THE DAKOTA BIG 3

[DJH]

There is a point of diminishing returns in trying to publicly dismiss and disrespect your rival, beyond which it becomes obvious to everyone that your rival is well and truly under your skin. Not sure exactly where that line is, but making up and capitalizing an imaginary championship which virtually no one else in your own fanbase or the SDSU and USD fanbases even recognizes is almost certainly on the wrong side of it.

[Cap'n Cat]

There is a point of diminishing returns in trying to publicly dismiss and disrespect your rival, beyond which it becomes obvious to everyone that your rival is well and truly under your skin. Not sure exactly where that line is, but making up and capitalizing an imaginary championship which virtually no one else in your own fanbase or the SDSU and USD fanbases even recognizes is almost certainly on the wrong side of it.

[lakesbison]

does UNI want to be in the tournament? maybe you can go ONE and done

[Grizalltheway]

does UNI want to be in the tournament? maybe you can go ONE and done

Maybe you can try beating them ONCE before you run your fat mouth.

[DJH]

does UNI want to be in the tournament? maybe you can go ONE and done

UNI is 10-1 against the D1 Dakota schools. Looks like we are the champs.

[JBB]

What do the hamburbers, jackbunnies, and roadrunner chasers have that UND doesn't?

A win over a I-A/FBS school (which I think is where the actual origin of the construct that is the "Dakota Big 3" in JBB's mind was born out of)

That is an insightful observation and generally correct. Certainly the FBS/BCS victory is important, but the overriding tie that binds is the conference affiliation. They are all in the MVFC. Thats what the Dakota Big 3 teams have that UND doesnt.*

Right now NDSU is the "Best College Football Team in the Dakotas"! Go BISON!!

* SDSU doesnt have this coveted FBS/BCS victory yet but they did make the playoffs in their first year of eligibility.

[bjtheflamesfan]

You do know that all three of the "Dakota Big 3" have a losing record to UND (as another poster astutely noted) correct?

[DJH]

You do know that all three of the "Dakota Big 3" have a losing record to UND (as another poster astutely noted) correct?

The "dakota big 3" is the annual round robin tournament that decides the Consolation Championship of the Dakotas.

Congrats to the Bizon for their championship last year.

[bjtheflamesfan]

Not to mention, if you used that same line of logic, you could come up with a "Big 3" in many other states at the FBS AND/OR FCS level

South Carolina
Presbyterian
Coastal Carolina
Charleston Southern

Texas (well until the Bobcats decided to take a step up into FBS)
Stephen F Austin
Texas State
Sam Houston State

AND

Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech

Illinois
Illinois State
Western Illinois
Southern Illinois

Tennessee
Tennessee Tech
Tennessee State
Tennessee-Martin

I could probably go on and on if I spent enough time researching it

[JBB]

Yes indeed, all of those states, if motivated, could do the Big 3, but its a reality here in The Dakotas. NDSU, SDSU and USD have united into the Dakota Big 3 in college athletics. They are the dominate schools "on-the-scene".

Its wonderful to celebrate the past and the great competition from the old NCC days. Now those same stakes are on the line in the MVFC between the last schools standing, the Dakota Big 3: NDSU, SDSU and USD.

[JBB]

does UNI want to be in the tournament? maybe you can go ONE and done

UNI has more claim to a spot in the Dakota Big 3 competition than UND. They are the 4th long time member and rival from the NCC now in the MVFC: NDSU, SDSU, USD and UNI.

[dbackjon]

Not to mention, if you used that same line of logic, you could come up with a "Big 3" in many other states at the FBS AND/OR FCS level

South Carolina
Presbyterian
Coastal Carolina
Charleston Southern

Texas (well until the Bobcats decided to take a step up into FBS)
Stephen F Austin
Texas State
Sam Houston State

AND

Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech

Illinois
Illinois State
Western Illinois
Southern Illinois

Tennessee
Tennessee Tech
Tennessee State
Tennessee-Martin

I could probably go on and on if I spent enough time researching it

Or do the Baptist big three (although you may have to do Southern Baptist, American Baptist, etc)
Methodist Big Three
Catholic Big Three

Maybe mascots:

Lumberjack Big Three:

Northern Arizona
Stephen F Austin
Humboldt State

[JBB]

You do know that all three of the "Dakota Big 3" have a losing record to UND (as another poster astutely noted) correct?

