Johnny Five

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

I watched that Montana game. It was "here we come stop it" by Montana. Pretty darn impressive.

Hambone I agree with your first round picks to a tee: Stony Brook, Central Arkansas, Old Dominion, and JMU. Edit: How about the fact that JMU has something like a 25K stadium and they got out-bid by a team that averages less than double digits? How cool would a Montana-Montana State semifinal be?

Not only does scheduling "down" hurt if you are sitting at 7 wins, Montana State playing Minot State this year MIGHT cause them to drop in the seeding. For example (depending on how the games play out today), they could slip from the 2 overall seed and homefield throughout the playoffs to the 3 overall and having to travel for the semis. Speaking of, Montana St vs Montana today. Oh how I wish we'd move past the BS and get the schedule figured out for UND vs NDSU.

Whoa! That would ruin NCAA football!!! How would the kids study and stuff?!?! Lol....

Breaking news: lakes is stirring the pot on the Internet. Good luck against USD guys. I hope you can get a full house and some electricity in your building.

Quite frankly it gives us Gopher fans an even worse image.

Agreed there Brian...and let's not forget they lost Leblanc probably for the season as well.

This whole story is an absolute disgrace but to lump other Big Ten schools in along with the conference is unnecessary. Absolutely disgusting how long this went on even before the grad assistants discovery in 2002.

Holy Sh*t does it ever stop? Both conferences are tough to get through. Unreal. Congrats UND on another good road win. It's never easy to travel that far and get a W.

Good luck this weekend und. Beat up on those Cali boys.

Guess I'm confused on how Dell vs Eidnsess is any different than Kangas vs Frazee or Patterson vs. Kangas.

As a Gopher fan, nothing insults me more than the ND jokes. I live in ND, grew up in NW MN, and lived in the Cities for 4 years in my mid-20s. Besides being able to go to sporting events, those 4 years living in the Cities sucked a**! Any Gopher fan who is overconfident whatsoever about going into this weekend needs a head examination. I take you back to the past three years, and also a Sunday afternoon game against Vermont not too long ago. I hope I'm wrong but I see the Sioux getting at least two points. The smack seems to be even more nasty this year than ever, let's hope it settles down a bit and we can enjoy some good friggen hockey this weekend.

Maybe he is referring to lammy firing the puck into the stands. Or was it parise....whatever. Rau is none of that nor has he shown any of that nor has any current gopher. Case closed.

This discussion on celebrations started about the same time the Sioux logo debate.

Well some fans take every opportunity to rip their rivals obviously. Same can be said for UMN and Big 10 hockey, another rivalry (UND-UMN) I'm about to get screwed over on. UND and NDSU should figure out a fricken way to make it work. Seems like the best long term possibility is heading to the Big Sky so I'm in favor of it.

As for football...what is UNI about 7 hours from Fargo? USD and SDSU pretty short trips to take. I live in Bismarck. As a football fan I make all the home games and maybe 1-2 away games and the current conference makes it easier to get to "some" of the road games. Let's be honest it is easier to get to SDSU but I can replace that with Grand Forks no problem. Heck the SDSU stands were jacked with Bison fans last weekend, that is not going to happen at UNC, EWU, Montana or Montana State I will tell you that. I am not travelling for basketball or baseball. This is looking at it from a selfish perspective, I could care less how the athletes get there. I want the rivalry back. I think the two schools need to lock horns, become partners, make it happen....and then start hating each other again. LOL...

Is it possible that the two schools might "need" each other? Let's be honest here, competition and rivalry are a good thing. Both UND and NDSU have a good tradition in athletics and support from alums. It would be nice to have that natural travel partner and I for one miss the rivalry. Dammit I don't even hate UND football like I used to anymore....I'm in favor of the Bison going to the Big Sky but realize it's probably unlikely.

I hate that. It happens at Bison games too. This is getting a little picky I know, but I think the 20 minute halftime causes issues. Heck at Bison homecoming this year it was a 25 minute freaking halftime. One thing I love about the NFL, halftime seems to go much quicker. Hell let the students out and re-enter so they can grab another beer or something. Nothing is more bush than seeing half the student section clear out at halftime so they can hit the sauce even harder. That's what happens when tickets are "free" I guess. Maybe start charging a bit for them and the die hards will be the only ones who show up.

Time for UND and NDSU to put the past away and make it work.

Well the kid has a total of 6 goals in his college career, there's not exactly a whole lot to go off. He hasn't popped a jersey or disrespected an opponent yet. And as I said, yesterday he scored a big goal to put the team within one and he simply raised his arms. He has been leveled a number of times already, he gets back up and goes right back at it. He got destroyed on Friday night and practically got tossed in the bench yesterday but he never quits. Like I said Goon, the whole team fell asleep for a time yesterday. The loss isn't on Thompson but he did play a huge role in the L. Parenteau is a better option and I highly doubt Thompson will be making the trip to Alaska this weekend.

Why wouldn't you call the freshman out? He had three penalties and completely lost his composure. The whole team fell asleep but Thompson was trash and shouldve been charting shots.