Yote 53

I agree with that as well. The MetroDome is to cavernous. We should either, if this comes to fruition, swap the games back and forth or maybe play somewhere close to halfway between. Hey, we could play in the FargoDome, that way the people there have the chance to see some good, quality football. It might not be big enough to hold the overflowing crowd, though.

8,000-9,000 is about the norm for a USD home game. The high school playoffs had little impact on the attendance. It was nice to see a lot of Sioux fans make the trip down. We have other threads discussing the building of a new arena and the subsequent expansion of football seating so I won't get into that now. You can check out the threads on our home board. Just to say the plans are in motion and is on the radar to be built. We need to finish up three other academic buildings first. I'd say in about 5 years we'll have a new arena. Our current facilities are similar to the ones UNIO started out with. We just don't plan on waiting twenty years to build a bball facility like they did. Bincitysioux is right. USD pulls alot of coverage, students, and support out of Sioux City.

I agree with that last part. I don't, however, see anything wrong with playing twice. I am glad to see that the schools are at least trying to think outside the box and give the fans a good product and the student athletes something to look forward to. Who knows, it could turn into something real special. I would rather play the Sioux twice than I would see USD play a sacrificial NAIA or D2 team. At least it would be a good game.

Here is a link to USD's 2008 schedule discussion on our forum. There is also a lot of talk again about us playing twice next year. This is serious discussion as the schools are structuring it as a season ending bowl possibly being played at the Metrodome. I heard this straight from USD's AD Nielson. It is, like I said, only an idea right now. Here's the links: Dakota Bowl link http://coyotesports.proboards100.com/index...read=1194624997 2008 USD schedule discussion http://coyotesports.proboards100.com/index...read=1194831174

Admin Edit: Current 2008 Football Schedule --- A little early for talking about the 2008 season for the Sioux, unfortunately, after next week, that is what we will be talking about down south. I was wondering if any of you have heard what your prospective schedule will be? I have heard down here that there is talk between our schools of setting up 2 games a year between the U's, a home and home, one nonconf one conf game for the first couple of years. It's not a bad idea. I remember playing against SDSU twice a year back in the 90's to fill out a good, competitive, interesting schedule. So it is not unprecedented, and it is better than playing a D2, D3, or NAIA. Your thoughts.

From an outsiders perspective, if you want to fight for the "Fighting" part of the nickname I see nothing wrong with that. There are many "fighting" mascots out there so I don't see the issue. If you, however, dropped the "Fighting" part and just went with Sioux that would be pretty cool, also I don't see how the NC$$ has a leg to stand on, really. If just plain Sioux is hostile then Sioux City, Sioux Falls, The Big Sioux and Little Sioux rivers might want to think about changing their names, not to mention more than half of our State's that are NA names or native words. Seriously, this whole fiasco that the NC$$ created could be settled real soon and that is a good thing for UND. Even if you do have to drop the Fighting part, we all now that you are scrappers and fight for victory. See you on November 10 in Verm, where you better be ready to fight.

Really? I hope USD and UND both go undefeated, leading up to a season ending showdown in the Dakota Dome for the conference title and #1 regional ranking. Of course USD wins that game, and then wins again in the regional final, squashing the Sioux twice on their way to the National Title. Now, a guy can dream, and the odds are long (but not as long as you think, the Coyotes and Sioux are pretty dang good this year), but that would be one heck of a send off to D1. Let's just say it would be great if it came down to the last game of the year for the conference title. Maybe somebody in the GLIAC can actually saddle GVSU with a loss this year in that one-team conference.

Maybe not a plaque, but you guys could bring Sitting Bull down to Verm in November. We'd be happy to take him off your hands.

Chiming in here from the sidelines. D1 college hockey is much bigger than FCS football. College hockey is big in the Northeast (especially Boston), the upper midwest (MN, ND, WI, MI, OH), and even out west in the rockies. While I won't say it is NATIONALLY huge, it does garner a much bigger following in some very populated areas of the country. Pretty much everywhere FCS football takes a bigtime backseat to the FBS schools. FCS football is great, and I am happy that USD will soon be a part of it, but I won't make it out to be something it is not. UND does play bigtime college hockey in the best amateur hockey conference in the world. They are one of the top teams on the top level of a sport that near half the country is interested in. There is bigtime college hockey coverage not only on CSTV but also multiple Fox Sports Net affiliates throughout the regular season and ESPN picking up coverage of the post season. Actually, I can honestly say it is easier to find a college hockey game on TV in this country than it is to find an NHL game, and I know where to find the VS channel. NDSU has a great football program, they should be proud. UND has a great hockey program...and there football team is almost as good as the Coyotes this year. So you can all agree with that, or you can continue to feud, which is a pretty fun read.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. If that is what you think of USD then how do you feel about UND's chances. Right now USD and UND are football programs on pretty equal footing, if Lennon leaves...who knows? You guys may be in for some rocky times, while we are firing on all cylinders. See you Vermtown, Nov 10, 2007. Right it down.

According to the WTAMU fans the USD/WTAMU game has been finalized. From the D2football board, LSC section: USD is confirmed (after 5pm today) for Kimbrough, Thursday night, August 30. Both university presidents and AD's have agreed & both from USD plan to attend - seems as though they are trying to help build up this game. Should be one of the biggest matchups in D2 early in the season. I guess we won't be taking any grief for a weak nonconf schedule ala 2005. 2007 Nonconference opponents @WTAMU Winona in Vermillion @ McNeese St.

Actually, the Thursday night, home, bodybag game to kickoff the season can be a good time. We started off last year against Quincy on a Thursday night, wasn't too bad of a time. Had do some power tailgating after work, then had to go to work the next day. On second thought, Thursday night games pretty much suck. But you have to schedule somebody sometime.

