by INFORUM
College athletics: Move ends Summit’s hope of adding UND, leaving Bison’s league dealing with the setback
November 1, 2010 at 7:00 pm in INFORUM
Since Tom Douple assumed the job as commissioner of The Summit League five years ago, the conference has done nothing but upgrade. Monday is the first time life unexpectedly went the other way. Continue Reading
I once believed in Santa Claus. As I grew up, I kept telling myself that he does exist but somehow despite telling myself that he exists, it still wasn’t reality.
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Go Sioux!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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MVFC better than Big Sky? Check out current national rankings and get back to us.
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if you think the Big Sky is better than the MVC than you obviously do not follow FCS football. MVC gets more playoff bids year in and year out. The truth hurts
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Truth? Here is the “actual” truth versus your “perceived” truth in regards to playoff bids. Sorry if I only went back 5 years, I know fans of some schools (don’t want to name names) like to live a little longer in the past.
2009 – 3 Big Sky…2 MVC
2008 – 3 Big Sky (counting Poly)…2 MVC
2007 – 2 Big Sky…2 MVC
2006 – 2 Big Sky…2 MVC
2005 – 3 Big Sky (counting Poly)…2 MVC
So please, great FCS football mind, help me out…when exactly is the MVC getting more playoff bids than the Big Sky? I keep reading about the Big Sky being a one team conference in Montana, yet each year they land as many if not more in the playoffs than the MVC. In fact, take a look at the MVC teams that made the playoffs in the past 5 years and you will see a trend…Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois. Based on the current rankings it appears the trend of the Big Sky landing as many if not more than the MVC will continue. “Obviously” your perception of the two conferences when it comes to football is not reality, but again…that doesn’t surprise me as that is another trend I see when it comes to fans of some schools!
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Hey, UND has been chasing the Summit conference, and they’ve been ducking the Sue-Mes. people are surprised that UND went someplace where they were wanted, exactly, how?
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Had to go to the Big Sky? Is this the same Big Sky that NDSU wanted to get into originally? It is an absolute guarantee that if the Big Sky came knocking on NDSU’s door they would dump the Summit & MVFC in a second. I’m sure even a recruting guru like yourself can admit to that. Keep something in mind about recruting, each year Notre Dame is listed to have one of the best recruting classes in the nation…it appears that they are getting the same results as NDSU!
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I’m going to have to disagree with you there… Yes, this is the conference NDSU and SDSU were both hoping to get into initially, as would any school listed as independent wanting to get into a conference with an automatic bid (see UND/USD). However, once NDSU and SDSU got into the MVFC, those requirements were taken care of and people were able to think much more logically.
NDSU/SDSU would not jump at this moment, in my opinion, due to one thing: money. The costs associated in travel with a league that spread out are gigantic. I hope UND and USD are able to absorb the added costs. What NDSU and SDSU have right now is great for both schools. Close proximity to most members of the MVFC and it’s also a competitive league with several autobids. Not to mention the buyout clause is enormous with the MVFC and the Summit. Combined I believe it’s over $500k.
Finally, lets be realistic. The BigSky conference is and always will be the two Montana schools (that is until they bolt). Montana typically plays an easier schedule than most FCS schools in their tier since it guarantees wins and people fill the seats no matter what. Montana also has one of the highest average game attendances and gate retail ticket sales in FCS. It’s only a matter of time before Montana gets to the level financially (very doable in Missoula) that they are able to make the jump and there are already conferences courting them. UND/USD/SUU will now have to compete with that…
Let’s also be realistic and realize the reason SUU/UND/USD are getting in… Fullerton and the other schools now realize Montana can leave whenever they want, hence they have quite the bargaining chip in conference business meetings. They wanted additional schools added back when NDSU/SDSU were looking and were screwed over by the other schools. This time they had the position of power and got what they want.
However, the day they do move, UND/USD will then become the premiere schools in that league and will have to fill Montana and Montana State’s shoes. They also lose two partners that fought to get them into the conference…
For now, congrats to UND/USD/SUU finding a conference and here’s to you guys enjoying it while the magic lasts. Now it’s onto winning games and showing you’re actually worthy of being in a FCS conference… good luck (from an NDSU fan).
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UND is giving the Big Sky WWWAAAYYY too much credit. Where was the Big Sky during the nickname controversy? They were never put in the position to have to make that decision. Does UND really think the Big Sky would be inviting them if there pucker factor for losing teams to FCS didn’t exist? We know the choice boiled down to the Summit League making a stand on the nickname issue, it hurt UND’s little feelings, and now UND is ready to accept the burden of travel cost to stick it to the Summit League. Again, a choice the Big Sky never had to make. I really see no reason to have UND-NDSU schedule any meeting in any sport after this silly basketball game this year. If the prospect of being in the same Conference again doesn’t win out, then what’s the point? If Eastern Washington and Sacremento St. is more attractive then seeing NDSU-UND play in a Championship game of any sport to get to the NCAA Tournament, then I don’t see the need to have UND-NDSU play meaningless regular season games as members of different Conferences. It’s a good thing the Big Ten wasn’t looking at UND for expansion, because they held pretty firm on the nickname issue too. But I’m sure UND will be trying to schedule Big Ten to get the big payout, no grudge there huh? Good luck UND in the Big Sky, whatever your nickname will be, but sorry to see your hatred for the Summit League come into play. I know, I’ve heard it’s about Football and Alumni out there. Really? Blogs and radio talk don’t mention that as much as “Making the Summit pay!” The baseball and softball teams still won’t have a home, but maybe they can be dropped to make way for increased travel costs and men’s tennis.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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ahhh another Santa Clause guy. Instead of assuming this has something to do with some grudge over the nickname, you should have entertained the obvious thought that it has more to do with the Big Sky having football and the Summit not having football. Crazy theory I guess huh……..
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I do not understand those making this an issue about UND vs NDSU. I think it is great that both schools have found a home. Think of the excitment when they meet in post season games in the future. I congradulate UND on getting into a confrence. But since they were not members of the Summit League It is not a loss to them. Big Sky had no choice but to expand at this time or loose the automatic place in post season play. Good timing, planned of unplanned, for them and UND.
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The title of the article is Bison’s league (aka Summit) not the Bison. However saying Southern Utah, UND and probably USD going to the Big Sky doesn’t hurt the Summit (whether members or possibly soon to be members) is not reality. If you don’t think so, see Santa Claus analogy above.
BTW Who is the Summit? It’s member schools. If the league has a setback, so do it’s member schools.
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darrel. if I ever meet you, i will kick you in the nuts and walk away laughing, you idiot. you are a typical und fan that has zero clue about anything.
your bball team is #331 of 338 teams, and your fball team will be 2-9 with 5500 fans at your place, losers!
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H: Nice job…let’s see if lakesbison will make a stupid attempt to spin the actual numbers, or just have diahhrea of the keyboard again. It is so funny when lakes criscarter) makes up total BS about the MVC and having more teams make the playoffs…anyone with a little common sense can see he lives in his own little world.
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