It appears North Dakota State will go with 11 football games next season, instead of the maximum 12 allowed that many Division I Football Championship Subdivision schools seem to be shooting for. Athletic director Gene Taylor said progress is being made in replacing Western Carolina on the schedule.
Western will either pay a buyout or have the date moved to a future year. One reason for deciding on 11 games is the number of games NDSU has played in the last two seasons — 30. If the Bison happen to make another playoff run, “that’s just a lot of football,” Taylor said.
He said head coach Craig Bohl is fine with 11 games.It does mean the Bison will need a successful regular season run to combat other programs that have the benefit of achieving the extra Division I victory. The Division I selection committee historically favors an 8-4 team over a 7-4 team, assuming they have similar resumes.
Good decision.
for 18-22 years old…”too much football???” no such thing…call faison
Who is this Faison you speak of?
If Bohl and Taylor say the kids have had too much football I will trust their decision as they have 2 Natty’s to prove they know what they are doing.
Dewey
I’m happy with this decision. I do hope that Mr. Taylor can schedule a game on 9/14, instead of the originally scheduled Western Carolina date of 9/21. This would give the Bison a bye-week before starting the meat-grinder that is MVFC play.
How they are not trying to get a game with UND blows my mind away. They both have the same open dates and every North Dakotian wants to see this rivalry renewed. MAKE IT HAPPEN!!
UND would have 12 straight games without a bye if they added ndsu
That is a good point. Although this year they did go 10 straight games without a bye week. It all depends if they want to find a game for that spot or leave it open.
I for one don’t want to see it happen. It would favor NDSU to play a lesser team. UND would be better to schedule an easier team that they can beat to pad their wins.
NDSU doesn’t need help selling out the Dome. UND needs help in that category. NDSU wouldn’t play a 12th game if it meant road game.
I say let the rivalry die. NDSU has SDSU and UNI as main rivals in football. In fact almost every MVFC team has turned into a major rival. UND will get the same eventually with BigSky.
It would favor both not to play each other and play lessor opponents, which is possibly why they are looking at later dates to schedule a game. UND already has 7 home games, so this one would be played in the Dome, which is what NDSU would be looking for anyways. Also, man it would be hard to see this rivalry die, everyone in ND draws a line in the sand when it comes to football and when these two teams line it up again it’s going to be fun to watch.
If they scheduled the game for this coming year, UND would want a home game against NDSU in 2014, and NDSU won’t do that. They want their 1 away non-conference game to be an FBS payout game. It’s really UND that’s making this difficult. If UND would just pay NDSU $350,000 to come play in the Alerus, NDSU would do that in a heartbeat. GET IT DONE UND!
Not happening.
That was supposed to be a joke.
I know. I meant that the UND game isnt going to happen no matter what.
Not every North Dakotan wants to see this game? Are a season ticket holder and teammakers member? If not, screw you.
Who is a teammaker? 98% of ND want the game, the other 2% are this teammaker thing or post on this blog.
As a Team maker and Season ticket holder, I do want to see this game played. It just wont happen this year.
i am a NORTH DAKOTIAN and i dont want to see it – never!
Smart decision by the NDSU brass. The Bison could possibly be playing a 15 game schedule with the playoffs. You also will have the final 4 games in the playoff run that will be played against the best of the FCS! Fill the early open date with a FCS cupcake.
UND would be an fcs cupcake
Any idea how many FCS teams are moving to the full 12 games? I would guess it is a small percentage but it would be nice if someone could do the research and let us know the facts.
By my count 23 right now are playing 12 games in 2013
That is a much higher number than I thought it would be. What is the motivation to play the extra game? Additional revenue? Better chance at 7 or 8 wins?
$$$$$$$$$
Question, Dom, how many of those where in the playoffs last year?
By my count 3; Eastern Washington; Cal Poly and Eastern Illinois are playing 12 games next year; so are Youngstown State, Montana, Richmond and Delaware, those last 4 not schools hard up for cash regarding their football programs, they are trying to get to that magical 8 or 9 win plateau to make playoff field.
I could care less if we play UND and I am a N-Dakotan LET IT GO!!!
Another North Dakota Boy born and raised and still living here. No!!!!!
