bincitysioux

A poster on Bisonville said that Brian Faison was just on KFGO and said that the buy-out clause was $150,000 or $250,000. Anyone hear the broadcast?

I'm not really wasting my time, since I know the chances are about 1% or less that UND will ever be in the Big Sky. And it's not like lobbying for UND to make a huge push for the Big Sky, I was just saying that personally, I prefer the Big Sky to the Summit, but I like both. I also prefer the Big 12 to the Big 10, but I like both. But things do and can change. Times are tough in CA, particularly in the CS-University system, how viable is Sac State's football program. They're probably fine, but you never know. 2 seasons ago Portland State was putting a stipulation in their game contracts that they would be "off the hook" if they decided to to drop football. Last I checked, the MT schools are in the Big Sky conference. Northern Colorado is appealing to UND fans because the familiarity and past rivalry. Weber St. is an exceptional school. Why do you hate on Idaho St. so much? I know that they are no western power-house in college athletics, but they are a state-named school similar in size to all of the Dakota schools. That alone makes them a more appealing opponent than say IUPUI or IPFW to the casual sports fan. Other than the 3 Dakota Summit schools, where do you rank the rest of the Summit League members in their respective states? That ain't gonna happen, but if it did, why would you want to jettison Oral Roberts, the most high-profile member of your league? On a side note, how does an announcement of two games, one of which won't be played for a year and the other for 4 years, ignite such discussion about conference affiliation? We're also playing two Big 12 schools in men's basketball this year.............where's the UND to the Big 12 thread!?

I only have myself to blame for derailing the scheduling thread to a conference critique-fest, so I moved the last page of conference speculation posts to the Conference Opportunities thread in the reclassification forum.

This isn't related to scheduling, but personally I feel that in general, the Big Sky is a better overall conference than the Summit. You have larger state-named "flagship" schools like Montana, Montana St., & Idaho St., along with a high quality school in Weber St., and a traditionally familiar school in Northern Colorado versus commuter schools like IUPUI, IPFW, Oakland, and UMKC. Don't get me wrong, I would love for North Dakota to get an invite to the Summit..............all the other Dakota schools plus an auto-bid home for every sport. That would be awesome. But on top of the "prestige" factor, a UND fan has to consider that Summit membership means across the board, one set of opponents for football (Great West), another set for hockey (WCHA), and another entirely different set for basketball/everything else (Summit League). UND won't be given the choice, but if they were, I'd take the Big Sky every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I agree that it is a good thing whether or not Montana ever returns the game, but it if they do buy out the return game, it would be nice if they did it more than six months or so before the season starts like Idaho St. did.

Agree with everything you have said. Along the lines of improvements.......... As far as TV exposure, I'm anxious to see the release of the FSSN broadcast schedule. I'd think there would be more games televised than in the last couple years, this administration seems to see the value in increased media coverage, case-in-point: the new radio network and the increased internet coverage on Fightingsioux.com both by video and blog. IMO, since the Alerus is capable of it and the University basically owns its own TV network, every single home game should be televised on cable/FTA satellite via the FSSN and Midco. I would also like to see at least one football game put on statewide TV each season; homecoming, Potato Bowl, whatever. For the webcasts, isn't the radio already synched with the video? I haven't watched alot of football webcasts but the ones I have I believe had Dan Hammer calling the game. I do watch alot of basketball webcasts, and they are always synched with the radio call.

That's an awesome announcement. I worry about about the Griz not returning the game, as their and other Big Sky schools history suggests (Montana St., Idaho St.). I would think that Faison learned his lesson from Idaho St. last season and commanded a hefty buyout clause. However I don't think North Dakota is in much of a position to be commanding much of anything from Montana. But I'm optimistic because they have been travelling a little more lately......Cal Poly last year, UC Davis this year, and I think Poly again next year.

Great West Conference Coaches Select Cal Poly to Repeat as Champion

DaveK and Goon: You two often seem to end up going down this road. If you feel the need to continue it, take it off of the forum and to your PM centers.

I've heard that there is a very good chance that the Northwestern St. game will be on FSSN. Completely disagree. It is a 3 hour advertisement for the University. Should be released soon, they are just dotting I's and crossing T's. I think there will be football & basketball games televised this year.

Big Sky Conference TV Schedule

I live 100+ miles from GF, so my family and I always like to make a point of heading to Grand Forks on days that we can take in more than one UND home game in a variety of sports. There are lots of options this season if you're heading up to a hockey game, and have the time to take in something else like a basketball game while you're in town. Saturday, Oct. 10 FB vs. Stony Brook 1:00 MHKY vs. Merrimack 7:00 Saturday, Oct. 17 FB vs. Sioux Falls 1:00 WHKY vs. Minnesota St. 2:00 MHKY vs. Minnesota 7:00 Saturday, Oct 31 VB vs. Utah Valley 12:00 FB vs. Cal Poly 4:00 Friday, Nov 27 MBB vs. Northern Colorado 1:00 WHKY vs. Maine 2:00 MHKY vs. Ohio St. 7:30 Saturday, Nov 28 WHKY vs Maine 2:00 MHKY vs Miami 7:00 Sunday, Nov 29 WBB vs Ball St. 2:00 MBB vs UW-Green Bay 4:00 Saturday, Dec 12 WHKY vs. Minnesota 2:00 MHKY vs. Wisconsin 7:00 Saturday, Dec 19 MBB vs Northern Iowa 1:00 MHKY vs. U.S. Under 20 7:00 Friday, Jan 8 WBB vs. Seattle TBA MHKY vs Minnesota St. 7:30 Saturday, Jan 23 WBB vs South Dakota TBA MBB vs South dakota 7:00 Saturday, Jan 30 WHKY vs Duluth 2:00 MHKY vs Denver 7:00 Saturday, Feb 20 WBB vs Utah Valley TBA MBB vs Utah Valley 3:00 MHKY vs. Duluth 7:00 Saturday, Mar 6 WBB vs Texas Pan-Am TBA MBB vs Texas Pan-Am 3:00 MHKY vs Michigan Tech 7:00 It's alot of fun spending a whole day following the Sioux.

Thanks for all the links!

I was just on the Alerus Center website and there were multiple advertisements for the "UND Football Store" opening soon. Didn't someone say they are also painting the exterior green?

I would have said Josh Murray if this thread were started a month ago..........

True. And the same could be said about the two seasons that Manke and Chris Belmore shared time at the position.

I'd also like to mention that along with Weston Dressler, not so much as a WR but as a return specialist, Travis Lueck was pretty amazing to watch when he was returning kicks. I think he was only here for one season, but he was a game-changer. Possibly even a better kick returner than Weston?

Manke was definately more mobile, a better improviser, and was obviously a great leader. I've always felt that Bownkamp was possibly the best pure drop-back passer to play for UND, and had a great arm that was very accurate on deep throws. He had a pretty special season in 2003 as far as I am concerned, and played quite well in 2002 under very difficult circumstances as a sophomore. And while I agree that North Dakota probably wouldn't have beaten UNI with Bowenkamp playing in Manke's place, I also am not sure that Manke could have led UND to the national championship game in 2003. It is too bad that Bowenkamp's senior season was mostly lost to injury. Both were great QBs in my opinion, can't go wrong with either.

I would take John Bowenkamp over Manke.

I like it. Doesn't look a hell of alot different than the old one if you ask me. It's an N and a D for crying out loud.

Schedule has been released. Link

Single-game tickets on sale Sept. 12 for hockey, football, volleyball and basketball

[url=http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=204768023]Kristi Boese added to women

UND to infiltrate the Dome

Yes.