Matt

? How is this even relevant? Is there a losing team in the country that couldn't make that claim? I'm certain we could look at box scores from every game in the nation Saturday and if we take away 1 key person from 1 team, the results could have been different. (I'm sure the ac would like to do that with the ISU corner with 2 pick 6s) There's trouble if things have fallen so far that we think to ourselves "boy, if only the other team's best player didn't play for them, we might have won".

IALTO

Never know, the ac made it to overtime of the semi's with a freshman QB...and a D coming off an 8 loss season.

There was plenty of arrogant and obnoxious to go 'round in '86.

I'm not a fan of drawing comparisons using comparative scores.

Northern Arizona gives up nearly 24 pts per game (#47 in scoring defense) and nearly 350 yds/game (#48 total defense). If the UND defense can just make a few plays here and there (a few stops on 3rd down, force 2 turnovers) to limit Northern's number of possessions, the offense has shown the ability to score enough to win.

Apparently, I did fool you. edit: folks are getting punchy around here.

Because I'm skeptical this team will beat a ranked team.

While I understand and share your irritation, I think this is true.

which was the return game after the ac beat them on the road.

I'm not yelling at you (it's ok that we disagree on some things), and yes, unfortunately we all can see it coming when the question arises. That's what sucks.

I'm saying, you are cherry picking their resume. They play, and usually beat, whomever is on their schedule, whether that is prairie view or montana state (on the road in a playoff game). The ac as accomplished enough on the field that it is a loser's lament to gripe about their schedule. As for the 1984 comment: '82 the ac made a playoff run; '83 national title; '84 national runner up; fast forward to: '10 playoff run; '11 national title; '12 ?? That's why it feels like 1984. I'd like to have a Montana State rivalry thread without it getting hijacked into the schedule of the ac.

Seriously Darell? They've beaten 9 straight ranked opponents, win vs fbs opponents more than they lose, haven't lost a game in more than a year, and sprinkle in the national title on top of it...you have a problem with their resume? This is why I hate this discussion. Fans having to resort to extraordinarily weak arguments as to why the ac needs to play UND. Sadly, either GT goes, or the program hits another low point, but the time where the ac needs to play UND could be a while. It feels like 1984 all over again. edit: or maybe you are just baiting the ac trolls?

The key is consistency. What I've noticed watching the ac in their transition into mvfc play and now UND in the BSC is that the margin for error each week is small. There has to be a consistently high level of play because as we have seen, even the Sac St & UNCs of the world have playmakers that will hurt you if you are taking a play off. UND can look "elite" at times, but many teams can do that. Weber did that with Poly last week, and UNC did with the Griz for a bit. What makes the top of the BSC different is how they are able to maintain a high level of execution more often than not. This stretch of games is an opportunity for UND to show the BSC what they really are...good or bad.

This argument is tiresome.

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/content.php?822-2012-Gridiron-Power-Index-(GPI)-Debuts-With-the-Reigning-Champ-as-No.-1 The Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I FCS and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection debuts for the 2012-13 season with unbeaten and defending national champion North Dakota State in the top spot. The Missouri Valley Football Conference has six teams in the top 25; the Big Sky and Southern Conferences have four teams each; the Colonial Athletic Association and Southland Conference have three each; the Ohio Valley Conference has two; Northeast and Big South Conferences plus the Ivy League each have one. (Games through 10/8/12) For conference average rankings, the Missouri Valley Football Conference has a clear lead with the Southern and Big Sky Conferences knotted close behind. Also the Colonial Athletic Association plus the Southland and Ohio Valley Conferences are hovering tightly within reach. The Final 2012 GPI will be released once all the college football games have been played, in January 2013. The GPI is an exclusive property of College Sporting News, maintained since 2001 and has been used officially by the NCAA since 2008 for selecting specific Division I Football National Championship tournament participants. 10/09/2012 GPI Top 25 Rank, School, Rating 1. N Dakota St (1.00) 2. Montana St (5.00) 3. E Washington (5.43) 4. Old Dominion (6.00) 5. Cal Poly (6.57) 6. Youngstown St (7.29) 7. Ga Southern (7.43) 8T. James Madison (9.14) 8T. Wofford (9.14) 10. Harvard (11.86) 11. Northern Arizona (13.00) 12. S Dakota St (15.00) 13. Sam Houston St (16.00) 14. Appalachian St (16.57) 15. Stony Brook (17.00) 16. Illinois St (17.71) 17. Cent Arkansas (18.86) 18. Tennessee St (19.14) 19. McNeese St (19.71) 20. Northern Iowa (20.14) 21. Albany (20.57) 22. New Hampshire (20.71) 23. E Kentucky (21.57) 24. Samford (21.71) 25. Indiana St (22.86) Conference Ranking: Rank, League, Total Average 1. Missouri Valley Football Conference (25.34) 2. Southern Conference (30.00) 3. Big Sky Conference (33.18) 4. Colonial Athletic Association (37.01) 5. Southland Conference (38.77) 6. Ohio Valley Conference (42.00) 7. Ivy League (53.50) 8. Patriot League (57.63) 9. Big South Conference (63.86) 10. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (65.61) 11. Northeast Conference (66.83) 12. Southwestern Athletic Conference (75.96) 13. Pioneer Football League (76.77)

Blackout (or whatever the color choice is) games are fine if you know you have a sell out. It looks bad when the crowd isn't huge but are wearing the same color because it draws too obvious a distinction to the color of the empty seats.

IALTO

Did all these happen in the game, I don't recall? If not, then it appears there was some head knocking going on at practice this week. Good for them!

Normally I'd say there's no way the team would get run at home, but that's what happened in the 4th qtr of that Poly game. So now I'm not so sure.

What kind of crowd/festivities are expected for the SF game vs ndsu?

Don't bother. Since the BSC declined to invite them, the BSC has been known as the "Big Fluffy". 5 different BSC teams could win the title in the next 5 years and they would still consider the conference top heavy.

Sagarin Updated 10-7 http://usatoday30.us...garin/fbt12.htm Note the team at #144 & #145 for a good laugh

short answer is yes...but unfortunately Mr Takagi disagreed...so he won't be joining us for the rest...of...his life. Sorry for the thread drift. continue.

Well, like Reginald VelJohnson told Bruce Willis in Die Hard, UND is "gonna have to bring the ice cream" to that party.