Big Sky Conference, too bad...

[WYOBISONMAN]

From what I have heard all along is that Montana has been nothing but supportive of NDSU getting into the Big Sky since day one, the problem is out west were PSU and Sac St won't add NDSU because they can't afford to travel and play teams that far east.

Well, then NDSU can pick up the tab for the $500 plane ticket to and from Minneapolis on NWA because that's how much it is to fly on that riduclous bankrupt airline from SMF to MSP.

Hey....we have the money to charter a jet from Fargo to either Davis or Poly......if you guys can't pay for a plane ticket then what the hell are you doing in Division 1???

 

[shahan]

Or maybe the football team could fly to Minneapolis, and bus to fargo. It's only a 3 1/2 hour ride. Other athletic programs on campus bus to almost every game/meet they attend. So why is it impossible for the football team to fly and then take a bus ride to their game? The addition of NDSU in the BSC would be great for the overall competition level of all sports. As you all know, NDSU has already beaten montana, in montana once. I was living in ND at the time just south of Fargo, and had been talking the game up about how bad Montana was going to beat them. I still haven't heard the end of that one. The bottom line is, is that NDSU, and maybe SDSU both deserve to be in the BSC, and would be great fits. Considering you could fit 4 times as many fans in NDSU's bball arena then Sac State's. I would much rather travel to Fargo in the cold of winter and watch the BSC tourney then to Sac, or even NAU. But, thats just my opinion.

 

[SactoHornetFan]

My point is that the cost of living is very, very expensive here in California and that, where NDSU is located, the cost of travel, not to mention that you would be two time zones away for a conference game or two, would make it financially expensive.

WYO: For football, its different because most schools (including us) charter for football. But what about the rest of the sports who fly and rely on commercial flights. Especially this time of year. It financially does not make sense for us, PSU, NAU and EWU.

 

[NorthDakotaBison]

It financially does not make sense for us, PSU, NAU and EWU.

If money had anything to with the situation, Sac State would be in the Big West/Great West (if they didn't drop football entirely).

NAU has no close non-conference opponents, why not fly to Fargo? PSU/EWU have only a few.

The death of pairing with a nine member conference (congratulations on landing UNC) may end up increasing costs more than adding a NDSU/SDSU pair would have.

That being said, I think NDSU is likely to remain an independant for the next 2-3 years regardless with a slight possibility of joining the Mid-Con. If and when that happens, the Sky can say sayonara to the Dakotas (not that all will care) as our orientation will turn eastward permanently, ie Mid-Con, Horizon, Missouri Valley.