Get out your checkbooks

[Hawks86]

Just saw that NDSU is going to offer FCOA starting in 2016 http://www.inforum.com/sports/3826039-p ... p-athletes

It just got me thinking on what is ahead for us at MSU. In the near future we are looking at the east side, an IPF, and probably FCOA. That's alot to add on MSU's budget and our pocketbooks.

[Cataholic]

It is pretty interesting. Additionally, it is probably time for the change. I thought NCAA rules prevent athletes from having a job during the season as well. An athlete should have a little pocket change to see a movie with other students. They definitely put in the time.

As far as an advantage in recruiting over other schools, a $80 per week is a nice incentive to draw recruits. We would probably attract recruits over the Sun Belt to name a few.

Also, the overall cost does not seem like a lot. External donations scare me as our fan base is not large like Ohio State. I do think it is a reasonable line item for the athletic department. Think of it this way: we attract better athletes, win more games, sell more tickets and increase revenues. It may be a better investment than the east stands.

[91catAlum]

It is pretty interesting. Additionally, it is probably time for the change. I thought NCAA rules prevent athletes from having a job during the season as well. An athlete should have a little pocket change to see a movie with other students. They definitely put in the time.

As far as an advantage in recruiting over other schools, a $80 per week is a nice incentive to draw recruits. We would probably attract recruits over the Sun Belt to name a few.

Also, the overall cost does not seem like a lot. External donations scare me as our fan base is not large like Ohio State. I do think it is a reasonable line item for the athletic department. Think of it this way: we attract better athletes, win more games, sell more tickets and increase revenues. It may be a better investment than the east stands.

Are we just talking football?
There almost 400 student-athletes at MSU, not sure how many are on scholarships... But say it's 300. It would cost about $1 million to pay 300 student-athletes $80 per week for one school year (40 weeks).

[GRIZFNZ]

Pretty sure every student athlete would have to be covered to minimize risk of discrimination or title 9 lawsuits.

[Hawks86]

The Bison have 192 athletes on athletic scholarship this year, but not all are on a full ride in its 16 athletic programs. In those cases, the cost of attendance would be equivalent to the amount of the scholarship. So if a student was on a half scholarship, he or she would receive $1,700. Because the school is offering cost of attendance across the board, there are no Title IX concerns, Larsen said.

I think we have about 165 total scholarships(compared to 192 for NDSU) spread out to 300+ athletes.

[Rich K]

We'd be fine, although they'd hopefully be allowed to be phased in.

It would be a devastating hit to schools such as Portland State.

[SonomaCat]

I think this is the strongest "tell" yet that NDSU isn't long for the FCS. They will be moving up in the next few years, and they want to hit the ground running when they do.

I still think there's a chance they become a Big 10 team eventually -- they would essentially be the second Minnesota school in the conference.

[Cat Grad]

I think this is the strongest "tell" yet that NDSU isn't long for the FCS. They will be moving up in the next few years, and they want to hit the ground running when they do.

I still think there's a chance they become a Big 10 team eventually -- they would essentially be the second Minnesota school in the conference.

They really don't have anything left to prove at our level. I also think that other school without a nickname in that state is short lived at the FCS level.

[PapaG]

I think this is the strongest "tell" yet that NDSU isn't long for the FCS. They will be moving up in the next few years, and they want to hit the ground running when they do.

I still think there's a chance they become a Big 10 team eventually -- they would essentially be the second Minnesota school in the conference.

I just can't see the Big 10 as being a realistic option. The academic profile for NDSU is not in line with the other members, its endowment is a fraction of a Michigan or tOSU, and Fargo adds nothing in terms of adding eyeballs for the Big 10 Network. MWC, on the other hand, would be a solid fit, based on the profiles of the member schools in the conference.

[Cataholic]

I think the Big 10 is a stretch for the Bison. They can only seat about 18,000 in the Fargo Dome and would need a whole new stadium. Just not realistic. Maybe Big West, but how attractive is that? Playing second tier programs with virtually no shot at a national title... I'd rather king of BCS with rabid fans than playing Wyoming and Utah State for maybe a conference championship.

As for scholarship numbers, I think we have less athletic scholarships than NDSU. You are right about killing the Portland States of the world. But what a recruiting tool. Not only that, but I think the kids deserve it.

[Cat Grad]

I think this is the strongest "tell" yet that NDSU isn't long for the FCS. They will be moving up in the next few years, and they want to hit the ground running when they do.

