Big Sky Expansion

[Willie]

2.30 Wednesday yea.

Bison Media Blog is reporting SUU has accepted full membership.

Its also reported USD and UND have been offered full sports only. No football only option so the pressure is on USD.

Its clear the league has put the decision in the hands of the two presidents.

UND is not a Summit member. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose if they join. USD is another story.

USD has a good basketball and minor sports relationship with the Summit. Its a dream deal for them while the BSC is a cost nightmare. Football is the problem. I like USD in the Summit. Losing three leaves the Summit at 7 which is ok but 8 looks better. I hope the Summit intervenes with the MVFC on USDs behalf. 10 would be ok. That leaves MVFC teams with two OOC games which is good enough.

I'll believe it when I see it.

[JBB]

I will admit these are the same guys that said the pistol and no huddle were the answers to the UND "football problem" but they are reporting this:

From everything we are reading and hearing it appears UND is headed to the Big Sky for full conference membership. We were on board for a football-only membership to the Big Sky and Summit League for the rest of the sports on campus. We figured that would save a pretty penny in travel costs for sports like soccer, softball, baseball, etc. However, it doesn’t appear that option is available.

http://siouxfb.areavoices.com/2010/10/2 ... r-part-ii/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They go on to offer this, forgetting there is a right and wrong position and if they ever had a chance to commit to the Summit. They were never invited because they didnt rise to the level of Summit membership:

You gotta love the way this is working out for UND. We didn’t commit to the Summit because they dragged their feet offering due to their objection to the nickname issue.

Ps. Inside joke for BISON fans. Just like Kuppy

In a bizarre development, it seems as though President Kelley is currently out of the country until next week.

[SloStang]

The only reason that UND was not offered a Summit membership already is the Summit was waiting on resolution on the "Fighting Sioux" name. It is resolved and the Summit is visiting UND next week. Of course you know this.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

The only reason that UND was not offered a Summit membership already is the Summit was waiting on resolution on the "Fighting Sioux" name. It is resolved and the Summit is visiting UND next week. Of course you know this.

He has to know that he looks like a big dink. He just has to know it.

[SuperHornet]

If this trash were going to happen, it would have already been announced.

No SUU. No UXDs. Not happening. Fullerton is NOT about to turn the Sky into the Sun Belt.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

If this trash were going to happen, it would have already been announced.

No SUU. No UXDs. Not happening. Fullerton is NOT about to turn the Sky into the Sun Belt.

BOOK IT PEOPLE!

[lakesbison]

Big sky is.rah-traded, perfect for un.d. Haha, without Montana its a D2 league

[SUUTbird]

If this trash were going to happen, it would have already been announced.

No SUU. No UXDs. Not happening. Fullerton is NOT about to turn the Sky into the Sun Belt.

I highly doubt adding the Dakotas and SUU will weaken the already "super strong" BIg Sky. Seriously Super you really need to quit crying about it. North and South Dakota along with SUU are all up and coming teams and could probably compete and even beat several of the current Big Sky members. Not to mention that my Thunderbirds beat a very good #13 ranked Cal Poly team two weeks ago and is already joining the conference. If anything it will help strengthen the conference.

Since you seem so uppty about it and hellbent against SUU and the Dakotas joining you can try and bring up again how bringing Colorado School of Mines would make the conference stronger then the Dakotas and SUU. Maybe you could throw in Fort Lewis or Adams State as well!!

[EWURanger]

Big sky is.rah-traded, perfect for un.d. Haha, without Montana its a D2 league

Don't get out much, do you? Any of the top 4 or 5 teams in the Big Sky would smoke NDSU this year. You're just pissed off that the BSC is considering the UXD's when the UXSU's didn't get in. Different time, different situation. It's understandable.

[JBB]

The only reason that UND was not offered a Summit membership already is the Summit was waiting on resolution on the "Fighting Sioux" name. It is resolved and the Summit is visiting UND next week. Of course you know this.

DUH!!!!

Did you even read what the UND "football expert" said? He said they didnt commit to the Summit. Of course they didnt. They were never invited genius. Ohio State and UCLA never committed either.

Site visit planned or not UND has not had a Summit s site visit, much less an invite.

My two best friends. UBH and SS.

Im still waiting for solid confirmation but this is great news if UND goes. They will be far too busy to continue their harassment of NDSU and maybe slo stang and his butt buddy "blubbering horribulus" will be so busy with the new league and all the talk etc etc, that they will have trouble finding the time to harass?

[AZGrizFan]

The only reason that UND was not offered a Summit membership already is the Summit was waiting on resolution on the "Fighting Sioux" name. It is resolved and the Summit is visiting UND next week. Of course you know this.

