Bison v. Bama? maybe not.....

[azsod73]

www.inforum.com/news/3919464-mcfeely-fcs-will-likely-remain-bisons-home-long-time

[Yote 53]

NDSU has better brand recognition going right now than any team in the MAC or Sun Belt. No reason to move from FCS to low level FBS. I'd argue the MVFC is better football than those two conferences as well.

[Yotes]

Unless a Big 12 invite comes (it's not) they should stay FCS. Falling well out of the footprint of all lower level FBS conferences works against them as well. Idaho and NMSU are football only Sun Belt members, but it sounds like they won't be kept much longer and I doubt any other conference tries such a setup. NDSU is FCS until FCS as we know it ends.

[Yote 53]

There would need to be a shake-up in the Mountain West for anything to happen. Even then they would come knocking on Montana's door first, more than likely.

An unexpandable dome really restricts NDSU, just like USD. Of course there is nothing saying they couldn't build a new stadium. They rent the FargoDome and have been in that building for 20 years now.

There is also that dream conference of the Montanas, Dakotas, and Idahos coming together to form a new FBS conference (or takeover the shell of an existing one).

[yote14]

I agree a move to FBS would not make sense for NDSU at this time without other major things in college football also changing. I doubt this article will do little to bring their EGOS back to earth either.

I think their brand recognition gets over valued some in ND and SD. compared to other schools in the MVFC its light years ahead. Schools in the MAC and Sun Belt are in towns with more people than the entire states of ND and SD combined and no one outside of those two states care about NDSU football. Most people on the east or west coast cant even point ND and SD out on a map let alone know about the BICON or BITION or whatever made up spelling they have.

[yoteforever]

This love affair with ESPN and NDSU is here to stay until one thing happens. Someone knocks them off their perch. Period. And it can be done.

I'm not jealous of them winning 5 titles in a row, I'm seriously not. What I am jealous of is how their fan base has embraced this team, and how they support this team with the vigor they do. I have been a very strong proponent of building our fan base and support structure similar to what they have. I'm disappointed in our efforts to first lay out a plan to do such a thing, and secondly, I am extremely disappointed that our fans haven't embraced Coyote football and made Saturday a social event instead of just going to a 3 hour game. It comes down to one word.....its a MINDSET.

Gameday Saturday in Vermillion should be a social event. Fans from SF, SC, and Yankton should be descending upon Vermillion to good time that happens 5-6 times a year. And once inside the Dome, that place should be a "hell hole" for our opponents. But time hasn't changed. Yes, fan participation has grown a little over the past 4 years, but not with the level of enthusiasm it should've. That parking lot should be ablaze with grills cooking, footballs tossed in the air, motorhomes and cars flying USD flags. Some Saturday's it gets close, but most there's the loyal few and a couple of others sprinkled among the lot, and that's about it. I give the administration credit for trying in this case, because the band makes their rounds ( and does a great job), the players do a "walk through", and for the most part, people are left alone by law enforcement being over zealous. My opinion is that parking lot should be absolutely busting at the seams every game. Music should be blaring. People wearing Red and White. And once inside the Dome, people for the most part sit on their hands. It's not hard to quiet our crowd whatsoever, and it's because I honestly think we don't have a very zealous crowd. It really just pisses me off. If they lose, then you can almost bet 2500 people that were there won't be there for the next home game.

Also, the program that builds momentum is one that travels together as well. I get many of you have kids at home, funds maybe a little tight, I do get that. But if you're capable of traveling, I want to tell you it's an absolute frickin blast to go to away games and tailgate at their place. That's when you see Coyote fans congregate together, because they see red clothing, and even though they may not know each other at that point, they do when the days over. It's fun to party on the road.

My wish before I die is that somehow, some way, we can turn this program into a very fan friendly event, that people indeed get excited about. That Dome should be sold out every game...period. Doesn't matter if it's Drake or the Jacks. Every game. There's just not a hell of a lots things to divert away your time on football Saturday when you live in SD, Iowa, Ne, or Mn. Make going to games and tailgate with friends a priority.

