bincitysioux

I don't think there are any Missouri Valley teams in Minnesota or Wisconsin either..........................

You should forward that to Faison so he can throw it in front of the rest of the A.D.s when they start to iron this stuff out. I like it.

I think another question that I'm looking forward to hearing an answer on is how many conference games? 8 seems to be thrown around the most, but isn't it going to be more difficult now for everyone to fill out an FCS non-conference schedule? Not everyone can play San Diego. North Dakota is really the only Big Sky school remotely close to other FCS schools.

I must admit, I'd like to regularly play Oakland......................I here the Bay Area is beautiful. Sorry, I couldn't resist.............................. I am aware that they are one of the better basketball schools in the Summit.

Kinda like how he didn't meddle in the nickname situation? DISCLAIMER: I in no way think Taylor or NDSU have been attempting to fork UND with this whole Big Sky/Summit/USD/MVFC thing.

It was Joe Chapman's fault.................... That was just for the Bisonvillers in attendance tonight.

Profanity and name-calling aren't needed here.

You're referring to the situation that currently has provided us with a conference home in one of the most recognizable FCS leagues and allows access to NCAA postseason events for virtually all of our sports, specifically football. Just checking.

I love all of this chaos.

Douple did get schooled by Doug Fullerton............................Fullerton got the University of North Dakota in his conference, Douple got the three stooges of the Dakotas. Not really understanding this argument. Even if a week wait would have allowed USD to get their BOR in a board room, Abbott and Sayler would have still showed their hand to the Summit when they started talking to Douple about the exit fee and then the MVFC would have been brought into the picture a week later with the same result. UND & the Big Sky delaying their announcement by a week would have resulted in USD announcing their intentions to join the MVFC on November 11 rather than November 4. I guess the biggest effect this will have on me is that I don't have to drive to Vermillion every other year anymore. Hello Big Sky!!

With all of the conference stuff going on the last couple months, I haven't been paying as close of attention to the Great West as I normally do, but have done some digging on this weekend's game. UC Davis is coming in with a record of 3-5 and have lost two straight. They have wins over South Dakota, FBS San Jose St., and non scholarship San Diego. Although UCD may be favored this weekend, this is probably North Dakota's best chance to improve upon their record this season. Some interesting statistics stand out to me: I'll bet that nobody here would have ever guessed that UND is second in the GWC in scoring defense. Davis gives up the most points of anyone in the league. This matchup pits the two most unproductive offenses in the conference against one another. The Aggies are pass-happy and don't run much (which hasn't been a good combo for our defense) but are last, by quite a margin, in total offense. Here's another one I wouldn't have guessed: UND is actually second in the league in pass defense. UCD is 2nd in pass offense. UND is 2nd in the league rushing, while UCD is second in the league in rush defense. UND is second in the league in sacks, and UCD has given up the second highest number of sacks in the Great West. It is looking like a pretty evenly matched game, and I think UND has a good chance to get a W if we can limit penalties, run the ball effectively, and keep Davis out of the Red Zone. I'm gonna go with the home team in a nail-biter................ 21-20 North Dakota

IMO, USD is going to the Big Sky. They were invited to the Summit a year and a half ago. Douple has had 18 months to work on getting them into the MVFC and gotten nowhere...................I find it highly unlikely that he would be able to make any inroads in the last 3 days. In their 25 year history, the only times the MVFC has ever expanded was immediately after losing a member. They have had the same commissioner for their entire existence, and she has never shown the propensity to encourage her president's to expand, except when there is a defection. I've seen nothing to indicate that she has altered that mode of operations. The Big Sky would have never so prominently mentioned or discussed South Dakota in their official press releases if there was even the slightest chance that they would not be coming into the fold. Just my two cents.

That article also had the following: Montana's FBS feasibility study will be completed in two weeks. I imagine that is when they will indicate their short term intentions.

What? He didn't ask the Youngstown or Indiana St. coaches? Just the one closest to USD (save for SDSU of course) ?

As long as the "Jersey" thread was at the top of the home page, I'll ask this........................... My daughter wants a #17 jersey with Gregoire's name on the back.....................I don't think I can just buy this at the SiouxShop...............what is the procedure for getting a jersey personalized?

For me, 4:00 is ideal......................... I travel a little bit of distance each game. 4:00 doesn't blow the whole day for me (1:00 does). I can work in the morning, watch football in the late afternoon, and be home before midnight.................... I admit........................I am selfish.......... Also, I think the "party" crowd prefers the later starts.................

HOLY HELL!!!!!!!!!!!! I just realized something................................ We are going to be in the Big Sky Conference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EDIT: The above statement just seems to randomly run through my mind throughout the day..........

For those that have ever heard Tom Douple speak, and not Doug Fullerton, I'd recommend watching the video. It is pretty easy to see why Brian Faison stated several times that one of the reasons they decided to go with the Big Sky over the Summit was because he has been impressed with the Big Sky's commissioner.

You are correct. But I think the point is that the majority of the MVFC is made up of MVC schools, and they will think of protecting the MVC brand first and foremost. That is why their permission was needed to replace the Gateway name with the Missouri Valley name. Personally, I think it is a moot point, because I believe that the MVFC is probably the most stable of all FCS conferences............Football is a second-class citizen at virtually every member school, save for NDSU and perhaps Youngstown, neither of which are members of the MVC. And, as in the past, they will never proactively expand, rather only reactively, as in if they lose a member. I believe their history shows this.

Here's a link to Montana State's beat writer's blog: LINK He's posted audio interviews with Faison, a USD beat writer, USD's A.D., SUU's A.D., MSU's A.D., and MSU's football coach Rob Ash.................................. Sayler (USD A.D.) wouldn't say "on the record" that USD is joining, but are working hard toward that goal and the reason for the delay is getting South Dakota's Board of Regents together to approve the move. Sounds like a formality. He also said that the exit fees from the Summit are not holding up the process and that the amount of the exit fee being reported at various outlets is "greatly exaggerated". MSU's A.D. appears excited about the expansion..................the Big Sky sponsoring softball was news to him. He also said he felt that a reason that the conference was open to Dakota expansion now when they weren't 5 years ago possibly had something to do with the fact that most of the Big Sky schools had new leadership at the presidential level than they did at that time. MSU's football coach liked the way things were set up before, is not excited about divisional play, longer road trips, fewer home games, and going away from a round-robin schedule.

Nevermind.....................it was in the next article down.

I don't see the part about the $250k buy in...............am I blind?

No.

Per Wayne Nelson: Hope they're coming along for the ride!