DUH!!!!

Did you even read what the UND "football expert" said? He said they didnt commit to the Summit. Of course they didnt. They were never invited genius. Ohio State and UCLA never committed either.

Site visit planned or not UND has not had a Summit s site visit, much less an invite.

My two best friends. UBH and SS.

Im still waiting for solid confirmation but this is great news if UND goes. They will be far too busy to continue their harassment of NDSU and maybe slo stang and his butt buddy "blubbering horribulus" will be so busy with the new league and all the talk etc etc, that they will have trouble finding the time to harass?

You are a complete douchetard. And your bizarre obsession with UND is really rather disturbing.

[SuperHornet]

If this trash were going to happen, it would have already been announced.

No SUU. No UXDs. Not happening. Fullerton is NOT about to turn the Sky into the Sun Belt.

I highly doubt adding the Dakotas and SUU will weaken the already "super strong" BIg Sky. Seriously Super you really need to quit crying about it. North and South Dakota along with SUU are all up and coming teams and could probably compete and even beat several of the current Big Sky members. Not to mention that my Thunderbirds beat a very good #13 ranked Cal Poly team two weeks ago and is already joining the conference. If anything it will help strengthen the conference.

Since you seem so uppty about it and hellbent against SUU and the Dakotas joining you can try and bring up again how bringing Colorado School of Mines would make the conference stronger then the Dakotas and SUU. Maybe you could throw in Fort Lewis or Adams State as well!!

You take things WAY too far. My argument against the UXDs have NOTHING to do with my argument against weak SUU. The UXDs would stretch the conference out way too far and are too difficult to get to. SUU is ALSO difficult to reach, but would not stretch the conference. SUU is just weak. Can't even prevent a 4-win team from winning a conference title. Completely different arguments.

And quit exaggerating Mines' weakness. Sure, they have cr@ppy facilities, but they ARE ranked (or were last week). Can anyone remember the last time SUU was ranked? Besides, my entire argument for Mines rested on LOCATION, which SUU fails on. So would Ft. Lewis and Adams State.

[EWURanger]

SH, stop brining up this Mines, Ft. Lewis, and Adams State nonsense. None of those would even be remotely considered by the BSC for expansion. Fail.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

The only reason that UND was not offered a Summit membership already is the Summit was waiting on resolution on the "Fighting Sioux" name. It is resolved and the Summit is visiting UND next week. Of course you know this.

DUH!!!!

Did you even read what the UND "football expert" said? He said they didnt commit to the Summit. Of course they didnt. They were never invited genius. Ohio State and UCLA never committed either.

Site visit planned or not UND has not had a Summit s site visit, much less an invite.

My two best friends. UBH and SS.

Im still waiting for solid confirmation but this is great news if UND goes. They will be far too busy to continue their harassment of NDSU and maybe slo stang and his butt buddy "blubbering horribulus" will be so busy with the new league and all the talk etc etc, that they will have trouble finding the time to harass?

Getting your teeth kicked in on every thread has got to get to ya JustaBunchaBullshit so I'll forgive ya for using my name in vain like you did this time.

You're welcome.


As a fan base UND fans are far more palatable than the NDSU. It's nice not to have look around and constantly be embarrassed by the dumb shit someone from your conference says. I'll give the MVFC fans credit for distancing themselves from most of you guys.

SH...you ever thought about taking an online course from NDSU?

[SuperHornet]

SH, stop brining up this Mines, Ft. Lewis, and Adams State nonsense. None of those would even be remotely considered by the BSC for expansion. Fail.

Pay attention, Ranger. The only reason I addressed them was in response to SUU's bringing them up. And I NEVER advocated Lewis or Adams.

[Mike Johnson]

SUU is ALSO difficult to reach, but would not stretch the conference.

You can fly to Cedar City (yes they have a commercial airport) from Sacramento for about $400 round trip. And it is closer to Sacramento than five schools in the Big Sky (8 if you are willing to cross NV on US highways as opposed to Interstates).

The distance in miles and time (according to Google Maps) from California State University-Sacramento to:

Portland State 586 10:00
Southern Utah (through rural NV) 632 11:00
Weber State 682 10:54
Idaho State 704 11:32
Southern Utah (freeway all the way through Vegas) 734 11:54
Northern Arizona 760 12:07
Eastern Washington 815 14:51
Montana State 944 15:58 (includes a lot of non freeway driving)
Montana 974 16:20 (includes a lot of non freeway driving)
Northern Colorado 1143 17:59

There is no way that Southern Utah is harder to get to than many of the other Big Sky schools.

