Big Sky Expansion

[SloStang]

I agree with you Lakes, it has no affect on NDSU and its recruiting at all. Its going to impact the schools out west though. They were already out there because they couldnt get anybody when they went up against NDSU and the other schools so they beat the bushes out west. Now that they are in the BSC they might be able to penetrate those market more and have a greater impact. With the league I think they will do better with the in state kids too.

Logically you would think joining a top FCS conference would be good for a program, but I am not so sure. It is obviously been good for SDSU who has already parlayed joining the MVFC into national rankings and playoff berths. It has not gone so well for NDSU who went from being nationally ranked and winning conference championships in the Great West to no national rankings and less than impressive records in the MVFC (6-5 in 2008, 3-8 in 2009 and currently sit at 2-3 in the MVFC). I guess we will have to wait and see how it goes for UND and USD.

[SloStang]

No deal My Good Man, no deal. Your behavior toward me has left me no choice but to acknowledge your character and move on. I have never come after you but you have sought me out since I think D2 days in another name and simply spoken about me in the worst possible terms and encouraged others to do the same. In so doing you have created many unpleasant situations. I dont want any part of that. When you disagree with someone you do not have the right to the personal attack. I will however acknowledge that you can go your own way without any trouble from me. For that I dont need a deal.

You are really reaching now. I do not visit DII boards. Sounds like someone on the DII board got tired of all your BS towards UND too. I know your act has even worn thin on NDSU's boards. In fact you are banned from one of them. I also do not see you any more on AGS so I assume you are banned there. I have never been banned on any board so maybe you really need to take a hard look in a mirror and see if maybe just maybe you are the problem. I do not personally attack you, only your post that attack UND. I can see where you would think I am always on your case because you are always on UND's. I will move on because it obviously does not slow you down. My only hope is now that you do not have to worry about UND being in the same conference you can move on too.

Peace.

[catbob]

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ap ... ts/?p=6928" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Screamin_Eagle174]

We need to change our name to BFC - Big Fuckin' Conference.

[kemajic]

Its all sports! Its a hit on the Summit, but the BSC has really evolved. I think its a good deal for them, outside of travel costs of course.

I guess from Boise St., Nevada and Idaho to the Great West refugees is one form of evolution....

[Fresno St. Alum]

N.Dakota, S.Dakota, S.Utah will be full members so does that mean Montana is staying? WAC going 8/10, Sky going 12/14 makes me think so. Otherwise why wouldn't the WAC go 8/9 and wait to see what Montana does then go 9/10 with them 8/10 w/o them.

The desperate people on the WAC board are hoping that the master plan is to add the 2 big basketball markets to lure BYU in for 8/11 and Montana then comes on to make it 9/12. Of course the WCC could just Moutain West the WAC by adding Seattle and Denver which are better fits for the WCC than the WAC, thus fucking that plan up.

Congrats to Slycat & Catmom for getting into the WAC and congrats to the SUU,UND,USD fans for finding a home in the western powerhouse conf aka CAA West.

[Fresno St. Alum]

SLC needs to get on the phone with UTPA, Houston Baptist, Delta St., Tarleton St. to get 2 of those 4 in. Summit needs to call Chicago St., UTPA, Houston Baptist, UN-Omaha, Bellarmine before they get Great Wested by the MVC by adding NDSU/SDSU as full members. I hear Oral Roberts might be on the SLC radar as well.

[GeauxSioux]

UND schedules a big announcement

UND has scheduled a press conference today to make a major announcement regarding conference affiliation.

The school is expected to announce that it will join the Big Sky Conference as a full member, ending a three-year search for a stable home for its Division I athletic programs.

The announcement will take place at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center at 3 p.m. If the Big Sky becomes the home for Sioux athletics, it will be the biggest single development since UND moved its athletic programs to the Division I level.

A new era for North Dakota.

[cats2506]

We need to change our name to BFC - Big ****' Conference.

very true

[Sly Fox]

Congrats to SUU, UND & USD on the move. This is obviously a big step forward for all three programs.