I still think there's a chance they become a Big 10 team eventually -- they would essentially be the second Minnesota school in the conference.

I just can't see the Big 10 as being a realistic option. The academic profile for NDSU is not in line with the other members, its endowment is a fraction of a Michigan or tOSU, and Fargo adds nothing in terms of adding eyeballs for the Big 10 Network. MWC, on the other hand, would be a solid fit, based on the profiles of the member schools in the conference.

The number two oil producing state in the country sitting on how many years worth of reserves? Having watched programs like Miami under the leadership of somebody like Butte's own Sam Jankovich rise from a pedestrian school lucky to win a half a dozen games a year, I don't think Mr. Sonoma is making too large a leap, although I'd think they would be a better fit in the Big 12. Off the top of my head, I believe the hockey budget in the other school of note in that state is larger than any other school in our conference for their entire athletic budget per year. They may not have the resources of Phil Knight University yet, but they are fairly well off and they've got great leadership.

[Darth Yoda]

A new stadium is very realistic for NDSU. The Big 10 is achievable. It will take time and money, both of which they have.

[Cat Grad]

A new stadium is very realistic for NDSU. The Big 10 is achievable. It will take time and money, both of which they have.

As I admit I don't pay much attention to college athletics anymore, wasn't it Texas A&M that built a brand new stadium in a year? It still amazes me the difference in the North Dakota oil production versus what we can get accomplished in Montana. I'm fairly certain that positive can do attitude fits the Power 5 conference mindset rather well...

[TomCat88]

The Big Ten is the premier conference in the country when talking academic and athletic excellence. The PAC 12 is the only conference close.

I'm think NDSU is setting itself up for a move when the Power 5 break free. NDSU would rise to the top of the mid-majors quickly. Perhaps after a decade or so of growth there they would be in line for a move to a Power 5.

North Dakota is very small population-wise and is probably very tough to draw out of state students to.

[PapaG]

I think this is the strongest "tell" yet that NDSU isn't long for the FCS. They will be moving up in the next few years, and they want to hit the ground running when they do.

I still think there's a chance they become a Big 10 team eventually -- they would essentially be the second Minnesota school in the conference.

I just can't see the Big 10 as being a realistic option. The academic profile for NDSU is not in line with the other members, its endowment is a fraction of a Michigan or tOSU, and Fargo adds nothing in terms of adding eyeballs for the Big 10 Network. MWC, on the other hand, would be a solid fit, based on the profiles of the member schools in the conference.

The number two oil producing state in the country sitting on how many years worth of reserves? Having watched programs like Miami under the leadership of somebody like Butte's own Sam Jankovich rise from a pedestrian school lucky to win a half a dozen games a year, I don't think Mr. Sonoma is making too large a leap, although I'd think they would be a better fit in the Big 12. Off the top of my head, I believe the hockey budget in the other school of note in that state is larger than any other school in our conference for their entire athletic budget per year. They may not have the resources of Phil Knight University yet, but they are fairly well off and they've got great leadership.

I do think it's a big leap. NDSU offers nothing of value academically or market-wise to the Big 10's other schools. There was resistance to add Rutgers and the NYC market, yet Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State are going to want to share TV and bowl money with a team from Fargo? That's not reality.

Miami has more than a few advantages in getting high-level players over NDSU, and Miami had to slum it as an independent, and then in the Big East, for a few decades before joining the ACC. Comparing Miami to NDSU makes no sense to me.

[PapaG]

A new stadium is very realistic for NDSU. The Big 10 is achievable. It will take time and money, both of which they have.

I just don't see how a public university of 14k students that is located in a town of 113k would ever be invited to the Big 10 no matter how much money ND was getting from oil before prices dropped earlier this summer. Maybe I'm wrong, though. I have no clue what the Big 10 would get out of inviting NDSU. Hell, maybe MSU can join the Big 10 with enough money. It's just as plausible to me.

As far as NDSU being the "second" Minnesota school, why would the Gophers want to add a local geographic rival that they would have to recruit against for Big 10-level athletes?

[Cat Grad]

I think this is the strongest "tell" yet that NDSU isn't long for the FCS. They will be moving up in the next few years, and they want to hit the ground running when they do.

I still think there's a chance they become a Big 10 team eventually -- they would essentially be the second Minnesota school in the conference.