Note, I drove back and forth almost every week across NV on those roads for almost three years.

SUU is just weak.

SUU is getting more votes than CSU-Sacramento in the FCS poll.

Sagarin lists the Big Sky and actual and potential candidates in the following order:

1 FCS Rank = 7 All Division I Rank = 80 Northern Arizona Sagarin Rating = 67.18 Wins = 4; Losses = 3
2 FCS Rank = 8 All Division I Rank = 83 Eastern Washington Sagarin Rating = 66.41 Wins = 6; Losses = 2
3 FCS Rank = 10 All Division I Rank = 91 Montana State Sagarin Rating = 65.05 Wins = 6; Losses = 2
4 FCS Rank = 14 All Division I Rank = 97 Montana Sagarin Rating = 64.3 Wins = 6; Losses = 2
5 FCS Rank = 18 All Division I Rank = 105 Sacramento State Sagarin Rating = 61.71 Wins = 3; Losses = 4
a FCS Rank = 27 All Division I Rank = 122 Cal Poly-SLO Sagarin Rating = 58.85 Wins = 5; Losses = 3
b FCS Rank = 28 All Division I Rank = 124 Southern Utah Sagarin Rating = 58.13 Wins = 4; Losses = 4
6 FCS Rank = 34 All Division I Rank = 136 Portland State Sagarin Rating = 56.58 Wins = 2; Losses = 5
7 FCS Rank = 37 All Division I Rank = 142 Weber State Sagarin Rating = 56.2 Wins = 4; Losses = 3
c FCS Rank = 44 All Division I Rank = 151 UC Davis Sagarin Rating = 54.15 Wins = 3; Losses = 4
d FCS Rank = 53 All Division I Rank = 164 South Dakota Sagarin Rating = 52.11 Wins = 3; Losses = 5
e FCS Rank = 55 All Division I Rank = 167 North Dakota Sagarin Rating = 50.78 Wins = 2; Losses = 5
8 FCS Rank = 60 All Division I Rank = 173 Northern Colorado Sagarin Rating = 49.6 Wins = 2; Losses = 6
9 FCS Rank = 86 All Division I Rank = 205 Idaho State Sagarin Rating = 43 Wins = 1; Losses = 6

Note, in left column, number is the order in the Big Sky, letter is the order among the candidates.

You are entitled to your opinion, but your opinion doesn't make it a fact.

SUU went from about 40 scholarships to about 60 about three years ago and the fruit of that effort is now showing. If they hadn't made that increase, I might agree with you, but that was a different time.

[SUUTbird]

I highly doubt adding the Dakotas and SUU will weaken the already "super strong" BIg Sky. Seriously Super you really need to quit crying about it. North and South Dakota along with SUU are all up and coming teams and could probably compete and even beat several of the current Big Sky members. Not to mention that my Thunderbirds beat a very good #13 ranked Cal Poly team two weeks ago and is already joining the conference. If anything it will help strengthen the conference.

Since you seem so uppty about it and hellbent against SUU and the Dakotas joining you can try and bring up again how bringing Colorado School of Mines would make the conference stronger then the Dakotas and SUU. Maybe you could throw in Fort Lewis or Adams State as well!!

You take things WAY too far. My argument against the UXDs have NOTHING to do with my argument against weak SUU. The UXDs would stretch the conference out way too far and are too difficult to get to. SUU is ALSO difficult to reach, but would not stretch the conference. SUU is just weak. Can't even prevent a 4-win team from winning a conference title. Completely different arguments.

And quit exaggerating Mines' weakness. Sure, they have cr@ppy facilities, but they ARE ranked (or were last week). Can anyone remember the last time SUU was ranked? Besides, my entire argument for Mines rested on LOCATION, which SUU fails on. So would Ft. Lewis and Adams State.

In what way shape or form is SUU not a good location or a matter of fact better location then Mines? Seriously i agree with Ranger stop bringing it up, the idea makes no sense at all. And if you are talking about terms of travel and location the ONLY schools Mines is close to is UNC. SUU has a way better location with being in driving distance of Weber, Idaho State and Northern Arizona. Not to mention the fact we charter flight now from Vegas which allows us to get to our games that much easier. Know your fact SH. And we are weak? After barely losing to NAU in the final seconds and beating #13 ranked Cal Poly we are a weak team? We are 4-2 against fellow FCS schools this season and where you guys are 2-3. Not at all dissing the Sac State team as i know they are a good gritty bunch but to put it plainly, your comments are just stupid and have no merit.

[JBB]

DUH!!!!