It's a MINDEST

[Coyote Fan]

The program hasn't done alot of winning so that doesn't really help the culture of the football program. Eventually the program owes it to the fans to win just as much as the fans owe it to the team to keep showing up. It looks like the administration is now making a serious attempt to win so we will see how that goes. If you feel that the football program isn't being followed properly just look at the dome for the men's women's double header yesterday. Two good games on a saturday and barely anyone is there. Attendance is the 90's could have very well doubled what the attendance is now. On the other hand the attendance now for football is probably doubled what it was in the 90's. USD is back to being a football school over basketball. It wasn't that way when I attended school at USD. Maybe they should have build the basketball arena to a 3,000 capacity instead of 6,000. I am being sarcastic but there will be 4,000 empty seats every game except the SDSU game if interest in basketball does not rise. Sorry to bring hoops to this thread.

[yoteforever]

For many people on here, the lightening rod is either SDSU or NDSU. I'm going to make comparisons to SDSU to hopefully make a point. I think most everyone would agree that the Jacks fan base has grown since they went to Division 1. And many off us, myself included, tend to think they started off pretty darned good especially when compared to USD. So I went back to their website and looked at the results they had since going D-1.

For starters, they played cupcake after cupcake their initial 2-3 years. I don't beleive in that time frame there was one FBS school they played. They played D-3 schools, and NAIA schools fairly regularly to fill out their schedule. Guess how many years of D-1 they played before they made the playoffs? 6. Then they went another 4 years I believe before they played again. That game was the Montana fiasco where they gave up a huge lead and allowed Montana to score a billion points the last quarter and a half. Then, in my opinion only, the MVC was not exactly the juggernaut it is now. There is no question, when comparing schedules, that they played a much softer schedule than we did. Much softer.

So when people talk about having to win to drum up fan support, I understand then argument but I don't buy it. I do think the Jacks fan base has grown in this era, but not because they are "all that" but because they went D-1 and had the five year jump on us of playing against the more traditional schools as compared to Morningside, Augie, etc. I credit their fans for jumping on board. They aren't NDSU, but they aren't the SDSU of old either. My point in all of this is that if people do jump on board, get excited, donate and fund the program at a higher level, good things will happen. We were one win from the playoffs this year, and many people think the change in staff will produce better results, we should be knocking on the door of the playoffs real real soon. So now is the time to fund this program,but even more importantly, but season tickets, rent a tailgate spot, and get excited about jumping onboard.

Regarding the football vs basketball school comparison, I do think many schools are one or the other. However, for both USD and SDSU, I think you could say that we are some of both, but not one over the other. My guess is if you polled 1000 fans on whether they would rather win a football title or a basketball title, it would tilt towards football, but I don't know that. Craig Smith and staff also deserves our unwavering support. I do think he's going to build a competitive team. Time will tell. Lastly, watching basketball in the Dome is about as exciting as watching paint dry. The atmosphere is sterile. The new arena will help, but once again, are we as a fan base going to embrace the sport or just pretty much ignore it. That's the million dollar question. I think it will be a couple of years before we get to the point of having more than 3000 people at a game. Just my thought, and I pray I'm wrong. Either way, I'll back the Yotes.

[Yote 53]

The Dome is a horrible atmosphere for basketball. The games were up against NFL playoff games. It was freezing cold outside which caused many people to just stay home. I expect basketball attendance will get better when the arena opens.

I would agree that USD is a football school now. Just so much more talk and excitement around the football program, IMO. I think that is more of a reflection of what is going on in the general sports world more than anything the Coyote football program has done recently.

[yote14]

I know we've talked about it on here before but what kills the momentum we have been building for tailgating on Saturdays is when the school has turned people away from getting a tailgating spot in the past. In a long story short our group's tailgating spot was given to someone else before the time period ended to renew it last year. You cant do crap like that and keep people's respect or interest. some other friends of mine have called for 2 years straight to get a spot and the one year they didn't even get a call back.

I have season tickets and have not missed a game the last 3 years but have no connection to anyone who makes decisions within the university. The year we had a tailgate spot 2 seasons ago I tried talking to David Williams about the tailgating setup and he was a total jerk about it. Consistency and a plan that includes everyone who wants to tailgate the availability to do so must be put in place before it gets better. One that does not include the peasants having to tailgate in the grass lot in Yankton away from everything.

