UMASS to FBS, Appy St, Jax St next??

[lakesbison]

I dont know if anyone on here wants to discuss, but it sure looks like to me that successful FCS programs are jumping to FBS. Is FCS doomed?

Look for Appalichian State, Deleware and possibly Montana to follow.


The University of Massachusetts will join the Mid-American Conference for football starting in the 2012 season, according to sources.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The University of Massachusetts will be joining the Mid-American Conference for football only, according to sources within the league.

This ends months of speculation and MAC and UMass administrators are expected to hold a joint news conference Wednesday to announce the arrival of the Minutemen.


The Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees passed a resolution during Monday's quarterly meeting that allows the University to explore the possibility of moving the Gamecock football team to the Football Bowl Subdivision, provided there is an opportunity in the future.

 

[RodentRampage]

UMass doesn't seem to fit the usual footprint of the MAC. I wonder guess if they do this, it will be with one eye toward the Big East.

 

[CrocShots]

IDK if it's just me but I would love to play the sueage every so often in football. I know the nickname stuff currently prevents us from doing so. What if they and NDSU make the FBS jump. Bison, your thoughts.

 

[Kuato Lives!]

This is great. More crap teams to FBS means more bowls and more money to spread around!

 

[GoAUpher]

I don't know why teams make the jump up to full D-1 instead of crafting quality D-1AA programs. Most just end up losing a ton of money and rarely win anything of note. And when they do win enough to get to a bowl they lose even more money with the guaranteed buying of tickets that a bowl requires. It's not like they get that much in the way of publicity or name recognition this way. I suppose getting into the MAC is a little better then ending up in the Sun Belt.

 

[gopherguy05]

IDK if it's just me but I would love to play the sueage every so often in football. I know the nickname stuff currently prevents us from doing so. What if they and NDSU make the FBS jump. Bison, your thoughts.

I could give 2 sh*ts about the Dakota schools. There is no rivalry with them, nor should there be. Let them hang out and die on their own. I'd rather play a weak Pac-12 or a weak Big 12 team instead....

 

[BisonGopher]

IDK if it's just me but I would love to play the sueage every so often in football. I know the nickname stuff currently prevents us from doing so. What if they and NDSU make the FBS jump. Bison, your thoughts.

I definitely would like to see NDSU jump up to FBS.

The NCAA markets and promotes FCS the exact same as they do DII and DIII. The three are no different in the eyes of everyone except fans of FCS schools.

 

[lakesgopher]

I'm convinced that in ten yrs all major conferences will have 16--18 teams and those 6 power conf champs will do a playoff for a national champion. Those unable to get into those power conf will drop to fcs.

I'm probably wrong but I'm hoping it happens

 

[GoAUpher]

I'm convinced that in ten yrs all major conferences will have 16--18 teams and those 6 power conf champs will do a playoff for a national champion. Those unable to get into those power conf will drop to fcs.

I'm probably wrong but I'm hoping it happens

I think you are right and I hope beyond hope that it never happens. It would strip college football of the history and traditions that make it so awesome IMO. NFL light? Uck...

 

[HowBoutThemBison?]

The Sioux don't have the fanbase for football to support FBS at all. The most they have ever averaged is around 11,000 a game.

The Bison have averaged between 15-18,000 usually. If either of us two Dakota schools could make the jump it'd be the Bison. Fargo metro area has around 200,000 people but I don't know. It would be cool if we could be the next Utah or something but I don't see it especially right now. Ask us in 10-15 years or so.

As for UMASS, I don't know, the MAC isn't exactly what I'd call D1, we pounded on Central Michigan the year they won the MAC so I don't really see the benefit of going FBS just so we can go to the Motor City Bowl instead of an FCS Title.

 

[lakesbison]

Obviously, I want NDSU to be FBS, I was hoping for MAC since we have destroyed central michigan 38-14 and ball state in the last 4 years. My point of this thread was that is the FCS just totally pointless??



how bout them bison.... (johnson344) dont respond to the trolls.. sorry about that PM i sent you.. forward that PM thanks.

 

[HowBoutThemBison?]

Obviously, I want NDSU to be FBS, I was hoping for MAC since we have destroyed central michigan 38-14 and ball state in the last 4 years. My point of this thread was that is the FCS just totally pointless??



how bout them bison.... (johnson344) dont respond to the trolls.. sorry about that PM i sent you.. forward that PM thanks.

Hey you figured out which one I am! Well done well done. They aren't really trolling, these guys are being pretty civil. The other thread got a little bit ugly but we brought it under control.

Anyway, if we got invited somewhere, I'd hope it'd be Moutain West, backup would be the MAC.

 

[supadupafly]

i was looking for a "yawn" smilie, but couldn't find one listed. so instead i will just go with:

 

[HowBoutThemBison?]

