Re: A new and better FBS thread
Originally Posted by
IndyBison
I see a lot of truth in this. I remember talking with an NDSU administrator about the time of the FCS transition. They shared the preference was definitely Summit/MVFC over Big Sky but would accept either. The reason was the recruiting footprint and alumni footprint was much better that way. They may have been just as successful going the Big Sky route, but it would have required establishing a new recruiting footprint with most of their games going a different direction. It may not affect the Minnesota and Omaha recruits, but Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois becomes much tougher. You would need to establish more connections with schools in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
Similar factors would exist in the MAC/MWC discussion. I think both would be good options and NDSU could be successful in either. But if both options are offered at the same time, I expect they would pick MAC. But I don't expect they would turn down the MWC if it was offered.
For selfish reasons, I'd love the Bison in the MWC given the easy flights and potentially some road trips to away games for me.
That said, I don't think this recruiting thing can be overstated. They'd need to establish all new recruiting ties and that, along with the challenge of the time zones/game times that would be different than most of the conference, will be a challenge. I guess the key will be to find some way to maintain that great midwest pipeline while expanding westward.
Insert something clever here...