBB vs Valley City St. @ 8:00 January 28 MBB vs Chicago St @ 2:00 MHKY vs Wisconsin @ 7:00 February 4 WBB vs Texas PanAm @ 2:00 WHKY vs. Bemidji St @ 7:00 March 3 MBB vs Utah Valley @ 3:00 MHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00

I do this every year. Here is a list of the days you can take in multiple Sioux sporting events. I'd encourage anyone who can to do so. All the programs need your support, and UND does a great job of making multiple events accessible on the same day................it's a great way to spend a weekend! September 24 WHKY vs Manitoba @ 2:00 FB vs Black Hills St. @ 6:00 October 8 FB vs Montana Western @ 1:00 VB vs Chicago St. @ 5:00 MHKY vs Ice Breaker @ 7:30 October 15 WHKY vs Vermont @ 2:00 MHKY vs. Maine @ 7:00 October 22 FB vs Cal Poly @ 1:00 - Homecoming WHKY vs Ohiso St @ 7:00 November 19 FB vs South Dakota @ 1:00 VB vs Great West Tournament @ TBA WHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00 November 26 MBB vs Western Illinois @ 2:00 MHKY vs Colorado College @ 7:00 January 12 WBB vs Jamestown College @ 6:00 MBB vs Valley City St. @ 8:00 January 28 MBB vs Chicago St @ 2:00 MHKY vs Wisconsin @ 7:00 February 4 WBB vs Texas PanAm @ 2:00 WHKY vs. Bemidji St @ 7:00 March 3 MBB vs Utah Valley @ 3:00 MHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00

I do this every year. Here is a list of the days you can take in multiple Sioux sporting events. I'd encourage anyone who can to do so. All the programs need your support, and UND does a great job of making multiple events accessible on the same day................it's a great way to spend a weekend! September 24 WHKY vs Manitoba @ 2:00 FB vs Black Hills St. @ 6:00 October 8 FB vs Montana Western @ 1:00 VB vs Chicago St. @ 5:00 MHKY vs Ice Breaker @ 7:30 October 15 WHKY vs Vermont @ 2:00 MHKY vs. Maine @ 7:00 October 22 FB vs Cal Poly @ 1:00 - Homecoming WHKY vs Ohiso St @ 7:00 November 19 FB vs South Dakota @ 1:00 VB vs Great West Tournament @ TBA WHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00 November 26 MBB vs Western Illinois @ 2:00 MHKY vs Colorado College @ 7:00 January 12 WBB vs Jamestown College @ 6:00 MBB vs Valley City St. @ 8:00 January 28 MBB vs Chicago St @ 2:00 MHKY vs Wisconsin @ 7:00 February 4 WBB vs Texas PanAm @ 2:00 WHKY vs. Bemidji St @ 7:00 March 3 MBB vs Utah Valley @ 3:00 MHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00

I do this every year. Here is a list of the days you can take in multiple Sioux sporting events. I'd encourage anyone who can to do so. All the programs need your support, and UND does a great job of making multiple events accessible on the same day................it's a great way to spend a weekend! September 24 WHKY vs Manitoba @ 2:00 FB vs Black Hills St. @ 6:00 October 8 FB vs Montana Western @ 1:00 VB vs Chicago St. @ 5:00 MHKY vs Ice Breaker @ 7:30 October 15 WHKY vs Vermont @ 2:00 MHKY vs. Maine @ 7:00 October 22 FB vs Cal Poly @ 1:00 - Homecoming WHKY vs Ohiso St @ 7:00 November 19 FB vs South Dakota @ 1:00 VB vs Great West Tournament @ TBA WHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00 November 26 MBB vs Western Illinois @ 2:00 MHKY vs Colorado College @ 7:00 January 12 WBB vs Jamestown College @ 6:00 MBB vs Valley City St. @ 8:00 January 28 MBB vs Chicago St @ 2:00 MHKY vs Wisconsin @ 7:00 February 4 WBB vs Texas PanAm @ 2:00 WHKY vs. Bemidji St @ 7:00 March 3 MBB vs Utah Valley @ 3:00 MHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00

I do this every year. Here is a list of the days you can take in multiple Sioux sporting events. I'd encourage anyone who can to do so. All the programs need your support, and UND does a great job of making multiple events accessible on the same day................it's a great way to spend a weekend! September 24 WHKY vs Manitoba @ 2:00 FB vs Black Hills St. @ 6:00 October 8 FB vs Montana Western @ 1:00 VB vs Chicago St. @ 5:00 MHKY vs Ice Breaker @ 7:30 October 15 WHKY vs Vermont @ 2:00 MHKY vs. Maine @ 7:00 October 22 FB vs Cal Poly @ 1:00 - Homecoming WHKY vs Ohiso St @ 7:00 November 19 FB vs South Dakota @ 1:00 VB vs Great West Tournament @ TBA WHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00 November 26 MBB vs Western Illinois @ 2:00 MHKY vs Colorado College @ 7:00 January 12 WBB vs Jamestown College @ 6:00 MBB vs Valley City St. @ 8:00 January 28 MBB vs Chicago St @ 2:00 MHKY vs Wisconsin @ 7:00 February 4 WBB vs Texas PanAm @ 2:00 WHKY vs. Bemidji St @ 7:00 March 3 MBB vs Utah Valley @ 3:00 MHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00

