Big Sky should look toward NDSU
http://www.grandforksherald.com/even...cle/id/262919/
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The Big Sky Conference is looking for a travel partner for UND.
It shouldn’t be looking too far.
An ideal addition sits just 75 miles away — UND’s longtime rival, North Dakota State.
The Big Sky Conference denied NDSU admission about 10 years ago, but times and circumstances have changed (and, in hindsight, adding both NDSU and UND a decade ago probably would have been a good move for the league).
Adding NDSU would immediately give UND a true travel partner. It would give the conference a school that is institutionally like others in the league. It would add to the league’s strength in both football and men’s basketball.
But it’s doubtful that NDSU is comfortable in the Summit League right now. It’s a league where nobody seems particularly content. In the last 23 years, 21 teams have jumped ship. It’s a nice stopping spot, but nobody outside of Western Illinois stays.
There’s no sign of it slowing down, either.
Four teams have left the league in the last three years. Several reports say Oakland University will join that group and take a spot in the Horizon League soon — a move that Oakland has publicly wanted for a decade.
If Oakland does leave, the Summit is down to eight teams. With the remaining squads surely looking at other opportunities, it doesn’t leave the league in a strong position.
I don't see the BSC admitting NDSU as a full member. But NDSU could be in a corner if the choices were either leave the MVFC and join the BSC as a full member or stay put in the MVFC and remain in the Summit where you could lose AQ status in basketball and baseball. Most logic choice would to ask NDSU to join as an associate member and remain in the MVFC.
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
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Originally Posted by
darell1976
http://www.grandforksherald.com/even...cle/id/262919/
I don't see the BSC admitting NDSU as a full member. But NDSU could be in a corner if the choices were either leave the MVFC and join the BSC as a full member or stay put in the MVFC and remain in the Summit where you could lose AQ status in basketball and baseball. Most logic choice would to ask NDSU to join as an associate member and remain in the MVFC.
You seem to think that the BSC has the best negotiating position. Not really the case.
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
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Originally Posted by
NoDak 4 Ever
You seem to think that the BSC has the best negotiating position. Not really the case.
Its more I can see Fullerton giving NDSU those two options either dump both conference for the Big Sky or nothing. Since there isn't any non-football members of the Big Sky (Idaho is the exception).
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
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Originally Posted by
darell1976
Its more I can see Fullerton giving NDSU those two options either dump both conference for the Big Sky or nothing. Since there isn't any non-football members of the Big Sky (Idaho is the exception).
So you are saying there is a non football member of the big sky.
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
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Originally Posted by
Twentysix
So you are saying there is a non football member of the big sky.
Idaho starts in 2014-2015 so technically as of now there is no non-football members playing in the Big Sky.
This post on SS tells about how bad the SL got:
http://forum.siouxsports.com/topic/1...60#entry628773
SiouxVolley:
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For the sport that falls under six members, the 2-year grace period is only good "provided the conference maintains at least five Division I members." Since Summit baseball had now fallen under five (to four), the 2-year grace period for baseball is gone (if there are no new baseball teams by July), and the conference at large will be under a 2-yr grace period for its basketball autobid for failing to meet the definition of a multisports conference.
31.3.4.4.3 Grace Period. A conference shall remain eligible for automatic qualification for two years following the date of the withdrawal of the institution(s) that causes the conference’s membership to fall below six institutions that sponsor the sport and conduct conference competition together provided the conference maintains at least five Division I members. (Adopted: 8/5/04, Revised: 1/15/11 effective 8/1/11)
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/262923
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The college football landscape is rapidly transforming. So, where are we heading?
There are no definitive answers — only a laundry list of hypothetical possibilities.
As the veteran commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, Doug Fullerton is at the forefront of these swift changes.
Fullerton met with Big Sky athletic directors in late April during the league’s annual meeting. The chief topic: The constant conference shifting on the national scene and where that leaves the Big Sky, a league in which UND just completed its first season.
Fullerton compares the planning strategy to how his administration waited out the actions of the Western Athletic Conference, a league that is struggling to survive and won’t play football during the 2013-14 season.
When WAC football fell apart in the past year, the Big Sky quickly snatched up Idaho, which has since decided to join the Sun Belt for football and the Big Sky for the remainder of its sports. Fullerton was able to swoop in because he already had the blessing of his members from playing out this scenario in previous meetings.
“When that was unfolding, we could take immediate action and didn’t have to get in a debate,” Fullerton said. “It’s a scenario type of thing. There are scenarios we should be role-playing depending on what happens.”
Fullerton said if the Big Sky was to join the FBS ranks, the league might be attractive to Idaho again for football.
Although he wouldn’t name specific targets, Fullerton added other expansion is being discussed.
“There are others who would help us put together some rivalries,” Fullerton said. “But, I haven’t talked to any schools or commissioners … our conference going to 16 (teams)? Is that the end game?”
Another element of expansion is to address the league’s travel trouble. The league stretches from the West Coast to Grand Forks and encompasses three time zones.
“We do have UND, which we enjoy as a partner, sitting on an island,” Fullerton said. “If we develop divisions, that mitigates some of the travel that we face.”
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
I have no doubt the Big Sky would love to have NDSU. Both from the context of the quality of NDSU's athletic programs (not just football) and the ability to offset the geographic outlier than UND is. I also have no doubt that NDSU football loves its current home. I think the BSC's only hope for attracting NDSU is for the Summit League to crumble. It is on pretty shaky ground right now but it's not in WAC territory yet. Even having said that I think there is still a pretty strong bond between the leadership at NDSU and SDSU and I'm not sure that either is willing to move laterally without the other.
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
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Originally Posted by
Professor Chaos
I have no doubt the Big Sky would love to have NDSU. Both from the context of the quality of NDSU's athletic programs (not just football) and the ability to offset the geographic outlier than UND is. I also have no doubt that NDSU football loves its current home. I think the BSC's only hope for attracting NDSU is for the Summit League to crumble. It is on pretty shaky ground right now but it's not in WAC territory yet. Even having said that I think there is still a pretty strong bond between the leadership at NDSU and SDSU and I'm not sure that either is willing to move laterally without the other.
That was going to be my question to you. Could either one leave the other, then what does USD do? They rejected the BSC so do they get another chance or does the BSC tell them to take a hike. Should be an interesting summer/fall.
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
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Originally Posted by
darell1976
That was going to be my question to you. Could either one leave the other, then what does USD do? They rejected the BSC so do they get another chance or does the BSC tell them to take a hike. Should be an interesting summer/fall.
From this point on, the (other) Dakota schools are going to stick together. You can count on that.
Re: Big Sky should look toward NDSU
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Originally Posted by
NoDak 4 Ever
From this point on, the (other) Dakota schools are going to stick together. You can count on that.
Kinda puts SDSU in a bind. If the BSC wanted SDSU for either all or non-football membership but not USD (because of what USD did to them) could they get the SDBoR on board to join the Big Sky or would the board say no to splitting them up.