Do not play the UNDIES. Drop it. We do not need to support them by playing there, and we can fill the dome with anyone we play. Enough said.
The last three comments must come from a group with a combined age of 30. I’ve seen this game played before and it’s all about the tradition…not that the dome can sell out anyways. What kind of logic is that? Grow up ladies.
The NCC is dead. Trying to tap into that tradition doesn’t pay dividends with fans. The men’s basketball games 3 years ago and this year in Fargo were like Lutheran church services.
The game last year when UND beat NDSU, the fans stormed the court. What does that tell you about the state of both university’s athletic programs?
NDSU athletics is light years ahead of UND athletics, and that includes hockey. Granted, college football schedules are more sensitive and intense than basketball schedules, but most UND and NDSU fans are smart. They realize that conference games are much more important than non-conference games, and so they just don’t put as much stock in those games as they use to.
How is NDSU “light years” ahead of UND? You have to be kidding me, right? You guys win a couple FCS Football Championships and think you’re some unstoppable force all around. UND has 7 Nationa Titles in hockey.We beat you in basketball (men and womens), baseball, and any other sport the schools compete in. We have the ability to beat you in football too, no doubt about it.
Sean, just look at number of RECENT National Chanpionships and Conference Championships in ALL Sports. Sean, just look to the RECENT fan interest in football. The who average 8,000 per game the BISON over 18,000 per game.
There’s so much I could say in response to you RedRiver, but it’s clearly not worth it. I’m not here to pick fights. I want to see the NDSU-UND football game happen again, period. I apologize for my first comment that set the tone. I don’t like when lakes gets on every UND board and trash talks, either.
I bet UND has higher attendance when you take the entire athletic departments and compare them. I also bet UND has higher ticket revenue across the department.
I’m gonna have to disagree with the statement “NDSU is light years ahead of UND”. I also disagree with the UND poster saying “we have the ability to beat you in football too”.
NDSU is obviously ahead of UND in football and probabaly ahead in men’s basketball. Even though some of the b-ball between the schools has been competitive, I think the Bison are ahead of UND.
As far as football goes, I give UND a 5% chance of beating NDSU. That’s 1 out of 20 games played.
NDSU is probably ahead of UND with fan support in common sports. (for sure football)
NDSU is way behind in hockey attendance.
Athletics in general are probably a notch above at NDSU in some sports, but not all.
UND has some catching up to do to even come close on the football field.
Fun fact: UND’s attendance is larger as a proportion of the local population base at 9.1% as opposed to NDSU’s 8.9%.
Fargo-Moorhead MSA year 2010 = 208,777.
NDSU average attendance year 2012 = 18,516.
Grand Forks-EGF MSA year 2010 = 98,054.
UND average attendance year 2012 = 8,962.
You can take that nickel trophy, melt it down, and take whatever valuable material (copper) it’s composed of and sell it. Donate the funds to some needed charity.
If the Dome was bigger they’d have averaged more, as a % of population, than UND. Not NDSU’s fault the Dome doesn’t hold more.
I’m fine with not scheduling UND and I can say that without using name calling. Both schools have fine schedules it really doesn’t make sense for either school to try and squeeze this game in next year.
I could care less if they play UND also. I think it would help UND more than NDSU. As a season ticket holder, I want 6 homes games and don’t want to sacrifice one every other year so they have to go to UND. I don’t think there is that much excitement for a NDSU-UND game.
Do you live in a box or something? Not much excitement? Have you noticed all the commotion any time someone brings up UND on here? Bring up any other college and not much is said, or some nice things are said. Bring up UND and it’s like you turn on a valve of some sort. Sorry guys, but the SDSU game is a lot of fun but it is like a gentleman’s game. They have their real hatred held out for the Coyotes. Face it, no other game on the schedule can stir up emotions like a UND game. The score could be 70-3, and the place would still be full with people cheering to keep running up the score.
NDSU could be up 70-3 against Prairie View A&M, and the place would still be full with people cheering to keep running up the score.
Sure didnt happen last year. As a matter of fact many people were feeling sorry for PV. I can also tell you nobody was excited to play them.
If you think there’s no hatred for the Bison by SDSU fans, you don’t live in Brookings/Sioux Falls.