I do this every year. Here is a list of the days you can take in multiple Sioux sporting events. I'd encourage anyone who can to do so. All the programs need your support, and UND does a great job of making multiple events accessible on the same day................it's a great way to spend a weekend! September 24 WHKY vs Manitoba @ 2:00 FB vs Black Hills St. @ 6:00 October 8 FB vs Montana Western @ 1:00 VB vs Chicago St. @ 5:00 MHKY vs Ice Breaker @ 7:30 October 15 WHKY vs Vermont @ 2:00 MHKY vs. Maine @ 7:00 October 22 FB vs Cal Poly @ 1:00 - Homecoming WHKY vs Ohiso St @ 7:00 November 19 FB vs South Dakota @ 1:00 VB vs Great West Tournament @ TBA WHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00 November 26 MBB vs Western Illinois @ 2:00 MHKY vs Colorado College @ 7:00 January 12 WBB vs Jamestown College @ 6:00 MBB vs Valley City St. @ 8:00 January 28 MBB vs Chicago St @ 2:00 MHKY vs Wisconsin @ 7:00 February 4 WBB vs Texas PanAm @ 2:00 WHKY vs. Bemidji St @ 7:00 March 3 MBB vs Utah Valley @ 3:00 MHKY vs Minnesota St @ 7:00

I agree especially about NDSU in the case of women's basketball.........................both programs are in need of an injection of fan interest, and that game would do alot for that. I blame Roebuck for it, as he (along with NDSU's AD Gene Taylor) are the last of the holdovers from the bad-blood of the DI moves for both schools. I think Gene has a real personal dislike for NDSU and genuinely wants nothing to do with them. I could care less about SDSU. I think there is some sort of administrative embargo going on with USD due to the collapse of their deal with the Big Sky. They both would be nice because the fickle fans of Grand Forks are familiar with them, but in the long run, Creighton, Idaho, Duquesne, and Northern Iowa are better opponents coming to the Betty................

Schedule per Fighting Sioux Club brochure............. Nov 2 UM-Crookston Nov 11 Creighton Nov 14 Idaho Nov 20 Duquesne Nov 25-26 @ New Mexico St. Tourney Dec 1 @ Drake Dec 4 Montana St Dec 8 @ Colorado St Dec 10 at Missouri Dec 17 Northern Iowa Dec 19 Bemidji St Dec 22 @ Montana St Dec 29-30 Montana Tourney Jan 3 @ Idaho Jan 5 @ Air Force Jan 12 Jamestown College Jan 17 @ Harvard Jan 21 Utah Valley Jan 26 @ New Jersey Tech Jan 28 @ Chicago St Feb 2 Houston Baptist Feb 4 Texas PanAm Feb 9 Chicago St Feb 11 New Jersey Tech Feb 14 Mayville St Feb 23 @ Texas PanAm Feb 25 @ Houston Baptist Mar 3 @ Utah Valley

Take a good look at the FCS venues around the country....................North Dakota probably already has one of the best 25 or so.................... You think simply building a new venue will double attendance? The Alerus is only 10 years old! Attendance didn't double when we moved into it................... Again, the Alerus is basically new, and we struggle to get 10,000 in there, and have only filled it up a handful of times in a decade............... Are you sure even a hated rival like NDSU would generate that much interest? The last time we played them we couldn't even sell out a 12,000+ seat arena, and everyone knew that was going to be the last game between the two. Remember..........Boston College was also in town to play hockey that day. That is how big an impact UND hockey has on UND football...........an early season non-conference game against a team from over 1,000 miles away takes precedence over the final meeting ever against UND's most hated football rival of more than 100 years.................. Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the hockey base or even saying it is a negative thing at all, just pointing out that that is the way it is Grand Forks.................... I think a big thing is that alot of people point to football at NDSU and their ''healthy" attendance, especially a few years ago when I believe they averaged a sell-out over two consecutive seasons (18,000+) and they think "UND should be able to do that, they've always been just as competetive as NDSU". Well, yes they have been just as competetive on the playing field over the course of 100 years..............but number 1 it is about location. NDSU is located in the most populous area of the state. 3 times the size of the Grand Forks area. Number 2, they don't have to compete with anyone locally for the entertainment dollars. UND football has to compete pretty much directly with another program of its own department for the local entertainment dollars and interest. Not only are they competing against themselves basically, they are competing with what is hands down the most poplular sports entity in North Dakota in Sioux Hockey...................... All I am saying is, be thankful for the Alerus Center as the home venue for Sioux football, it is a great asset. If you don't think so, visit USD, SDSU, Southern Utah, Western Illinois, Georgetown, Northern Colorado, and about 85 other FCS stadiums, and I think you'll change your mind about UND having a subpar facility for football.......................

Agreed. I like the move to AMC3..........................

We are also playing SDSU and NDSU and will have no trouble finding games.................but I admit I'll miss the Yotes........... You have to admit.............USD acted pretty bush-league with the whole Big Sky/Summit/MVFC conference deal......................maybe our A.D. is simply acting on a "directive" that he's received from the Big Sky commissioner, similar to how the Summit League forbid NDSU from scheduling North Dakota in football a couple years ago..................

That is a brutal stretch in the month of February..................6 consecutive road games. As far as the opponents, seems to be the best schedule by far since the transition started. 6 games against Summit League teams..................I'm thinking 6-0..........

The rumor on the Yote board is that UND is giving USD the cold shoulder when it comes to scheduling in basketball and football because of hard feelings over them teasing the Big Sky. Perhaps it is true since USD isn't on either the men's or women's basketball schedule this season, nor are they on the FB schedule for the foreseeable future..............