A new and better FBS thread

[daddy daycare]

If the AAC doesn't invite NDSU for football only, that doesn't mean NDSU should stay FCS. From my perspective it feels like yourself and Taper (among others here) believe that an AAC or MWC invite with SDSU coming with is the only situation in which we should move. That is illogical. I think reality is that it is highly unlikely the AAC invites NDSU for football only which means that NDSU is going to have to settle for something less than that. The question then becomes what type of FBS invite is a step up from the current FCS. In my eyes, almost all of them. The only invite that I would probably say is not a step up from our current situation in FCS is an all sports move to the CUSA. If the CUSA invites NDSU as football only, the leadership needs to seriously consider it given all factors (provided we are not locking ourselves into a long term commitment). Are the current teams in CUSA going to move the needle for fans more than the MVFC? Probably not much but it would provide a path to better OOC games and potentially the CFP, even if it's a long shot. The current FCS situation has very little upside for NDSU football.

It's not about staying FCS it's the fact there's never been an invite and there's a glaring (1 or 2) reason why. Once again, nobody is saying FCS forever like is lead to believe here. Fact of the matter is, slide the curtain open and the next option is likely not going to be that exciting - because at this rate it appears it's going to be CUSA or nothing.

[daddy daycare]

Snow is the not the worry. Bitter cold on the other hand would keep people away…

And that said, bitter cold in November is not very common, even in Fargo…

I don't know....when was the first snowstorm, the second week of ND deer hunting? I'm being a sarcastic smartass about the snow covered seats anyway.

[GreenfieldBison]

I don't know....when was the first snowstorm, the second week of ND deer hunting? I'm being a sarcastic smartass about the snow covered seats anyway.

Do you think that historic attendance of November collegiate football games at Huntington Bank Stadium might offer some insight into attendance probability? Or Camp Randall? We are slightly warmer here on average but not by that much.

[MWC]

Nevada played a game at Wyoming about 15 years ago and it snowed..The game was in September. There are a lots of cold weather games in the MW. In addition most of the really cold games are at elevation as well..Because the MW tv deal is based almost solely on PST and MST time slots the vast majority of those really cold games are played at night..

[heffray]

I don't know....when was the first snowstorm, the second week of ND deer hunting? I'm being a sarcastic smartass about the snow covered seats anyway.

All good, bud. I’m probably in the minority but I think an open stadium that seats ~30k would be a fantastic atmosphere, even (maybe especially?) in Fargo. Those Brawl games in Bozeman and Missoula look amazing.

[taper]

Agree with you on invite. Disagree on regional partner. Though ideal, I don’t think it’s a necessity.

I certainly don't have a crystal ball, but I have to ask if you're looking at what you think will happen or what you want to happen. I'm basing my view on these things:
UND to Big Sky. Unmitigated disaster without a partner. Travel costs killed them. Dropped multiple sports, ongoing lawsuits. The BSC was actually so desperate to get rid of them they waived the exit fee.
UMass. Former FCS champ that believed they had outgrown it. Never found a real home. Never had more than 3 FBS wins in a season. Revolving door of coaches.
Idaho. WAC collapsed, they dropped back to FCS with no other options. Better leadership than...
NMSU. 1 winning season since 2002. Independent after the WAC collapse until the CUSA needed warm bodies.
FAMU. Former FCS champ. Attempt at FBS move in 2004 was such a disaster the NCAA changed their rules to prevent programs from causing this amount of self-harm again.

I wouldn't even consider trading spots with any of these. Without the groundwork I believe we wouldn't be successful.

[BigLakeBison]

It's not about staying FCS it's the fact there's never been an invite and there's a glaring (1 or 2) reason why. Once again, nobody is saying FCS forever like is lead to believe here. Fact of the matter is, slide the curtain open and the next option is likely not going to be that exciting - because at this rate it appears it's going to be CUSA or nothing.

Oh there would be an invite from CUSA immediately if NDSU stated that they were interested in accepting it. "FCS Forever" isn't a fair label, however, "FCS Except for The Perfect FBS Situation" doesn't roll off the tongue and as you've pointed out many times before the perfect FBS situation doesn't exist for NDSU. I think Churchill said "Perfection is the enemy of progress"

[Bisonator98]

If the AAC doesn't invite NDSU for football only, that doesn't mean NDSU should stay FCS. From my perspective it feels like yourself and Taper (among others here) believe that an AAC or MWC invite with SDSU coming with is the only situation in which we should move. That is illogical. I think reality is that it is highly unlikely the AAC invites NDSU for football only which means that NDSU is going to have to settle for something less than that. The question then becomes what type of FBS invite is a step up from the current FCS. In my eyes, almost all of them. The only invite that I would probably say is not a step up from our current situation in FCS is an all sports move to the CUSA. If the CUSA invites NDSU as football only, the leadership needs to seriously consider it given all factors (provided we are not locking ourselves into a long term commitment). Are the current teams in CUSA going to move the needle for fans more than the MVFC? Probably not much but it would provide a path to better OOC games and potentially the CFP, even if it's a long shot. The current FCS situation has very little upside for NDSU football.

Couldn't agree more, I'd take a CUSA invite. It gets our foot in the door and much easier to make a future move to AAC or MWC if the opportunity arises. We'd be much more appealing to a better conference if we were already FBS as opposed to FCS. Just like when we went FCS we were not even in the Summit/MVFC discussion until we established ourselves at the FCS level. Gotta earn your stripes!

[taper]

Oh there would be an invite from CUSA immediately if NDSU stated that they were interested in accepting it. "FCS Forever" isn't a fair label, however, "FCS Except for The Perfect FBS Situation" doesn't roll off the tongue and as you've pointed out many times before the perfect FBS situation doesn't exist for NDSU. I think Churchill said "Perfection is the enemy of progress"

CUSA:
Southland 2.0
Best teams left, the only remaining good teams want out.
Less than half our media deal.
Weeknight games.
Easily worst FBS conference in history, no chance at CFP.
Terrible geography.

CUSA is most definitely not progress. We die there.

[daddy daycare]

Do you think that historic attendance of November collegiate football games at Huntington Bank Stadium might offer some insight into attendance probability? Or Camp Randall? We are slightly warmer here on average but not by that much.

When they go FBS, the attendance will largely be determined by how meaningless the game is, ie how many L's they have in relation to the cold weather. There's no question NDSU football has a massive chunk of older fans who enjoy the safety of the Fargodome. But...I mean...NDSU isn't losing in FBS ever. All the recruits....best conference...massive NIL deals.....40K let's go.