SooToo

Speaks volumes about the institutional attitude of our potential new conference "friends."

Which "masses" typically attend UND road games outside of Fargo? Nerly 400 miles from Grand Forks to Vermillion. Not exactly a trip down to Valley Dairy. I think UND historically averaged a couple hundred fans for games at the South Dakota schools back in the day. Kudos to those who attend, but a minor point in choosing conference affiliation. And I think annually playing your conference BB tourney in the "neutral site" of Sioux Falls is akin to playing the AC at the "neutral site" of Scheels hockey arena in Fargo. Bottom line, the choice seems to be between a stable conference considered a "destination conference" by most of its members or a conference that many of its members -- most notably those "local schools" in the Dakotas -- continue to aspire to leave.

2 groups of two seats available in section 114, Rows H&K for Friday 11/11 v DU. $30 each. Text 701 866-4075 if iterested.

I've never heard Bubba or anyone on his staff publicly express a conference preference, one way or the other.. Do you have a link to a published article or podcast on this? Details from a personal conversation with Bubba or one of his assistants? I recall hearing Bubba, in a post-signing day interview last winter or the year before, saying he was surprised at the positive reaction potential recruits had to the prospect of traveling to/playing at Big Sky schools.

Fully agree with your post. Lots of discussion here about the enormous savings to be had by jumping conferences, but does anyone really have any hard numbers on what UND might gain -- perhaps travel-budget numbers compared to those from the AC -- to justify sliding down to the bus league?

We got a marketing department now?!?

Nice casting. Well played.

There was nothing stopping UND admin from completing the Summit site visit and informally exploring the possibility of MVFC invite -- just as USD did -- before answering the Big Sky offer. But they didn't because they saw the Big Sky offer as clearly superior, as Faison publicly stated. A formal, up-front offer from the MVFC may or may not have changed that.

I think your recollection of the history here is a bit muddled. No one offered while UND was slogging through the initial years of transition -- just as was the case for the AC and SDSU earlier. It was UND that cancelled the Summit site visit, a precursor to a certain conference invite, on the eve of the visit when the Big Sky came calling with a membership offer. Faison called that decision a "no-brainer." A formal football invite from the Gateway conference (MVFC) may have changed the equation, but it certainly was not a given. Personally, I much prefer the BSC over the NCC 2.0. Travel costs, unfortunately, could alter the assessment by UND admin.

There then. We have it on good authority.

So .... Great thread here about the knuckle heads at the AC big-timin' their local media sycophants -- who buy ink by the barrel -- and you want to derail it into what promises to be another tired political pissing match?

Loking forward to your update on this.

Budget deficits. Conference requirements. Title IX. I understand. But if profitability is the criterion for elimination, we're probably down to men's hockey. And with more than a century as a UND collegiate sports, it's hard to argue baseball hasn't already demonstrated "long term viability."

Tickets are sold.

2 Groups of two seats available for Friday, 03/04/16, in section 114, rows H and K. $35 each ticket. Text 701 866-4075 if interested.

2 Groups of two tickets (separate rows) available in section 114 for Friday, 1/15/16. Text 701 866-3872 if interested.

Again, I hope Bubba doesn't share your attitude. Last I checked, all scholarshipped athletes signed letters of intent with the University of North Dakota, not Chris Mussman or Bubba Schweigert. Personally, I'd be disappointed in my alma mater and its coaches if they didn't honor their commitments to the athletes the university recruits, as long as the athletes remain committed to it. And if success or failure for North Dakota football rides on honoring two scholarships, we've got much bigger issues.

Great idea. Wonderful way to reward a couple of guys, both with other options, who chose to come here during transition, stuck with the program through bad times and endured the criticism from arm-chair QBs on this board and elsewhere while trying to run an offense with no offensive line protection and no running game. Sure hope this isn't Bubba's mind set. Can't imagine what that would say to would-be recruits about the program's integrity and dedication to its student athletes.

Tickets are sold.

Tickets still available. $30 each, or all four for $100.

I have four tickets available in Setion 114, 2 seats in row H and 2 in K, available for Friday game vs Wisconsin. Text 701 866-4075 if interested.

Thanks.

I must have missed something. I read of Kelley describing this guy's complaint as "troubling" or "disturbing" but I missed the out-right accusations of discrimination. Could you post a link?

Hockey, football and basketball are the major revenue-generating sports, and those followed by a large fan base. Football being "the only" sport not included in the Summit is a big exclusion. Entering SumValley would split major sports between 3 different leagues. Not a good thing. As to the offer from the the Big Sky, any uncertainty about football was not part of the explanation I heard at that time from Faison, who described the Big Sky as one of the "premiere" conferences in all of FCS.

Laid an egg v Misery State last year but played a much tougher FBS opponent. Overall, early offensive stats very similar to 2014 -- but trending in the wrong direction. Defense continues to improve, largely with "Muss recruits." Shows what a solid DC can do for a program.