UND Leaving BSC/D1?

[WILDCAT]

2 football divisions

Big Sky Legends: Big Sky Leaders:
Weber ---------- Cal Poly
ISU -------------- PSU
Montana -------- NAU
MSU. ----------- SUU
Idaho ---------- Sac St.
Eastern --------- Davis

Football scheduling/ divisions

2-3 non conference games

7 or 8 conference games, 5 in division, 2-3 opposite division. (Extra game depends on whether FCS is allowed to play 12 games or not and if conference goes to 9 games)

+1 Flex game at end of year for each team predetermined yearly which division gets home game.

1. Big Sky title game (top teams in each Division)
2. Bronze Bowl (2nd team in each division)
3. Bracket buster bowl (3rd team in each division)
Should be playoff spot on the line.
4-6 Evenly matched teams that haven't played if possible.

Why the changes you ask?

Football recruits will start picking the Big Sky again because a televised title game gives something to get excited about.

With 2 6 team divisions in football, at any given time, half of the conference is in the top 3 of each division. This makes more teams feel relevant increasing fan attendance and recruiting.

I think you're forgetting that if we have a title game we forfeit the FCS playoffs so in no way is that going to happen!

Correct me if I'm wrong, the reason title games and playoffs don't coexist in FCS is because the game would be played the first week of FCS playoffs. That is why you just back everything up one week and leave the final week for flex scheduling. Technically, it's not a title game, it's the conference leaving the final week open to schedule evenly matched games amongst the 12 teams. Is there a rule preventing this?

The NCAA would never allow the Big Sky to start their season a whole week earlier than the rest of the FCS.

That's not what he's saying, still play your 11 game season, but the last week is open TBD and each division is paired 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, etc down the line. The only issue would be the potential for teams playing each other again.

My bad I read it wrong, still I don't see this kind of thing happening...like ever. The closest thing we will get to change at the FCS level is possibly the NCAA allowing the FCS to play a 12 game season every year, but to do that they would either have to.. A. move the season up a week, or B. push the playoffs back a week. I would like the idea of a 12 game schedule every year, but I have my doubts that it will come to pass.

The biggest problem with having a random game as your last game is not knowing who you play till the very end, (for most schools) add in the last second expensive travel, things like who gets to host the game, losing rivalry week, and instead of playing 8 known conference games you'd only play 7. It would become a mess, and not one the Big Sky would want on their hands every year.

 

[WILDCAT]

According Jerry Bovee on the latest ask the AD youtube video. Any further expansion by the Big Sky to replace North Dakota makes no sense unless they add to the conference's revenue.

 

[oldrunner]

According Jerry Bovee on the latest ask the AD youtube video. Any further expansion by the Big Sky to replace North Dakota makes no sense unless they add to the conference's revenue.

Reading between the lines..... Adding a school is possible if they add value. I would interpret that to mean potential TV and marketing revenues, reasonable travel, solid athletic budget, full D1 facilities, and solid administration. I think you can use those measures to include or eliminate some schools.

 

[AlumniWSU]

According Jerry Bovee on the latest ask the AD youtube video. Any further expansion by the Big Sky to replace North Dakota makes no sense unless they add to the conference's revenue.

Good! It's not just a matter of # of members to be BIG, it's a matter of quality of members! Some, like this fan, would say the Big Sky is still too big, (#of members - wise). :twocents:

 

[jon]

I'm a little late to the party here, but just wanted to chime in.

I think this is a HORRIBLE move for North Dakota to make. I have really enjoyed being a part of the Big Sky. Actually I have LOVED being a part of the Big Sky. To me it is more than just about athletics. It offers so much to affiliate with quality schools like Weber, Montana, Montana St., Idaho, UC Davis, etc. Regardless of conference affiliation, we will always be tied to and have relationships with the other Dakota schools simply due to proximity and history. This move will effectively sever all ties with our new brethren out west. I understand the financial and logistical part of it, but strategically I think this move is going to set UND back.

I also understand that there will be no weeping from many Big Sky members as we exit, mostly again due to financial/logistic/travel reasons. But I will miss associating with the members of this league and their fans. Weber among them especially. As a basketball fan, it has been wonderful to be competing against a school with a basketball pedigree like Weber. There is no school in the Summit league that can come close to measuring up with the basketball tradition at Weber, and I've enjoyed being a small part of that in recent seasons.

I will look forward to the little time we have left competing in the Big Sky, and hope yet to make a trip to Ogden for my annual Big Sky football road trip. Classy bunch of fans on this forum, it's been fun!

Not to dreg up a post that is a couple weeks ago, but I am definitely also a little bit sad about the move out of Big Sky basketball.

It will be neat to be back in the same conference with the Dakota schools (especially in football), and bring back games with NDSU and all of that. But the Big Sky was/is a great basketball conference with interesting teams, playing styles, and quality for a mid-major.

I totally get the move and I think it especially makes sense football-wise, but I'd certainly take Big Sky basketball membership over the Summit League when it comes to competitiveness and style of play.