(08-01-2017 10:47 AM)LatahCounty Wrote:  

(08-01-2017 10:26 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(07-31-2017 08:12 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  It would be hard to form a D1 all research football conference which is a dead deal.

UC-Davis R1
Illinois State R2
Montana State R2
New Mexico State R2
North Dakota State R2
Northern Arizona R2
Portland State R2
South Dakota State R2
Southern Illinois R2
Idaho R2
Montana R2
North Dakota R2
Northern Colorado R2
South Dakota R2
Idaho State R3


Eastern Washington, Weber State, Southern Utah, Sacramento State, and Cal. Poly is not in the top R3 in research.

So NAU is the same level as the so-called "research institutions" that NoDak blathers on about. And far higher than EWU.

Note - Omaha is also R3, Oral Roberts not listed.

Yeah. I like NAU. It's always seemed to me like they have more opportunity than most in the Big Sky to carve out more of a niche if they want to.

And I think it's hard for most from outside the region to comprehend how far EWU has to go in other areas. They've had good football the past few years but that covers up a lot of deficiencies, at least on sports message boards.

NAU is helped by the fact there are only three public universities in a state of 6+ million, and have been able to carve out areas of expertise. Academically, NAU is on par with many "Flagships" Athletically hampered by location - close enough to Phoenix that students can leave on weekends, far enough away that casual fans aren't going to drive up for games, and a small local population.