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Is it time for the Dakota and Montana schools to make our own conference?

If I recall correctly, we all could've been in the Big Sky if the western schools hadn't blocked their entry before they joined the MVFC.
 
If I recall correctly, we all could've been in the Big Sky if the western schools hadn't blocked their entry before they joined the MVFC.
If my memory is correct, Montana and Montana States were the only Big Sky schools who voted “yes” to admit the Dakotas into the Big Sky…
 
They would need atleast 2 more members. Maybe Idaho and Eastern Washington?
This was discussed a few years ago, the "Snowbelt" Conference with the goal to try and move up to FBS. However I belive the WAC has their FBS clause still intact (can move up to FBS without penalty) so I'd work with them and other FCS Conferences to create the new WAC at the FBS level and ensure all other teams have a home:

Montana........NDSU
MSU...............SDSU
Idaho..............NMSU
Sac State.......Tarleton State
Cal Poly..........Abeline Christian

I'd target these 10 teams initially, gives you a solid variety of States with 2 in Texas and Cali for markets and recruiting and a good variety of Timezone Coverage for TV slots. NMSU would probably join as they've lost UTEP as a Conference opponent a Western Conference would be preferable then Eastern heavy CUSA.

Also most importantly all these teams have facilities/plans to improve/could expand and have enough $$ that would work at this Conference level.

-Other Team options to add/expand/replace: North Dakota, South Dakota, UNI, NAU, UT-Tech

-Taking a page out of the PAC/MWC add a few Oly only sports to boost Basketball (Drake, WCC teams etc.)
 
The WAC merged with the Atlantic Sun to form the UAC. All the schools you named would need to become members of the UAC and then get rid of the schools that aren't in your list. Odds of that are slim to none. The schools you named could form a new conference but they will never get a conference approval to become a FBS conference. That league is nothing but a pipe dream.

The only scenario that it would make sense is if t could join the G5 conferences if the P4 split off and a new level is formed.
 
What??????? Instead of finishing in 5th place we could finish in 8th place? What makes you think those other schools would want us?
 
UM, MSU, ID, IDST, NDSU, ND, SDSU, SD, WY, Ewash, Weber. The winner of that conference would be right up there if not ahead of MWC a lot of years.
 
UM, MSU, ID, IDST, NDSU, ND, SDSU, SD, WY, Ewash, Weber. The winner of that conference would be right up there if not ahead of MWC a lot of years.
E. Washington couldn't afford it and Idaho probably could afford 3 FBS teams. Weber would be a maybe but UT-Tech is in St George and that city and University are growing rapidly and have more upside then Weber. Wyoming wouldn't leave the MWC but NMSU we could probably snag from CUSA since they lost UTEP. The Dakotas could only probably get one school up to FBS so the Dakota States would be the only 2 options from there.

Granted all this wouldn't need to be discussed if the MWC had some common sense and snagged both Montanas and Dakota States, and our ADs/Leadership actually were more aggresive.
 
E. Washington couldn't afford it and Idaho probably could afford 3 FBS teams. Weber would be a maybe but UT-Tech is in St George and that city and University are growing rapidly and have more upside then Weber. Wyoming wouldn't leave the MWC but NMSU we could probably snag from CUSA since they lost UTEP. The Dakotas could only probably get one school up to FBS so the Dakota States would be the only 2 options from there.

Granted all this wouldn't need to be discussed if the MWC had some common sense and snagged both Montanas and Dakota States, and our ADs/Leadership actually were more aggresive.
Not sure the MWC is the thing lacking common sense.
 
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