I just looked at Google Maps and it would take 430 hours for me to walk to Fargo so I'm out.

(11-20-2019 03:57 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(11-20-2019 02:18 PM)coogrfan Wrote:  

(11-19-2019 04:03 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  NDSU is #35 Sagarin ranked.

I watch a lot of FCS football. Believe me when I say that I have tremendous respect for your program and all it has achieved over the last few years. My issue with adding NDSU is the distances involved. You're 800 miles away from the nearest AAC school (Tulsa). Given that we're already too spread out as it is, imo that's a non-starter.

But you guys want to add BYU and Boise State....

I understand what they bring to the table but Boise State, like NDSU, produces despite their relative isolation. They are also a flagship school which the AAC doesn't currently have. Meaning their market is more than Fargo and likely encompasses North Dakota, South Dakota, and some of Minnesota to an extent.

It seems to be growing every year. All of ND, parts of eastern Montana. SD and western half of Minnesota. It’s not huge but it’s getting bigger.

(11-20-2019 04:07 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  I just looked at Google Maps and it would take 430 hours for me to walk to Fargo so I'm out.

Exactly. Geography matters. Maybe you'll go that far for BYU or even Air Force....but the AAC isnt going all that distance for a current FCS team. Thats the kind of desperate effort conferences like the WAC might resort to in order to stave off collapse. The AAC isnt desperate.

Why not try your luck as an Indy?

(11-20-2019 05:22 PM)Garrettabc Wrote:  Why not try your luck as an Indy?

Very risky. No Bowl game tie ins.

(11-19-2019 11:34 AM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  Would be a great addition to... the MAC

They would a fine addition to the MAC, and that's no joke. However, if for all sports, they would strain MAC travel budgets.

A better fit might be the MWC eastern division, however, where such travel distances are more typical, and revenues are higher.

The MWC might have a slot open if one of their members joins the AAC in a year or two.

(11-20-2019 01:56 PM)23Bison Wrote:  

(11-20-2019 01:31 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(11-19-2019 12:42 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  


NDSU tailgating is routinely ranked in the top 10 of all of college football.

You all were fortunate to not have to compete in FCS with comparable programs for any length of time. Had you had the success you are having now, through the 90's to 2010 or so, an argument could be made. However, the FCS is the most watered down it's been with only JMU, Eastern Washington, Montana, and NDSU left. Even so, Montana has dropped off.

I respect this comment. The FCS is terribly watered down and if App State and Georgia Southern had stayed then this thread probably would not have been made but we did play in the FCS with both including Coastal Carolina and Liberty. During that time NDSU did manage to win 4 National Titles. The Georgia Southern games were the best! Now we didn't have Marshall, and Boise St. but then BSU wasn't all that great before FBS either.

Boise State was 376-129-8 in the Big Sky. Played in 2 national championships winning one of them.

(11-20-2019 09:37 PM)EDLUVAR Wrote:  

(11-20-2019 01:56 PM)23Bison Wrote:  

(11-20-2019 01:31 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(11-19-2019 12:42 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  


NDSU tailgating is routinely ranked in the top 10 of all of college football.

You all were fortunate to not have to compete in FCS with comparable programs for any length of time. Had you had the success you are having now, through the 90's to 2010 or so, an argument could be made. However, the FCS is the most watered down it's been with only JMU, Eastern Washington, Montana, and NDSU left. Even so, Montana has dropped off.

I respect this comment. The FCS is terribly watered down and if App State and Georgia Southern had stayed then this thread probably would not have been made but we did play in the FCS with both including Coastal Carolina and Liberty. During that time NDSU did manage to win 4 National Titles. The Georgia Southern games were the best! Now we didn't have Marshall, and Boise St. but then BSU wasn't all that great before FBS either.

Boise State was 376-129-8 in the Big Sky. Played in 2 national championships winning one of them.

Ok my apologies. I thought I had read that somewhere so assumed it was true. Thank you for the correction.

If NDSU is aiming for AAC or B12 then they will be FCS forever. FBS is hard if you don't live in recruiting hotbed, have tons of $ for facilities or have the huge enrollment to feed your stadium capacity.

IF NDSU jumps they will have a glass ceiling compareable to App State or GA Southern which are fine programs but they are not AAC or B12 worthy even after making their bones in FBS conferences.

Do they sponsor bull riding or roping?