WELCOME TO I-AA!

[ralph]

Now that the 2003 season is a memory I'd like to once again welcome NDSU folk to I-AA. *I-AA.org has just published it's "2004 I-AA School and Conference Homepage Links" (http://www.i-aa.org/section_front.asp?arttypeid=566) page including NDSU, and added appropriate links to NDSU fan sites and messageboard to our FAN ZONE (http://www.i-aa.org/section_front.asp?arttypeid=594). *Another point of interest is the addition of our newest columnist, Kent Schmidt (http://www.i-aa.org/section_front.asp?arttypeid=740) (an NDSU alum) who will cover the I-AA West.

Though you may not be able to surprise anyone after you beat Montana last year, we expect that the Bison will finish in the GPI top 50 this year.

I-AA.org is non-profit and the top news service of I-AA. *You can get free email updates by subscribing to I-AA.org Magazine email edition (http://www.i-aa.org/newsletters.asp) (read our very secure privacy statement (http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=43810)).

Looking forward to 2004 I-AA!
-Ralph

(also posted to the I-AA board here)

[NDSU_grad]

Thanks for the welcome Ralph. I think I can speak for everyone here that we as fans are extremely excited about the upcoming year and the future of Bison football in I-AA. I'm already a registered member of the I-AA site and really think you do a great job.

[silkamilkamonico]

~yeahya D-1AA here we come.....a great time for us to come, after what I thought was a very successful year for us, we have a great coaching staff, and I think we will be solid next year in our provisional period.....Im stoked... 8)

[wfduck]

Great work Kent...but no props to your true roots or LaMoure....come on...give it up for the Loboes. They've got a great Bison tradition from Tom Shockman to Derek Arndt!!!!!!!!!

[Jav_Fan]

I hope Kent does his homework this year. For D2Football.com last year, his recaps for the past week, were lifted directly from the local newspapers. For the upcoming games very little insight, nothing that an educated fan would not already know. Preseason all-region teams had players listed whose eligibilty had expired.

Maybe he was just getting warmed up.

Good luck in I-AA. I hope you do better than former D2 studs Portland State, Texas State (formerly Southwest Texas State), Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and (to be determined) Cal-Davis, and Norhern Colorado. And I hope that you keep the rivalry with UND going. From experience (the A&I-SWT rivalry was the equivalent down here) I know how much of a void it can leave for both programs.

[89rabbit]

Northern Colorado did ok their first year in I-AA. *They finished in the top 25! JavFan why so bitter this morning?

[Jav_Fan]

Not bitter. I didn't mean to sound sarcastic about wishing you good luck in I-AA, but when I re-read my message, it could sound that way.

I really hope you do well. I was just pointing out the struggles of some other programs that were very successful at the D2 level.

For instance, our former Lone Star Conference rivals, Texas State was 4-8 and have not made playoffs since they moved up, Sam Houston 2-9, 3 playoff appearances in 20 years, Stephen F Austin 7-4, 5 playoff appearances in 20 years. Our former playoff rival Portland State 4-7, 1 playoff since moving up in 1998.

It is too soon to tell for Cal-Davis or Northern Colorado. Cal-Davis went 6-4 playing the same caliber schedule that they did the past several years. Northern Colorado fared better, but look at its 2003 Schedule and Results (9-2):

8/30/2003 New Mexico Highlands 72-13 (0-11 D2)
9/6/2003 Western State 44-3 (5-6 D2)
9/13/2003 Idaho State 33-42 (8-4 IAA)
9/20/2003 Minn. State - Mankato 35-7 (0-11 D2)
9/27/2003 Montana State 14-10 (7-6 IAA)
10/11/2003 Western Washington 48-17 (4-6 D2)
10/18/2003 Florida Atlantic 19-21 (11-3 IAA)
10/25/2003 Adams State 55-14 (4-7 D2)
11/8/2003 Southern Utah 29-25 (4-7 IAA)
11/15/2003 Augustana College 41-0 (3-8 D2)
11/22/2003 UC Davis 35-28 (6-4 IAA provisional)

Would they have won the NCC or even made the playoffs last year?

