NDSU and the WAC

[JBB]

The WAC is by all accounts on the verge of losing Boise State. With that real possiblility talk of a replacement, or replacements, has started.

NDSU has now officially been mentioned as a possible new WAC member:

Geographically speaking there are very few options remaining for the WAC, unless a school like Montana decides the time to jump up in competition is now. North Dakota State? The odds of any team leaving another conference for the WAC are very slim, as the WAC find themselves toward the bottom portion of the pecking order of collegiate conferences in football.

http://www.examiner.com/x-30425-College ... oming-soon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This comes with a dose of surprise but it is not unexpected. NDSU has had as its long-term goal full membership in an FBS all sports conference. The State of North Dakota is ripe for this type of move. The stadium we have now is small but things seem to be working out in a way that would not only provide for a great new basketball arena but also a new football stadium. The football stadium wont be talked about unless an FBS all sports conference invite becomes a more realistic probability.

Its my belief that NDSU is actively seeking this type of invite. Not publicly of course but behind the scenes. The WAC would mean leaving the Summit and MVFC. The replacement in those conferences would of course be UND.

This is the first mention we have had in the "official" FBS talk. It wont be the last. I truly hope this could work out for NDSU.
_________________

[dbackjon]

Montana and NDSU as a package deal

[JBB]

That is now a real possibility.

[houndawg]

I guess the Bison are already tired of dominating the MVC.

[Catattack]

The actual quote is

Geographically speaking there are very few options remaining for the WAC, unless a school like Montana decides the time to jump up in competition is now. North Dakota?

[JBB]

There has been no misrepresentation. The quote is exactly the way I showed it, and in context with the entire paragraph. All you have to do is check the link. They called out North Dakota State.

This has nothing to do with domination or winning. NDSUs athletic programs are competitive in D1. We have NCAA tournament appearances in mens BB, womens softball and womens volleyball. Our track teams are very good. Our football has, in a few short years been able to beat several FBS teams and achieve a #1 ranking the FCS. The money is a big question but attendance and interest have been rising each year since our move to D1. Its not a reality yet, but membership in and all sports FBS conference is now on the table.

This is about advancing the interests of the institution and the State as a whole. NDSU has become the largest institution in the state. The move to division 1 was part of this. A move to a more highly visible FBS all sports conference would be a logical next step. It appears the opportunity to make this move may come sooner rather than later. This is only the beginning. Mentioning NDSU is not an invite but it means we are on the radar screen now and I think it highlights NDSUs ambitions.

[Catattack]

So you didn't add "State" to his article?

[NDSUFREAK]

I would be all for joining the WAC is the invite is there! But, we should first focus on winning in the valley...cuz we know that hasnt happened the past 2 years...

[Willie]

So you didn't add "State" to his article?

Yeah I just read the article and didn't see "State" either. It says North Dakota.

[dbackjon]

I would be all for joining the WAC is the invite is there! But, we should first focus on winning in the valley...cuz we know that hasnt happened the past 2 years...

FREAK!! Long time!

[JBB]

here it is, quoted again:

Geographically speaking there are very few options remaining for the WAC, unless a school like Montana decides the time to jump up in competition is now. North Dakota State? The odds of any team leaving another conference for the WAC are very slim, as the WAC find themselves toward the bottom portion of the pecking order of collegiate conferences in football.

http://www.examiner.com/x-30425-College ... oming-soon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unless there are two articles you guys are seeing something Im not.

[Willie]

here it is, quoted again:

Geographically speaking there are very few options remaining for the WAC, unless a school like Montana decides the time to jump up in competition is now. North Dakota State? The odds of any team leaving another conference for the WAC are very slim, as the WAC find themselves toward the bottom portion of the pecking order of collegiate conferences in football.

http://www.examiner.com/x-30425-College ... oming-soon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unless there are two articles you guys are seeing something Im not.

That change LITERALLY just happened. It said North Dakota the 3 times prior that I looked at it.

[JBB]

Ive been aware of the article for several hours. It said North Dakota State every time I saw it. I have no idea what you saw. Maybe you read it too fast?

[Willie]

I'm here to tell ya, that the quote Catattack put up, is what it stated.