Well maybe if the Gophers were winning or at least competing for the Big Ten we'd talk about that! I am kidding around. Big Ten has 5 really solid programs now, Ohio State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, and sorta kinda Michigan? I don't know if they would really count right now but the name alone is a big deal.

It is a really tough conference to do well in despite all the crap the Big Ten gets. Is it the SEC? No, but it sure beats being in the ACC or Big East for football...

 

[dpodoll68]

UMass athletic department budget (2009 FY) - $21 million
North Dakota Agricultural College department budget (2011 FY) - $14 million

Division I-A scholarship signees, HS/Prep, by state, 2007-2011 (cumulative):

Massachusetts - 50
North Dakota - 1

This is a stupid argument, because NDSU has neither the money, nor the fanbase, nor the local talent base to ever, ever, ever be Division I-A.

At minimum, this discussion has no effect whatsoever on University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football and should not be taking place in this forum.

 

[FargoBison]

UMass athletic department budget (2009 FY) - $21 million
North Dakota Agricultural College department budget (2011 FY) - $14 million

Division I-A scholarship signees, HS/Prep, by state, 2007-2011 (cumulative):

Massachusetts - 50
North Dakota - 1

This is a stupid argument, because NDSU has neither the money, nor the fanbase, nor the local talent base to ever, ever, ever be Division I-A.

At minimum, this discussion has no effect whatsoever on University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football and should not be taking place in this forum.

NDSU has has all the regional talent they'd need right in MN, ND SD, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Five states in our region and just three instate FBS schools, NDSU could build a decent program.

The school's problem is that we are not close to any FBS conference. The WAC would probably have us but I'm not sure if we'd want them.

Not sure what doesn't have the fanbase means either, I don't want to go all lakesbison but we seem to have pretty good support at least enough to be in a lower tier FBS conference.

 

[lakesgopher]

UMass athletic department budget (2009 FY) - $21 million
North Dakota Agricultural College department budget (2011 FY) - $14 million

Division I-A scholarship signees, HS/Prep, by state, 2007-2011 (cumulative):

Massachusetts - 50
North Dakota - 1

This is a stupid argument, because NDSU has neither the money, nor the fanbase, nor the local talent base to ever, ever, ever be Division I-A.

At minimum, this discussion has no effect whatsoever on University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football and should not be taking place in this forum.

This is how a discussion gets dominated! Nice work, I apologize for fueling the assbag from the flatlands.

 

[howeda7]

This is great. More crap teams to FBS means more bowls and more money to spread around!

+1. Welcome to 5-7 teams making Bowl Games. Please Jerry, at least don't say you're 'tremendously excited' when it happens.

 

[HowBoutThemBison?]

This is how a discussion gets dominated! Nice work, I apologize for fueling the assbag from the flatlands.

NDSU has been doing pretty good in football since the transition. It doesn't matter what your budget is all the time. Notre Dame...has a ton of cash, hasn't helped out my Fighting Irish lately.

Although I would like to have that kind of budget but if NDSU and UMASS played in probably any major sport, you wont notice that huge budget difference.

 

[dpodoll68]

NDSU has has all the regional talent they'd need right in MN, ND SD, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Five states in our region and just three instate FBS schools, NDSU could build a decent program.

Did you even read my post, or just start typing?

North Dakota produced 1 Division I-A signee out of HS in the last 5 years. Combined. One. South Dakota produced 4, and one of them was a kicker. Those two states are meaningless in terms of building a Division I-A football team. The Dakota schools can actually compete in basketball, because you only need 13 players to build a roster, unlike the 85 you need to build a football roster. Also, good luck pulling any I-A quality players out of Wisconsin or Nebraska. Building a I-A roster out of Minnesota's leftovers is not a recipe for success.

The school's problem is that we are not close to any FBS conference. The WAC would probably have us but I'm not sure if we'd want them.

Give me a break. Yes, I'm sure Fresno St., Hawaii, and Nevada are quaking in their booties at the prospect of playing NDAC.

Not sure what doesn't have the fanbase means either, I don't want to go all lakesbison but we seem to have pretty good support at least enough to be in a lower tier FBS conference.

Minimum average attendance over 2 years to be in Division I-A is 15,000. The Cass-Clay Multi-Purpose Tractor Pull and Convention Arena holds 19,000 when full. Are you confident that an entire "metropolitan" area 3/4 the size of St. Paul can sustain 80% attendance after 4-5 straight years of 3-9 squads? You'd better be sure, or you'll be back in I-AA faster than you can say "goat roper".

 

[Pewterschmidt]

The bowl system is so flawed, corrupt, boring, and mostly pointless that it needs to be blown up immediately IMO. Playoff please.

 

[FargoBison]

Did you even read my post, or just start typing?

