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BACK PAGE NEWS IN THE ARGUS, AND BAD NEWS FOR JIM MARKING-AND OTHER FES Folks.
Bison form football conference: Seven teams to launch new league a year earlier than thought
By Jeff Kolpack
jkolpack@forumcomm.com
The Forum - 02/23/2004
An announcement is expected this week to officially launch a new Division I-AA football conference next fall -- one year earlier than previously thought possible.
A source close to the situation said a press conference is set for Wednesday to formally introduce North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, California Davis, St. Mary’s (Calif.) and California Poly.
When asked Sunday night if the league will be announced this week, NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor said, “Our goal is to get it out pretty soon.”
The athletic directors had a conference call last week and one more is planned this week, Taylor said.
The league apparently has a name picked out. Taylor said that will be released at a later date, although he also said, “Our goal is to do something this week.”
One apparent hitch is a full round-robin schedule in 2004. NDSU and SDSU do not have Southern Utah on their schedule. NDSU, with just six games officially scheduled, has plenty of room to fit in the Thunderbirds.
SDSU doesn’t have UNC on its recently released schedule, according to one report, although UNC still has a couple of dates to play with.
Cal Davis and St. Mary’s reportedly will play the other six teams. Taylor said NDSU’s bid to play Southern Utah “will be finalized this week.”
NDSU, UNC and SDSU are in the fledgling stages of Division I transition. Cal Poly, Davis, St. Mary’s and Southern Utah are independents that have been seeking a football league for a few years.
If formed, NCAA rules dictate the league would have to wait at least five years before it can be eligible for automatic qualifier status to the I-AA playoffs. The four independents, however, could qualify as at-large entrants to the 16-team field.
The schools met in early December for a two-day meeting in Las Vegas, a gathering that Taylor and SDSU athletic director Fred Oien both called “very encouraging.”
The schools got together last month during the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn.
They first met during the national convention of athletic directors last June. Details that have been ongoing include bylaws, conference administration and NCAA compliance issues.
Taylor, in interviews over the past few months, indicated the league would probably get going in 2005. In the last few weeks, the starting date has apparently been accelerated.
“It will be a lot of fun for our team and for our fans,” Taylor said Sunday. “I think we can create some things.”
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546
© 2004 Forum Communications Co., Fargo, ND, 58102, All rights reserved
Bison form football conference: Seven teams to launch new league a year earlier than thought
By Jeff Kolpack
jkolpack@forumcomm.com
The Forum - 02/23/2004
An announcement is expected this week to officially launch a new Division I-AA football conference next fall -- one year earlier than previously thought possible.
A source close to the situation said a press conference is set for Wednesday to formally introduce North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, California Davis, St. Mary’s (Calif.) and California Poly.
When asked Sunday night if the league will be announced this week, NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor said, “Our goal is to get it out pretty soon.”
The athletic directors had a conference call last week and one more is planned this week, Taylor said.
The league apparently has a name picked out. Taylor said that will be released at a later date, although he also said, “Our goal is to do something this week.”
One apparent hitch is a full round-robin schedule in 2004. NDSU and SDSU do not have Southern Utah on their schedule. NDSU, with just six games officially scheduled, has plenty of room to fit in the Thunderbirds.
SDSU doesn’t have UNC on its recently released schedule, according to one report, although UNC still has a couple of dates to play with.
Cal Davis and St. Mary’s reportedly will play the other six teams. Taylor said NDSU’s bid to play Southern Utah “will be finalized this week.”
NDSU, UNC and SDSU are in the fledgling stages of Division I transition. Cal Poly, Davis, St. Mary’s and Southern Utah are independents that have been seeking a football league for a few years.
If formed, NCAA rules dictate the league would have to wait at least five years before it can be eligible for automatic qualifier status to the I-AA playoffs. The four independents, however, could qualify as at-large entrants to the 16-team field.
The schools met in early December for a two-day meeting in Las Vegas, a gathering that Taylor and SDSU athletic director Fred Oien both called “very encouraging.”
The schools got together last month during the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn.
They first met during the national convention of athletic directors last June. Details that have been ongoing include bylaws, conference administration and NCAA compliance issues.
Taylor, in interviews over the past few months, indicated the league would probably get going in 2005. In the last few weeks, the starting date has apparently been accelerated.
“It will be a lot of fun for our team and for our fans,” Taylor said Sunday. “I think we can create some things.”
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546
© 2004 Forum Communications Co., Fargo, ND, 58102, All rights reserved
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