[JBB]

Its North Dakota State. Thats clear. North Dakota doesnt make any sense. They are in transition. They average around 8,000 for football. Their arena only holds 11,800. NDSU on the other hand averages 18,000 plus, has a 20,000 capacity and is fully integrated into D1.

[Willie]

Yeah, now. Trust me, it was fixed. I'm not calling you a liar.

[JBB]

I hear ya. Im not calling you a liar either but it read North Dakota State several hours ago and still does.

[Willie]

Could be mine and Attack's browser or something, because I saw what I saw, and evidently he did too.

[JBB]

i agree, its very difficult to reconcile what happened. This article has been quoted on bisonsports.net, siouxsports.com and ags. All said North Dakota State.

[Catattack]

They changed it, I quoted the article, and read the comments by the way. I knew what the writer meant and was giving JBB a little $hit.

[SUUTbird]

I think both Montana and NDSU would be very good fits for the WAC, especially if Boise State leaves. This is even more likely now that every conference that doesnt have 12 members is looking to expand (Big Ten looking @ Missouri, Rutegers, Notre Dame and Nebraska. The Pac-10 looking at Utah, Boise State and Colorado) which means some major conference change ups could be in the very near future, and i think the WAC needs a change in their conference as well:

-First Louisiana Tech needs to join either the Sunbelt, Big East or CUSA just because it makes no sense to have a school in Louisiana playing in the Western Athletic Conference.

-With Boise State moving to the Mountain West Conference or Pac-10 and with Louisiana Tech out of the picture those two slots could be easily replaced by the Bison and Montana.

-Also im thinking eventually the WAC may want to get in on the 12 team conference expansion later on which would then open spots for teams like Montana State, Texas State, UTSA(?) and SDSU to move into the conference who (like in the case of MSU) currently undergoing upgrades to their facilities that would enable them to do so.

[DJH]

NDSU is about ready to dominate.

[guinzone]

NDSU is about ready to dominate.

I will believe it when I see it. I was cracking up when I saw the title of this article. They haven't done jack squat in the MVFC, why would the WAC want them?

[JBB]

Teams dont move to the FBS because they are dominate in the FCS. That misses the point and examples abound. Troy State for one. Im sure you have other examples. The MAC as a whole is a great example. Wyoming is another example.

What NDSU has accomplished in the MVFC to date is irrelevant.

The comments to the article I posted are not favorable to NDSU. This perception could change quickly. Clearly Montana has shown they have a more mature program but it was only two years ago NDSU was ranked #1 in the FBS. That was no fluke.

Just for the record last time NDSU was at Montana we won. Last time SIU was in Fargo they lost.

Current membership:

Boise State
Nevada
Fresno State
Idaho
Hawaii
Louisiana Tech
Utah State
New Mexico State
San Jose State

New WAC::

Nevada
Fresno State
Idaho
Hawaii
Louisiana Tech
Utah State
New Mexico State
San Jose State
NDSU
Montana

With the addition of both the conference has 10. Thats not a good number. Chances are they are looking for 1. Montana would certainly get an invite before NDSU, if NDSU were to be considered at all.

[DJH]

Teams dont move to the FBS because they are dominate in the FCS. That misses the point and examples abound. Troy State for one. Im sure you have other examples. The MAC as a whole is a great example. Wyoming is another example.

What NDSU has accomplished in the MVFC to date is irrelevant.

The comments to the article I posted are not favorable to NDSU. This perception could change quickly. Clearly Montana has shown they have a more mature program but it was only two years ago NDSU was ranked #1 in the FBS. That was no fluke.

What NDSU has done in FCS is irrelevant only because you want it to be irrelevant. Because, well, NDSU hasn't accomplished anything in the FCS. Success does matter.

The comments to the article are not favorable to NDSU because nobody gives a crap about north dakota. Nobody knows a darn thing about North Dakota State. Unless you live in North Dakota, nobody even knows who NDSU is. This is the part that you seem to really struggle with.

Nevermind though, I'm sure FBS conferences all over the country are searching and hoping for struggling FCS schools that play in a 19K seat football 'arena', and are located in an area with limited to zero national exposure to headline their football conference. Not to mention NDSU would easily have the worst basketball facilites by FAR, in what is already a already weak WAC basketball conference.