johnson

I tell you what, call up NDSU and find out how much they make per game. Then we can all feel better about all of this. Get into the MVFC and both sides will finally be happy. If better decisions would have been made nearly a decade ago now this all wouldn't have been an issue today.

I guess it's all just a conspiracy for you then.

What you are not comprehending is that all of your numbers are nothing but speculation. What causes you to believe that UND holds that much value that all prices can be raised just because UND is on the schedule again? You are not part of the administration and you are not involved in anything with the athletic department. You can throw all the numbers you want out and make it sound like it is nothing but a win-win. The rivalry was big and continues to be off the field of play but just because you are UND doesn't make you the greatest thing that can happen to NDSU. If the program starts winning games again the seats will be filled and prices will continue to increase annually. I've noticed that the price of season tickets at the Alerus have dropped in price for two seasons in a row now to the point where I can pick one up for $40.00. UND needs help filling the Alerus and NDSU has been bringing in decent numbers. It's not really smart to come to the negotiating table needing help and start making demands.

I am not defending it as a great practice and who knows how long he is thinking he needs six home games. I am just defending that he is in fact trying to schedule six home games in the near future. There have been a few problems to get teams to commit to their side of the home/home but have now finally been scheduled. I do know that NDSU needs some facility upgrades soon so having a sixth home game to make more money isn't such a far fetched story right now to me. None of us have solid numbers on anything. We are all just speculating at what things could possibly cost and how much could possibly be made. I don't think anyone at NDSU is intentionally keeping UND off the schedule now at this point. Was the USD deal presented to UND first? I heard that it was but I can't say I know it was for a fact. We have Baseball and Basketball on the schedule and Volleyball is not far behind. It is slowly starting to become a reality again. To me Gene is saying we'll play but we're not giving you what exactly what you want if we don't feel it works for us. NDSU has established their long term goals and if UND doesn't agree to how NDSU thinks they fit into achieving those goals then they will go elsewhere. If UND can make it into the MVFC then all things will be back to normal. I know Youngstown has applied to an FBS conference the past couple of years and if Indiana State can't get things together soon I wouldn't be shocked if their football program disappears like Northeastern or moves on to something that is a better fit for them. Teams move around and I think until UND can get into the MVFC you aren't going to be happy with what NDSU is going to be willing to offer.

Product of a poor 2008 season and what turned out to be a horrible 2009 season. I keep stating that if they don't produce this year it will all vanish. They still managed an average of 16,500 for the season which ranked 9th in all of FCS. The one side of the stadium you are looking at probably has more people sitting there than the total at some of UND's games last year.

You are over estimating the amount guaranteed for a team like Austin Peay. You would be looking at more in the range of 50k-65k. NDSU can bring in a lower tier FCS school and still sell tickets. I have stated that it all could vanish if NDSU doesn't start to produce. If another season like last year happens again this year all of the interest that has been gained could be lost. If that happens then yes NDSU would need UND to help fill the stands but that hasn't been the case for a few years now.

I don't think he is going out of his way to jump back into putting UND on the schedule. Like I said before, if they can start producing again the tickets will sell regardless. Fargo Forum: “We’re excited to get the return game worked out with Montana State” said Taylor. The game with the Bobcats is the return date for NDSU’s 2005 road game. Montana State won 20-17 in Bozeman. The Bison and MSU are scheduled to play Sept. 7, 2013.

Higher prices will be charged to cover the money lost when going to UND the following year.

I don't think that six home games will be achievable every year. Things can go wrong with the schedule like Northeastern suddenly dropping football or Idaho State buying out of a contract. But when Austin Peay and Central Connecticut State were sell-outs it was very obvious that they can bring in a lower tier FCS school every season and not affect ticket sales. They can stay at home and make a very nice profit. UND became less valuable as games started to sell out and then to top it all off SDSU showed up and broke the attendance record. UND could bring in guaranteed large numbers no doubt but it appears that if NDSU does well the tickets will be sold without UND. Now if NDSU continues to slide that could all vanish in a hurry. It looks like Gene is hoping to bring a product to regional FBS schools that will be competitive enough to bring fans to the stadium. He hasn't been hopscotching all over the US trying to bring in the biggest guarantee he can find. It appears that he is scheduling FBS schools that are relatively close to Fargo. It not only helps regional recruiting but it increases the potential for more games in the future. If NDSU could find themselves continually scheduling the likes of Minnesota, Iowa State, Kansas, etc. every year their fans could become more familiar with NDSU and buy more tickets if they can be competitive enough when they show up. Increased ticket sales could lead to increased guarantees making the sixth home game nothing but a bonus for season ticket holders and not so much a money issue.

