Delaney Wants FCS Teams Off Schedule

[AO54]

Also, 1.1 million isn't *&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!# for football. That is worse than all but two of the bowl games, including Ohio vs. Louisiana-Monroe, UCF vs. Ball State, and SJSU vs. Bowling Green.

http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=34126

Look at the channels genius. Less people will turn to ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network compared to the ESPN games. Look at the FBS bowl games not on ESPN, the Heart of Dallas (a likely Gopher landing spot this year) and the Fight Hunger Bowl. 1.1 Million viewers isn't ZERO as some have ridiculously claimed on this thread.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Honestly, if it weren't for trolls like you posting it on this board, I would not have known. God's honest truth. To me it's like watching the WNBA. Sure, there is a small number of people who will watch it, but I won't spend a minute watching, even if the Lynx are in the finals.I did watch a MAC team play in the Orange Bowl last year, and I did enjoy it. I also watched every bowl game that I had time for. I wouldn't consider spending a minute of my time watching the minor league playoffs you compete in.

Bring me the ban hammer!

I will watch the Lynx in the finals (I actually enjoyed them winning a big game in their race for the top seed last night while I was on the treadmill), because, unliked the Bison, the Lynx play at the top level for their gender.

Also, list me with the people who would have no idea who won the FCS if I didn't have Bison fans begging for recognition on a Gopher message board. If the Bison want to be compared to the Gophs, then feel free to join the Big Ten and see if you finish above us after playing a full Big Ten schedule. Kudos to them for circling us as the biggest game on their schedule, preparing for it all year like it was the Super Bowl, and pulling off wins against us in some of the worst seasons in Gopher history.

 

[Ole]

Look at the channels genius. Less people will turn to ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network compared to the ESPN games. Look at the FBS bowl games not on ESPN, the Heart of Dallas (a likely Gopher landing spot this year) and the Fight Hunger Bowl. 1.1 Million viewers isn't ZERO as some have ridiculously claimed on this thread.

You're not going to get the validation you seek for your NDSU squad here, take it back to bisonville and pretend like NDSU is the next Boise State, which it's not, because Boise is a D1 program, NDSU is a D2 program.
Gopher fans are sick of getting bombarded by this crap from bison fans.
Seriously, it's annoying. Yes, NDSU has won lots of games with Mn kids against D2 opponents, and beaten two of the worst teams in Gopher football history.
No, it does not give them any more national cred, or make them relevant to anyone outside of the upper MN/Dakota bubble.
You're program is perceived as the equivalent to St. Cloud or Moorhead St. when it comes to d1 schools schedules. Nobody knows where NDSU is, and it will be assumed it's a paid for cupcake W regardless of how many championships you win at a lower level of football.
That's reality, and Delaney wants to change that perception and expand the B1G brand, nobody but D2/FCS fans care, and it's a good move for the conference going forward.

 

[kisarazu]

You're not going to get the validation you seek for your NDSU squad here, take it back to bisonville and pretend like NDSU is the next Boise State, which it's not, because Boise is a D1 program, NDSU is a D2 program.
Gopher fans are sick of getting bombarded by this crap from bison fans.
Seriously, it's annoying. Yes, NDSU has won lots of games with Mn kids against D2 opponents, and beaten two of the worst teams in Gopher football history.
No, it does not give them any more national cred, or make them relevant to anyone outside of the upper MN/Dakota bubble.
You're program is perceived as the equivalent to St. Cloud or Moorhead St. when it comes to d1 schools schedules. Nobody knows where NDSU is, and it will be assumed it's a paid for cupcake W regardless of how many championships you win at a lower level of football.
That's reality, and Delaney wants to change that perception and expand the B1G brand, nobody but D2/FCS fans care, and it's a good move for the conference going forward.

+1

It's simply smart business. This decision falls right in line with adding Rutgers and Maryland to the B1G. It is about growing a brand name conference within the FBS. If the B1G continues to play FCS programs ---

(1) There will be more money going to FCS programs. Which is compounded, if they are local.
(2) There will be more TV time given to FCS programs. Which is compounded, if they are local.
(3) Potential B1G walk-ons/recruits (have and) will continue to go FCS programs because of promises to play against the B1G and other major FBS conferences.
In short, by the B1G scheduling local FCS teams (or any FCS), they are helping subdivision programs and losing recruits.

 

[Maximus]

and beaten two of the worst teams in Gopher football history and the defending Big 12 champions.

Fixed.

