So you want to be D-1A

[Go_Herd]

Found this out from McFeely, didnt know there was that big of a spread between $$$ from D-1AA and D-1A. Good link to check out the budgets of other schools. Gene Taylor says slow down and enjoy D-1AA, which I think everyone here thinks as well.

http://www.areavoices.com/mcfeely/

Financial Reports for numerous NCAA schools

http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial_reports/

[Jeffdaryl3rd]

While I think that under ideal circumstances NDSU could successfully make the transition to a 1-A program that hangs out around the bottom of the top 25 polls and goes to a bowl on a semi-regular basis, but I guess I'd rather not run that risk and just stay in 1-AA and compete for the national championship on a regular basis. Now that I have had a look at even that small sampling of the finances involved, I think 1-A is probably not a great idea for us.

[RodentiaX1]

Since the Bison are going to be in the Mid-Con for a while, the only I-A options would be becoming a football-only member of a I-A conference, going the I-A independent route. Unless you're Notre Dame, the independent route is is pretty bleak. I could see becoming a football member of the Sun Belt, but that's the only conference that I can see it happen.

I-A Football at NDSU may well happen after the Bison have spent a respectable time in the Mid-Con.

[BisBison]

I gotta go with Gene on this one. Let's get a few 1-AA championships or PCS or whatever its called then b-4 we think we're too good for this level.

[RodentiaX1]

It makes sense to stick around in the I-AA level for a while. Several years of success may well have people demanding a I-A move. It's a lot easier to get funding when you have masses of people "twisting your arm" to get you to do what you want to do anyway.