Johnny Five

Yes. The local stations last year were able to pickup the Bison games at Montana State and Eastern Washington. For whatever reason (this according to Timmerman I guess) ESPN wouldn't release the rights to allow them to broadcast. While it is still available, it kind of sucks that it is not on KFYR/NBC for those who don't have Game Plan. It doesn't affect me, I'll be in my seat.

TV coverage is an absolute joke. The game is "essentially" a sell out (I'm not gonna get into the dumbass student ticket policy, which could potentially open up 1,000 or so more seats), and you gotta pull strings to a certain degree to see the game if you don't have a ticket. Lee Timmerman out in Bismarck here said earlier this week that they tried to get the rights for coverage but ESPN wouldn't allow it. If I'm correct, ESPN will be broadcasting the QTRF rounds on out in some capacity (ESPNU, ESPN3.com, etc) and dictating the schedule. If the Bison are fortunate enough to win this weekend I imagine we will see them next Friday as opposed to Saturday.

And this is a debate I'm sure each coaching staff harps on. There are advantages and disadvantages to each conference. It will be interesting to see how it plays out over the next few years.

There will definitely be some good recruiting battles. Who knows on Woods. I think before this season he was more of a basketball prospect, but blew up his senior year. What if schools like Wyoming all the sudden start calling? It's obviously in is best interest to wait it out and hear what everyone has to say.

What's so telling about that? How many kids jump at their first offer, especially when it's not a slam dunk favorite school (for example a NE kid waiting for the Huskers to call)? He even said in the story...all these options. This kid appears to be a great athlete. Speed kills...great hands. Whichever school ends up with him is gonna get a good, local talent who could possibly step in asap.

Here's another one from a Blaine athlete, Duke Anyanwu. UND, UNI, SDSU, Air Force at the table. http://www.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1580

Having watched almost every Gopher game this year, I couldn't disagree with your take more. From top to bottom it may have been the most physical series the Gophers played to date.

Second Round - December 3 Stony Brook at (1) Sam Houston State New Hampshire at Montana State Wofford at (5) Northern Iowa Central Arkansas at (4) Montana Old Dominion at (3) Georgia Southern Maine at Appalachian State Lehigh at Towson James Madison at (2) North Dakota State Had to pick a couple of road wins. I want App vs GS in round 3, that would be a great matchup. Just not sure on Northern Iowa. They played a number of tight games down the stretch, but maybe homefield will get them over the hump. Leheigh vs Towson could be a solid matchup as well. As for the Bison, I think the biggest injury to watch is Austin Richards. He is a pig and anchor of the O line. I believe it would take someone to shoot him in the face to keep him out though. NDSU needs to get a good jump. They haven't been in this situation before and if they get down 7-10 in the first half I can see the home crowd pinching their bung holes. I think RB Sam Ojuri could have a huge game, and with what seems like a healthy (healthier defense), I predict NDSU controls the game and wins 24-14.

Yup. Bison fans are the only one's in any sport I've heard talk about how good their conference is.

JMU kicks a last second field goal to win 20-17. I thought they controlled the game and their QB scares the crap out of me. He can fly. CAA teams are battle tested and I expect a tough one in Fargo next Saturday.

Don't call it a comeback. JMU ties it at 17. Having watched 3 quarters now I'd rather see EKU in Fargo. JMUs qb and RB are playmakers.

EKU 17-7. Long run up the pipe near the end zone and then punched it in. 6 left in the 3rd.

Man that kick looked good to me. Tough call. Stays 10-7.

Meanwhile....game time at EKU and a cast of hundreds in the stands. Wow.

Here is a Gopher Hole Q&A with Eden Prairie's RB. and before you rip on it being from the gopher hole, those guys do a good job talking to high schoolers and a lot of the kids are right in UND and NDSUs wheelhouse: http://www.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1571 (I apologize if it's not hyperlinked. Trying tonfigure that out with the iPad.)

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for you, but whenever the Bison may fall I will return. Speaking of, wide receiver Zach Vraa was set to return for the Bison after being out since game 1 with a broken collarbone. 1st practice back he re breaks it. I feel bad for the poor kid, it is his third break in two season and second this year. Just a reminder that the JMU vs EKU game is on ESPNU Saturday morning at 11. So if you are laying around you can watch whichever team you guys will be rooting for in the Fargodome...haha....Happy Thanksgiving.

^^^this^^^

Look it's a dead horse. Punch it.

Could be watered down to 6 wins as early as next season if they happen to expand the playoff field to 24, which has been rumored.

Allegedly the NSU vs ODU game is SOLD OUT this weekend. According to a quick wiki search their stadium is just under 20K. Schools are in fairly close proximity so that helps, but nonetheless that will make for a great atmosphere. ODU program is quite the story.

Again, it turns into a Bison-Sioux pissing match. Sweet. If there were first round games in Bozeman, Missoula, or JMU this Thanksgiving weekend, tickets would be easy to come by just as they were for NDSU last year. It's not any particular fan base here, it statistically does not draw well. Once again, the JMU AD has a renovated stadium that this season AVG 25K fans per game in the regular season, and he was only banking on 12K the first game of the playoffs when he submitted the bid. Can't argue that, he said it outright. These games do not draw that well for whatever reason, even at historically good FCS schools. And let's be honest, the bid process has to make some of the "at-large" selections turn some heads with that selection committee, which in turn makes the field slightly flawed. NDSU was a OT game away from hosting a semifinal last year, and as the last team in that is just flat out wrong to me.

I'm not sure about that. IMHO, the "die-hard" fans will want to be at the game. 12K last season (for me) was a disappointing number in Fargo, but it was a pretty rowdy crowd without the corpie, texting, smartphone type fans. In looking at the numbers and other expectations of other schools though, 12K was actually a decent number. So with Winona State...would you rather have 5K "Sioux Fans" or 8K with 3K who are just bored at home? It's an interesting debate in playoff football regarding attendance.

Woods was unreal in that game last weekend. He is explosive. I've seen posts elsewhere that he is leaning towards football for college and that may end up in either UND or NDSUs favor, because I think UMN will explore the preferred walk-on route.

I think the article I linked about with JMU speaks volumes. JMU averages 25K per game and were only expecting 12K when they submitted their bid. These first round games are tricky because A). Holiday weekend and travel plans may be set. B). If you are a bubble team (like NDSU 2010), you really have less than a week to re-arrange plans. It's all excuses but it seems to ring true no matter where you are, even die hards like Montana.

Here is an article explaining the bids from JMU's side. Interesting that despite drawing 25K per game, the figured they would only draw 12K for a first round game: http://jamesmadison.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1297128