I looked forward to the Northern Iowa game every year. Northern Iowa is usually always at the top of the conference and you will always get a little extra shoving with that game. If it was between watching the Bison play UND or UNI, I would rather watch them play UNI. If fans were really excited for a UND game, why would there only be 5,000 for men’s basketball and about 2,000 for women’s basketball. I think this shows that fans are not that much into this rivalry anymore.
That alot of fans showing up for sports or team that arent doing well.
Dear Sean, My Dad does not care if the Bison play UND ever again. I however believe your point is very well taken. This game is all about Tradition. NDSU has tradition and UND has none. This 10 year old girl has to go to bed now as it is very late.
Say what you want, it’s a game nobody in the state would miss…guaranteed.
Excuse me, but there’s only room for 19000 in the FFD.
Southcliffbison…..you must not own a television.
The popular or so called vogue thing to do is say this game should be played. Well the popular or majority also thought UND should keep the nickname and we saw what happened there. I myself am tired of PC or so-called way to do things. We moved on and are in a conference winning titles. They are in the Big Sky and seem happy there also. So move forward. If women are now able to be in combat roles in the military, then we can forgo this game. Changes my friends, Changes.Oh and just to stray a bit from this topic and add to my last sentence, how about Obama and his Merry Men let all the parents of those 17 and 18 year old girls make sure they also sign up for the selective service. I know this is off topic butt htese clowns chap my butocks.
Touche”
I agree with an 11 game regular season for next year. With the talent coming back this team has everything it takes to 3-peat. They bring back most everyone and they also get Colton Heagle and Leevon Perry back. John Crocket has a year of playing football under his belt so he should really get it going next season. Going to the national championship game again next year after playing an 11 game season would result in another 15 game season. That is alot of games for the players.
If NDSU plays UND, I predict that UND main goal will be to hurt NDSU players and there will be a lot of NDSU kids who will walk out of the game with injuries.
That’s kind of ridiculous.
That is the logic of a ten year old. WTH?
How old are you?
Okay okay may be i am wrong i will say sorry but I still dont think playing UND willl help the BISON they might as well play some DII team
I can’t believe some of these comments…… NOT wanting the UND game???? Weird.
I think both schools need to make this happen, even if it is an away game for the Bison. Get a guarantee of a home-and-home for the future and just play next year up in GF.
Why do they NEED to make it happen? NDSU has been selling out games for 3 years. And we all know that this year will be sold out again this year.
People say Tradition. If UND really wanted to make this happen they would have moved with NDSU and would have joined the MVFC. Instead they joined the Big Sky.
I love UND Hockey…but I think they messed up not going MVFC.
You had me until you added that UND hockey comment, puke.
If you remember, when UND was set to vist with the Summitt, NDSU and the MVFC told UND there was no room for them in the MVFC. Then as soon as USD says they are going to the Big Sky, the MVFC was scared of loosing NDSU and SDSU to the Big Sky so they do a 180 and in less than a week find room for USD.
Back to the topic at hand. Playing 11 games is smart. NDSU typically ends up playing 15 games a season anyway. Only one other team has done that besides the Bison. 15 games a year is enough games.
Dean B emailed me. Said. LET UND ROT, NO GAME EVER. True story.
Now will everyone STFU 80% poll on bisonville says NO UND GAME.
Case closed shut up
NDSU’s record vs UND is 45-65-3, with a losing record like that I’m not surprised that 80% of Bison fans don’t want to play UND.
Touche’…..And BisonBill, that’s the kind of attitude I’m talking about! Let’s do this already….BISON VS. SIOUX!
Live in the past, stats are for losers, NATTY title rings go on our fingers in bisoNation!
I agree stats are for losers. What did you say about 80% of fans not wanting a game again??
NDSU’s record vs UND all time is 45-62-3, with a losing record like that it makes sense that 80% of bison fans wouldn’t want to play the game.
Yes we will all admit you were the dominating team in the 1920 through the early 1960s, going 31-8. In the modern era since 1965, we are 25-15 against the undies. Unfortunately, none of these old records have any bearing on how we would kick your royal behinds back to the town with the Olive Garden.
Not sure where you get the 80% figure….. I kinda think it is the other way around! I even advocate playing in Grand Forks just for the sake of playing it. Besides, if the Bison can’t beat the Fighting Sioux next year, then when could they ever??
