Coyote Fan

My pick is North Dakota 31-21 but it wouldn't surprise me if that margin grows closer to 17 by games end.. One of the biggest reasons for that is that I don't think at this point of the season that USD has a very good defense at all. It looks like it will be power vs power when it's USD's offense vs UND's defense and not so much when it is UND's offense vs USD's defense. UND fans have every right to think they will win the game this afternoon/evening. On the Coyote board most are picking a USD win except for me and maybe one or two other posters. Overall I didn't think the Coyotes were overly impressive against Weber and had to pull off a near miracle just to win a home game against a mediocre Weber State team. I do think the Valley is a little tougher than the Big Sky but USD has also won a combined 6 games in the conference over the last 4 years. To my recollection they pretty much have split their games against Big Sky opponents during that time frame. USD is probably a mid level Big Sky team if they were in that conference. Streveler is the best offensive player on the Coyotes and it's not even close. The only thing I think that the Hawks fans may be over estimating is how many or few yards they will hold the Coyotes to on the ground. I can see the type of game where the UND defense will hold the Coyotes to 3 yard or less for the majority of their carries and then Streveler will break a 50 yard run. I can definately see a game where Steveler runs for about 100 yards and the rest of the team only combines for about 50 more for 150 yards total. The key for USD is how well they will be able to keep the Hawks defense honest by how well they will be able to thrown the ball. Many think UND holds USD to 100 yards or less rushing but I think that number exceeds that mark but just not enough to be able to pull out a win. This years Coyote team is simply going through way too many changes to the team overall with basically all new coaches and severe losses on the defensive side of the ball. The Coyotes are too young in the transition process to pull out a game like this IMO. With more than a year under their belts I think next time these two teams play a different Coyote team will show up in Vermillion than what will show up today. Nielson will have the Coyotes playing much better going into the game next time around. This year the dice roll green.

There is no way that Minnesota State or St. Cloud State for that matter would take a Big Sky invite over the Summit League. Actually that brings me to the big question. This is not your opinion but what do you think the UND athletic department would do if the Summit/MVFC offer a dual membership tomorrow. I would say the U or ND would take it.

I wouldn't count on a home game. USD had a better year last year than UND is having this year but didn't get to host any games. They went down to Creighton instead.

Congradulation. UND wanted this game much more than the Coyotes did and the better team definately won. I think you may need to tell the Sioux fans that made the trip to stand up and make some noise for your mens team. If I would have driven that far to a game I would sure as heck let the players know of the appreciation. Why is it that so many of the Women's fans leave after the first game? I also agree that this is the most impressive a Sioux team has looked coming into the Dakotadome in years.

I do think the North Dakota mens team will probable go onto win the conference. The rematch in Vermillion will be important but I expect UND to win that one as well and go onto have a great year. It looks like the UND basketball team will be celebrating conference titles for both the men and the women this year. That would be a great accomplishment. That would be great for momentum heading into the big sky. Your fans deserve it much more than ours do.

Congrats to the Sioux Men and Women for the big day against USD. I was not able to watch either game but what stands out to me is how much more the Sioux Men seemed to want it more than USD. Both the USD teams are in a funk right now after playing good ball earlier in the year. USD's mens team is just in a slump right now and I think they will snap out of it. Whether that be this year or next I think they will be ok. As far as the USD women are concerned I am starting to fear that Ryun Williams is not going to end up being what many hyped him up to be and that is a very good coach. Ryun Williams seems over-rated as a coach and he should be making a greater impact in his third season at USD already. Many SD fans may see it different but he just doesn't seem able to either coach the team properly or know how to get the right talent in the program to succeed. UND is always a good program but the Sioux seem a bit down this year for their standards. Your fan base stepped up and made the atmosphere favorable for the home teams. UND is a hockey school first, football school second and then basketball somewhere down the line. With that said at least your board has some conversation about the games. The USD board on the other hand, PATHETIC, no posts whatsoever on the day of the game. It seems like the board membership and overall fan support at USD is in real trouble right now. The new AD is not doing his job in getting people to the dome to see basketball games. Based on overall fan support, board activity and so forth UND absolutely deserved the sweep. Every USD fan that didn't pay attention to the games yesterday deserved every bit of the losses that the Coyotes took. Again Congrats

Of the 4 Dakota schools only one made the right choice and that was UND. Good luck to you in your ventures to the Big Sky. USD just didn't have the guts to make their own leap of faith. They will get eaten alive in the MVFC. Many bottom of the league finishes on the near horizon.

Jack JD, You say that it was an easy decision for USD to take the MVFC/Summit option but when SDSU was an independant they seemed to favor the Big Sky option over the Mid Continent if I remember. The Midcon was a consolation prize. USD had a choice to make so they weren't just forced into one thing.

You have every right to feel that way. I am very disappointed in tonights developments. I really think USD burned alot of bridges in this whole thing. FIrst of all they dissed the Summit, than they turn around and diss the big sky plus lost alot of repect and trust from multi conferences and multi schools. I am in the USD minority and will get chastized about my opinions on the Yote board.

That was my absolute worst fear in all of this. Whatever it is if they stuck their nose into this and blocked USD from going to the Big Sky I am going to be absoluted disgusted at them.

Guys I don't know what to say tonight. I had a feeling that the Big Sky was a 90% certainty. Something has changed because Sayler had big sky written all over him in a couple of interviews I heard late last week. Something changed. It's either the board of regents or something but something is not right. I was all for the Big Sky and creating a path on our own away from SDSU. Not that I wanted to avoid them like the plague just wanted to cast our own shadow in this state. Now like usual USD just can't get away from the Jacks. They just feel the need to make every decision on what SDSU does and it's getting rather tiring to me. If this thing doesn't go through as planned tomorrow I truley feel badly if you were taken down a road of expectations regarding USD joining in with you to go west. I felt that Big Sky was definately the best choice for USD even with a MVFC vote but my opinion doesn't matter in all of this. I feel this really stinks that USD led the entire conference and UND on as long as they did. I have respect for UND and whether we go with you or not, kudo's to you guys for having the guts to make something for yourself.

Keep in mind that USD hasn't played a real D1 game at home yet so you will be getting a different team than was on the road for 3 very difficult games. How many wins do the Sioux get going to Central Florida, to Minnesota and to NDSU. That's a good question but based on your results to date 1 would be a stretch. You got blown out in one FBS game against a not great Idaho team and had a close loss in the other. You may like your offense but I like the offense of the Coyotes better. USD's defense will have the energy of the home crowd. They always play better at home. 18 of the last 20 means nothing on the field Saturday.

I will say this much. Yeah the defense isn't that great right now for the Yotes but they tend to play D much better at home. If you are not worried about Dante beating the Sioux with his arm and the Sioux coaching staff takes that same philosophy the UND defense will be in big trouble. Warren tore up Minnesota with his arm and I know they are not the best defense in the world but don't sleep on USD's throwing ability. The Coyotes did put up a good fight and had a 13-7 lead at half. Granted they fell apart in the second half but they were beating a fired up Bison team for quite awhile.

The USD women also seemed to be getting hosed on alot of foul calls but they are not good enough to play through it. USD's men have been getting to the line alot this year and playing zone on D prevents other teams from getting to the line more than a man to man. I have actually been quite impressed with the start that UND has gotten off to in the conference on the mens side. The loss hurts alot but the Dakotas will now have the schedule to their favor with 5 of the last 7 conference games at home and not any of them against each other.

Houston Baptist has a live in game chat on their athletic page website. Looks like Houston Baptist got the win 75-65. It will be interesting to see how these teams look when they come up north to the Dakotas.