SooToo

Yup. Definitely better looking schedules. I have no idea what NDSU was paying out for one-time opponents then (were they all home and home?) but the landscape's not the same for 2011 as it was for 2007, in terms of availability of OOC opponents. See Taylor's annual struggle filling in your schedule's two OOC games. What I DO see in the XDSU schedules for 2007 is lots of help from your future conference mates (3 games for SDSU; 2 games for you), the product, IIRC, of the Gateway's decision to drop Western Kentucky from the schedule one year early after Western notified the league it was jumping ship. No such option for UND next year. Good point on using next year to go on the road and build in some home games for future schedules. Unfortunately, I suspect the same people whining about the weak schedule now would be complaining about the lack of home games under that scenario as well.

Couldn't agree more. On all counts. Those wondering how "gene taylor gets all those teams" haven't been paying attention to the AC's annual struggle to fill two home FCS OOC games, the cost and the quality of opponents available at a single-game price of $100k +.

Your money. Obviously your choice. But will that really help a program you clearly support? No doubt a brutal schedule. B.R.U.T.A.L. I'll attend the games that fit my schedule but can't imagine this does anything to build interest among casual fans, especiailly with the team down south coming off a playoff run and returning a very good team next year. Are we simply economizing for our last transitional year, booking low-cost teams and hoping fans have their eyes on the Sky? The only positive -- and its a stretch -- is that perhaps a softer schedule allows a new quarterback and what again will be a very young team a chance to gain some game experience and perhaps build some confidence. A winning record in 2011 -- and I sure hope we will have one -- might be something that could be used to fuel some excitement, advertising-wise, going into the first year of the Big Sky. I agree, though, I'm not sure how a soft schedule next year realistically prepares this team for a full FCS slate.

.... Festivus! (Only makes sense for those who were around for Seinfeld) And I suppose someone should point out, regarding the "obsession" driving this thread, that the topic was started by .... a jackrabbit troller.

Always nice when the neighbors stop by for a visit.

Interesting. I noticed on last Sunday's "Sioux Extra" television broadcast that Mussman's appearance was uncharacteristically brief for an end-of-season wrap up, and then only in an interview recorded immediately after the SDSU game. Among other comments he said his staff was committed to building the team primarily with 4- and 5-year players, adding that "I hope we'll be able to continue" doing so. Wondered at that time whether that was an indication of his impending departure, as he obviously sounded like someone uncertain about his future.

No criticism of NDSU, just the glowing media coverage it inevitably will garner. It's a shame the NCAA chooses to award an autobid to a conference that offers substantially less than the maximum number of scholarships while other worthy teams -- including Great West champ Southern Utah -- are left out in the cold.

What a joke. Meanwhile Montana is sitting at home. Maybe they should have moved Minnesota-Duluth into the FCS playoffs. Doesn't the NSIC allow almost as many schollies? Nevertheless, it will be proclaimed by the local media as another historic D-I moment for NDSU, just like that first FCS game and victory against non-scholly Valporaiso.

I agree their transition has been impressive given their DII history -- yet another testimonial to the advantage they enjoyed by being in the first wave of Dakota schools to make the jump to FCS. Overall, though, I don't think their early transition was all that different from ours. (Yes, you've FORCED me to actually look it up ) In their last year of DII, SDSU was 7-4. In 2004-05, their first transitional year, they were 6-5 including wins against at least 3 division II schools. In year 2, they again posted a 6-5 record, including wins over non-scholly Valporaiso and Wisconsin-La Crosse and then-hapless S. Utah. UND's record in years 1 & 2? 6-5 and 6-5. Year 3 is where you can see a contrast: SDSU improved to 7-4, despite a home loss to La Crosse. As we all know the wheels fell off for UND in year 3 with a miserable 3-8 record. SDSU went on to post a 7-4 record in '07 (For point of comparison, they beat S. Utah at home by 25 points; the Sioux, in their last year of DII, beat them by 27 points on the road). They followed with records of 6-5 and an impressive 8-3 last year before falling back to earth this year with a 5-6 record against a tough schedule. We'll see which way UND is headed next year. If anything, comparing records show just how irratic inexperienced and thin transition teams can be. Pretty early, I think, to make a final judgment on UND's transition.

In short, yes. NDSU and SDSU had the advantage of being first into the transition. They didn't have a real conference or playoffs, either. But they could tout their programs as "Division 1" and were recruiting regionally almost exclusively against program that remained D II or worse, like UND, were uncertain about their future direction. I can't count the number of post recruiting interviews I read with players saying they liked both UND and NDSU but made a choice based on the Division 1 move by the ag schools. More than 1 player who had some UND roots or leanings ended up in green and yellow because of this. UND and USD, during transition, have recruited against established FSC programs right next door. No doubt NDSU's transition went phenomenally well in most sports. But before you give Bohl too much credit, remember that most of his early success was accomplished with "D2" recruits who had NO DIVISION 1 OFFERS and were signed by the previous coaching staff, one of whose members now is an NFL defensive coordinator. SDSU? Haven't reviewed their record but I don't recall great success. I DO remember a home loss to a division III team.

Thanks for the reminder. I didn't recall Klancher as a second-year starter. I do remember, however, my satisfaction in going to a Fargodome restroom at half time, after Klancher came in for an injured Clay Wagner and promptly threw a looong TD pass, and listening to an old geezer in a team-maker's jacket complain that they knocked out the starter "and the new guy's better than the first one." As (almost) always, we won.

