nodakvindy

If the WAC is down to the following: San Jose St Idaho N Mexico St Denver UTSA Texas St an ideal scenario would be to get the Dakota and Montana schools, along with one other (Idaho St. maybe). Then get San Jose St. a Hawaii-like setup in the Big West. That would give you East North Dakota North Dakota State South Dakota South Dakota State Texas State Texas-San Antonio West Montana Montana State Idaho Idaho State New Mexico State San Jose State (football only) Denver (all sport except football) It would struggle at first, but you have a large number of flagships (admittedly small states, but only BCS conferences would have a similar number of such schools). This new WAC could quickly rebuild into a pretty legit Mid-major conference in short order. Virtually no likelihood of happening, but it would make a lot of sense and have a ton of good rivalries built in and created.

With a move to 11 teams, an 8 team tourney seems plausible. A nice variation of the current format would be Quarters and semis would be played on Saturday and Sunday At 2 seed 2 vs 7 3 vs 6 semifinal between two winners At 1 seed 1 vs 8 4 vs 5 semifinal between two winners Championship on Wednesday night at highest remaining seed. This guarantees the final will be played in front of a partisan (and therefore hopefully large and tv-friendly) crowd.

I'm hoping maybe the Robert Morris series is tied to a return for a tourney at the Penguins new arena. That is the site of the 2013 Frozen Four and likely a future regional site, and it wouldn't be terrible to play a couple of games there prior. The Sioux did that in 2003, playing at the Punch Imlach tournament in Buffalo, but unfortunately didn't make the Frozen Four. I'd imagine you could see a tournament with Robert Morris and maybe Penn State against North Dakota and some other big name team, perhaps Michigan, Ohio State or a Hockey East club. That would be a decent holiday or early season tourney.

UNT is North Texas of the Sun Belt. Haven't heard anything of UTSA or Texas State backing out of their move to the WAC.

Sioux sweep UTPA 3-0 in Great West semis to move on to the Conference Championship.

Great West semi against UTPA. Sioux up 2 sets to none. Just won set 2 29-27.

50-29 Sioux 13:30 left 2nd half.

Sioux up 26-13 with 6:30 to go in first half.

With the addition of Fargo Davies, Class AAA was at 13 schools this year. NDHSAA wanted to get it back to an even number, so Devils Lake had to move up as the AA school with the largest enrollment. The enrollment figures are the current 7-10 male enrollment except for private schools and those on the reservations. Next year's full plan is here http://www.ndhsaa.org/files/11_12_FB_Division.pdf Dickinson Trinity is playing up to AA and Harvey and Velva are playing up to A. State Champion Velva has by far the smallest enrollment in the division.

The game is on both ESPN and ESPN3.com. They aren't going to keep Dickie V on the sideline for their marathon broadcast. Sioux will get a chance to pull the shocker on the mothership. Update: Yep, link posted above shows it as being on both, but ESPN's schedule shows the Butler-Louisville game (certainly can understand that). It's a surprise then that they are putting their top announce team on the UW-UND game. I wouldn't be shocked if the game shows up on channelsurfing.net That will likely be an option to watch it.

Gotta figure a way to show some sort of passing game or expect Montana to just sell out against the run in the second half.

If you can't draw on the deer opener, then you should request a road came or bye week. For a rekindle Sioux-Bison game, I much prefer Labor Day Weekend - as a season opener. Bill it as North Dakota's biggest end of summer party, with like a 4:00 start time on Monday. That gives plenty of time for tailgating and is also an attractive TV slot for FCS or another broadcaster.

I fully fleshed out the mock schedule. For the rivals you play the first two listed and home and the second two away, then alternate. For the others, the home and away is listed for years 1 and 2, this would again just flip for years 3 and 4 UM: MSU/EWU/UND/WSU Year 1 PSU CP @ISU @SUU Year 2 NAU UCD @Sac @UNC EWU: PSU/CP/Sac/UM Year 1 UCD UNC @WSU @SUU Year 2 MSU NAU @UND @ISU PSU: UCD/Sac/EWU/CP Year 1 UND ISU @UM @NAU Year 2 SUU UNC @MSU @WSU CP: PSU/Sac/EWU/UCD Year 1 UND WSU @UM @UNC Year 2 MSU ISU @SUU @NAU UCD: CP/SUU/Sac/PSU Year 1 MSU ISU @EWU @NAU Year 2 UND WSU @UM @UNC Sac: UCD/EWU/CP/PSU Year 1 SUU NAU @UNC @MSU Year 2 UM WSU @UND @ISU ISU: UND/WSU/MSU/UNC Year 1 UM SUU @PSU @UCD Year 2 EWU Sac @CP @NAU WSU: UM/NAU/ISU/SUU Year 1 MSU EWU @UND @CP Year 2 UNC PSU @Sac @UCD SUU: WSU/UNC/NAU/UCD Year 1 UM EWU @ISU @Sac Year 2 CP UND @PSU @MSU NAU: SUU/MSU/UNC/WSU Year 1 PSU UCD @UND @Sac Year 2 ISU CP @EWU @UM UNC: NAU/ISU/UND/SUU Year 1 CP Sac @MSU @EWU Year 2 UM UCD @PSU @WSU UND: UM/UNC/MSU/ISU Year 1 WSU NAU @PSU @CP Year 2 EWU Sac @SUU @UCD MSU: UND/ISU/NAU/UM Year 1 UNC Sac @UCD @WSU Year 2 PSU SUU @CP @EWU So the Sioux schedules would be 2012 - Home: Montana, Northern Colorado, Weber State, Northern Arizona Away: Montana State, Idaho State, Portland State, Cal Poly 2013 - Home: Montana State, Idaho State, Sacramento State, Eastern Washington Away: Montana, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, UC-Davis

