Has Bear Week lost its luster?

[FMPanther]

...because of Missouri State's woeful program?

It used to mean something around campus, but I don't get that feel from current students or recent alums.

I am positive the staff and team take it seriously.

Someone remind us of the good old days where MSU was a deserving rival.

[panther91]

First sellout in the Dome ... touchdown pass on 4th down in the final minute to beat them. As I remember it they ran the same play on 4th down after just missing with it on 3rd down. 1st Gateway crown under Allen.

[BCPanther]

I think its a rivalry that is making a comeback. SMS is on their way back, the progress they have made in a year is very apparent.

[heisman6183]

Yeah, unfortunately we don't have a rivalry at UNI like Ohio State-Michigan but I think the rivalry with SIU is a tremendous one that has produced great games in both football and basketball. I think playing NDSU, since they're really good and also play in a similar sized Dome, could start to be a good rivalry.

[Newsbreaker]

Yeah, unfortunately we don't have a rivalry at UNI like Ohio State-Michigan but I think the rivalry with SIU is a tremendous one that has produced great games in both football and basketball. I think playing NDSU, since they're really good and also play in a similar sized Dome, could start to be a good rivalry.

I think the games with NDSU are going to be the what, or more, the games with SIU are now. The great thing about SIU is they have such a palpable hatred for the UNI-Dome and really get into it.

The tough thing for us is we expect to win the conference every year, and we expect to beat everyone in every situation doing it. It's hard when you've faced little adversity, relatively speaking (SIU has seen us stand in their way repeatedly, just like MSU used to, same for YSU) to get really "up" for anyone. Nobody has been a consistent roadblock, and the closest (SIU) is a pretty good rivalry.

I would guess the average student has no idea what "bear week" is, and they probably never will, as NDSU and SIU are going to be the primary rivals for the foreseeable future.

[TravelingPanther]

Take a trip down here to Springfield. You'll learn to continue hating the Bears.

[Marc Wigim]

I think the games with NDSU are going to be the what, or more, the games with SIU are now.

I completely agree. NDSU has all the necessary things in place to make this a meaningful rivalry for years to come: similar death-trap home advantage, long history of winning, supportive and vocal fan base... it's exciting to think about the future.