University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO)

[JBB]

Rumors have been circulating in Fargo for some time now. These are not incidental rumors, they are being advanced by the Fargo Forum, the states largest newspaper. The rumor is that UNO is being courted for a move up from D2 to play in the Summit and hopefully, but more speculativly, the MVFC. UNO is currently a member of the MIAA, one of the top conferences in D2. They were invited after the NCC broke up. The rest of the NCC went to the NSIC.

Jeff Kolpack, Forum sports guru, is reporting Summit commissioner Tom Douple and Nebraska-Omaha athletic director Trev Alberts have been hanging around together at the Summit tournament in Sioux Falls. Douple was showing Alberts around the arena, brought him to the press room and generally they are new best buddies.

It’s been no secret that the Summit has had a major interest in Omaha. The school appears to be an obvious target with the Summit, which would probably take the Mavericks in the proverbial heartbeat. The only real question for Omaha is its football program: where would it go?
http://bisonmedia.areavoices.com/

Tom Douple was key in getting University of South Dakota into the Summit and the MVFC and it might be, with Douple at point, that something like that is going on now for 2012 with UNO.

I have been sceptical of this in the past but am getting more interested. It would bring another long time charter member of the old NCC into the leagues. Reuniting the NCC has been something of a touchy subject. I for one would love to have the Omaha football trip back. It was fun. You can do it in one day if you like and they have a beautiful football stadium that seats about 8,000. Of course its a great place to get a hotel and really enjoy the football weekend too.

They fit the footprint of both leagues perfectly, better than NDSU. They were a worthy opponent in all sports and a big rival in Fargo. They wouldnt be part of the Big 3 of course, not being from Dakota Territory, but they would be a welcome NCC legacy school that could be competitive with everyone. Reuinting the old rivalries with NDSU, SDSU and USD would be a plus for the leagues as well.

They have D1 hockey now and have said, over the past couple of years, that they were looking at the situation. At times they have even been a little more open about it.

I have a thumbs up for them.

In a huge Summit league tournament contest, NDSU trails Oral Roberts by 4 at the half.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

All of this is interesting except that from what I understand there is ZERO interest in this from the Nebraska legislature... they want it to be all about Big Red - and I suspect UNO will get an icy reaction from the Unicam in Lincoln if they start down this road (I always figured giving them hockey was their consolation prize)

[SuperHornet]

So long as it's no to Mines in the Sky, it's no to Omaha.

[SloStang]

They look like a great fit for the Summit, but does the MVFC want/need another member?

[JBB]

I think the speculation on the "Big Red" issue is moot. There is nothing there. It may have been that way at one time but if so its no more. There is no evidence of it.

The football question is the kicker. If Villanova goes and YSU moves to replace them a spot in the MVFC is open. It also seems to be common knowledge the more the merrier. Look at the Big Sky. The MVFC isnt even playing all schools. Its kind of like the Big 10. You just cant expect to play every school every year.

(created on a MAC)

[SJHornet]

UNO to the Sky as UND's travel partner!

[SloStang]

That was quick. Went from a hot rumor to a moot point in about 3 hours.

[JBB]

Two things:

1) UND is in the Big Sky, and unless it was a mistake and they are willing to reverse a Kelly decision they are out. Travel partner for UNO is USD. The Mighty Land Grants remain united.

2) There is no evidence to show the Nb. State Legestlature is going to discourage growth at UNO. If there is I would like to see it. Thats why its a moot point.

[JBB]

UNI is also part of the NCC legacy.

UNI
SDSU
USD
NDSU
UNO

These are all charter members of the old NCC.

[Thundering Herd]

UNI is also part of the NCC legacy.

UNI
SDSU
USD
NDSU
UNO

These are all charter members of the old NCC.

Why do you have to live in the past? It's the MVFC now. Nothing else matters.. I would love to have UNO join the MVFC. I think they would be another great competitor. Not sure how the scheduling would work with possibly 11 teams.

[JBB]

HISTORY.

[SloStang]

I thought USD was there in case YSU left. If they did the MVFC would be back to 9 teams which works well. Could the MVFC be preparing for more than YSU leaving? Any other teams considering making the move up?

[Sly Fox]

It seems rather presumptuous to assume YSU would be invited to the CAA. But that seems to be the catalyst for many of these threads.

[lakesbison]

Ndsu needs out of the FCS, just a big joke now.

[houndawg]

The MVC doesn't need any more teams, things are getting diluted already.

[DJH]

Nobody gives a FUCK about some shit DII schools, or what happened in DII 40 years ago.

[DJH]

Ndsu needs out of the FCS, just a big joke now.

lol

[JBB]

For the Summit its a slam dunk. The MVFC might have to think about it for a minute, but they do have a habit of looking to the NCC for help. It all started with UNI.

I dont presume YSU is going anywhere. I havent heard that Nova is gone either. They need to triple their budget to be in the game in the Big East. They may need a lot of capital improvements too. If YSU did leave UNO would be a slam dunk for the MVFC. If they don't UNO could be invited anyway.

I think the MVFC realizes its not 1985 anymore and they cant just sit around pretending they are in a perfect world where nothing changes. They have had their backs to the wall once and were bailed out by the Mighty Dakota Land Grants, D2 schools that moved up from the NCC 4 years prior to the invite. Another D2 school and NCC legacy the MVFC invited is USD. Its possible the MVFC just might be of the mind the more the merrier? It seems to be working for the big Sky. Problem is they are spread out over half a continent.

If UNO is added the MVFC would remain a much more compact and efficient travel conference than the BSC.

[DJH]

For the Summit its a slam dunk. The MVFC might have to think about it for a minute, but they do have a habit of looking to the NCC for help. It all started with UNI.

Wrong. UNI is an original member of the conference.

[SuperHornet]

Nobody gives a **** about some **** DII schools, or what happened in DII 40 years ago.

DJH's "opinion" doesn't necessarily translate into "nobody" caring....

[Thundering Herd]

Ndsu needs out of the FCS, just a big joke now.

So you say just skip right to the Big Ten or Big 12? NDSU and the MVFC is a good position for us. If anyone thinks going to the FBS would go as smoothly as our transition to the FCS, they have to be kidding themselves.

[danefan]

Dont think there any FCS schools in Nebraska, right?

[JBB]

UNI may be an original member of the conference but they left the NCC to become part of it. I believe UNI is also a charter member of the NCC.

[DJH]

UNI may be an original member of the conference but they left the NCC to become part of it. I believe UNI is also a charter member of the NCC.

Nope. Wrong again.

[Thundering Herd]

Dont think there any FCS schools in Nebraska, right?

That is correct. That is why I don't think UNO would take any spot light from Nebraska. If anything, it would keep some of the FCS level prospects in the state.