 

[RodentRampage]

Neither loss was really perceived nationally. NDSU came in as the the favorite and won. Nobody really cared nationally about a 1-3 team that would then go on to lose 58-0 to Michigan.

NDSU was not favored. The NDSU loss was seen as a shocker, the low point of the season. In objective terms, it should have been the NMSU loss, but that's not the perception of losing to an FCS team. NDSU was a better team than NMSU, but that's not the perception.

[/quote]No one cares about the FCS, except the tens of thousands of people watching the games in person, the millions watching on TV and all the trolls on the message boards who explode after they're upset.[/quote]

Average attendance at FBS games: 44,970. Average attendance at FCS games: 8,575. By FBS standards, the Sun Belt and MAC have poor attendance, but only a few FCS teams can match their numbers.

and now it has been sold out for the last three years with the 2014 version having sold out within minutes of the box office opening.

... in a 20,000 seat stadium.

1.1 Million viewers isn't ZERO as some have ridiculously claimed on this thread.

No one claimed it was zero.

 

[e.bigelow]

You're not going to get the validation you seek for your NDSU squad here, take it back to bisonville and pretend like NDSU is the next Boise State, which it's not, because Boise is a D1 program, NDSU is a D2 program.
Gopher fans are sick of getting bombarded by this crap from bison fans.
Seriously, it's annoying. Yes, NDSU has won lots of games with Mn kids against D2 opponents, and beaten two of the worst teams in Gopher football history.
No, it does not give them any more national cred, or make them relevant to anyone outside of the upper MN/Dakota bubble.
You're program is perceived as the equivalent to St. Cloud or Moorhead St. when it comes to d1 schools schedules. Nobody knows where NDSU is, and it will be assumed it's a paid for cupcake W regardless of how many championships you win at a lower level of football.
That's reality, and Delaney wants to change that perception and expand the B1G brand, nobody but D2/FCS fans care, and it's a good move for the conference going forward.

+1. They always come looking for a pat on the head. It gets incredibly sickening. They are like that screaming kid in Wal-Mart who needs their parents to give them constant attention. Like we really care about what, if anything, NDSU ever does.

Is AO54 the same guy who was on the B-Ball forum last year when we played NDSU talking about how NDSU was ranked #12 or something in some guys obscure 'Mid-Major' poll on some random website? Because, then, all this stuff he is spouting off about would make total sense.

 

[mnsports1]

+1. They always come looking for a pat on the head. It gets incredibly sickening. They are like that screaming kid in Wal-Mart who needs their parents to give them constant attention. Like we really care about what, if anything, NDSU ever does.

Is AO54 the same guy who was on the B-Ball forum last year when we played NDSU talking about how NDSU was ranked #12 or something in some guys obscure 'Mid-Major' poll on some random website? Because, then, all this stuff he is spouting off about would make total sense.

No it wouldn't.

 

[Herd]

This rule is good for the top teams (only bad things can happen to OSU or Michigan when they play FCS teams). But for the lower tier teams like us trying to claw our way up, we need wins. So since we can't get the Dakota teams, we'll play more teams like Idaho, Old Dominion, South Alabama and Western Kentucky. All crappy teams that are FBS now. Wonder if the Big Ten is pushing this or mandating this...

"Since we can't get the Dakota team" . . . You could get games vs. the 4 Dakota teams at will, they would consider it an honor to be able to play MN where their fans could easily travel. You would not win 100% of those games, but it would be competitive for TV for sure.

What is the B1G's message this week about not playing FCS games. Is it "FCS games are not competitive", or is it "We are afraid to get beat by FCS teams".

If it's about playing good teams, then schedule good teams, FCS for FBS. Don't allow scheduling teams that are below the 63 scholarship max level would be requirement #1. This year MN is playing WIL (at 63 schollarships) who is picked to finish in 9th place of 10 teams in the Missouri Valley, but WIL has historically been a descent team, so not arguement there. IL State or SIL would have historically been a stronger scheduling move by MN in that state.

Need to avoid weaker FCS Leagues which mostly have 0-40 scholarships: IVY, MEAC, Northeastern, Patriot, Pioneer, SWAC, Big South
Stronger FCS Leagues: MO Valley, Big Sky, Colonial, Southern, Southland, Ohio Valley (full 63 scholly)

It's not about scheduling FCS, its about who you schedule in FCS. The same could be said for FBS where there are plent of weaklings. College football shoulc be structured as inclusive, not exclusive. Its good for the game.

