Bison06

This may be a shock to you, but you might want to check the numbers on playoff wins for the home team in each of the schools respective indoor stadiums.

Doesn't it get disappointing waiting for NDSU to fall? I see NDSU going .500 next year is going to be the UND rallying cry this offseason. I remember last offseason it was "wait til you go to manhattan and a real football team embarrasses you".

Pay attention to reality, my comment doesn't require elaboration. Ever seen another FCS school have college gameday? ESPN has been throwing out comments about NDSU on sportscenter all fall. Analysts are commenting on NDSU games. Chris Fowler has been commenting publicly all year about NDSU. Scott Van Pelt keeps an NDSU helmet at his desk routinely on his show. ESPN decides who to hype in the sports world and this fall they have decided to make NDSU relevant, relatively of course.

If Montana vs. Montana St. has never garnered this attention or GoSouthern vs. App. I don't see how NDSU vs. UND ever could. ESPN has made NDSU their pet project it seems, in a very limited sense, not the top of FCS. I haven't seen any more attention paid to FCS football lately than usual.

You say these NDSU fans you know love the recognition of winning the big games. I agree, it's fun to see your team's highlights on ESPN. But that further proves NDSU's side of the argument don't you think? How does playing UND bring NDSU national attention?

So a few guys start a chant and you think that means they care?

Anyone ever told you that you're quite adept at setting up false dichotomies? Either I agree with you, or I'm an ignorant, short sided(see sighted) NDSU fan. I'll go with a third option if you'll allow. You have built up the rivalry to mean more than it does to NDSU fans. As you can imagine, I am friends and speak with many, many former and current NDSU players and fans. I'll admit you'll have to take my word on this, but I have never, and I mean not once, heard an NDSU fan even hint at these championships would have meant more with UND on the schedule.

Tainted? Really? This is not meant as a rip at all, but this post is exactly where the two fan bases are different. NDSU due to their more recent success, enjoys a much, much younger fan base in terms of age in general. The fans in the last ten years for the most part couldn't even tell you where UND is, they don't care. It truly isn't hate with these guys, it's indifference. Us older guys, absolutely, we care. But the new people don't. So to them and to the current players to say it is tainted is laughable.

Knowing the schools that were being discussed, the money would have been similar.

You posters who say it is ALL about the money are completely ignoring many interviews that Craig Bohl has done since the decision was made to move along. Did money play a large role? Absolutely, but he had opportunities to move on prior to this year if it was truly all about the money. Why now? If he is some mercenary for hire like some are making him out to be, why not take one of the other jobs that he interviewed for prior to this one.(Don't begin to say he didn't have other opportunities, I know different). The reason he ultimately moved on is EXACTLY what he said in his interviews. He has nothing left to accomplish in Fargo. The fan base in Fargo, as many of you love to point out, has unrealistic expectations(see delusional, your word for it). If he sticks around and we have a few down years, which let's be honest, anything less than a National Championship will be a let down in the next 2-3 years. The fans will call for his head, just as they did in '08-'09. Unrealistic expectations from the fan base, yes, but that's reality. Money played a role, as it does in all of our lives when we make career decisions. I've known many entrepreneurs who have walked away from gold mine, set for life, kids and grandkids set for life businesses to take on a new challenge in life. It happens all the time. Money played a role, no doubt, but the challenge of it all is what drove this decision if you ask me.

Both are strong conferences with a few traditionally powerful programs. To say one is better than the other will be based on nothing more than personal bias if you ask me. The way they may be able to be separated is in style of play. Big sky is a more wide open league, while the Missouri valley could be classified as more of a pro-style team league. Less gimmicky offenses(not a slam, just an observation)

This isn't accurate. Coach Bradley stayed on as DC when Bohl came in. The same position he held from 1996-2005 for NDSU. Edit: Upon further review, it appears he was Co-Defensive Coordinator when Bohl came in at first. With Jimmy Burrow(Yikes)

Not a rip on the big sky at all, but SUU doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. Their showing today proves it IMO.

That's why this level of football is great. We'll find out for sure once the playoffs get a few rounds in. No need to have these conversations, it will be decided on the field.

There were many people on this board who questioned SDSU not continuing to go to Zenner. Let's not re-write history. Also, that 3 and out led to another possession and a touchdown for UND, which is what made the game look much closer than it was IMO.

Make up your mind fellas. Does comparative scoring matter or not. A loss is a loss right? And by the way, had SDSU coaches not had a stroke(figurative) and decided to abandon the run game in the second half. UND would have put up 14-21.

Interesting how the conversation has come full circle. Did you happen to notice who that "other team" was that scored so many point on SDSU was?

UND football fans remind me of your favorite corner Mackey. Always talking trash, but never really backing it up. Beat a MVFC opponent and then talk trash about the conference.

I realize comparative scoring has it's limitations. How else do you propose we have this hypothetical conversation?

Was UND better than Indiana State this year?

Mo. St. is definitely not a great team, but this year they certainly weren't the bottom feeder they have been in the past. Beat two teams ranked in the top 25 and put the highest point total of the season on NDSU's defense. It would have been a loss if UND matched up with Mo. St. this year IMO. I have no idea what they have coming back next year though so we'll see. http://www.missouris...otbl-sched.html

I agree, recruits will always be touted as great by their own fan base. But I don't think any reasonable person would look at NDSU's football roster compared to UND's or SDSU and not see a better caliber of athlete on the NDSU roster. It seems pretty obvious to me, but I am admittedly biased.

True fan or not, a dollar is a dollar and those people are spending their money at the FargoDome on Saturdays.

Do you think NDSU is not out-recruiting UND? Should we make our way over to the 2014 recruiting thread and read all the handwringing and gnashing of teeth going on about the talent on the UND roster?

I agree, but I'm not talking about fans of the schools. I am talking about that portion of the population that is more fickle and chooses the team that is more popular. NDSU is now the "cool" team to follow. I see more NDSU gear running around Fargo and more "casual fans" in the tailgate lots than ever before. These are likely some of the same people that would be in Grand Forks if UND were competing for National Championships.