WYOBISONMAN

But the fact of the matter is the ball is in UND's court. It will be UND thatdecided whether or not to continue the game. NDSU is leaving the offer open. And, the unfortunate fact remains that as things stand now a NDSU/UND game will do no favors to either school in the playoff race. Obviously NDSU won't see that impact until the probation period is over, but it will still affect NDSU. The real issue is whether the rivalry is more important than the playoffs. On that I think both sides are split. Remember though.....NDSU has always said the offer to play UND is open.

I think it is UND that is more hung up about the rivalry than NDSU. Most of us have moved on. I am paying more attention to the D1AA playoffs this year because that is our future. I don't like to see the rivalry end, but then again NDSU is moving up and needs to schedule D1AA opponent. Clearly a D2 opponent hurts you when trying to make the D1AA playoffs. Montana has had to sweat that one out. That being said, I think that the NDSU/UND rivalry is a big enough deal in the State of North Dakota that both schools probably should drop the petty whining about playoffs, scholarships, etc. and play the game. I think that NDSU will keep an invitation open to UND to play the game. It is really up to UND as to whether or not the series continues.

I guess it is a good thing that UND isn't moving up since you guys are so down on the D1AA system. I myself much prefer the D1AA system....so it is great the Bison are out of D2.

We have a probationary period coming up and I am sure during that time the conference picture will clear. I am not at all worried about it. Like I said earlier, my hope is that in the end we wind up in the BSC.

I think that if the GWC comes to fruition it will be a force to deal with in D1AA Football. Obviously Davis, Cal Poly, UNC and NDSU will give the powers that be a run for thier money in 4 years. My personal bias is to see NDSU get into the BSC (then I could actually go to some games with out huge travel ). However, if the BSC doesn't happen this seems like a great alternative.

While D1AA may have a few problems too, it is a hell of a lot better than the D2 system.

I will be pulling for the Sioux again this next weekend. I hope you pound the hell out of Winona to show them that they really don't compare to the NCC schools. I am sure you will. Good Luck on Saturday. And as I said in a previous thread......the MIAA is WEAK. Show Winona how weak the NSIC is.....

Here is the latest from NDSUs quest for a conference. It seems that the Great West Conference is moving forward. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ College football: NDSU eyes football-only conference By Jeff Kolpack The Forum - 11/22/2003 Athletic directors from six Division I-AA schools will meet next month in what appears to be a serious step in forming a football-only conference. North Dakota State athletic director Gene Taylor will be joined by representatives from South Dakota State, Southern Utah, Cal Poly, California Davis and Northern Colorado Dec. 8-9 in Las Vegas. St. Mary

Other than SDSU, it looks like NCC Basketball may be in real trouble this year.

Oh no......somebison has that avtar over here too.....and I was trying to eat my lunch.....

In the end it was not the D1AA games that kept us out of the playoffs, it was the losses in OT. Had we won either we would be in the playoffs. I don't think that NDSU got the shaft at all in the playoff selection process. We simply did not win enough games. The team that really got the shaft and the situation that totally defies all logic is the fact that Bently got in and IUP did not. That is the worst selection I have ever seen in the entire history of the D2 Playoffs. That one leaves me speechless.

Houston would be the worse D1A job in the country.....that is a true Football black hole, although Idaho isn't much better, but it is more scenic than Houston...

Good luck to the Sioux this weekend. I hope you guys shut up all the MIAA guys that are saying they are the strongest Conf. in D2. What a crock......a 5 way tie for first indicates mediocrity rather than strength. If UND takes the region it means that for the past 4 years the Midwest rep to the semis has come from the NCC (perhaps an argument that more than NDSU and SDSU should be moving up).

I also think that the national politics are against us getting in the playoffs if Winona looses. I am sure that the national selection committee is unhappy with NDSU leaving and would prefer we go away quietly.

I think there is almost no way NDSU can get into the playoffs. The politics of the situation are all with the NSIC. But, if UMD and NDSU win big it will put a very interesting twist in the selection process. I think NDSU is better than any in the NSIC, but we are being penalize by the insane way D2 calculates strength of schedule. Oh well, so be it. If the herd gets in it would just be icing on a good season. A season that was better than many of us ever thought. It is just too bad the NSIC gets an almost automatic bid.

I think we are much to far down the road to have a D1AA NCC. The window has closed on that opportunity. NDSU has moved on.

Any recruits from this next recruiting season will be play off elgible in D1AA during thier time at NDSU. We had a great run in D2 and now we will have one in D1AA. We are a couple of OTs from going to the playoff. It is just that on those particular Saturdays, the Bison didn't get the job done. I am sure that all have learned and that NDSU will be in the hunt for the Championship of the Great West Conference next year.

All in all it is not fun missing the playoffs, but I am still happy with a team that will likely finish the season 8-3. It is a hell of an improvement over last years 2 meager wins. And....the Bison were 2 OTs from being 10-1. Next year should prove to be interesting. Lucky for UND you are not playing us.....You may well get your asses whooped...

The most interesting thing about this poll is that despite the fact that Bison and Sioux fans are sitting in indoor stradiums, the majority (in this poll) still like and prefer outdoor football. It make me wonder what would happend if there was a debate in either town to build another football facility. (I realize this is many years in the future.)

I would suspect a Sioux blowout over USD. They are not a quality team this year and surely are lucky they decided to remain D2.

When you look at the Metrodome it is clear that it was not at all designed for baseball.

Obviously I voted outdoor......but, I see it is a tight race between outdoor and indoor. Has CNN made any projections on the outcome of the vote??

Obviously this is an issue that does not split down Bison - Sioux lines!

I have to disagree with BISON1234.....Football is an outdoor game. I was a supporter of the Fargodome, but then I did not realize what we missed by playing outdoors. The element that the weather adds to a football game is a huge plus for me. I must say that I prefer going to Denver Bronco games over the Minnesota Viking games because of the atmosphere the outdoor field adds. Nothing beats a good football game in a snow storm!

That sounds good to me. Then after the MIAA chaf is blown away we can get on with BISON-SIOUX II!! (Damn....I am probably going to piss off the MIAA fans..... )