 

[lakesgopher]

"Since we can't get the Dakota team" . . . You could get games vs. the 4 Dakota teams at will, they would consider it an honor to be able to play MN where their fans could easily travel. You would not win 100% of those games, but it would be competitive for TV for sure.

What is the B1G's message this week about not playing FCS games. Is it "FCS games are not competitive", or is it "We are afraid to get beat by FCS teams".

If it's about playing good teams, then schedule good teams, FCS for FBS. Don't allow scheduling teams that are below the 63 scholarship max level would be requirement #1. This year MN is playing WIL (at 63 schollarships) who is picked to finish in 9th place of 10 teams in the Missouri Valley, but WIL has historically been a descent team, so not arguement there. IL State or SIL would have historically been a stronger scheduling move by MN in that state.

Need to avoid weaker FCS Leagues which mostly have 0-40 scholarships: IVY, MEAC, Northeastern, Patriot, Pioneer, SWAC, Big South
Stronger FCS Leagues: MO Valley, Big Sky, Colonial, Southern, Southland, Ohio Valley (full 63 scholly)

It's not about scheduling FCS, its about who you schedule in FCS. The same could be said for FBS where there are plent of weaklings. College football shoulc be structured as inclusive, not exclusive. Its good for the game.

Anyone that thinks "fear" is involved when playing any team in college football is an idiot!!!

 

[Iceland12]

"Since we can't get the Dakota team" . . . You could get games vs. the 4 Dakota teams at will, they would consider it an honor to be able to play MN where their fans could easily travel. You would not win 100% of those games, but it would be competitive for TV for sure.

What is the B1G's message this week about not playing FCS games. Is it "FCS games are not competitive", or is it "We are afraid to get beat by FCS teams".
If it's about playing good teams, then schedule good teams, FCS for FBS. Don't allow scheduling teams that are below the 63 scholarship max level would be requirement #1. This year MN is playing WIL (at 63 schollarships) who is picked to finish in 9th place of 10 teams in the Missouri Valley, but WIL has historically been a descent team, so not arguement there. IL State or SIL would have historically been a stronger scheduling move by MN in that state.

Need to avoid weaker FCS Leagues which mostly have 0-40 scholarships: IVY, MEAC, Northeastern, Patriot, Pioneer, SWAC, Big South
Stronger FCS Leagues: MO Valley, Big Sky, Colonial, Southern, Southland, Ohio Valley (full 63 scholly)

It's not about scheduling FCS, its about who you schedule in FCS. The same could be said for FBS where there are plent of weaklings. College football shoulc be structured as inclusive, not exclusive. Its good for the game.

Both, which doesn't help your cause. Set strength of schedule aside, because we're not even sure what that will look like in the future. The fact is that the BTN doesn't want them and Big Ten TV deals are soon coming up for renewal. It looks like so long to scheduling FCS teams. Don't know if they'll even honor the ones already scheduled. The Gophers have cancelled and been cancelled before.

 

[MNGoldenGophers1]

I don't care much for playing the FCS teams. However, MN is at a geographical disadvantage when it comes to scheduling "lower tier" FBS opponents that generate much fan interest. A MAC school in Michigan or Ohio might generate some fan interest for Michigan St., Michigan or Ohio St. but doesn't mean much to a school like MN. The Dakotas do generate some (not much but at least some) fan interest because of they border the state and tend to have MN connections. Not that they are lower tier but it would be nice if we could get Iowa St. or perhaps a school like Missouri on the schedule for a "regional" non-conference game along with a couple of other known commodities such as a PAC-12 school. Fortunately, the B1G schedule will expand and non-conference games will be less of an issue.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I'm excited for the 9 game conference schedule (heck, I'd advocate for 12 and be fine only seeing out of conference competition in bowl/playoff season, like the way baseball was before interleague). What I would ideally like to see out of a four game out of conference schedule while we still play one is this:
1. Lower half team from non-BCS but still FBS conference
2. Top half team from same type of conference
3. Lower half team from BCS conference
4. Top half team from BCS conference

It doesn't have to be Alabama, but I'd like to see us play some schools with some recognition, maybe an Oregon State type program (started the season ranked, but not anywhere near top 10).

In no circumstances do I want FCS on our schedule.

 

[kisarazu]

"Since we can't get the Dakota team" . . . You could get games vs. the 4 Dakota teams at will, they would consider it an honor to be able to play MN where their fans could easily travel. You would not win 100% of those games, but it would be competitive for TV for sure.

