SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

[1bunnies]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

1 month from today is the Gateway meeting. If all goes well, it may include the invite to join also.

[Rabbit74]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

The Bison board is quoting the information below from the AGS message boar.  the AGS board qoutes a TV  station that says SDSU and NDSU are joining the Gateway and everthing is in place except the signatures.  See below

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/foru...ad.php?t=19202

Youngstown State 2007 Schedule  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


9/1 @ Ohio State
9/8 vs. South Dakota State
9/15 vs. Stony Brook
9/22 vs. Lock Haven
9/29 vs. Missouri State
10/6 @ Southern Illinois
10/13 vs. Southern Utah
10/20 vs. Illinois State
10/27 @ Northern Iowa
11/3 @ Indiana State
11/10 vs. Western Illinois

Definately not as strong as 2006, but with that Gateway tilt, you will see the Penguins face 3-5 ranked teams this year, as well as a top 10 Ohio State in the BCS. YSU has won 13 of 14 at home, and this year they will have SEVEN home games!33 News in Youngstown is also reporting SDSU and NDSU will join the Gateway in 2008.... not official yet, but all that is left is a signature.
__________________

[1bunnies]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

Best news I've heard all day.

[jackmd]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

Best news I've heard all day.

I could not agree more.

[89rabbit]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

From the Fargo Forum (sub. site but it is free):

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=154130

W. Illinois president champions NDSU

Jeff Kolpack, The Forum
Published Thursday, January 25, 2007

Western Illinois president Al Goldfarb said he hopes North Dakota State and South Dakota State get careful and strong consideration for membership in the Gateway Football Conference.

The two schools will be the focus of a Feb. 19 league meeting in St. Louis. The Gateway is losing Western Kentucky after this season and will be down to seven members, including Western Illinois.

“Once you lose a successful member, then in my mind you have to be open to looking at expansion,” Goldfarb said Wednesday. “I think that would be to the benefit of the conference and all of the schools.”

Goldfarb was part of the Mid-Continent Conference’s site visit team that traveled to Fargo and Brookings, S.D. The Mid-Con admitted NDSU and SDSU effective next year.

The Gateway is a football-only league.

“The approach by the Mid-Con was a good approach,” Goldfarb said. “It helped strengthen the conference and I think we have outstanding institutions that are joining us. I hope the Gateway will do the same type of review and analysis.”  .  .  .  (read more)


Go State!  

[89rabbit]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

From Terry's Blog:

http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/sports/category/sdsu/

According to NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor, the Bison and the Jackrabbits will submit institutional profiles to the Gateway Football Conference that will be dispersed to member schools in advance of the Feb. 19 league meeting, where the NDSU and SDSU presidents will make presentations regarding possible expansion.

For those scoring at home (and even if you’re alone), that means the league presidents will have time to research before getting together in the same room and sizing up their counterparts from NDSU and SDSU.

Could there be a more appropriate time to take a vote?




Go State!

[89rabbit]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2...6421017164.txt

Interest 'mutual' between Gateway, Dakota schools
By DOUG NEWHOFF, Sports Editor

CEDAR FALLS - Two of Northern Iowa's old North Central Conference rivals are interested in becoming members of the Gateway Football Conference.

And, with the defection of Western Kentucky to the Division I-A ranks, the seven-team Gateway is equally intrigued by the possibility of joining forces with North Dakota State and South Dakota State.

Discussions will take on a more serious tenor Feb. 19 when officials from all the affected parties meet face to face.

"I would characterize our interest as serious and mutual," said Gateway Conference commissioner Patty Viverito.

"It's really been a case of, 'We've got an opportunity here that might be to our mutual benefit, and let's explore this.' It's been more of an open dialogue than us courting them or them lobbying us."  .  .  .  (read more)


Go State!  


P.S. Just for the Record SDSU Avg. 9,652 for our home games last year, not what was reported in the story.

[bisonguy]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

The tone of that last article has somewhat diminished my expectations for any real news on Feb. 19th. :-/

[ralph]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

CSN WAVES last night: http://www.collegesportingnews.com/a...rticleid=82353

Patty sez (at about the 1:30 mark) it will be announced 2/19 or by June if 2008 GFC is in the cards for the NDSU/SDSU.