As for the Southland talk, HBU is probably waiting by the phone right now and if the Southland chose to take a non-football then after ORU they would be the best choice. Not sure I see ORU going anywhere. HBU doesn't exactly deliver the Houston market but it certainly would be a nice fit otherwise. And for the record, didn't the Islanders promise to begin the process of starting up football as part of their entrance to the SLC? Perhaps there could be some pressure exerted to speed up that time table.

[SloStang]

Its all sports! Its a hit on the Summit, but the BSC has really evolved. I think its a good deal for them, outside of travel costs of course.

I guess from Boise St., Nevada and Idaho to the Great West refugees is one form of evolution....

Hey didn't one of those refugees beat your beloved Griz this year?

[EWURanger]

http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2010/11/ ... 05326.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Big(ger) Sky Conference. USD still pending.

[bpcats]

Idaho State cannot be happy about this.

It will make the recruiting battles very interesting because the California kids can stay home, UM and EWU will fight over Washington kids. Nigel Burton will try to lock down I-5 corridor. UNC will have to fight to keep its in-state kids

All I know that North Dakota came in and beat the Griz,
South Dakota gave MSU all they could handle
MSU barely beat SUU in mud bowl where a 3 yard run was the equivalent of a 50 yard bomb.
UC Davis waxed MSU last time we played
Cal Poly beat the Griz
Going undefeated in the conference may never happen again in football

The Big Sky may be a stronger conference than the WAC by the time all is said and done.

Air miles will be wracking up.

[EWURanger]

Idaho State cannot be happy about this.

It will make the recruiting battles very interesting because the California kids can stay home, UM and EWU will fight over Washington kids. Nigel Burton will try to lock down I-5 corridor. UNC will have to fight to keep its in-state kids

All I know that North Dakota came in and beat the Griz,
South Dakota gave MSU all they could handle
MSU barely beat SUU in mud bowl where a 3 yard run was the equivalent of a 50 yard bomb.
UC Davis waxed MSU last time we played
Cal Poly beat the Griz
Going undefeated in the conference may never happen again in football

The Big Sky may be a stronger conference than the WAC by the time all is said and done.

Air miles will be wracking up.

Still interested in how this divisional thing is going to work. I personally want EWU in a division with a pacific coast flavor.......I.E. with PSU and the three Cali schools.

Also, Burton may try and lock down the I-5 corridor - I know he has mentioned it - but I think it will be difficult as both EWU and Montana recruit that area heavily. Both programs have winning traditions PSU does not.

[Fresno St. Alum]

The split will likely look like this
WEST
UC Davis
Cal Poly
Portland St.
E.Washington
S.Utah
Sacramento St.
N.Arizona
EAST
Montana
Montana St.
Idaho St.
Weber St.
N.Colorado
N.Dakota
S.Dakota

If they split for basketball Weber St. would move to the west replacing UCD & CP for a 6/6

[Wildcat Ryan]

The split will likely look like this
WEST
UC Davis
Cal Poly
Portland St.
E.Washington
S.Utah
Sacramento St.
N.Arizona
EAST
Montana
Montana St.
Idaho St.
Weber St.
N.Colorado
N.Dakota
S.Dakota

If they split for basketball Weber St. would move to the west replacing UCD & CP for a 6/6

I'd hate to see Weber separated from the Montana's and Idaho State, there is alot of history there

[Mike Johnson]

So far the announcements are for SUU and UND.

http://www.bigskyconf.com/splash.aspx
http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2010/11/ ... 05326.aspx
http://www.suutbirds.com/ViewArticle.db ... =205022584
http://www.fightingsioux.com/

I haven't seen anything about South Dakota.

13 football and 11 most sports schools are strange numbers. Either USD didn't want to leave the Summit or there is an expectation that Montana will leave.

CEDAR CITY, Utah, Nov. 1 – Southern Utah University’s athletic program will have a new home, beginning in the fall of 2012, as the Thunderbirds have accepted an invitation to join the Big Sky Conference.

SUU received and accepted a formal invitation to join the conference on Friday. The University of North Dakota also accepted an invitation from the Big Sky on Friday and will be announcing its intent to join the conference today.

