homer

Don't want to beat my own drum but McFeeley should take his knee pads off and ask the people working on campus about how money is being spent or needs to be spent and not the people who feed him the story they want typed. Some of this is age but routine maintenance is not being done on these buildings and the money is being spent elsewhere. The employees at NDSU know this but there was no way Mike was going to touch that. People that work in these buildings have been begging for the funds to do upgrades but are denied repeatedly. Not sure the answer is just to knock down the building and build a new one?

The NCAA has said the WAC has FBS status, even though it has no members. Can't get any lower in the barrel than that.

I have no idea. I'm sure you know the answer so you tell me. I do know that the team at the end of the season last year for UND would have competed well with what I watched in the Summit tournament. Did you watch games or just basing it off of the RPI like every other FU fan

What does this have to do with NDSU aligning themselves with Western Illinois, Missouri St. and the alphabet schools vs. the conversation of UND aligning itself with Idaho and NMSU? Even that said, UND's non-revenue sports do not do well in the Big Sky but have done very well against the Summit league. Looking at the women's sports- UND's bball and vball would compete for conference championships annually. Its soccer and softball teams would finish much higher in the Summit league than they do in the Big Sky. Track and field would likely finish about the same and I have no idea on swimming and diving. Men's sport- bball would have been a contender in the conference tournament and the other sports would have been middle of the pack. Honestly, you can't tell me anyone cares about any men's sport in the Summit league other than basketball. Cutting sports to more easily fund some of the other is plan that is being implemented. It took some new leadership to get the ball rolling but athletics were never really high on Kelly's list unless it was the nickname.

But you are ok aligning yourself with Western Illinois and Indiana St?

I know nothing about MSU's new coach but it is amazing how the right staff can change the entire attitude of a team. It will be a fun game I'm sure. I would like to take in a game in Bozeman. Maybe this will be the year.

Minus the first two sentences this is a pretty good post. A school or two in the region is going to make the move eventually. I don't see it happening so quickly but right now it is all about positioning. I think NMSU and U of Montana's past comments about the cost of staying FCS will drive this as much as any shake up of FBS. Its also hard to argue if there is a potential anywhere of adding an FBS conference, the opening from Idaho through the Dakota's is an opportunity for a cost effective FBS or FCS conference of like minded schools.

UND has and would compete favorably in both vs SDSU and in men's hoops vs FU. The only catch up is vs FU and football but the rest of FCS can say the same.

I think the mediocre results of the football and basketball teams the last few years did more to hurt attendance than the opponents. No one seemed to mind who was in the conference when the women were hosting the conference tournament.

I wonder how much the gaming side of Teammakers brings in? I have been at the Holiday Inn in Fargo twice in the last two months and the tables have been packed. I wish that was something that could be done at the Canad in GF for the Champions Club.

I'd like to hear your opinion on how you fund 21 sports and stay competitive with schools sponsoring 16 or 17. UND needs to cut a couple more and reinvest that money back into its programs.

The top few teams of the MVFC or Big Sky are likely better than a lot of FBS teams. However, therw will be a shift where FCS games no longer happen.

again, if strength of schedule gets pushed further for post season play, you will see more schools/conferences follow the Big 10 and not schedule FCS. The money involved in the post season is too great.

The western FBS conferences would not be as apposed to it as you imply. If the push continues to be strength of schedule for the postseason, they need more options than the MWC.

I think the question in the west was answered when it was determined the WAC still has FBS football status. I'm not sure who will take advantage but there will be a group of schools that capitalize on that. With many people within FCS making mention of the conference gap from Idaho to the Dakotas is it a stretch to think it could happen? With NMSU putting the numbers of what it costs to be FBS vs FCS is it a stretch some schools move up? Montana had already publically stated it isn't financially a wise decision to stay FCS. I don't agree with everything SuiuxVolly has thrown out there but looking at the landscape of football in the west, preparing financially to go FBS if everything comes together is a wise move. Either by being aggressive in trimming your athletic budget or asking for more student fees.

To those questioning the addition of entrepreneurship, why can't a music major practice music therapy?

Don't forget the part in Idaho's contract that states which schools need to remain members of the league for them abide by said contract. This is surprising to see the report but people involved with the Big Sky have been hinting that conversations were being had for some time. If NMSU joins, I will believe something is up.

Easy to say when it's not your next contract.

They drafted their QB of the future. Why the concern? He'd actually be doing them a favor. The NFL is a business. He won't do himself any favors playing for a team with an average oline and zero running game.

He was with the Rams when they were terrible and building their team of today and in Chip Kelly's !@#!$ system.

In a perfect world he should compete. In the sports world, someone else will give him a shot and why should risk injury. Everyone knows they are not bringing him back no matter what. Why bye Wentz more time when he could compete with 10 other QBs in the league for a starting job.

There are plenty of teams who would take a chance with him. Why risk getting injured this year? Let the Eagles sink or swim with Wentz. They need the draft picks. It's not college anymore.

It's a business. He knows they aren't bringing him back no matter what. He's looking out for himself. This isn't high school or college anymore. Why risk getting injured before getting a long term deal. Have his best season somewhere else and make them regret reading the farm.

Without knowing any details on Grady I imagine there has to be some form of petition to the NCAA for approval.

I hope McFeely goes back and asks his "sources" at NDSU about how financially stable they are. Like I mentioned when he wrote the article, my neighbor works on their campus and people are very nervous and aware cuts are going to happen or need to happen. He also mentioned that could be why some recent contracts and things got finalized before any expenses started to be examined.