North Dakota produced 1 Division I-A signee out of HS in the last 5 years. Combined. One. South Dakota produced 4, and one of them was a kicker. Those two states are meaningless in terms of building a Division I-A football team. The Dakota schools can actually compete in basketball, because you only need 13 players to build a roster, unlike the 85 you need to build a football roster. Also, good luck pulling any I-A quality players out of Wisconsin or Nebraska. Building a I-A roster out of Minnesota's leftovers is not a recipe for success.

Good luck? There is plenty of talent in those areas, more than you'll ever know and enough to compete in the freaking WAC or MAC. We are 4-3 vs the FBS, competing as an FCS school with 22 fewer scholarships. Something tells me that with 22 more we could be a bit more competitive. Plus the school would have a recruiting advantage above every local non-FBS school. A pretty good lower tier FBS team could be built with all the talent the Nebraska's, Iowa's, Minnesota's and Wisconsin's don't grab in the region.

I could name about 20 or 30 players from the Dakota's over the past five years that played FCS ball who could easily contribute and maybe even be a great player at the FBS level.

Give me a break. Yes, I'm sure Fresno St., Hawaii, and Nevada are quaking in their booties at the prospect of playing NDAC.

These schools aren't even in the WAC anymore, I never said they would be quaking in fear. I said we could be competitive against them.

Minimum average attendance over 2 years to be in Division I-A is 15,000. The Cass-Clay Multi-Purpose Tractor Pull and Convention Arena holds 19,000 when full. Are you confident that an entire "metropolitan" area 3/4 the size of St. Paul can sustain 80% attendance after 4-5 straight years of 3-9 squads? You'd better be sure, or you'll be back in I-AA faster than you can say "goat roper".

This is the easiest barrier to get around because it is tickets sold and if NDSU was in the MAC or WAC the school isn't going 3-9, at least I wouldn't say that with such certainty.

For the record I never said it would happen or that I wanted it to happen. Personally I'm fine with where are at. That said I believe that the school could make it work if we wanted to.

 

[HowBoutThemBison?]

If NDSU was in the MAC they'd be in the top 3 of 4 pretty consistently. If they were in the WAC, I don't know, I can't honestly say what schools are in MWC and WAC anymore.

Boise seems to do pretty good with a stadium holding around 30,000. I would prefer to stay FCS, here is where we belong. Here we can get checks from big schools to come play against them. And I'll tell you what, that paycheck from Minnesota we got in '07 sure tasted a lot sweeter than '06. That Kansas check tasted pretty good too.

And guys, I know you guys think its a big insult to call NDSU North Dakota Ag. College or whatever....yeah, not really too insulting. We are an agricultural state, soon to be an oil state too I guess. We'll just enjoy our money, and our football. I know Lakes might have rubbed you the wrong way but I don't see the point in trying to belittle NDSU.

 

[supadupafly]

UMass athletic department budget (2009 FY) - $21 million
North Dakota Agricultural College department budget (2011 FY) - $14 million

Division I-A scholarship signees, HS/Prep, by state, 2007-2011 (cumulative):

Massachusetts - 50
North Dakota - 1

This is a stupid argument, because NDSU has neither the money, nor the fanbase, nor the local talent base to ever, ever, ever be Division I-A.

At minimum, this discussion has no effect whatsoever on University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football and should not be taking place in this forum.

ding, ding, ding! we have a winner. hence why i was hoping to find a "yawn" smilie for my earlier response. why does she (lakessueage) post this crap on our board considering 99.8% of us could give a rats arse. i really don't get it at all.

 

[FargoBison]

why does she (lakessueage) post this crap on our board considering 99.8% of us could give a rats arse. i really don't get it at all.

Considering lakes is banned from most other boards and is obsessed with anyone who gives him attention, it isn't really that confusing as to why he posts here.

 

[JoeDirt]

If NDSU was in the MAC they'd be in the top 3 of 4 pretty consistently. If they were in the WAC, I don't know, I can't honestly say what schools are in MWC and WAC anymore.

Boise seems to do pretty good with a stadium holding around 30,000. I would prefer to stay FCS, here is where we belong. Here we can get checks from big schools to come play against them. And I'll tell you what, that paycheck from Minnesota we got in '07 sure tasted a lot sweeter than '06. That Kansas check tasted pretty good too.

And guys, I know you guys think its a big insult to call NDSU North Dakota Ag. College or whatever....yeah, not really too insulting. We are an agricultural state, soon to be an oil state too I guess. We'll just enjoy our money, and our football. I know Lakes might have rubbed you the wrong way but I don't see the point in trying to belittle NDSU.

It's starting to get very old listening to you whiney little bison backers. Are we going to have to put up with your bison blabber from now until September? This is a GOPHER board. We don't care about you, never have, never will. You and your stupid little school mean nothing to us. Go back to bisonville and let the grown ups talk Gopher football without your pointless drivel muckin' up our board.

