What would Gene Taylor & Joe Chapman Have Done?

[CaBisonFan]

Would Chapman and Taylor have been satisfied with the status quo... or would they have pursued an FBS conference and a move up? They ignored the naysayers and got NDSU into a position to win 9 straight FCS championships. And the naysayers were many. "Oh... we'll get demolished by Minnesota." That type of stuff. My feeling is that after 4 or 5 national championships they would have had NDSU on the move... with a vision for the future. They would have recognized the current environment as being a lot like the DII 90s situation. And... they wouldn't have sat on their hands concerning a potential conference. They would have been aggressive as hell. The current coaching and recruiting demise would never have been allowed to happen. There was great leadership in the 1960s when the dynasty was initially built. They brought Mudra and Erhardt to town to build a championship program. That dynasty isn't gone... but it's definitely taking a serious nap. Something needs to be done in the leadership aspect of things. Perhaps a new coaching staff is needed... but that's small thinking. I share the concern over going to toilet bowls. It's bothersome... but in a good conference there would be big-name programs coming to the Fargodome... and the travel to those programs would be great. The number of empty blue seats at the dome is alarming. I'm betting that the players are feeling it big-time.... and I'm betting that it's not helping recruiting. Whose fault is it? Perhaps it's the fault of the coaches... but I believe that the problem is much, much bigger. The program is in deep trouble. The apathy is deafening. And finally... I'm betting that Chapman and Taylor would have been pushing for a new on-campus stadium where the university could control the environment. Ask a Minnesota fan whether an on-campus stadium has made a difference there... and ask them how much fun it was to share the Metrodome with the Vikings.