Did anyone listen to Duputy AD Todd Phelps on Hot Mic yesterday? He made it sound very promising that this game would happen. Also, as far as scheduling, he said South Carolina did indeed have an opening when he contacted them about a possible game and recieved a firm NO. Utah was contacted as well and the reply there was crickets...
Life is tough, but it's even tougher if you're stupid.......John Wayne
/End Lakes. Roll Herd!
The Gamepussies.
Undefeated vs UNI fans, BVille Libtards, Tony, Pulmonary Embolisms & Bad Vibes
This may be the best option left.
Lets look at some facts:
1. The Towson game showed that the Colonial Athletic Association has Flo Sports and not ESPN+ for the media broadcasts of their games. NDSU stated that if they would have known that the game at Towson would not have been on ESPN+, they would have never signed the contract. Therefore, it is reasonable to state that NDSU will most likely not do home and home series with teams from the CAA in the future unless the games are guaranteed to be on ESPN+.
2. Many FCS schools have very small stadiums, and therefore, NDSU may not want to play at an opponent where there will be few(er) NDSU fans because of limited seating opportunities.
3. This game is for 2024 - there may not be than many teams left with the same open week as NDSU.
4. NDSU (most likely) will not do a home and home with teams from the Pioneer League, IVY League (due to the fact that they start their season later than we do), and the Patriot League, so that limits available teams.
5. No matter what people, the NDSU administration DOES ACTUALLY LISTEN TO FANS AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, and this includes the complaints that NDSU plays the same opponents, including out of conference games. Tennessee State will be a new opponent that we have not seen.
6. There are some teams that welcome the opportunity to play NDSU, and NDSU must take advantage of that while they can. It was stated that North Carolina A&T had wanted to play NDSU for a few years before they were able to schedule the current game (which was originally scheduled for 2020 but moved to 2022 because of COVID). There are some HBCU programs/coaches that have been vocal about wanting and expecting that all HBCU football should get better. Deion Sanders at Jackson State and Eddie George at Tennessee State have been the most vocal, as has North Carolina A&T. Some of these teams want to measure themselves up against the best, and I commend them for doing so.
7. There may still be hostility against some FCS teams for their past scheduling actions towards NDSU. (Some at NDSU are still upset with Montana State when they cancelled in 2013 and left us struggling to find a replacement). Also, in 2013, Northern Arizona refused to play us in Arizona (where NDSU would only ask for a payout to cover the transportation costs) because Northern Arizona did not want a loss that could keep them out of the playoffs.
8. There are some newer to FCS programs that may not want to play NDSU yet because a massive loss could stunt their momentum for the move up. (Personally, I would love for NDU to schedule a home and home with Utah Tech in St. George, Utah. The location is great - shorter drive from Vegas, then visit the great sites of southern Utah). This reduces the options as well.
9. Many of the HBCU's have their own "classics" that they play with each other, so that reduces the opportunities to play games with them. This also reduces options for opponents.
Tennessee State was 5-6 in Eddie George’s 1st season as Head Coach.
They were 2-5 the previous year. 3-9 in 2019.
Wins last season include Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Murray State, Austin Peay.
1st game this fall is Eastern Washington, so there is a chance to watch for improvement under George. (SEMO beat them 47-14 last September)
2nd game is against Jackson State in Nashville.