WYOBISONMAN

While it is by no means close to being a done deal, I do think the BSC will give NDSU and SDSU a solid look. NDSU and SDSU do bring the fact that each are THE land grant schools in their respective states. This alone gives credibility to their admission to the conference. Sac State and Portland State are "second tier" schools in California and Oregon. I think it looks much better to have schools like North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Montana State in your conference. The reality is that from a recognition and prestige perspective I don't think that UNO or Mankato State carry the same prestige in the NCC that do NDSU, UND, SDSU or USD. Because NDSU, UND, SDSU and USD are the premier institutions in thier respective states. When you get out of the region, most people have heard of NDSU or UND, but few have ever heard of Mankato State (or worse yet Minn. State Mankato).

Good god......we may as well all hold hands and sing kum bay yah.....

Actually UND alumnus Rep. Wald from Dickinson is a sponsor.

By the way.... Rep. Wald (UND 1959) is also a sponsor of HB1356.

Jim... I think you are dead on in your thoughts about NDSU and SDSU impact on the direction the Big Sky would look for additional expansion. I do know that many in Montana would like to see Wanless and Sac State booted from the conference. The Billings Gazette has had a couple articles recently advocating getting rid of Sac State and getting NDSU and SDSU in. However, any acceptance of NDSU and SDSU is still a long long ways off.....but I continue to hope. I also am probably pretty biased in that it would bring Bison games MUCH closer to where I live. Fargo is a hell of a long ways from Southwest Wyoming.

My two cents....HB1356 is totally stupid. I am originally from Williston and get home frequently. Most of the people I know in the WEST of North Dakota are excited about NDSU's move to D1 and the possibility of rivalries with Montana and Montana State. As to the editorial in the GF Herald today....I am gld to see the Herald take the stand. On this one I agree with them. And I do hope UND continues to evaluate whether or not to stay D2.

The most recent attempt to "derail" is HB1356. I know some of my UND Alumn friends have made calls to thier legislators supporting this. I am glad to hear that some of the UND faithful would like to make the jump with NDSU. There is no question the games I have enjoyed the most are the Bison/Sioux clashes. I hope UND joins us in D1.

The following article was in today's Fargo Forum. Despite UND's attempts to derail the move to D1 by NDSU, NDSU and SDSU are moving towards joining the Big Sky. Big Sky to discuss expansion By Jeff Kolpack The Forum - 01/22/2003 The Big Sky Conference is serious about North Dakota State and South Dakota State. The league has set a special expansion meeting for Feb. 20. Presidents and athletic directors from all eight schools will be present, according to the Big Sky commissioner

As a Bison fan that despises UND I must admit that this whole Ed Schultz thing makes me smile...... . However, it seems like no matter what Ed does it is a disgrace to the whole State of North Dakota. He was disliked at NDSU and is not liked at UND as the voice of either sports program. He needs to be sent packing and needs to go back to Virginia. What can we expect from a guy that was so stupid he shot his dog. (Among his many other notorious exploits). Eddie......Go away.