What is the B1G's message this week about not playing FCS games. Is it "FCS games are not competitive", or is it "We are afraid to get beat by FCS teams".

If it's about playing good teams, then schedule good teams, FCS for FBS. Don't allow scheduling teams that are below the 63 scholarship max level would be requirement #1. This year MN is playing WIL (at 63 schollarships) who is picked to finish in 9th place of 10 teams in the Missouri Valley, but WIL has historically been a descent team, so not arguement there. IL State or SIL would have historically been a stronger scheduling move by MN in that state.

Need to avoid weaker FCS Leagues which mostly have 0-40 scholarships: IVY, MEAC, Northeastern, Patriot, Pioneer, SWAC, Big South
Stronger FCS Leagues: MO Valley, Big Sky, Colonial, Southern, Southland, Ohio Valley (full 63 scholly)

It's not about scheduling FCS, its about who you schedule in FCS. The same could be said for FBS where there are plent of weaklings. College football shoulc be structured as inclusive, not exclusive. Its good for the game.

The B1G is not interested in building FCS teams nor conferences. They are not interested in playing just "good teams." They are not interested in "it's good for the game." They are interested in a greater conference brand and footprint. The B1G just took two teams from from major FBS conferences. Thus, it is beyond me why anyone thinks that the B1G has any interest in FCS conferences/teams succeeding. In fact, with Delaney's stance, it is apparent that the B1G has a vested interest in seeing the FCS drop down a few talent notches.

I do not think that the B1G will be the lone conference in this pursuit.

 

[AO54]

I'm excited for the 9 game conference schedule (heck, I'd advocate for 12 and be fine only seeing out of conference competition in bowl/playoff season, like the way baseball was before interleague). What I would ideally like to see out of a four game out of conference schedule while we still play one is this:
1. Lower half team from non-BCS but still FBS conference
2. Top half team from same type of conference
3. Lower half team from BCS conference
4. Top half team from BCS conference

It doesn't have to be Alabama, but I'd like to see us play some schools with some recognition, maybe an Oregon State type program (started the season ranked, but not anywhere near top 10).

In no circumstances do I want FCS on our schedule.

So, you still want to play New Mexico State on the road? As others have pointed out, by eliminating the good FCS teams from consideration, you're just making it more expensive to schedule the crappy FBS teams. Pretty funny picking Oregon State after their week 1 FCS loss.

Much too much emphasis is placed on "scheduling correctly" Make sure there's at least one legit opponent on the home non-con schedule, and then take on all comers. I don't expect to need 4 "guaranteed wins" to make it to a bowl game.

 

[Gopherprof]

Look at the channels genius. Less people will turn to ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network compared to the ESPN games. Look at the FBS bowl games not on ESPN, the Heart of Dallas (a likely Gopher landing spot this year) and the Fight Hunger Bowl. 1.1 Million viewers isn't ZERO as some have ridiculously claimed on this thread.

You are one of the worst debaters I've ever encountered. You start off making five points, ignore when you get thoroughly and unobjectively proven wrong, and then create strawmen in really last ditch efforts to have any semblance of credibility. Every single thing you've said so far has fallen into that description, and almost all of it has been either misleading at best, or completely factually wrong.

This was fun for a while, but it gets old quickly when you continually try to shift the goal posts instead of admitting you're just really biased and wrong.

 

[AO54]

You are one of the worst debaters I've ever encountered. You start off making five points, ignore when you get thoroughly and unobjectively proven wrong, and then create strawmen in really last ditch efforts to have any semblance of credibility. Every single thing you've said so far has fallen into that description, and almost all of it has been either misleading at best, or completely factually wrong.

This was fun for a while, but it gets old quickly when you continually try to shift the goal posts instead of admitting you're just really biased and wrong.

I point out there are 1.1 Million viewers of the FCS championship game last year and was proven correct. Just because there were more people watching the Fiesta bowl doesn't make those 1.1 million people irrelevant.

We can all agree there are several FCS teams better than UNLV or New Mexico State.
We know that the regional FCS teams have brought in more fans to TCF Bank than UNLV or New Mexico State.
We know that we wouldn't have to agree to home and home arrangements with FCS teams as we have done with New Mexico State.
We don't know what the ratings would be like for Northern Iowa vs. Gophers as compared to New Mexico State vs. Gophers---If you know the ratings difference, you've yet to share it.

 

[Ole]

I point out there are 1.1 Million viewers of the FCS championship game last year and was proven correct. Just because there were more people watching the Fiesta bowl doesn't make those 1.1 million people irrelevant.

