MplsBison

Yet they didn't think twice bringing in USD, a football school with strong DII history? Nah, UND will be brought in right away. Same time frame as USD. I hope UNO gets picked up too. Perfect travel partner with UMKC (although I know you think UMSL is a better option, I don't know if they will move to DI any time soon) and would allow the SL to challenge Creighton head on in Omaha.

Add UND and UNO to the Summit League to get to 12. Add UND, USD and UNO to the MVFC to get to 12. Makes perfect sense.

And on further review I think the offense was on the field for too many minutes against AP and CCSU. You play that many minutes of a football game running the ball like we do...someone is going to get hurt. Just the way it is. Sadly, it was Tyler Roehl and it cost us wins against Wyoming and Youngstown. NDSU is in the playoffs last season and probably hosting a game at the Dome if we win those two.

Only five home games...wait you mean like this season? I can see Taylor going 1 FBS away, 1 guarantee game at home and 1 home/home with a solid FCS program...just like we're doing this season.

Ok so clearly the size and strength of the members is important. Bottom line: CAA with 12 members (arguably 8-9 strong programs) got 5 in the playoffs...MVFC with 9 members (arguably 6-7 strong programs) got 2 in the playoffs. Pretty clear case for going to 12 and having 8-9 strong programs.

Ok I admit the half of the flagships part is wrong. Still, the CAA is superior because it has 12 members, not because it has stronger members.

Disagree fully. - CAA is obviously a superior configuration as they get 5 teams in the playoffs to MVFC's 2 - UND is within MVFC's geographic footprint (not true for Big Sky) - it makes no sense to have half of the Dakota flagships and not pick other the other half

But that's nonsense, as I outlined.

As much as presidents historically love adding more games to the season, I'll believe it when I see it.

Pretty sure with the expansion of the playoffs to 5 weeks, there will be no more 12 game seasons.

BTW I'm somewhat shocked at the negativity from even UND posters towards the MVFC. It's like you're proactively trying to pretend you don't want to get into the MVFC to prevent yourselves from being disappointed if the MVFC doesn't want you? Erase even the 1% chance of the Big Sky. It will never ever ever ever ever happen. Summit if where you are headed shortly, leaving you with the GW or MVFC for football. Seems like a no brainer there.

You're right! Getting 2 teams into the playoffs is much more ideal than 5!!!!

Reasonable guess, but I don't see it happening. Things never work out so smoothly. Regional politics and schools trying to maximize benefits for themselves inevitably muck something up.

Big East

Who's talking, message boards? Certainly not presidents.

The way I see it, the MVFC is at 9...and that leaves 3 slots open. CAA has clearly shown the way with a 12 team conference full of very powerful programs. That's the best way to do it, without a doubt. That refutes everything else you said, which I also don't agree with you speculation on those points.

5 seasons? Meh, whatever. If it works as an excuse to get NDSU and UND back on each other's schedule, fine with me.

Why do you doubt UND or USD will eventually be in the MVFC? Makes no sense to only have half of the Dakota flagships.

Montana bought out of a 2-for-1 with SDSU after the Jacks went to Montana twice. That's just downright sleazy imo. Wallstreet chop shop sleazy. I hope Montana is taking these steps in order to repair its tarnished image around FCS.

Idaho State is a "[state name] State University" in name only. They are not a high research school like NDSU, SDSU and MSU are. They are not a land grant, like NDSU, SDSU and MSU are. They are really just above a junior college in that they offer bachelor's degrees. Academically, they are no where close to the same level. That fact that casual fans stupidly associate all "[state name] State University" schools as the same is not my problem. South Carolina State is a HBCU, for crying out loud. About as opposite as you can get from NDSU. Don't think I need to comment on the rest. The fact that you like the Big Sky is based on the Montana schools being in it, just as it is for every other single UND fan who prefers the Big Sky. Without them, it has no appeal.

Despite all the message board losers who want to deny UND/USD access to the MVFC, purely out of hatred for me personally...I think it's inevitable that both U's will be in. It makes no sense to include only half of the state flagships. Now..if we added the MT flagships to that equation and give IN SU the boot... UM MT SU NDSU UND USD SDSU UNI WIU SIU IL SU MO SU YSU The mid-country version of the CAA.

BSC may have better overall basketball right now...by a smidge. But add in UND and USD... I think the advantage is now back to the Summit, once those two programs get ramped up to full DI bball status. And who knows, maybe down the road both will have new 6-8k bball specific arenas?

I guess we are going to do this in this thread..ok. But feel free to split off. 1) you're wasting your time/breath/fingers on this. West Coast schools will never allow Dakota expansion. That's simply the end of the story. Sorry. And don't think any huffing and puffing from Montana schools is going to scare them. They tried when NDSU/SDSU wanted in. Nothing. Until Montana has a WAC invite, the west coast BSC schools know they have no where to go. 2) without the MT schools, the BSC is as worthless of a conference as you can get. It has zero appeal to UND in that scenario 3) Montana and MSU are the only flagship public schools in the conference. Idaho State is NOT a flagship, neither perceived or actual. They were a junior college that did a Utah Valley type move some years ago and snatched up the "ISU" naming rights before Boise St could. The rest of the schools are 4th or worse in their respective states. 4) I believe there is a small chance that eventually we (the SL) could peel off the MT schools and form a northern plains/mountain conference, either wholly by itself or as part of the SL, that would be the U and State in ND, SD and MT. That could be a 6 team division in the SL with Metro schools in the Eastern div (Oakland Detroit, IPFW Fort Wayne, IUPUI Indy, UNK Cincy, UMKC KC, WIU) while letting SUU, ORU and Cent leave. Far fetched, but you never know.

It would be a dream to get the Montana schools in the Summit and perhaps start a SL football league.

Yes I know. If you can get Montana in GF, hats off. We're still waiting on a game from MSU cats.