[89rabbit]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2...d938911855.txt

The Dakotas make pitch to join Gateway

By Randy Reinhardt
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com

Representatives from North Dakota State and South Dakota State universities will make presentations at the Gateway Conference’s annual meeting in St. Louis on Monday with the hope of being extended an invitation to join the football-only conference.

“They are interested. They have expressed that publicly,” Gateway associate commissioner Mike Kern said Wednesday. “I don’t know whether it will come to a vote on Monday or not.”

NDSU and SDSU are former Division II programs in the transition phase to the Football Championship Subdivision (the former I-AA). The schools are current members of the Great West Conference and could join the Gateway for the 2008 season.

The Gateway has been considering expansion since Western Kentucky announced last fall it would be leaving FCS for the Football Bowl Subdivision (the former I-A).

“If the presidents vote in favor, it’s a done deal. I think it would be a turnkey situation if the vote is positive,” Kern said. “If it is voted down, I don’t want to say it will go away forever. It will likely be revisited.” . . . (read more)


Go State!

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

That is a huge meeting for SDSU! It would be awesome if we get the invite to the Gateway.

Everyone in Jackrabbit Nation needs to think positive!

SUPERBUNNY

[NightHawk78]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

I would think that we have an excellent shot in getting into the Gateway next week. Why?

1) Most of those schools need to fill their schedule and adding two conference games is the easiest way to do that.
2) This might be the Gateway's only window of opportunity to add SDSU and NDSU. If they choose not to expand now, the GWFC will likely grow to 7-9 members with the addition of USD, UND, and possibly a couple other schools in the West. Given the high calibar of teams in the GWFC and a future auto-bid, SDSU and NDSU may stay put.
3) Remember that regional conference that didn't expand? The NCC fell apart and a similar scenario could happen to the Gateway if a school dropped football and/or another school (Youngstown?) moved up to Bowl FB.
4) They are inviting the Presidents and ADs. I doubt they want to pull a Big Sky and create an institutional (and fan) memory of deception. Otherwise, they'll likely find it harder to schedule GWFC teams for nonconference play.

I'm looking forward to some great news Monday.......

[89rabbit]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

http://www.tribstar.com/sports_colum...046233733.html

Hughes news & views: Gateway expansion on tap at AD’s meeting

By David Hughes
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — An important meeting that affects the Indiana State football program will take place Monday in St. Louis.

That’s when athletic directors representing the seven remaining Gateway Football Conference universities — which no longer includes recently departed Western Kentucky — will talk to officials from South Dakota State and North Dakota State about them possibly joining the league in 2008. . . . (read more)


Go State!

[NightHawk78]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

Thanks for the story link, 89rabbit. I'm convinced that the Gateway launches itself onto the endangered conference list if they turn down NDSU and SDSU this year. If the xDSUs don't get an invite to the Gateway this year, the GWFC will likely become entrenched on the scene with the addition of the UxDs in 2009. Add a team or two from the West with the possibility Western Illinois may decide to join their Mid-Con brethren in the GWFC, the GWFC could become a nine (or even ten) team conference that the xDSUs would not want to leave while the Gateway could have to worry about the future of its auto-bid.........

[jackmd]

Re: SDSU/NDSU to Gateway???

Thanks for the story link, 89rabbit. I'm convinced that the Gateway launches itself onto the endangered conference list if they turn down NDSU and SDSU this year. If the xDSUs don't get an invite to the Gateway this year, the GWFC will likely become entrenched on the scene with the addition of the UxDs in 2009. Add a team or two from the West with the possibility Western Illinois may decide to join their Mid-Con brethren in the GWFC, the GWFC could become a nine (or even ten) team conference that the xDSUs would not want to leave while the Gateway could have to worry about the future of its auto-bid.........

I like this logic I just wonder if its what the Gateway presidents will be thinking.  After our experience with the BS conference I just don't know how I should feel, optimistic or apprehensive.

Expansion needs the support of 2/3 of the Presidents. Anyone closer to the situation have a feel for where each might stand right now? If one President not in favor of expansion can convince 2 others to join in opposition, we're not getting and invite. Whatever excuse is used it won't matter.

Now, it certainly wouldn't be the end for us and I think Dr. Oien will make that clear. The GWFC is a viable alternative and we can use that as leverage to force the Gateway's hand a bit. Should be an interesting discussion, I wish I could be there.