We can all agree there are several FCS teams better than UNLV or New Mexico State.
We know that the regional FCS teams have brought in more fans to TCF Bank than UNLV or New Mexico State.
We know that we wouldn't have to agree to home and home arrangements with FCS teams as we have done with New Mexico State.
We don't know what the ratings would be like for Northern Iowa vs. Gophers as compared to New Mexico State vs. Gophers---If you know the ratings difference, you've yet to share it.

You need to step back and realize that nobody here is going to share your opinion, since you are a fan of an FCS team that will clearly be hurt deeply by the new policy.

1)No we don't, if they play then we know.
2)Irrelevant, it's not about ticket sales, that's why dumbass Maturi scheduled those games, but the B1G has bigger fish to fry than filling seats for NC games. Now schedule BCS schools with a following and you'll see about the same. Or even better, expand the brand to the point that it is difficult for all but the visitor allotment to get a seat, Either way, that isn't relevant to the discussion.
3)So what? As long as the B1G owns the TV rights the B1G controls the brand. Again, not about ticket sales as the money generated by the B1G network is more than butts in seats.
4)It would be the same, because FCS schools don't have massive fanbases like you think they do. The majority of B1G game viewers are going to be B1G fans. The conference just brought in two new members simply for the geographical and TV footprint in those markets. They don't even need the football to be "good" as long as the TV providers pay for the games to be covered. It's about brand expansion and TV MARKETS.

 

[AO54]

1)No we don't, if they play then we know.

What part of NDSU is 7-3 vs FBS teams/FCS teams beat #25 Oregon State and Iowa State last week don't you understand? Compare Wisconsin vs. Northern Iowa compared to Wisconsin vs. Massachusetts.

2)Irrelevant, it's not about ticket sales, that's why dumbass Maturi scheduled those games, but the B1G has bigger fish to fry than filling seats for NC games. Now schedule BCS schools with a following and you'll see about the same. Or even better, expand the brand to the point that it is difficult for all but the visitor allotment to get a seat, Either way, that isn't relevant to the discussion.

You're certainly right that it hopefully won't be an issue in the future. But it is an issue now. It's not just the away fanbase being more willing/able to travel, it's getting opponents to come to town who people care to watch, knowing that it will be a good game.

3)So what? As long as the B1G owns the TV rights the B1G controls the brand. Again, not about ticket sales as the money generated by the B1G network is more than butts in seats.

the Big Ten doesn't own the rights to all away games. This is why UNLV last year wasn't on BTN.

4)It would be the same, because FCS schools don't have massive fanbases like you think they do. The majority of B1G game viewers are going to be B1G fans. The conference just brought in two new members simply for the geographical and TV footprint in those markets. They don't even need the football to be "good" as long as the TV providers pay for the games to be covered. It's about brand expansion and TV MARKETS.

If the ratings are the same, then what's the point? I must have missed the part where Urban Meyer was terrified of losing walk-on recruits to Youngstown State.

 

[kisarazu]

(from Feb but adds to the discussion)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/02/14/big-ten-football-championship-subdivision-schedules/1920355/

 

[Dr.Don]

Give it a rest AO54. You have made your point and no one else seees it. Go bark up a new tree, ok?

 

[Ole]

What part of NDSU is 7-3 vs FBS teams/FCS teams beat #25 Oregon State and Iowa State last week don't you understand? Compare Wisconsin vs. Northern Iowa compared to Wisconsin vs. Massachusetts.

You're certainly right that it hopefully won't be an issue in the future. But it is an issue now. It's not just the away fanbase being more willing/able to travel, it's getting opponents to come to town who people care to watch, knowing that it will be a good game.
the Big Ten doesn't own the rights to all away games. This is why UNLV last year wasn't on BTN.
If the ratings are the same, then what's the point? I must have missed the part where Urban Meyer was terrified of losing walk-on recruits to Youngstown State.

1)Any team can win any game. See your own stats for proof. If you think it's impossible for UNLV to beat NDSU then you're blinded by your fandom. Head to head is the only tool to prove this, Sagarin rankings mean nothing on the field.
2)Again, this new policy is not about ticket sales or attendance. It has nothing to do with it. At all.
It's about building the perception of the B1G nationally and increasing visibility of the brand.
3)I'm not sure how that works, but they own the rights to alot of games. A home and home isn't the end of the world. Again, this isn't about the individual schools.
4)Um, ok? The point is once again, D2 football doesn't move the needle nationally. The perception is a throwaway cupcake game. 100 D2 titles doesn't change that.
People have generally heard of FBS schools. It's an acceptable opponent even if they suck worse than a D2 school.
The walk-on question is more of a Minnesota centric issue and certainly isn't relevant to the overall discussion.