I was just pointing out that I hope the Bison can overcome the hurdles that these other programs have not yet been able to. Hope I didn't offend.

[Bison_Kent]

Jav Fan,

I will grant that I made some errors probably through out the year but most were at the beginning. But in my defense, I started on the project in the middle of August and did not receive much information from any of the schools before the season started so I had to base my Preseason Column on whatever info I could find on the net.

If you noticed, I did appologize for my mistakes and it was truely a learning experience covering schools that for the most part I didn't have a clue about before I started. This new adventure will be fun just as the West of D2 was last year and most of the teams I covered (especially the I-AA indies) played teams in the West D2 so I have a headstart already. But I am going into the I-AA West with a little more then a couple week lead time so mistakes should be kept to a minimum.

[Jav_Fan]

Wow, I'm sounding like a real jerk today.

Kent, I apologize. I know you were new to the West region and not familiar with the teams, so my criticism toward you isn't fair. I'm sure with a full off-season to prepare, you'll do a great job.

My complaint should be directed at D2football.com for not giving you a fair chance. But...they are the best source of information for D2 football that there is.

So....maybe I should be thankful that anyone is willing to put in the effort to bring us the information and only offer suggestions that are positive. What's the deadline for making a New Year's resolution?

[WYOBISONMAN]

Ralph....when do we get our helmet up with the other D1AA schools?

[Tuk]

All I can say is I am looking forward to D1 and am sure the Bison will strive for excellence. It might not be right away, but it will come sooner than later.

Hello D1! Good bye D2!

[wfduck]

Wow, I'm sounding like a real jerk today.

Kent, I apologize. *I know you were new to the West region and not familiar with the teams, so my criticism toward you isn't fair. * *I'm sure with a full off-season to prepare, you'll do a great job.

My complaint should be directed at D2football.com for not giving you a fair chance. *But...they are the best source of information for D2 football that there is.

So....maybe I should be thankful that anyone is willing to put in the effort to bring us the information and only offer suggestions that are positive. *What's the deadline for making a New Year's resolution?

I can't imagine he get's paid much...i'd say it's a labor of love and I appreciate all the work ANY of you people do from BI to Bisonville...D2 and d1aa.org...i love it all

[SDbison]

Thanks for updating the I-AA site Ralph. I noticed in the Fan Zone, "States with I-AA Teams" needs to be updated to highlight the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. Also, hope we can do better than a GPI top 50 finish next year. Maybe top 25? Too bad most of the current top 25 I-AA schools either have a busy schedule next year or are worried about an upset by a provisional school.

[ralph]

...I noticed in the Fan Zone [I-AA.org], "States with I-AA Teams" needs to be updated to highlight the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. *Also, hope we can do better than a GPI top 50 finish next year. *Maybe top 25?...
The map was done today. Top 25 would be great! Here's last year's Indys:
Indep:
GPI Rank-School (Total) (W-L)
14. N Colorado (18.90) (9-2)
16. FL Atlantic (20.11) (9-2)
19. Cal Poly SLO (24.65) (7-4)
25. UC Davis (31.70) (6-4)
36. S Utah (39.07) (4-7)
74. Florida A&M (71.13) (6-6)
82. Florida Intl (76.43) (2-10)
90. SE Louisiana (83.65) (5-7)
104. St Mary's (93.97) (1-11)
121. Savannah St (111.18) (0-12)

http://www.i-aa.org/stats/GPI/2003FinalRegularSeason.pdf

[ndsubison]

Ralph....when do we get our helmet up with the other D1AA schools?

WYOBISON--I think this is what you're looking for...

http://www.anygivensaturday.org/helmets/IAAIND.htm