“The presidents wanted to position the Big Sky Conference as a major player in football in the West,’’ Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton said. “But most importantly, we wanted the right kinds of schools. Our presidents have always been driven by adding institutions that fit with the schools we currently have. We’ve added two institutions that meet the criteria, and we’ve positioned ourselves to meet the visions of the presidents. We’re building a new kind of FCS conference.”

[BisonBacker]

Idaho State cannot be happy about this.

It will make the recruiting battles very interesting because the California kids can stay home, UM and EWU will fight over Washington kids. Nigel Burton will try to lock down I-5 corridor. UNC will have to fight to keep its in-state kids

All I know that North Dakota State University came in and beat the Griz,
South Dakota gave MSU all they could handle
MSU barely beat SUU in mud bowl where a 3 yard run was the equivalent of a 50 yard bomb.
UC Davis waxed MSU last time we played
Cal Poly beat the Griz
Going undefeated in the conference may never happen again in football

The Big Sky may be a stronger conference than the WAC by the time all is said and done.

Air miles will be wracking up.

There I fixed that for you.

[cats2506]

The split will likely look like this
WEST
UC Davis
Cal Poly
Portland St.
E.Washington
S.Utah
Sacramento St.
N.Arizona
EAST
Montana
Montana St.
Idaho St.
Weber St.
N.Colorado
N.Dakota
S.Dakota

If they split for basketball Weber St. would move to the west replacing UCD & CP for a 6/6

I'd hate to see Weber separated from the Montana's and Idaho State, there is alot of history there

I agree, those 4 charter members of the BSC should stay together

[canyoncat]

Welcome to all the new members to the Big Sky Conference. I think Jalmonds head just exploded thinking about ranking 14 teams starting in 2012.

[Mike Johnson]

SI.com is announcing SUU and UND and that the league is on the verge of announcing USD.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/f ... d.ld.0165/

But, still nothing official from the Big Sky or from USD.

[Willie]

Idaho State cannot be happy about this.

It will make the recruiting battles very interesting because the California kids can stay home, UM and EWU will fight over Washington kids. Nigel Burton will try to lock down I-5 corridor. UNC will have to fight to keep its in-state kids

All I know that North Dakota State University came in and beat the Griz,
South Dakota gave MSU all they could handle
MSU barely beat SUU in mud bowl where a 3 yard run was the equivalent of a 50 yard bomb.
UC Davis waxed MSU last time we played
Cal Poly beat the Griz
Going undefeated in the conference may never happen again in football

The Big Sky may be a stronger conference than the WAC by the time all is said and done.

Air miles will be wracking up.

There I fixed that for you.

And that was 7 years ago. Get over it.

[Mike Johnson]

And that was 7 years ago. Get over it.

That is a once ever event for NDSU--getting a 25-24 win over Montana. So, let him glory in it as long as he keeps it off the Big Sky threads.

[EWURanger]

The split will likely look like this
WEST
UC Davis
Cal Poly
Portland St.
E.Washington
S.Utah
Sacramento St.
N.Arizona
EAST
Montana
Montana St.
Idaho St.
Weber St.
N.Colorado
N.Dakota
S.Dakota

If they split for basketball Weber St. would move to the west replacing UCD & CP for a 6/6

I'd hate to see Weber separated from the Montana's and Idaho State, there is alot of history there

In football, you'd still play a couple of cross-divisional games........I.E. if EWU were in a "Pacific" Division and Montana and MSU in a "Mountain" Division, they'd still play due to proximity and history. Not sure how it would work for b-ball though.

[rabidrabbit]

Very happy for SUU.

Happy for the Sioux, however, think that would have been better in a Summit/MVFC but the other MVFC schools didn't see it that way.

Disappointed that USD is backing out of their commitment to the Summit. Understand the 'Yotes need a football home.

Likely to play the 6 games on division side, then 2 of the other division's schools on home/home for two years. So, likely to not play MT but 2x in a 6 year cycle if on the Pacific side.

Strong conference gets stronger, and devastates the WAC all at the same time. Montana not leaving would REALLY hurt the WAC. IMHO UTSA isn't ready to help the WAC out. TX St., not a bad fit, but definitely not any better than SJSU or NMSU quality wise/ attendence wise.