bincitysioux

I don't think that the qb situation will be that big of a deal. Freund is very athletic and has a strong arm and throws a nice ball. He can run a little bit too. Coach Lennon's staff, and RT's staff before him always seemed to do an excellent job of preparing a new qb. It also won't hurt to have Chappel to carry the load. Hopefully the defense can return to form, as I view last year as somewhat of an off year. Definately need to improve the secondary. As usual, I expect UNO to be the stiffest competition in the NCC, and probably USD as well although they have to replace Logan who I feel was probably the best running back in DII the last two years. I also think Augustana could be a sleeper team in the NCC this year. They were pretty competetive last year and the qb from SDSU transferred to play for them this season.

Basically, we now know just as much about our 2008 schedule as we do about our 2007 schedule. As late as it is, it is looking like another 10-game schedule.

Good luck to Coach Miles, truly a class act and an excellent basketball coach as well.

It is also on: IA-8 11975 V 4880 Slightly different down freq. than normal

On a somewhat related note, South Dakota has scheduled McNeese St. for this season. Link

Just becasue Frank Mazzocco (sp?) says he is showboating doesn't make it so. He wouldn't know a boat if it sailed up his butt.

If Emerado and Thompson were one city they'd be a lot like Hillsboro.

I love how NDSU fans think in spurts of 4 year periods. Just because they've beaten a few marquee teams in the last two years, they forget that by far and away UND's mens program has the much richer tradition in basketball, as far as winning, NCAA playoff appearances, players going on to the pros, etc., etc. But because NDSU has beaten UW and Marquette, UND is doomed to toil in the cellar of Division I.

Yep, CaBisonFan.

You've made your point perfectly clear on countless occasions, Dave.

CaBisonFan ?

Congrats and best of luck to the Bison and the Jacks!

That could very well be. I was just assuming that the mere fact that Mesa St. is appearing on the UND schedule again was probably because the A.D.'s worked something out to move the 2006 game that UND owed MSC to 2007 in order for UND to play UNI last season.

Washburn also has an opening "the first week" (Aug. 25). They'd also be a pretty good team to play, although I hate opening the season that early. If we're going to do a return game in 2008 (first year of DI), it better be against a solid DII program i.e. North Alabama, Catawba. I'm assuming the Mesa St. game is on the road, probably Sept. 8. If we need a home game on September 1, does that mean they are simply trying to fill out a 10 game schedule (5 home, 5 away) ? Or have they signed another game with an FCS school that they haven't announced yet, like Southern Utah? If only trying to fill out a 10 game schedule, it wouldn't have to be on September 1st.

Who has control over the start times, the NCAA or the host, UND? Assuming we win on Friday night, I'd like to catch the game on Saturday as I'll be in GF for the hockey game. I hope UND plays at 4:00 on Saturday. Nothing like looking ahead/past opponents!

FOR SALE Friday and Sunday only 2 Tickets in Section 109, Row O, Seats 14-15 $35 for Friday $52 for all 4 tickets for both days If interested, reply ASAP, must exchange through mail. pm or email: jci@invisimax.com

For the longest time, Montana and Montana St. have been viewed as the biggest flight risks from the Big Sky. It is ironic that at this point in time the two biggest dissidents to eastward expansion (Portland St. and Sac St.) are the ones that get talked about most about fleeing the Sky.

89,789

A while back, while discussing the pros and cons of the Big Sky and Mid-Con, some of us were discussing where UND's alumni is dispersed across the country. I finally came across a map for UND's alumni similar to the one for NDSU that Hansel provided for us. I'm not able to scan it and upload it, but here are the states that have over 1,000 alumni. (It'll take way too long to list for all 50 states! ) North Dakota: 26,022 Minnesota: 21,313 California: 4,789 Colorado: 3,264 Arizona: 2,963 Washington: 2,740 Texas: 2,708 Wisconsin: 2,212 Florida: 1,824 Illinois: 1,607 South Dakota: 1,551 Montana: 1,500 Oregon: 1,216 Virginia: 1,150 Iowa: 1,072

That's what I was trying to get at.

Take it easy MplsBison. Taylor did in fact say something to that effect. What he said was that he's received numerous e-mails on the subject and he would estimate that they were 50-50 for and against the game. That's what he said. Hardly a scientific poll, since the type of person who takes the time to e-mail an A.D. of a university on such a subject is likely the same type of person who peruses 10 separate internet message boards throughout the day proclaiming their passion or disdain for a given university (just like me! ). Considering this, how many of the total season ticket holders or boosters of either university do we really think feel this way?

With all of the hoopla going on at the football boards both here and at Bisonville, I wonder why there is not more discussion about first renewing the rivalry with NDSU in basketball instead of football. This would make more sense to me, as far as easing back into the games between the schools for all sports. Obviously, there are alot more basketball games to schedule than football games. Besides NDSU's game with Kansas St. this year, both programs are currently hurting for intriguing home games. The last Sioux-Bison game in GF drew nearly 8,000 and the last one in Fargo drew upwards of 6,000. NDSU's big "rivalry" game with SDSU in Fargo this year only mustered ~4,000. That "big meanie" Rich Glas is gone, so NDSU can't complain about him anymore, as is Roger Thomas. This summer when PA and Dubay asked Tim Miles about UND moving to DI his answer was "bring em on!". We all know about the attendance struggles that NDSU women's basketball has been suffering. So with an open-minded Tim Miles, A.D. Tom Buning, and a new coach in Brian Jones, why not send UND basketball teams to Fargo in 2007 (while they are still looking for non-conference games) and hopefully have them return the favor in 2008 when UND will really need games?

Actually, as much as it pains me, I have to agree with Bison Dan here. Sicatoka is right that the reason the conversation is taking place now is because NDSU is currently in the hurt bag as far as a home schedule goes for 2007. It is nearly March, and what, probably a minimum of 85% of FCS schools have their schedules set by now? But lets also remember that Buning was on the job for about 60 days when he first offered to play NDSU at a neutral site such as the Metrodome. The reason is obviously not because UND needs the game. UND could certainly get on the schedule of many prominent FCS programs, just like they did last year with UNI. They could also pay a guarantee to a number of willing DII opponents and reap the benefits of an extra home game. But, he wants it because he is removed from the past history, and even moreso because he actually understands the importance of the rivalry and that the fans and alumni of both schools want it. I stated in my original post in this thread that I was worried that Buning would come off as "begging" for a game. Clearly that is not the case. However, I feel that Buning and UND want this game in Fargo more than NDSU does. But I also think that the reason Taylor is not receptive to it is because A) he is being vindictive (and has hurt feelings because big mean old RT was mean to him), or B) because he is not a good business administrator. As far as the potenetial 2007 game in Fargo goes, UND has very little benefit. NDSU on the other hand has the opportunity to make a s*it-pile of money, have a sell-out home game, be on state-wide TV (plus certainly be on the FSSN which reaches 3 states and many more), and (in the mind of many bitter Bison fans) come out as the bigger person. I have had alot of respect for the way the Gene Taylor has led NDSU into their transition to DI, but currently, if I were a "Teammaker", I would really be scratching my head. Personally, I would like to see that game in 2007 because I miss the rivalry. But at the same time, I know that UND could do better from both a playoff standpoint and a fiscal standpoint by either taking a larger guarantee from a different FCS opponent or from bringing in a NW region opponent for a home game. Either way, the games are sure to continue at somepoint in the near future, I have no problem waiting a few years, but since both schools have common open dates for 2007, what is the point?

Here are the brackets for the the NCC tourney, both men and women. Bracket

Here are the brackets for the the NCC tourney, both men and women. Bracket