I gotta admit I'm not crazy about FBS. Just don't see the point to get to the fringes, which is where we would be. The upcoming BCS upheaval will likely only widen the gulf between haves and have nots. I'd much prefer to see some money pumped into the basketball programs. Now that we are playing for a spot in the dance, we need to take things up a few notches. It would also be nice to capitalize on an alum who will likely have a lot more free time in 10 months, has an attachment to Big Sky country and is involved in the $500 million campaign. Just having him around the program would be a recruiting coup.

When I first did it, I actually had ISU and UND (wanted the Potato Bowl matchup), and UNC and Poly. I switched ISU and Poly so UNC had two Old Big Sky and two new Big Sky. Didn't see the PSU switch, but really like it. The above grouping is pretty solid and I think most schools would be pretty happy with it. The pacific schools only have to come to North Dakota once every four years. I put hypothetical groupings for all team above.

I would designate four rivals to play every year, then alternate the four of the remaining 8 you play every other year. That gives you an 8 game conference slate. UM: MSU/EWU/UND/WSU EWU: UM/PSU/CP/Sac PSU: EWU/ISU/Sac/UCD ISU: PSU/WSU/MSU/UNC WSU: ISU/SUU/UM/NAU SUU: WSU/NAU/UNC/UCD NAU: SUU/UNC/WSU/MSU UNC: NAU/UND/SUU/ISU UND: UNC/MSU/UM/CP MSU: UND/UM/ISU/NAU CP: UCD/Sac/EWU/UND UCD: CP/Sac/SUU/PSU Sac: UCD/CP/PSU/EWU I tried to preserve as many "old school" Big Sky rivalries as possible, as well as a Great West rivalry for each school.

The one thing that could have been done was to keep everything quiet until all three schools (SUU, UND and USD) were on board and all the contracts were signed. Leaks and unofficial announcements have no long term value and created the opportunity for the MVFC to swoop in at the last minute. That said, I think the idea that going to the Summit automatically meant football independence is also overstated. Football only was done for Davis and Poly, how hard did UND actually push for that. Were football only options like the Southland or Big South even explored? Finally, snubbing the Summit was just plain foolish. What was gained by the thinly veiled comments at Tom Douple? I think it's a little ironic that people have talked about the DI move being a marathon and not a sprint, but then throwing that right out the window with this Big Sky invite. Sure hindsight is 20/20, but a lot of this comes down to ego and hubris, and unfortunately that's a problem that has hurt UND for a while and apparently continues to do so.

Scholarships are the biggie for Title IX, since we already have more women's sports. Here's one solution. Start tennis and only fund 3 of the 4.5 allowed scholarship equivalencies. Then start both men's and women's lacrosse letting the women have the full 12 allowed and funding 9 of 12.6 allowed for the men.

The last couple of days have injected a little drama, but it does seem we are likely headed for the first repeat World Series in more than 30 years. Yankees pitching appears to have solidified and rest will only help going into the ALCS. Phils simply look to good against whoever comes out of the Giants-Braves series. I'd guess the LCS will go 5 or 6 games and the World Series will go 7 for the first time since 2002.

Saturday. Frattin

Despite what appeared to be some competitive matchups (and a surprising start in Game 2 by Cincinnati), its looking like all four series could be done in 3. These early blowout series really dampen the excitement and the TV ratings. Hopefully we see some comebacks as the series changes location and one or more goes to a Game 5. If not, then maybe the LCS and World Series will provide the drama and excitement.

While Halladay's no-no is obviously the story of Day 1, the best most competitive game was saved for last as the Yankees broke Minnesota's heart once again. After some September struggles, Mariano Rivera looks masterful once again. The AL Game 2s should be interesting, with the home teams trying not to go down 0-2. And it what almost seems to be the "throwaway series" the Giants look to exact some payback for 1993.

Marto

Any other baseball fans out there? Just a few minutes to Game 1 of Yanks-Twins. The has the makings of a postseason for the Ages. Phillies look pretty tough in the NL while the AL seems wide open. And the first day of the playoffs gives us only the second no-hitter in postseason history. Should be a fun month of baseball.