AAAAGGGHHH!!!!

Just got home from work, glad to see the Sioux up! GO SIOUX!!!

FINALLY!!! Somebody says it. 2005 Coyote team should have been in. I know most of you agree. How many of you Sioux are planning on making the trip to Verm this year? Looking forward to a little tailgating with you guys.

Yeah, Al's got some jack too. Neuharth Media Center, kinda hard to miss that building. I know Joe Robbie was instumental in the funding for the DakotaDome, I wonder if his estate has anything to do with the university. I think it is safe to say that all 4 of our institutions with their 100+ year history have had alumns that have done well for themselves.

The cost estimates for the new Coyote Student Center have projected upwards another $2mill, an annonymous donor instantly steps up and chips in the $2mill to cover it, after they had already put $3mill inot it. There are some alumni of USD that have some jack. No one on the level of Ralph, but there is some serious cash.

True about ramping up the schollies, but while we are both ramping up schollies in football, we will also have to increase schollies in women's sports to balance those men's sports increases. A rising tide will lift all ships, so to speak. I am only speaking of the plans for football at this moment as well. I do not know what is in store for MBB, etc.

I was thinking the same thing. The list would be long to get into an all sport Valley. Wichita St would most likely restart its program as the rumors already suggest if that were to happen. There's another school that would be ahead of the SU's. The Valley is far out of reach for the SU's at this point. Many experts consider them beyond "mid-major" status in MBB, hovering in between the BCS conferences and the rest of the mid-majors. I find it interesting the time frame that SOME SU posters have for their admittance to the Valley. They haven't even tipped off in one MidCon game yet, aren't eligible for the conference tourney, much less having won a conference title, yet are already eyeing a Valley invite in a few short years? I don't get it. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have aspirations, but taking care of the business at hand comes first and good things will present themselves down the road. Maintain perspective. That is about the only "plan" that the UXD's have to follow. Play hard, get competitive and the reward will come. On another note. USD's plan is to increase football schollies to 57 in 2008 and 63 the following year. Pretty aggressive in my estimation. I think USD is showing a full commitment to D1 as opposed the half-heartedness some have accused we would have. What are UND's schollie plans, if any have been announced? 3. At the moment, I think the BSC looks better for UND and the Mid-Con looks better for USD. That could all change in an instant if another conference shift begins. That won't work for USD either because it leaves our football program in limbo, unless the GWC were to give us an invite sometime down the road, then that would fit.

Not Necessarily. NDSU has expanded the MidCon footprint. GF isn't that much further of a stretch. This kind of talk is premature at this time, however. I would like to think that if the MidCon was going to expand again they would view the 4 Dakota schools as a future anchor for their conference that would provide stability in what has been to this time a revolving door conference. The larger conferences above them can only get so large then the MidCon isgoing to have to think about improvement from within. I agree with MplsBison

But when conferences come calling, it'll be every man for himself. I agree. Just as it would have been in the SU's case. I can hear the responses now about how they never would have left their wingman, etc. Truth is, they will never know because they were never put into that position. Each institution has to look out for themselves, and I see us being hitched for the foreseeable future out of necessity, not out of any feelings of altruism.

Judging from what I have read on this board, I would say the sentiment is "no", at this time. Don't take that as a slant against UND, because it is not meant to be that way. I can understand why many in GF would feel that way, though I do not see why. USD and UND have been neck and neck in every major sport the last few years, both competing for conference titles and both qualifying for NCAA playoffs, yet I still feel as if USD is viewed as the weakest of all the Dakota schools, unjustifiably. Our football squads are on par in competitiveness and resources. Your WBB program is stronger, but our MBB program is far ahead of yours at this time. The other sports, they are non-revenue, save hockey which won't come into play in conference talks, and should not matter much. The USD administration is on record as saying that we would like to partner with UND, I have not heard similar remarks come out of GF. These feelings may change over time as the process of transition moves on. The two schools may come to rely on one another, as the SU's came to rely on each other, and that bond may go stronger over time. It depends on the circumstances. The SU's took the stance they did with the GFC because they were in a better bargaining position together rather than seperately. I did not hear the "all or nothing" talk when it came to MIdCon membership, like I did with the GFC, probably becasue they had developed a pretty formidable GWFC, and with one autobid in football, the money was not as big of a factor like it is in BBall and the "Big Dance" money that comes with an autobid. But, let's not fool ourselves, if the Big Sky had come to either of the SU's early on in the transition process and asked them to join, they would have tripped over themselves ditching the other school. Personally, I think they should stick together as we are a stronger draw together than apart. We can provide any potential conference with an instant competitive rivalry and have shown in the past that we will set roots and build to strengthen a conference from within instead of conference jumping looking for the best deal. You can do all the transition school vs core school talk that you want when it comes to the MidCon, but I feel they would be crazy to let the opportunity slip by them to have the 4 Dakota schools with their intense rivalries and long affiliations. Maybe if the BSC opens their eyes, they would see that a UND/USD combo would perfectly complement the Mon/Mon St. core that they currently have as well. That said, with no truly open avenues at this time, I look for this to be a long process, and we're going to need each other inorder to stay strong and kick down some conference doors by beating them on the field and court until someone decides it would be a good idea to let us in.

ANother great Sioux/Gophers game. Congrats and good luck in St. Louis. Bring home another one for the WCHA.

As a former defenseman, I appreciate that hip ckeck. Nice hit. Even if it was a mangy Wolverine.

Is this the same game? 1 min and no goals. I think I must have the Wild game on by accident.