I just can't see the Big 10 as being a realistic option. The academic profile for NDSU is not in line with the other members, its endowment is a fraction of a Michigan or tOSU, and Fargo adds nothing in terms of adding eyeballs for the Big 10 Network. MWC, on the other hand, would be a solid fit, based on the profiles of the member schools in the conference.

The number two oil producing state in the country sitting on how many years worth of reserves? Having watched programs like Miami under the leadership of somebody like Butte's own Sam Jankovich rise from a pedestrian school lucky to win a half a dozen games a year, I don't think Mr. Sonoma is making too large a leap, although I'd think they would be a better fit in the Big 12. Off the top of my head, I believe the hockey budget in the other school of note in that state is larger than any other school in our conference for their entire athletic budget per year. They may not have the resources of Phil Knight University yet, but they are fairly well off and they've got great leadership.

I do think it's a big leap. NDSU offers nothing of value academically or market-wise to the Big 10's other schools. There was resistance to add Rutgers and the NYC market, yet Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State are going to want to share TV and bowl money with a team from Fargo? That's not reality.

Miami has more than a few advantages in getting high-level players over NDSU, and Miami had to slum it as an independent, and then in the Big East, for a few decades before joining the ACC. Comparing Miami to NDSU makes no sense to me.

[PapaG]

"Phil Knight University" was already in the Pac 8/10/12 for decades prior to the last 20 years of the football team's ascension into a top program. What an odd comparison. It could be argued that UO circa 1985 would not have been invited to the Pac had they not already been in the conference. The only reason they would get an invitation now would be because of the 2.5 million TV viewers in a Portland market that is tech- and athletic-driven, and has a lot of disposable income to spend for advertisers. If Eugene was the largest "city" in Oregon and Portland didn't exist, there is no way UO or OSU would be in the conference after the 1960s.

[grizzh8r]

A new stadium is very realistic for NDSU. The Big 10 is achievable. It will take time and money, both of which they have.

I just don't see how a public university of 14k students that is located in a town of 113k would ever be invited to the Big 10 no matter how much money ND was getting from oil before prices dropped earlier this summer. Maybe I'm wrong, though. I have no clue what the Big 10 would get out of inviting NDSU. Hell, maybe MSU can join the Big 10 with enough money. It's just as plausible to me.

As far as NDSU being the "second" Minnesota school, why would the Gophers want to add a local geographic rival that they would have to recruit against for Big 10-level athletes?

Not to mention the fact that they would have to try to win football games when playing NDSU, something Minnesota hasn't done in a while...

Just sayin'...

[Cat Grad]

I think this is the strongest "tell" yet that NDSU isn't long for the FCS. They will be moving up in the next few years, and they want to hit the ground running when they do.

I still think there's a chance they become a Big 10 team eventually -- they would essentially be the second Minnesota school in the conference.

I just can't see the Big 10 as being a realistic option. The academic profile for NDSU is not in line with the other members, its endowment is a fraction of a Michigan or tOSU, and Fargo adds nothing in terms of adding eyeballs for the Big 10 Network. MWC, on the other hand, would be a solid fit, based on the profiles of the member schools in the conference.

The number two oil producing state in the country sitting on how many years worth of reserves? Having watched programs like Miami under the leadership of somebody like Butte's own Sam Jankovich rise from a pedestrian school lucky to win a half a dozen games a year, I don't think Mr. Sonoma is making too large a leap, although I'd think they would be a better fit in the Big 12. Off the top of my head, I believe the hockey budget in the other school of note in that state is larger than any other school in our conference for their entire athletic budget per year. They may not have the resources of Phil Knight University yet, but they are fairly well off and they've got great leadership.

I do think it's a big leap. NDSU offers nothing of value academically or market-wise to the Big 10's other schools. There was resistance to add Rutgers and the NYC market, yet Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State are going to want to share TV and bowl money with a team from Fargo? That's not reality.

Miami has more than a few advantages in getting high-level players over NDSU, and Miami had to slum it as an independent, and then in the Big East, for a few decades before joining the ACC. Comparing Miami to NDSU makes no sense to me.

I understand you like to argue and you're that one voice who is always in the background shouting: "It can't be done!" Just ten, 15 or 20 years ago it seems Phil Knight University couldn't win a damn game at anything. As far as the immediate population, one ought to consider the recruiting base of that school and look across the state border also. Stillwater, OK is smaller and more isolated and if you want to consider population as a negative, then hell, the minds that rejected them into the Big Sky are super intelligent--look at those huge ass Portland, Sacramento and Northridge packed stadiums and gyms...