Bring ‘em on!!!!!!
If UND wants to play a one-time game in Fargo for $150,000, I say schedule it. However, we all know that is not going to happen.
Don’t you people including kolpack have lives? You are in the same minority of people that have boners for this game. Get over it, quit reporting it, quit asking about it, seriously. can you really not find other topics? NDSU is back to back champs, they dominate FCS and need to focus on FBS. Go write about that please
NDSU is currently not looking to go FBS. If you don’t want Jeff to “create” news about NDSU and UND playing, why would you want him to create false news about NDSU moving up to FBS?
Sean forgets the game would be scheduled if UND hadn’t quit in order to serve their own self interests. Quiting is easy you do that by yourself on your own terms. It’s getting back in that’s tough. You can’t do that alone or on your own terms. That’s just the way it is.
Is quiting similar to quilting? I miss the old days when you posted all day long on numerous message boards disparaging UND. What happened to that J>B>B?
UND quit, it was in their best interest. That part was all individual effort. As has been pointed out by people smarter than you it is possible to quit all by yourself, to join requires cooperation. It will be impossible to join with the same attitude you had when you quit.
Just a few facts for those whose bias clouds their judgement: A more accurate recent history would show UND winning 11 of the last 15 games between the two teams. NDSU did their part to keep UND out of the MVFC and the Summit, as was evidenced by their hurried up conference call with the league in its last minute plea to weak sister USD, when both USD and UND were in the process of recieiving invites from the Big Sky.
Blah blah. Go back to Canadian D2 hockey you are IRRELEVANT
GOPHERS AND BISON DON’T PLAY YOU IN FOOTBALL OR HOCKEY IRRELEVANCE FOR U
Yes, UND was the better team, head to head, in the 90′s. Most painful decade of my fandom. After the 80′s when UND went 0-fer the 90′s just about put me under. That said, I’ve moved on. I look forward to the day that the two teams play but only because I hope the next game they play is meaningful. Since they aren’t in the same conference the only real way for it to be meaningful is if its a playoff game. Until then, leave it be.
This may be the smartest, well thought out post on this board. A big reason why this match-up was so hyped up was because it was a conference game, and traditionally, NDSU and UND did well in the NCC. Now that the two teams are in different conferences, the well informed fans of North Dakota know better. That’s why the last two games men’s basketball games in Fargo have been sleepers. A football game would be the same.
It would be just like the Bison playing a cupcake at the beginning of the season. There’d be plenty of tailgating, hype at the beginning of the game, and then people leaving in the middle of the 3rd quarter because of another NDSU blowout.
Patrick you couldnt be more wrong.
Good point. Thanks for the expansive and detailed comment.
The record doesn’t mean a thing. At least NDSU has a winning record against the old Fargo College, our all-time greatest rival. That game too is now part of history. It’s the traditions and common conference interests shared by the major universities in the Dakotas that provide the richness and color of these great schools and college sports fans across both great states. They play for the pride of the Dakotas. When you quit you quit. You take yourself out. UND quit the Dakotas and for their own self interests quit playing. Now they are in the long line of potential NDSU OOC opponents and in a new, D2 oriented hockey league. That’s just the way it is.
i always love it when people diss the UND hockey program, yet brag about winning LOWER LEVEL D 1 football titles. let’s talk once you’ve won at least 1 team championship at the highest level of division 1 competition in any sport. so far, the score’s still 7 – 0.
I love it when undies come to the BISON blog to brag about their LOWER LEVEL sport titles. I mean how big a sport can it be when Lake Superior State and Rensselaer have each won two DI(?) titles. How can anyone call a sport the highest level of DI with all those DII and DIII schools anyway. And now that you have been reduced to a DII conference, I guess we’ll hear no more crap from you.
right, right….just like when someone brings up powerhouse college football, everyone immmediately thinks of Delaware, Richmond, and Furman, and dreams about the next championship game to be played on a soccer field. The hockey teams have to meet Division 1 standards, regardless of the division affiliation of the rest of their sports. that shouldn’t be too hard to understand. “reduced to a D2 conference” ?? the new hockey conference, NCHC, will be as strong, or possibly stronger than the Big Ten conference.