Matt

Be careful here...wasn't this the reason Cal Poly wasn't allowed to schedule UND on the gridiron? Or were they really just afraid?

To pick up from the discussion on the recruiting thread, homer announcers used to bug me for years until Dan Patrick started playing the "Homer call of the Week" on his radio show. It was then I realized it wasn't just PA or Ed Schultz or Scott Miller. Its most of them. I think the voice of any team has become, and perhaps rightfully so, more of a marketing arm of the team than an objective reporter like they used to be. Now, let's be real here, even back in the old days when the announcer was as stoic as your Norweigian grandfather, they still had a great time with the team behind the scenes. But that's where it usually stayed, or they were derided as a "homer". It wasn't considered professional. I'm not pining for the old days here, but I've noticed too often this year during Vikes games PA was actually trash talking the opposition when they would make a turnover or a penalty. The danger in that is the VOX (as PA describes himself), can simply get too close to the team and act as part of it, when they are not.

They could go winnless in conference play as long as they win the conf tournament.

If by "region" you mean the Southern RR Valley, then I would say yes-high school through college-more BB tickets sold and games watched. If you mean the Northern RR Valley, I would say no.

You label 04-05 as a throwaway year because the the "fab four" wasn't playing, yet you project quadrupling attendance withing two more years after the fab four are gone. Why are those not throwaway years as well without the "fab four"?

But you can't "save for the ORU game, which skews the average"any more than we could save the Bison game from when they played the Sioux. Big games rightfully skew the average. That's one reason why they are big games. The point however, is still valid, NDSU has good reason to be dissatisfied with attendance. It's a large part of why they will build a new arena with or without the city involvement, no doubt. They need a reason for people to be excited about basketball after this years' NCAA tourney opportunity is done.

From today's Milwakee Journal-Sentinel regarding UW playing in bowl games:

Worse than Montana State? It would suck to keep hitting new lows in officiating.

This Sioux team will make a serious run for the DAC title come tournament time.

I don't necessarily agree with the criticism, but if winning games is now a prerequisite for criticism of a coach on a fan board, expect significantly less traffic.

I significantly overrated the quality of play at the d2 level, and undervalued the level of play in the jump to d1-even in teams like Toledo or Wyoming.

Montana-83 Sioux-63 Final Box Score

I wonder if he thinks he's actually privy to such decision making...oh yes, I'm sure the conference presidents will run it up his flag pole.

Maybe they would have won the NCC this year, but they would have done it without beating UND. I watched UMD at MSUM this year, they have some weapons, but not enough to keep up with the Sioux, in my opinion. Yes, UND gave up plenty of plays in the secondary, but UMD doesn't have nearly the team speed that we saw in the Great West, and certainly not like SIU. Too many mistakes over the entire schedule may have cost UND a conference title in the NCC this year, but I think the Sioux get it done vs the pups.

Good chance? I don't even want to think of the prospect of playing Lamar on the road.

The NDSU example goes to show you never know how the transition will go. They had 6 FCS wins in 2004, and will likely finish in the middle of their conference and no playoffs this year. Who knows what will happen when the Sioux are playoff eligible.

Update. A Southern Illinois-Cal Poly matchup would be interesting.

Division I Championship

Has the program now come to the point where "playing hard" and "haven't backed down from anybody this year" is lauded? I had hoped that died in the 90's.

go away

Division I Championship

Iona-7 Maine-55

Tech up 19-0 over Texas. I am absolutely terrified for next year.

You are right, they are no pushover, but they are also a significant step down from the last 2 opponents. I would hope playing tougher competition would make them ready to step on SIU next week. At least put up 30+ pts.