Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

[SteinPizza]

Folks, let's face it. The MVFC is not a good conference compared to others in FCS. Here's how it effects us:

• The conference typically has one or two good teams (usually us and either NDSU or SIU). I said good, not great. The others, on a national level, suck. That means we haven't played the same level of competition going into the playoffs, which hurts us in both seeding and developing the toughness and skill needed to beat elite teams.
• A better conference would mean better seeds, which means more home games, which greatly increases your chance of advancing. I don't give a crap what anyone says...looking at the facts, UNI SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SEEDED HIGHER THAN MONTANA.
• A better conference means a better overall computer score for the seeding committee (the FB equivalent of the RPI, can't think of it now). If you read comments by Dannen and the committee, they don't use the computer score now, but will in the future. Overall conference strength will be an even bigger component to seeding going forward.

Bottom line, everyone here had better be rooting for NDSU like crazy, because our conference is not viewed highly on a national level. Again, read Dannen's comments, he more or less admits that. Another bottom line...recruit better players. 75% of college football is about recruiting and developing talent. If you want a game where schemes, statedgy and game day coaching matter more, then tune into the NFL on Sunday.

[Herdman]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

I'm beginning to agree with you. That said, after UMonty and MSU, the BSC is even worse. EWU is not in the same grouping with them. They had a nice three run, that's it.
As much as it pains me to say it the CAA is better top to botton. The SoCon is the best FCS IMO.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

My opinion...I think the MVFC is an older style of play that does not translate well into the playoffs. The MVFC is almost like the B1G in that we are more ground oriented, slower and bigger (generally speaking). I think the Big Sky is similar, though. The SoCon, Southland, CAA are more wide open in general with a more dynamic style of offense and defense. They are the SEC and ACC's of the FCS. We had a weapon at QB that Appy St. or almost any SoCon team would have instantly known how to utilize to full potential. We don't fully understand or commit to that style and we get bounced in the playoffs often as a result, I think. It doesn't mean you can't win with this style. But I do think it means you won't win as often.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

If we want our conference to gain respect and better seeds, you need two things to happen:

1. The conference HAS to win playoff games, and not just the first round. Root your asses off for NDSU today.

2. SIU has to get back to where they were. YSU has to continue to improve. Just my opinion, but YSU really seems to be getting it together. That's a team to watch next year. The conference needs the improved level of play that would occur with those two things. You can't count on sorry a$$ed operations like ISU or MSU to get their act together.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

I don't think you need to be stacked from top to bottom to gain respect as a conference. You just need a team or two that challenge seriously for a national title and actually win one more than once every 15 years. Montana has traditionally played in a crap conference but gotten lots of respect over the years because they have actually won titles and made numerous title games.

[jaystus]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

ndsu will win one for us this year

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

ndsu will win one for us this year

And if they do, the conference is suddenly no longer weak on a national scale.

[JayJ79]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

tough call:
cheering for the Bison in hopes they can win the NC to gain the conference some respect,
but then the annoying Bison fans get even more insufferable.....

Probably worth it. Despite the annoying ones, the NDSU fanbase in general is okay

[FargoPanther]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

I think NDSU just blew a whole through this thread tonight. I don't think the poor seeding is due to the performance of the conference, but the consistent lack of support from the Cedar Valley and the state of Iowa in leaving half the seats empty in the UNI Dome the past few years at FCS Playoff Games. If you were on the selection committee and had to select UNI (average FCS playoff attendance maybe 7k) compared to Montana (average FCS playoff attendance 28k+), which one would you pick? With this lack of support, the tight budgets within the athletic department, sometimes I wonder if Dannen is deliberately running down the football program, but Farley works magic getting the most out of what he has? Just my thoughts.

[JayJ79]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

With this lack of support, the tight budgets within the athletic department, sometimes I wonder if Dannen is deliberately running down the football program,

WTH are you talking about?

[SchniDogg]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

He does have a point about attendance. Pulled playoff numbers over the last 5 years. Starting to show a downward trend. Guess i don't understand why there is good attendance until thanksgiving then it more than cuts in half. Guess if i were on a selection committe, i'd probably show some seeding favoritism for a school that could deliver sell-out crowds in 17 degree weather on national television...

2011 Wofford 6,915

2010 Lehigh 5,990

2008 Maine 8,477
New Hampshire 9,055
Richmond 12,062

2007 New Hampshire 16,015
Delaware 15,803

[JayJ79]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

oh, I wasn't questioning the attendance thing. The Cedar Valley sucks in that regard.

I was questioning the theory of "Dannen deliberately running down the football program"

[FargoPanther]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

Jay... it just seems to me that Hartzell use to do a better job in promoting the football program and when it was playoff time, he use to market those games like crazy. Does Dannen do that? I'm speculating here, but with the success of men's basketball program especially after the Sweet Sixteen appearance, that product has more statewide appeal. Right now it is the "low hanging fruit" that with limited resources is easier to niche especially to a larger statewide market. The problem is that UNI has a skilled craftsman (Farley) who does an awesome job producing that other product (aka football). Kind of makes you wonder how long that craftsman might stick around if his product doesn't get the support it deserves. Those are just my thoughts.

[BCPanther]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

Hartzell was damn good at giving away tickets and losing money.

Dannen has made every program accountable financially, which is something Hartzell never did, it's also nice to have an AD that is actually around in the winter. It was time for Hartzell to go.

['70 Grad]

Re: Part of Our Problem...the MVFC is Weak

Where do we rank in terms of playoff attendance?

I assume NDSU, Mont. and probably Appy were ahead of us (as they are in the reg. season), but are we really low compared to the other second & first round sites?