That point was clearly covered in my opining statement:

they (UND) should take pride in their long-term success, especially in the early half of the 20th century, and carry that with them. A team and program of their caliber should, in time, be able to become a strong mid-pack player in the Big Sky Conference, just as they were in the NCC.

That should be the biggest deal in their big deal bag dont you think? Unfortunately they just dont have the necessary criteria to be included in the Dakota Big 3.

[Grizalltheway]

You do know that all three of the "Dakota Big 3" have a losing record to UND (as another poster astutely noted) correct?

That point was clearly covered in my opining statement:

they (UND) should take pride in their long-term success, especially in the early half of the 20th century, and carry that with them. A team and program of their caliber should, in time, be able to become a strong mid-pack player in the Big Sky Conference, just as they were in the NCC.

That should be the biggest deal in their big deal bag dont you think? Unfortunately they just dont have the necessary criteria to be included in the Dakota Big 3.

Learn. How. To. Spell.

[weberwildcat]

I split this out of another thread. Its a topic that is gaining national attention and is certainly of regional interest. Its a hot topic. Please read and discuss:

I know, by what Im hearing from my friends at UND, that being excluded from the Dakota Big 3: NDSU, SDSU and USD, is a sore point with them. They have had good success in the Dakotas over the past 100 yrs.

Since 1965, the generally agreed upon date of the "Modern era of Football in the Dakotas", its been a whole lot different, but they should take pride in their long-term success, especially in the early half of the 20th century, and carry that with them. A team and program of their caliber should, in time, be able to become a strong mid-pack player in the Big Sky Conference, just as they were in the NCC.

The BSC is a good home for them. More than enough weak teams to keep their won/loss in balance but also a few teams that can get them some national interest. NDSU and SDSU provided that for them in the old NCC.

But the fact is, there is no room for an outsider in the Dakota Big 3. If Minnesota loses to the BISON again, NDSU doesnt get the Little Brown Jug. Its the same for UND. They no longer participate in the Dakota Football Championship with the Dakota Big 3. They are just another OOC game for the Big 3 Dakota schools will little in common since they quit in 2003.

When the Dakota Big 3: NDSU, SDSU and USD, play they are playing for the same stakes: Dakota pride, conference standing, home playoff games, national recognition, etc. The same things that made the competition great among the Dakota schools in the old NCC rolls on with the Dakota Big 3: NDSU, SDSU and USD. UND no longer shares these common traits and interests. They are out west someplace a time zone or two away.

Sure UND can brag, boast and complain, some of their stronger points by-the-way, about not being included but they would be better served trying to get something going for themselves in the BSC. They have a chance to build a great rivalry with old NCC mate UNC.

They could also get some of the Dakota flair if they developed the rivalry with University of Sioux Falls. It could serve as the Jr. Bowl and lead in to the contest between the Mighty Dakota Land Grants, the Border Marker game, as they did for years with USD. USD has since moved up into the Dakota Big 3.

This advice is wise if they do back down to the NCAA and actually gain admittance into the BSC. If they are strong and smart and dont back down, as an independent this advice is even more important.

Good luck to UND as the Big 3 Dakota schools: NDSU, SDSU and USD, march into the future in a grand competition that will capture not only the eyes of the Mighty Dakota Territories, but the eyes of the nation as well.

i dont think this is an insult to UND. werent they all 4 DII like fairly recently? since they are all equals in FCS and DI i dont think there is a big anything. besides what is the difference between the 4? isnt being in the big sky better than the missouri valley?

[weberwildcat]

isnt und the best of the group in basketball? if you ask me that is the most important college sport.

[JBB]

No, they aren't the best in basketball. They are the best in hockey though.

I dont know if the BSC is better than the MVFC, there are a lot of bad teams in the BSC and the ones they just invited arent really a boost up. Schools like EWU travel OOC to meet a Dakota Big 3 member. I know Montana is traveling and so is Montana State to play Dakota Big 3 member the NDSU BISON.

[JBB]

I split this out of another thread. Its a topic that is gaining national attention and is certainly of regional interest. Its a hot topic. Please read and discuss:

i dont think this is an insult to UND. werent they all 4 DII like fairly recently? since they are all equals in FCS and DI i dont think there is a big anything. besides what is the difference between the 4? isnt being in the big sky better than the missouri valley?

No, its not an insult, its the truth.