I remember when the AC bolted from the NCC and BB coach Rich Glass wished his SU counterparts "good luck"in the jump to D1 ( thus inviting the endless wrath of Bison zealots for this "insult"). He noted that a lot of coaches don't survive that kind of transition. The football record sucked this year and the end-of-year performance was abysmal -- largely because we lost our QB. But the last two recruiting classes -- particularly last year' -- are encouraging. Basketball has been down for years, but the performance so far this year already seems to exceed the predictions on this forum, and we've got some freshmen who appear to know how to play the game. Both Mussman and Jones finally have something to offer recruits -- a strong conference and a chance for playoffs. After struggling through the lean years, don't they deserve at least a little time to show what they can do with a level playing field?

Agree 100 percent. . Gotta believe Mussman is talking JUCO QB to have someone in house with actual collegiate game experience to compete for the starting job. It seems UND has always valued seasoning; I can't remember anyone tabbed as the starter at UND in 20 years (although I'm sure I'm forgetting someone) who wasn't at least a junior. That said, I think it's improbable that both Demler and Comes could be "busts." Don't know much about Comes, but he looked to throw well on his recruiting video. Demler was tabbed as the #1 or #2 QB in Wisconsin the year we recruited him, with analysts saying he was 2 inches in height away from being an FBS/BCS recruit. And FWIW, talk on, ahem, "another" board is that UND may be in Bismarck this week visiting and perhaps offering Bismarck Century QB Carson Wentz.

And yet others on this board see a perfect opportunity next year to season a RF quarterback and wonder why Mussman would talk about a JUCO QB. Love to hear the frustration after the Sioux -- in their 3rd year of transition, without their starting QB -- lose by 10 to a premier FCS program at one of the most intimidating venues in the country. High expectations are an important part of a foundation for success. But can anyone blame the coach if he goes for the quick fix (JUCO QB) instead of buildling "the right way" for the future by living and dying with the inconsistent play of a frosh QB when half the fan base is calling for his head if next year doesn't bring instant success? Agree that taking Jake Miller's red shirt was a waste. Can't remember any true freshman -- not Jim Kleinsasser nor Weston Dressler -- who contributed significantly at UND. Miller doesn't appear to have blazing speed or dazzling moves but seems to consistently find open running lanes and positive yardage. It would've been good to see him for four more years, after a year in the weightroom. AND FWIW, USD lost yesterday to Lamar, who the Sioux defeated handily a few weeks ago. Apparently in transition, there's nothing as consistent as inconsistency.

First post, huh? Thanks for trolling.

Agree 100%. Fullerton's recent comments, cited from a newspaper article and posted in another thread today, that UND likely could exit the Big Sky with no financial penalty if they went about it "the right way" represented, I think, an acknowledgement that the Sky's attempt to branch out in the Dakotas hasn't gone entirely as planned. Nice to know we have that option. I always assumed that UND eventually would end up in the Summit and MVFC, with the MVFC split into divisions. Still think that could happen eventually. Certainly, a Summit/BSC-football-only arrangement could be reasonable as well, and I suspect the BSC might be more amenable to that since USD bailed out of their verbal commitment, essentially closing the door on further expansion in the Dakotas Having said all that, I agree full Big Sky is the best choice -- much higher name recognition/reputation, a single conference for all sports, a path separate from the AC (always love that one) and the other dakota schools and a chance to bring UND athletics to new territory. The only drawback, of course, is travel costs, which eventually could be a drag, especially for non-revenue sports. At some point that may make a change more attractive. And getting back to the original topic, bring on the yotes anytime.

Ouch. Easy to see now why USD was working so desparately to get into the regional bus league; coulda been a lot of long hours on the hound to eastern washington or northern arizona.

... Undoubtedly based on an unequivocal verbal acceptance from USD. Not to throw stones here, but as was pointed out very early in this thread, conferences don't publicly announce offers unless they've been accepted. It may have been wise to wait until the legal documents were signed but clearly Fullerton was given every assurance USD was on board before he spoke. Honestly, I don't understand the Chicken Little angst of some posters here. UND gains admission to one of the premiere, all-sports conferences in the country and all it takes is the defection of a possible travel partner and suddenly the Sky is falling. Perhaps it would have been more "strategic" to accept an offer from the Summit (I know I was anxious to see IUPUI) and simply hope for a football invite down the line. Someone -- maybe our friends from NDSU -- surely would have gone to bat for us with the MVFC.

Gotta love "journalism" today; "pretty solid sources" are speculating -- doesn't get any more solid than that.

A link or just guessing?

It wasn't just you; Faison very clearly was a whole lot less certain about USD moving to the Big Sky but didn't seem to have a clear picture. I remember him saying something to the effect he didn't know if circumstances would allow USD to go to the Sky -- a reference to the cost of Summit buyout? FWIW, the prevailing opinion on the USD and SDSU boards appears to be that there hasn't been enough time to work out something with the MVFC and the Yotes will announce their move to the Big Sky.

Gee, I wonder how Kolpack feels about the issue? He and Vandrovec seem to be carrying the water for a campaign to bash the Big Sky and sell the Summit/MVFC. From a publicity/coverage stand point, having USD in the Sky would be helpful but the sun still comes up tomorrow if they go with the Summit. I think Yote54 posted last Friday that USD was giving the MVFC 3 days to come forward with an offer or they were heading to the Big Sky. One...Two...Two and a quarter....Two and five eights....

The comments following the article are "entertaining" as well; a great example of the pettiness I hope we're leaving behind.

Also interesting that he talked of possibly bringing in a JUCO QB next year.

We can criticize his on-field execution but I doubt anyone questions his heart and character. Thanks to Jake for his commitment and contributions to UND football, and best of luck to him in the really big game, just now kicking off.