The University of North Dakota (UND) is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest university in the state and enrolls over 13,100 students.
I know that one of the things that college presidents discuss when considering whether to extend an invitation to a prospective member is the academic side of the equation.
The latest college rankings by US News and World report put North Dakota at #159 in the Tier I rankings. To put this in perspective the only other schools in the Big Sky that were listed as Tier I are Montana (183) and Montana State (191). Future Big Sky football member UC-Davis comes in at #39. Regional WAC members Idaho (153) and Utah State (170). http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandrevie ... s-rankings
BTW, the enrollment figure for this fall is 14,194.
Yes, the geography stinks. Hopefully other factors will overcome that.
JBB, Don't act like you are just here to just talk about Big Sky expansion. Sure you have a few tid bits about that but they are wrapped around back handed slaps aimed at UND. Everyone here knows that you are a one trick pony and that trick is hating on UND.
As far as me loving UND, I respect them as a program and enjoy talking football with 90% of their fans. I also respect NDSU and 90% of their fans. I do not favor one school over the other. It just get's old seeing that 10% of the fans from both schools ruining thread after thread with their p!ssing matches aimed at the other school and you are the stick that stirs that pot 90% of the time. In other words if you stopped posting, 90% of the UND/NDSU fighting would go away and this would be a better board.
As far as me being intolerant, you need to look in the mirror. I have not ever been banned or suspended from any message board. Can you say the same? Dude, take a deep breath and step away from the computer for a while and see a shrink about your hate of UND. It can not be healthy.
JBB wrote:Im pretty sure Montana will leave and Montana State has requested funds to expand their stadium beyond 15,000. Both ADs are also speaking out in favor of the FBS move. Montana because it makes sense, UM because of Montana. I think SUU is a lock, UND second. After that probably USD could be considered football only but that now seems unlikely considering Fullerton's comments.
I follow MSU and MSU football pretty closely, and I've never heard of our AD making any comments supporting a move up.
dbackjon wrote:Idaho, Utah State, San Jose State and New Mexico State would be perfect fits for the Big Sky
The only school of those three whose fans seem somewhat receptive of FCS/ Big Sky is New Mexico State. San Jose is in total denial of their situation and will probably pull the plug after Hawaii goes independent. Utah State and Idaho are probably a harder sell since they had some recent FBS success.
JBB wrote:m pretty sure Montana will leave and Montana State has requested funds to expand their stadium beyond 15,000. Both ADs are also speaking out in favor of the FBS move. Montana because it makes sense, UM because of Montana. I think SUU is a lock, UND second. After that probably USD could be considered football only but that now seems unlikely considering Fullerton's comments.
Their AD hasn't said that, but judging by the Chronicle articles I've read recently, it does seem like MSU is afraid of being relegated to being the other school in the state (which I've repeteadely said is the biggest fallout over us moving up)
JBB wrote:m pretty sure Montana will leave and Montana State has requested funds to expand their stadium beyond 15,000. Both ADs are also speaking out in favor of the FBS move. Montana because it makes sense, UM because of Montana. I think SUU is a lock, UND second. After that probably USD could be considered football only but that now seems unlikely considering Fullerton's comments.
Their AD hasn't said that, but judging by the Chronicle articles I've read recently, it does seem like MSU is afraid of being relegated to being the other school in the state (which I've repeteadely said is the biggest fallout over us moving up)
How would that work if Montana State was a dominating FCS team and Montana became a Wyoming type FBS team?
Would the state's fan base support the winning program or still stick by the Griz?
griz8791 wrote:Nobody knows. I suspect UM would shed some bandwagon fans and MSU would pick some up.
Thanks for the answer, know I little about the state I was just wondering. I hope that Montana chooses wisely, if things don't work out in whatever is left of the WAC I think it would be hard to go home again and recreate your success.
Good luck on whatever you guys choose to do!
Initially, perhaps (not likely imo). But after 10-15 years you'd have an entire generation who grew up only knowing Montana as the single top-tier program in the state. MSU would be the haven of hardcore fans and grads (like pretty much every single other FCS team at the moment), and even a lot of them would probably be Griz fans too since the rivalry will be dead and unknown to them
And I'm not trying to push any agenda here, just trying to make objective observations. I think this is exactly why we're suddenly seeing the stadium push by the MSU prez. They do not want to get left behind, for better or worse
Later this week, UND may find out how much interest the Big Sky Conference has in the school’s athletic program.
