(06-23-2017 02:58 PM)MJG Wrote:  

(06-23-2017 03:30 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-23-2017 12:30 AM)SDHornet Wrote:  

(06-22-2017 07:39 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-22-2017 05:13 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Budgets cuts from the state will do that for you.

The Governor of ND just was just profiled by Forbes as the politician who best understands the entrepreneurial worls. He started an accounting software firm in Fargo and sold it for billions to Microsoft. He resigned from several high tech boards to begin his political career. He is attempting to make state government and education must more accessible and communicative by using apps and other software. The future government blueprint may well be North Dakota, which is become very business and consumer responsive. The President of UND is a former congressman and business leader who is fully on board and dreams big. Cuts were necessary to show that government and education can become leaner and more efficient and even friendlier and less bureaucratic.

And a Dakota cabal FBS conference centered around a region with zero media markets, limited recruits, and limited fans while significantly increasing the athletic expenses fits that ideal?

Ok. You sold me.

Don't laugh, but people across the nation do watch a winning team. North Dakota State Vs Montana had over 1 million viewers on ESPN. North Dakota State, South Dakota State, James Madison, Jacksonville State, Eastern Washington, Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas, McNeese State and some others who wins do get people to tuned in to watched.

Your right but at the FCS level only Montana and especially NDSU interest casual fans. The rest have no following or casual national interest. Most of the G5 and half the P5 are the same.

The real valuable programs like USC or Michigan are newsworthy in a downturn. Nebraska can be average they still have way above average fans.
A hot new team like UCF or BSU can't overcome a string of bad seasons.



Sent from my SM-J700T using CSNbbs mobile app

Boise State seems to garner fans across the Nation. I think FBS fans started watching North Dakota State games because ESPN held Game Day there several times. ESPN might be happy to have NDSU move up now as a Independent to offer them a TV contract as filler games cheaper than showing some P5 games since the lost of the Big 10 and Big 12 games to FOX. They seem to do special contracts with Boise State and BYU for that purpose.