The band and team walking through the tailgate area along with tons of other additions have made it significantly better than when I was in school in the early 2000's. But if you are not one of the 15 major boosters or a political candidate the main tailgate area on the cement lot is not an option which prevents a good fun atmosphere from happening there when the team and band walk through. The 3rd quarter is always going to have the main tailgaters who filled the grass lot last year walking to Yankton for a beer and missing the entire 3rd quarter. 75% of the lots in the main cemented tailgate area will be empty because lets face it Mike Rounds and Stephanie Herseth's bus is only coming for Ddays and the 80 year old that bought 8 spots because the university only wanted the money for it will not show up to help the atmosphere.

Make an honest attempt to include everyone. Stop ignoring the fan base who does not give $10k to the howling pack or attend red tie events.

[ctc2010]

Jan 11, 2016 13:26:48 GMT -6 yote14 said:

I know we've talked about it on here before but what kills the momentum we have been building for tailgating on Saturdays is when the school has turned people away from getting a tailgating spot in the past. In a long story short our group's tailgating spot was given to someone else before the time period ended to renew it last year. You cant do crap like that and keep people's respect or interest. some other friends of mine have called for 2 years straight to get a spot and the one year they didn't even get a call back.

I have season tickets and have not missed a game the last 3 years but have no connection to anyone who makes decisions within the university. The year we had a tailgate spot 2 seasons ago I tried talking to David Williams about the tailgating setup and he was a total jerk about it. Consistency and a plan that includes everyone who wants to tailgate the availability to do so must be put in place before it gets better. One that does not include the peasants having to tailgate in the grass lot in Yankton away from everything.

The band and team walking through the tailgate area along with tons of other additions have made it significantly better than when I was in school in the early 2000's. But if you are not one of the 15 major boosters or a political candidate the main tailgate area on the cement lot is not an option which prevents a good fun atmosphere from happening there when the team and band walk through. The 3rd quarter is always going to have the main tailgaters who filled the grass lot last year walking to Yankton for a beer and missing the entire 3rd quarter. 75% of the lots in the main cemented tailgate area will be empty because lets face it Mike Rounds and Stephanie Herseth's bus is only coming for Ddays and the 80 year old that bought 8 spots because the university only wanted the money for it will not show up to help the atmosphere.

Make an honest attempt to include everyone. Stop ignoring the fan base who does not give $10k to the howling pack or attend red tie events.

I think a lot of people enjoyed tailgating in the west grass lot this year. That being said, I wish the W.H. Over Museum could be moved somewhere else and that land could be turned into parking.

[yote14]

I agree. We had fun over there too. But the grass lot is not included in any of the other tailgating activities like the band, the team walking through, the different businesses that have spots or booths, and the alumni store. And all of it is just too far of a walk away to make it plausible any fair number of fans in the grass lot are going to go over there.

In fact I would say there was the same amount if not more people tailgating in the grass lot than the main lot this year. It just kills the atmosphere when everything is so far spread out.

[Yote 53]

I think you'll see things continue to change as the Coyote Sports Complex continues to take shape. Would not shock me to see that are to north of the Dome become a paved parking lot. There is a dire need for parking in the area around the Dome.

As for tailgating being spread out, that's kind of the way it is at major schools too. I've tailgated at Iowa games at lots far enough away, in Vermillion terms, it would be like tailgating in front of the Varsity. I agree the main lot should have the tailgating spot size cut down and more spots offered so more can experience it and it doesn't seem so spread out. Maybe we should just be thankful we have tailgating at all since the University doesn't have to allow it. Also, I have never been harassed by any campus cops or had any sort of unpleasant experience with anybody from the University while tailgating. So that is something good too.

[Yotes]

If we can get a parking lot built on the current soccer field to the highway and university street tailgating will change considerably.

[ctc2010]

Jan 11, 2016 18:47:34 GMT -6 Yotes said:

If we can get a parking lot built on the current soccer field to the highway and university street tailgating will change considerably.

That would be awesome. Unfortunately football still needs practice fields. They practice on both sides of the soccer field now. I wonder if they'd consider giving football the soccer field (that way their fields are right next to each other) and putting a parking lot in the field to the west of the soccer field.