 

[Gopherocious]

Look at the channels genius. Less people will turn to ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network compared to the ESPN games. Look at the FBS bowl games not on ESPN, the Heart of Dallas (a likely Gopher landing spot this year) and the Fight Hunger Bowl. 1.1 Million viewers isn't ZERO as some have ridiculously claimed on this thread.

How is there any sort of correlation between watching a game on ESPN compared to ESPN2? It is literally one channel above ESPN on every cable network I've ever used. You can't possibly think that 4 million more people watched Minnesota/TTech over Purdue/OK St or Arizona State/Navy. The latter two games happened on a night with many other bowl games, and weren't attractive matchups by any stretch of the imagination.

On the other hand, there where no other college football games on the day NDSU played, leaving that as the only game on for football fans to get their fill. Obviously since NDSU has such an enormous fan base, the 1.1 million must have came from up there, leaving approx. 14 people left around the country to tune into the game.

 

[e.bigelow]

How is there any sort of correlation between watching a game on ESPN compared to ESPN2? It is literally one channel above ESPN on every cable network I've ever used. You can't possibly think that 4 million more people watched Minnesota/TTech over Purdue/OK St or Arizona State/Navy. The latter two games happened on a night with many other bowl games, and weren't attractive matchups by any stretch of the imagination.

On the other hand, there where no other college football games on the day NDSU played, leaving that as the only game on for football fans to get their fill. Obviously since NDSU has such an enormous fan base, the 1.1 million must have came from up there, leaving approx. 14 people left around the country to tune into the game.

Game. Set. Match.

Well done, Gopherocious.

(And the 1.1 million came from every household in North Dakota having 2 TV's set on the same channel that day.)

 

[Herd]

The B1G is not interested in building FCS teams nor conferences. They are not interested in playing just "good teams." They are not interested in "it's good for the game." They are interested in a greater conference brand and footprint. The B1G just took two teams from from major FBS conferences. Thus, it is beyond me why anyone thinks that the B1G has any interest in FCS conferences/teams succeeding. In fact, with Delaney's stance, it is apparent that the B1G has a vested interest in seeing the FCS drop down a few talent notches.

I do not think that the B1G will be the lone conference in this pursuit.

So far, the B1G is all alone. The SEC, B12 and P12 just schedule the games, and don't feel the need to verbally bash the FCS or restrict games with the FCS. They just let their brand speak for itself on the field. The B1G is acting like a bunchof pussies. Barry Alvarez wont play FCS teams because they are not competitive (he says, after he squeeks by Cal Poly and UNI), so he schedules UMass? Really Barry? Like that helps his brand more than playing UNI.

 

[mnsports1]

So far, the B1G is all alone. The SEC, B12 and P12 just schedule the games, and don't feel the need to verbally bash the FCS or restrict games with the FCS. They just let their brand speak for itself on the field. The B1G is acting like a bunchof pussies. Barry Alvarez wont play FCS teams because they are not competitive (he says, after he squeeks by Cal Poly and UNI), so he schedules UMass? Really Barry? Like that helps his brand more than playing UNI.

feel better now??

 

[positively4thstreet]

feel better now??

This. Good grief; NDSU fans wouldn't be nearly as insufferable if they weren't constantly on here seeking validation for their little program.

 

[dpodoll68]

If NDAC wants respect, they need to move up and play with the big boys every week. No one is worthy of respect for being the best JV squad.

 

[AO54]

If NDAC wants respect, they need to move up and play with the big boys every week. No one is worthy of respect for being the best JV squad.

Pretty hard to do that when the big boys take their ball and go home. As someone pointed out earlier, this isn't European soccer. It doesn't matter how good or bad your team is, you must be invited to a FBS conference. All you can do is beat the teams that agree to schedule you.

 

[dpodoll68]

Pretty hard to do that when the big boys take their ball and go home. As someone pointed out earlier, this isn't European soccer. It doesn't matter how good or bad your team is, you must be invited to a FBS conference. All you can do is beat the teams that agree to schedule you.

I refuse to believe that no conference wants them. What is more likely is that they're content beating up the JV and are afraid of being exposed, or they're harboring delusions of holding out for a Big Ten or Big 12 invite.