Gothmog

First, UND doesn't want the game next year. Second NDSU will find an opponent anyway. I really have to wonder what's wrong with these "NDSU owes UND a game" people. Get a life! Move on...support YOUR team...enjoy the Big Sky...figure this DI thing out. Don't worry about NDSU - both schools are better off without the rivalry.

C'mon, the author admits that Taylor's reasons for not playing the game are legitimate, yet concludes that NDSU ought to ignore its own best interest and play the game anyway? Yeah sure, that makes perfect sense.

My God, what a pile of steaming crap!

This thread is nothing more than sour grapes by a few bitter, petty people.

It's human nature to engage in sour grapes rationalization when things don't go the way you wish they would. But this is betting a bit ridiculous. NDSU has a great football program...denying that does not help UND in any way.

Or Wofford. The Bison have already played, and beaten, some very good option teams this year. SHSU has more to worry about than NDSU.

Hard to judge Big Sky schools. They play such a weak regular season schedule.

It's far more likely that you have it backwards. EWU is the matchup most Bison fans want to see. They're a much softer team than SHSU.

UND Hockey a big deal in their world...but, with no hockey team, NDSU's not in that world, it doesn't need to care. NDSU football, on the other hand, is a big deal in UND's world. You need to learn to deal with it.

I'm hearing a lot of sour grapes in this thread. You'll all do a lot better if you just admit that NDSU football is a class act and get on with the task of building UND football up to their level.

It was a silly point. The hypocritcal opinions of a handful of ignorant fans are not representative of a school, or it's fans in general.

What history shows that? To my knowledge, traveling trophies are never up for grabs in the post-season.

Why would the Dakota Marker be up for grabs? This is a playoff game, advancing to round 3 is up for grabs. That's what the playoffs are all about. You play whomever the NCAA puts in front of you, any regular season rivalry between the teams is irrelevant.

Forget about NDSU. There are more than enough UND fooball fans to sell out the Alerus ... if they put a good product on the field. Simple as that. Anything else is defeatist nonsense. .

For God's sake stop worrying about NDSU. UND's attendance has nothing to with NDSU. Win some games...everything wil be fine.

What are you talking about? They've had 2 games under 33 points this year. One of them against an FBS team, the other was clearly an off day for NDSU. They've outscored their opponents 289-59 in 8 games, and you question their offense?? C'mon, be serious.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this your first year in the Big Sky?

Geez, have you looked at NDSU's football roster? A few from more exotic locations, but overwhelmingly upper midwest players. Kids in places like Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Iowa are going to be much more familiar with the MVFC schools, like NDSU, UNI, SDSU, USD, or the Illinois schools than they will ever be with any of the Big Sky schools. Heck, the Minneapolis kids are probably going to know some kids at some of those schools. Like it or not, that familiarity will give NDSU an advantage over UND in their traditional recruiting areas.

Internet viewing options? That's Big Sky's advantage over MVFC/Summit? Talk about making long-term decisions for short-term reasons!!

Wow, that's a first-class rationization! You write off the time zone differerence as insignificant (it's huge), and fail to consider that someone has to pay for those 5 or 6 hours of flying time. Also, what about recruiting areas? I'll take a presence in the Upper Midwest over the western states every time.

No, that is not the truth at all. NDSU pursued the Big Sky option because it offered membership for all sports, not knowing that Gateway/MidCon would be available. Had Gateway membership been an option, NDSU would have taken it over Big Sky.

Prestigous conference? C'mon, you're talking about mid-major basketball and FCS football conferences. Neither the Summit, nor the Big Sky, are "prestigous" conferences. In any case, had the MVFC shown any interest in UND, you'd be in the MVFC/Summit now. It's just a much better fit. 828 miles to Bozeman from GF, and that's the closest Big Sky school.

And the MVFC showed absolutely no interest in UND. At least NDSU got a formal vote.

Hmmm, "blatant" would be the right choice of words! bla·tant adjective \ˈblā-tənt\ Definition of BLATANT 1: noisy especially in a vulgar or offensive manner : clamorous 2: completely obvious, conspicuous, or obtrusive especially in a crass or offensive manner : brazen <blatant disregard for the rules> — bla·tant·ly adverb http://www.merriam-w...tionary/blatant

Unless you're Bill Keifer, I really don't get your point. NDSU was designated as ND's 1862 Land Grant institution by the State not the Federal government. There's no reason that UND could not have been so designated...it just wasn't the will of the people of the state. Just as the state could have established a medical school at NDSU, if it so desired. It's completely unrealistic to suggest that NDSU could have started its own medical school without state approval. Which, of course, UND would never have permitted. In any case, Hatch Act funding is allocated out of a federal pool by a formula based on a number of factors including the size of the state. Under that formula, NDSU was allocated ~ $3 million in FY 2012. Of course, the government mandates that the state match that amount at least 100%. But clearly, Hatch Act funding does not explain the research funding difference between NDSU and UND. http://www.csrees.us...y12_reg_fin.pdf http://www.csrees.us...tistate_fin.pdf