The discussion for the UND game has been to sell that one game at double the normal single game ticket price. The single game tickets have been increasing by about $5 a year for the past few years and I wouldn't be surprised if that continues if the team can start producing again. I don't think NDSU could go out and ask those kind of prices that quickly for all games. Season Ticket prices have been gradually increasing every year too. You risk the chance of losing season ticket holders because of raising prices too quickly so I believe there won't be a drastic increase in price if UND does come to Fargo. With season ticket sales nearing 10,000 and 4,000 being reserved for students it doesn't leave much room for others. Local watering holes would definately appreaciate the game again that is for sure. I think this will all eventually work itself out but it is going to take some major negotiating to get all sides to agree to play again.

I remember Gene saying that he has increased the buy out amounts on the contracts after Montana State payed the sum which was way too low. $25,000 is sticking in my head for some reason.

The home games started to sell out consistantly later in the transition and NDSU already had Home/Home contracts with SHSU and Georgia Southern. Gene stated later in the transition that they could now make more money bringing in a 6th game rather than travelling to another FCS school. Georgia Southern was supposed to come to Fargo a couple of years ago but pushed the original date back further and NDSU traveled to SHSU last year to honor that home/home. Montana State bought out of their contract with NDSU recently which left Gene scrambling for another game. I believe GS is finally coming in 2011 and Montana State in 2013. Gene has changed the way he schedules since. Single game reserved tickets were going for $25 a piece and $15 for general admission last year. On top of that season ticket sales are over 9,400 right now. Those prices range from $100 a piece behind the endzones to $130 a piece on the sidelines with Team Maker donations required between the 10's that range from $75 to $500. Factor in merchandise sales and concessions sales and that amount adds up quick. I have a friend who teaches at a high school in my area and has taken over concessions for games. They can make up to $1,000 in sales an hour when they are busy and that is just two windows serving customers for a HS game. Gene only has to find 2 more games to have complete schedules for 2010 and 2011 that includes 6 home games. He isn't going to change how his is doing things now just to schedule UND again.

Taylor has explained this already. The amount of money NDSU is making for home games is the reason why he wants 6 home games. He has stated that they would have to schedule two FBS schools a year to make up for the amount that would be lost if they went on the road instead of having a home game. Now if NDSU continues to struggle and ticket sales slump then that argument would be irrelevant.

2013 is a 12 game season. NDSU can still have a FBS away game, travel to USD and have 6 home games.

I think when he hears information he twists it in his head into what he wants and thinks should happen and then reports it as if it is fact.

I would also like to add that Lakes was reporting his "inside" info to BV that the Sioux Falls coaches were going to be announced as the newest additions to NDSU staff the week after USF won the NAIA championship. I believe he was saying a press conference was going to be held on 12/21/09. I am still waiting for that press conference.

That was the Lakes rumor. The first talk that I was a part of was that he was intially talked to about taking over the defense and he didn't want anything to do with it. Then the offensive talk started coming out. When both sides decided it wasn't going to work out the DC for Sioux Falls name was being tossed around for the DC job at NDSU. I'm not sure if Lakes was just speculating or had solid info. I guess there were alot of rumors out there and who knows what is factual. I do know for a fact that Bohl and Vigen said no to DeBoer calling the offensive plays.

The rumor at NDSU was that they were talking to him for the DC job. Sounds like he didn't want anything to do with it. Then some info came out that he was wanting to be on the offensive side of the ball and wanted to call the plays and Bohl said no. That was the last time that he was mentioned.