[griz8791]

. . . Schools like EWU travel OOC to meet a Dakota Big 3 member. I know Montana is traveling and so is Montana State to play Dakota Big 3 member the NDSU BISON.

Wait, so traveling to Fargo is a sign of weakness? I thought not traveling to Fargo was a sign of weakness. Or a breach of contract, or bad faith, or something.

[JBB]

No, no, it has nothing to do with strong or weak. Thats neanderthal. The point I was making is the status of the Big 3 and how the BSC schools are traveling to the Dakota Big 3 schools. The Dakota Big 3 Rule!!

[houndawg]

There is a point of diminishing returns in trying to publicly dismiss and disrespect your rival, beyond which it becomes obvious to everyone that your rival is well and truly under your skin. Not sure exactly where that line is, but making up and capitalizing an imaginary championship which virtually no one else in your own fanbase or the SDSU and USD fanbases even recognizes is almost certainly on the wrong side of it.

"If you want to operate a large farm, go to NDSU. If you want to own a large farm, go to UND."

Ever since Dale Lennon said that, the question of Dakota supremacy has been over.


I'm guessing the hate comes from years of toil on Lennon's farm - hay is tough work, especially while you're out there in the hot sun and the UND grad that owns the place is drinking iced tea on the porch.

[NDSUFREAK]

There is a point of diminishing returns in trying to publicly dismiss and disrespect your rival, beyond which it becomes obvious to everyone that your rival is well and truly under your skin. Not sure exactly where that line is, but making up and capitalizing an imaginary championship which virtually no one else in your own fanbase or the SDSU and USD fanbases even recognizes is almost certainly on the wrong side of it.

"If you want to operate a large farm, go to NDSU. If you want to own a large farm, go to UND."

Ever since Dale Lennon said that, the question of Dakota supremacy has been over.


I'm guessing the hate comes from years of toil on Lennon's farm - hay is tough work, especially while you're out there in the hot sun and the UND grad that owns the place is drinking iced tea on the porch.

Actually, there are more NDSU grads and donors that own AND operate their own farms and equipment companies that are some of the biggest in the nation, if not the world. So it was a cute reference at the time for "The Stache" but technically not true.

[JBB]

The Dakota Big 3: NDSU, SDSU and USD, isnt about owning farms, although NDSU is the largest land holding Mighty land Grant Institution in this formally great country of ours. The Dakota Big 3 is about sharing a common heritage, long productive associations, its about belonging to a group representing the Dakotas in the Dakota Centeric MVFC.

Its not about silly things and speculative, sophmoric things like you talk about houndawg. Its not about the funniest dig, or the most cleaver insult. Its not about the small things that occupy your mind. Its about competing for the title of Best College Football Team in the Dakotas. Its about capturing the hearts and minds of the public with a sporting event spanning over the two states. Its about taking the best the states have to offer and playing it out on the field for all the marbles. The Border Marker started the tradition and now it continues.

The Dakota Big 3, a tradition born in Division 1 among the top institutions of higher learning in the Dakotas, will carry on the traditions established in the old NCC as we compete against one another for Conference supremecy, playoffs and championships.

[NDSUFREAK]

The Dakota Big 3: NDSU, SDSU and USD, isnt about owning farms, although NDSU is the largest land holding Mighty land Grant Institution in this formally great country of ours. The Dakota Big 3 is about sharing a common heritage, long productive associations, its about belonging to a group representing the Dakotas in the Dakota Centeric MVFC.

Its not about silly things and speculative, sophmoric things like you talk about houndawg. Its not about the funniest dig, or the most cleaver insult. Its not about the small things that occupy your mind. Its about competing for the title of Best College Football Team in the Dakotas. Its about capturing the hearts and minds of the public with a sporting event spanning over the two states. Its about taking the best the states have to offer and playing it out on the field for all the marbles. The Border Marker started the tradition and now it continues.

The Dakota Big 3, a tradition born in Division 1 among the top institutions of higher learning in the Dakotas, will carry on the traditions established in the old NCC as we compete against one another for Conference supremecy, playoffs and championships.

You realize you are the ONLY person that calls this worth while?

[JBB]

There are hundreds if not thousands of people that recognize the competition between NDSU and SDSU as the game that decides the Best College Football Team in the Dakotas. The Dakota Big 3 includes USD and SDSU doesnt like that.