JohnboyND7

Yep. Been to a DIVISION ONE HOCKEY GAME in Colorado Springs. Air Force vs. Mankato. Half empty arena. A.) Show me where anyone said NDSU gets 10,000 at every away game. B.) Watch the FCS title game....probably 13-15,000 of those were Bison fans....15 hours from Fargo. 3 hours from enemy territory. Essentially an away game.

You seemed to imply that hockey is a bigger sport than American football. If that was not your intention, then my bad. If UND hockey is bigger than any other program in the state....when was the last time 10-15,000 UND fans travelled 15 hours to go see a game?

I'll try digging up the numbers again. Believe I found a stat that had more Americans playing high school football than registered hockey players in the world. EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey#Number_of_registered_players_by_country 32 of 72 countries with hockey federations have more than 1,000 players. The top 32 total about 1.5 million players worldwide. http://www.justanswer.com/general/6c9gc-kids-play-football-america-highschool-dow.html This one is less reliable. But I'm looking around. One estimate has 1.1 million playing high school football, with youth football added, he has it around 5 or 6 million. Who knows. Someone else may be able to find a more accurate number. What appears to be certain however, is that football has significantly more players worldwide than hockey.

10>1

Not to be skeptical, but as someone who grew up and went to school in Jamestown, I've heard that kind of optimism for nearly all of our sports at one time or another....Generally football, boy's basketball, and volleyball, hockey once or twice even. Hope this time it is true. Would be nice for Jamestown to see some quality athletic success for a change.

Alabama is not going to put up 100 on all FCS teams. They beat Georgia Southern by 25 a couple years ago though. Believe it or not, Heck, the year Michigan lost to Appy, they beat Florida in...the Gator Bowl I believe. In 2010 when JMU beat Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech made it to a BCS bowl. Its not as if good FCS teams can't beat good FBS teams. Most of the time, they will lose. Often times they will lose bad. But it happens.

So because a billionaire former-athlete built UND a beautiful hockey arena, that alone makes it the big cheese?

Touche. I recognize those names. I don't know if the average American would have ever heard of some of them.

Schools that are household names....with few exceptions. Don't think Gonzaga has a football team. Or Xavier....but the only reason I know these places even exist is because of basketball. Would hardly call them household names. And honestly, I really don't care if I impress people that I don't know unless they got a job waiting for me after I graduate.

Soccer features the same stuff hockey does. FCS football is "better" because college football is the choice of the masses. Every major school that has athletics, has football.

I am not the one who said anything about hockey ratings vs. FCS ratings. I am referring more to the fact a professional league featuring very well compensated athletes doesn't get very good ratings for its championship. EDIT: Should be noted I caught a few of the games.

That is embarassing for the NHL.

Rather strange that you are either from North Dakota, or went to school in North Dakota, and rag on the thing our state is best known for.

Idk what sioux hockey is. My collegiate team of choice is the University of Notre Dame and University of Minnesota.

Hayduke, you are aware that FBS is a subdivision as well. I don't understand why you feel the need to all-caps the word subdivision in FCS. Clearly you have a hard-on for hockey. Which is fine. It appears the only person who needs a dose of reality is you.

Weird that despite having a "larger" athletic department, they have fewer national championships and the coaches aren't paid as well...

Well....Minnesota is a B1G school. Of course they were playing the big boys. I find it a bit funny you are smacking on NDSU's FBS wins...thought you wanted NDSU to compete against teams from the highest level?

More alumni follow it because UND is a hockey school.

So would you be more impressed if NDSU won a national title in wrestling? Or if UND managed to win a men's tennis title? Would you be more impressed or excited about these than football title?

I find it funny that someone who is a fan of a team who plays in the Alerus refers to the dome as a dump. If you want, I can send you and "NDSU Hockey : Undefeated since(I forget the year)" shirt.

I include them. That was the method of determining champs at the time. I see your way of thinking on the subject however.

Oh I've seen it before! At one point or another, he will upset some fellow UND fans though for badmouthing the football program and belittling the achievement that is the National Championship.

10>1. That is...ten times the success in America's favorite sporting event than the University of North Dakota has had.

10>1.

Brought a UND student to the Colorado State game last year. Have a few UND students ask me if I can snag them football tickets at the dome. UND should be able to sell more nationally. D-I hockey is limited to what. 60 or so teams? I imagine most hockey fans in general have a favorite college team. UND is one of the big players in college hockey and should result in having some merchandise sold.