BIG SKY Expansion & Realignment Thread

tkalmus · **Joined:** Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:40 pm **Posts:** 1035

mizzoufan1 wrote:

tute79 wrote:

That solves nothing. North Dakota has a lot invested in D-1. Truly they want to wind up in the Summit / MVFC.
D-2 is still NCAA, and that is who has the issue with "the Fighting Sioux" name, so this nickname issue is going to follow them wherever they go,
until they replace it, which is what the school administration is now determined to do.

The Big Sky invited them, thinking they were getting North Dakota / South Dakota as a pair.
With South Dakota in the Summit / MVFC, North Dakota is really an out-lier in the Big Sky.
The Big Sky is stuck with an odd number and might really prefer an excuse to boot North Dakota.

If North Dakota resolved their nickname issue, I think the Summit would take them in, however the Summit doesn't control the MVFC, and
North Dakota still needs a home for football.
I keep thinking the Summit might expand to 12 with North Dakota, SEMo (OVC), and UALR.
North Dakota and SEMo both play football, and the MVFC could expand to 12....

I see your point. If The Summit League wants, they can have UND (it would fit their new geography perfectly). But the MVFC is another animal, I don't see anything happening there unless YSU or one of the eastern teams opts out. I just don't see that happening unless something happens to cause some movement around the OVC.

YSU to the CAA is still pretty likely...since they lost UMass and Villanova could leave if they get ever get a Big East invite, not to mention ODU, JMU, GA St, Richmond, and Delaware could all leave for the FBS in the next decade or so...

seanbo · **Posted:** Mon May 07, 2012 5:21 pm

Idaho returning to Big Sky (article posted on WAC thread)

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... to-big-sky

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7057

Here is link to actual article out of Boise with comments from Big Sky Commish regarding the "possibilities" for Idaho All Sports and BSU non-FB in the Big Sky at http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/0 ... r_bottom_f

Fresno St. Alum · **Posted:** Wed May 09, 2012 1:55 pm

from Spartypants on the WAC board

"It's no secret the Big Sky would love to have the University of Idaho back in the conference, and we've got an opening," said Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations Jon Kasper.

Kasper went on to suggest the Vandals could even do so as a non-football member, while keeping their FBS dreams alive as an independent or whatever their future holds.

http://www.kboi2.com/sports/Idaho-Vanda ... =video&c=y

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7057

Article out of Spokane with comments from Big Sky Commish regarding Idaho joining the Big Sky at http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/m ... back-idaho

tute79 · **Joined:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:25 pm **Posts:** 1491

Vote (referendum) tomorrow in North Dakota to give University of North Dakota control over their nickname (a YES vote would allow for the retirement of the "Fighting Sioux" nickname & logo).

More knowledgeable supporters of the school's efforts to move forward with their D-1 FCS aspirations desperately want to put this issue to bed.

Big Sky Conference has threatened the school with expulsion, as continued use of the name & logo violates NCAA directives on political correctness / sensitivity toward Native Americans.

story (editorial) courtesy of CSN: http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews. ... 2#more7932

sec03 · **Joined:** Sat May 20, 2006 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1231

U. of Idaho did well in the Big Sky, maybe that's where they really belong. Unless the Mountain West offered, which is not in the cards, there are no good FBS options. Playing fb only in the SunBelt poses a lot of problems too, and the SunBelt does not appear to seek such.
Travel costs have to be an issue. The 16,000 seats or so of the Kibbie Dome is not exactly the Great Arena of the West.

Maybe Idaho feels the pressure to try to stay pace with Boise State, who may have their own regrets. Idaho may just want to declare/re-emphasize themselves the "academic" school of the State of Idaho, and enjoy the return home to the Big Sky. Montana seems content with it.

These schools need to learn from their mistakes, face reality, and end desperation acts that make the situations worse. Some vocal alumni and boosters don't always know best and show narrow interests & understanding.

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7057

CBS story discussing yesterday's vote to retire Fighting Sioux nickname at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162- ... -nears-end

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7057

Article out of Missoula(previously posted in another thread)with comments from Big Sky Commish regarding future Big Sky expansion at http://missoulian.com/sports/college/mo ... f887a.html

fighting muskie · **Joined:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:47 am **Posts:** 387

freaked's article offers a chance that we might see some real growth in Big Sky country and perhaps that conference might be willing to let some of its geographic outliers who would prefer to be in other conferences (Sac St, ND St) part amicably, at least for their Olympic sports, if it helps the conference achieve an even number of members and make room for the newcomers.

I am guessing we see a 14, perhaps 16, member all sports league with UC Davis, Cal Poly, and perhaps Sacramento St and/or ND St filling the slots in football for the non-fb members.

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7057

Article out of Boise with response from Idaho AD who says Idaho has been talking to the Big Sky regarding non-FB sports only.Link at http://www.kboi2.com/sports/Idaho-Vanda ... 17376.html

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7057

Article out of Lewiston with comments from Big Sky Commish and Idaho President regarding possibility of Idaho eventually joining the Big Sky.Link at http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/07 ... sity-idaho

SJSUFan2010 · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:52 pm **Posts:** 467

A friend of mine mentioned to me today that the Big Sky commish was on a Boise radio station today and said something interesting. He said that the Big Sky was considering shifting some schools to the WAC non football in order to keep the WAC's auto bid. It's actually pretty brilliant. Instead of being 16 schools for one bid in sports, they can compete as two separate conferences when there are enough sponsors in a particular sport and if there aren't they can compete under one banner.

If the WAC could drop down to FCS football, they could both get an auto bid to the FCS playoffs. Basketball would be two bids. But in a sport not sponsored by many schools, such as say softball, they would just be one conference.

freaked4collegefb · **Joined:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm **Posts:** 7057

CSNBBS MB thread discussing "unconfirmed report" of a possible full or partial Big Sky/WAC merger at http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=578513

hickory_cornhusker · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:13 am

SJSUFan2010 wrote:

A friend of mine mentioned to me today that the Big Sky commish was on a Boise radio station today and said something interesting. He said that the Big Sky was considering shifting some schools to the WAC non football in order to keep the WAC's auto bid. It's actually pretty brilliant. Instead of being 16 schools for one bid in sports, they can compete as two separate conferences when there are enough sponsors in a particular sport and if there aren't they can compete under one banner.

If the WAC could drop down to FCS football, they could both get an auto bid to the FCS playoffs. Basketball would be two bids. But in a sport not sponsored by many schools, such as say softball, they would just be one conference.

The Middle Atlantic Conferences in Division III does something similar to that. I always thought it was a great way to maximize the amount of bids you could gain in the NCAA Tournament. They are the Middle Atlantic Conference in a sport such as football but are the Middle Atlantic Conference -Freedom Division and Middle Atlantic Conference-Commonwealth Division in a sport such as men's basketball with both divisions operating independent of one another and therefore obtaining an AQ for both. Their website is here:http://gomacsports.com/index.aspx

The only problem is Division III talked about prohibiting "Umbrella Conferences" in 2010. I never heard whatever came of that. It was also only Division III that was talking about it but I wonder if there that sentiment is shared in all of the NCAA.

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