Did you even read what the UND "football expert" said? He said they didnt commit to the Summit. Of course they didnt. They were never invited genius. Ohio State and UCLA never committed either.

Site visit planned or not UND has not had a Summit s site visit, much less an invite.

My two best friends. UBH and SS.

Im still waiting for solid confirmation but this is great news if UND goes. They will be far too busy to continue their harassment of NDSU and maybe slo stang and his butt buddy "blubbering horribulus" will be so busy with the new league and all the talk etc etc, that they will have trouble finding the time to harass?

Getting your teeth kicked in on every thread has got to get to ya JustaBunchaBullshit so I'll forgive ya for using my name in vain like you did this time.

You're welcome.


As a fan base UND fans are far more palatable than the NDSU. It's nice not to have look around and constantly be embarrassed by the dumb **** someone from your conference says. I'll give the MVFC fans credit for distancing themselves from most of you guys.

SH...you ever thought about taking an online course from NDSU?

I know you are annoited and something of a know it all, but really. JBB.

No, really urahorribleass, if you dont like me thats fine, but dont drag down all NDSU fans by associating them with me. Im not really one of them. So my advice urahorribleass if you dont want to play nice with us go play with yourself!!

[JBB]

Now hopefully back to the thread.

If all 3 are invited, the Montana(s) arent leaving. Numbers dont add up. But the rumors are all falling through. There may not be as much going on as we might think. Of course UND might be holding things up by waiting for the Summit visit and decision. USD might be pressuring the Summit for more action with the MVFC. Neither of these schools wants to go the BSC. Too much travel. Both want what the Mighty Land Grants have. This doesnt have to happen this week. There are many many months in front of us.

[JBB]

DUH!!!!

Did you even read what the UND "football expert" said? He said they didnt commit to the Summit. Of course they didnt. They were never invited genius. Ohio State and UCLA never committed either.

Site visit planned or not UND has not had a Summit s site visit, much less an invite.

My two best friends. UBH and SS.

Im still waiting for solid confirmation but this is great news if UND goes. They will be far too busy to continue their harassment of NDSU and maybe slo stang and his butt buddy "blubbering horribulus" will be so busy with the new league and all the talk etc etc, that they will have trouble finding the time to harass?

You are a complete douchetard. And your bizarre obsession with UND is really rather disturbing.

You have an embarrassing stain on the front of your pants! Thought you might like to know.

Now, what were you saying again?

[JBB]

My sincere hope is SUU and UND to the BSC. I would like to see USD in the Summit. If they stay the MVFC is going to have to support them. If not, even with the expanded travel costs, neither of these programs can recruit right now with the current conference situation. Something has to change for these schools and for the good of the entire FCS. Three viable members cant be left hung out to dry:

SUU Big Sky
UND Big Sky
USD Summit and MVFC

[SuperHornet]

SUU Big Sky
UND Big Sky
USD Summit and MVFC

How does that work? Even factoring in all the smack I've been throwing SUU's way, there's more viable argument for them than there is for UND to come alone. Anyone's looking at a REALLY long road trip otherwise (I'm speaking hoops/VB, of course) unless there's an odd number of teams (i.e. out-and-back only). However bad it looks out here, SUU can be paired with either WSU or NAU. Who does UND pair with unless NDSU or one of the South Dakotas come?

Not a chance.

[JBB]

Its just a hope and a dream. I think SUU is in, even if they did miss the big announcement yesterday. I pray UND is in too, no matter how little sense it makes: probably approaching 1 mill/yr in total travel costs for each school all sports. I think UND looks good in the BSC.

USD, we need them in the Summit so....

[JBB]

Its looking like the BSC is putting the brakes on things. What looked like something immediate was about to happen and invitations had been made now looks more like the BSC the Mighty Land Grants came to know. Hot and cold and then no.

University of Montana Athletic Director Jim O'Day said he was aware that the three schools had expressed interest in joining the Big Sky, but said he didn't think any decision would be made soon.

"I haven't heard anything new, although I keep hearing rumors," O'Day said Wednesday from Missoula.

"The more you invite, the more ways you split up proceeds from NCAA basketball money ... each share is worth about $1 million (to the Big Sky), and when you go from splitting that nine ways to more than that, you lose a revenue piece."

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/articl ... S/10280325" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It may be possible that the BSC is asking for concessions from the Dakota schools. Adding them puts a tremendous travel burden on the rest of the league. The concessions might just be too much so things are slowing down from "its in their hands".

[grizzaholic]

This thread has been a good read....

I would like to thank the SUU fans for tossing in their nickel......but even more than that I would like to thank Ursus. He has really picked this thread up from the ashes.