If there is a lot of interest, UND’s days as a homeless transitional Division I athletic program could be numbered.
But that’s a big if.
Presidents from the nine schools that comprise the Big Sky Conference will meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Park City, Utah, to discuss league expansion. And UND is right in the middle of any expansion talk.
“The No. 1 issue on the table is expansion,” Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton said.
UND is an attractive candidate for the Big Sky. But that doesn’t mean UND will be offered an invitation. Then again, anything is possible.
GeauxSioux wrote:UND is an attractive candidate for the Big Sky.
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
Attractive in the sense they are about the only candidate. Its midnight and the place is closing. UND is "closing time pretty"! Wasnt the WAC impressed with the 30,000 seat retractable roof stadium sketches?
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JBB wrote:Attractive in the sense they are about the only candidate. Its midnight and the place is closing. UND is "closing time pretty"! Wasnt the WAC impressed with the 30,000 seat retractable roof stadium sketches?
Do enjoy reading how everyone has written off SUU this season. I dont know about you but after barely coming up short against a good NAU team and a fantastic defensive effort in a win over #13 Cal Poly this past week, i would think SUU would finally start getting some love. I dont see how the Big Sky can continue to ignore us thanks to our geographical location and a pretty good university as a whole.
How is SUU not the top candidate? I think they are.
I wonder if SUU is a shoe in and just no one is talking about it or the Sky is keeping quiet. I do not know y they wouldn't be? They rank high on quality of facilities and rank high for location.
Last edited by weberwildcat on Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
As attractive as they Sioux could be, Notre Dakota is so damn far away!!!!!!! I hate to be a hater but there is no chance I would make it to a game there; I haven't made it to EWU for the same reason and its only half the distance to UND.
No offense to UND, but I think they are only attractive to Doug if there is a chance the 'Sky may dissolve.
weberwildcat wrote:As attractive as they Sioux could be, Notre Dakota is so damn far away!!!!!!! I hate to be a hater but there is no chance I would make it to a game there; I haven't made it to EWU for the same reason and its only half the distance to UND.
No offense to UND, but I think they are only attractive to Doug if there is a chance the 'Sky may dissolve.
From your profile, I see that you live in LA. From there I wouldn't think you would be driving to a lot of the away games to Montana, Montana State, UNC or EWU. You would be flying. With that in mind, is this distance that big of factor? You are probably adding a couple of hours of travel time each way. If you fly into Fargo rather than Grand Forks, the travel time is even less.
weberwildcat wrote:As attractive as they Sioux could be, Notre Dakota is so damn far away!!!!!!! I hate to be a hater but there is no chance I would make it to a game there; I haven't made it to EWU for the same reason and its only half the distance to UND.
No offense to UND, but I think they are only attractive to Doug if there is a chance the 'Sky may dissolve.
From your profile, I see that you live in LA. From there I wouldn't think you would be driving to a lot of the away games to Montana, Montana State, UNC or EWU. You would be flying. With that in mind, is this distance that big of factor? You are probably adding a couple of hours of travel time each way. If you fly into Fargo rather than Grand Forks, the travel time is even less.
that needs to be changed, im in the same city as Weber St. ive driven to all the big sky schools except for PSU and EWU. But i haven't been to a game at Sac but yes on all the rest.
JBB wrote:Attractive in the sense they are about the only candidate. Its midnight and the place is closing. UND is "closing time pretty"! Wasnt the WAC impressed with the 30,000 seat retractable roof stadium sketches?
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
dbackjon wrote:UND has by far the highest national name recognition of any of the Dakota schools.
Not sure where you get that, Jon. I hear a TON more about the XDSUs than the UXDs.
Geographically, all four of them are HORRIBLE fits for the Big Sky. Geographically, SUU would be better, but athletically, they're generally horrible. Why would we want a team that can't even stop a team with a losing record from winning a conference title?
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