 

[dpodoll68]

Good luck? There is plenty of talent in those areas, more than you'll ever know

I'm from South Dakota. I grew up and lived my entire life within 20 miles of the North Dakota border until I was 18. There has not been, is not, and never will be enough talent in either of the Dakotas to even field a Division I-A scout team. Between my older brothers, cousins, and now my nephews, I've been playing and following South Dakota and North Dakota football for over 25 years consecutively. I know just a little bit about the subject.

and enough to compete in the freaking WAC or MAC. We are 4-3 vs the FBS, competing as an FCS school with 22 fewer scholarships. Something tells me that with 22 more we could be a bit more competitive.

Yes, and those 4 teams you beat had a combined record of 17-33 (.340). Congratulations on that stellar achievement. Playing 1-2 hand-picked I-A teams per year is just slightly different than playing a full slate of I-A teams. Also, because you would be no doubt playing in a dogsh*t I-A conference in this hypothetical move, you would be forced to stack your non-con with 2-3 BCS teams every year (you know, like the "freaking" MAC does) and would get rolled in the great majority of those games. Hence why you would be lucky to even finish at or above .500 most years.

Plus the school would have a recruiting advantage above every local non-FBS school.

Who cares? There isn't enough local talent to even come close to building a competitive I-A roster. You'd have to recruit nationally, and good luck with that.

A pretty good lower tier FBS team could be built with all the talent the Nebraska's, Iowa's, Minnesota's and Wisconsin's to don't grab in the region.

No. You could build a slightly-above-average-to-decent I-AA team, which is pretty much what NDAC has now.

I could name about 20 or 30 players from the Dakota's that played FCS ball who could easily contribute and maybe even be a great player at the FBS level.

Yeah, over the course of a decade. Those 3-4 players per year are really going to build a strong roster, aren't they?

These schools aren't even in the WAC anymore

Yes, they are, but you're right, they wouldn't be by the time of any hypothetical move.

I never said they would be quaking in fear. I said we could be competitive against them.

At very best. Two of the new schools will be in Texas, and there is more than enough leftover talent for them to be extremely competitive right away. I'm not saying you couldn't compete, but the idea that NDSU would turn down a WAC invite is laughable.

 

[HowBoutThemBison?]

It's starting to get very old listening to you whiney little bison backers. Are we going to have to put up with your bison blabber from now until September? This is a GOPHER board. We don't care about you, never have, never will. You and your stupid little school mean nothing to us. Go back to bisonville and let the grown ups talk Gopher football without your pointless drivel muckin' up our board.

You know whats great about the internet, you don't have to read anything you don't want to read. Apparently a few of you care enough to even be pretty civil in your dealings with us.

The grown ups can go right ahead and talk gopher football but unless your team shows a lot of improvement fast, the grownups are going to be the only Gopher fans left, no kids enjoy cheering for a team that can't go .500

 

[FargoBison]

Who cares? There isn't enough local talent to even come close to building a competitive I-A roster. You'd have to recruit nationally, and good luck with that.

No. You could build a slightly-above-average-to-decent I-AA team, which is pretty much what NDAC has now.

There is enough talent, if a school could take in all the high end FCS talent in the region they could definitely win the MAC or new WAC. Lets not forget by moving FBS NDSU wouldn't have to recruit with the FCS stigma anymore. Which would help nationally and regionally at least a little bit.

NDSU does kind of recruit nationally, we have pipelines in Texas and Arizona. NDSU has been a top 10 FCS team in three of the last six seasons, not bad for a slightly-above-average-to-decent IAA team. I can think of only two seasons in which NDSU wasn't ranked in the top 25 since we joined the FCS.

Yeah, over the course of a decade. Those 3-4 players per year are really going to build a strong roster, aren't they?

They would compliment the talent we would bring in from other areas and help build a decent walk-on program.

At very best. Two of the new schools will be in Texas, and there is more than enough leftover talent for them to be extremely competitive right away. I'm not saying you couldn't compete, but the idea that NDSU would turn down a WAC invite is laughable.

There are also a ton of FBS schools in Texas, they could be competitive or they could be like Rice. The WAC has been gutted, a lot of schools have turned them down, including Montana. The current WAC is neither stable nor geographically friendly.

 

[Unregistered User]

You know whats great about the internet, you don't have to read anything you don't want to read. Apparently a few of you care enough to even be pretty civil in your dealings with us.

The grown ups can go right ahead and talk gopher football but unless your team shows a lot of improvement fast, the grownups are going to be the only Gopher fans left, no kids enjoy cheering for a team that can't go .500

Interesting that a guy can come one here supposedly for the sole reason of giving us helpful information on how to ignore fargobison, and then goes on to piss and moan, and begin to sound just like him.

Take your good intentions, along with your other bison fans, and kindly move along.