Gateway '07

[joecooll6]

So is anything new on the possible 12th game? Are we gonna have only 7 teams in the Gateway next year? What's the liklihood of NDSU and SDSU joining and how soon would that potentially happen? Are we gonna have 6 noncon games next year?

Just some questions for people in the know.

[BCPanther]

IF the Dakota schools join, and thats becoming more of an IF than I thought it would be (SMS and IlSU are really against it) they will not join until 2008. The Gateway is a 7 team league for next year.

The 12th game will be voted on next week. It will be optional for a team to play 12 and not required.

6 OOC games is a definite possibility for next year...

[Newsbreaker]

What's the story (and where are you getting the report from) behind Il State and MizzouState being against the Dakota Schools? I can see a travel concern from MSU (and YSU, for that matter) but Ill State has no reason to cry. Are they just afraid of being bumped back down to "2nd tier" status?

[BCPanther]

I think that is the problem Newsy. Denver Johnson had some pretty strong quotes in the Bloomington/Normal Paper about it. Citing "Travel and Competitive Balance"

He knows that the cupboard is pretty bare after the Luke Drone class graduates and games against the Dakota schools are not something he wants to take on...

[Jonsoup]

Crawford: Where did you get the Avatar?

[Newsbreaker]

I think that is the problem Newsy. Denver Johnson had some pretty strong quotes in the Bloomington/Normal Paper about it. Citing "Travel and Competitive Balance"

He knows that the cupboard is pretty bare after the Luke Drone class graduates and games against the Dakota schools are not something he wants to take on...

Then maybe he should go join Eastern Illinois in a league with more "competitive balance."

[BCPanther]

Crawford: Where did you get the Avatar?

Panthermania.net Its from in the locker room after the Iowa win...

[UNIPNTHR]

What's the story (and where are you getting the report from) behind Il State and MizzouState being against the Dakota Schools? I can see a travel concern from MSU (and YSU, for that matter) but Ill State has no reason to cry. Are they just afraid of being bumped back down to "2nd tier" status?

I was under the impression the Indiana State was against it, due to there poor financial state.

[Newsbreaker]

I was under the impression the Indiana State was against it, due to there poor financial state.

They really need to decide if they actually want to be a football school.

[BCPanther]

They really need to decide if they actually want to be a football school.

They need to decide if they are going to seriously be DI in anything. There is no commitment to win in anything right now...

[UNIPNTHR]

Agreed on both of those statements.

[joecooll6]

So what would SDSU and NDSU do? Would the Gateway remain a 7 team league?

[Panthers to the Bone]

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070104/SPORTS0202/701040349/1002/SPORTS

SDSU/NDSU invited to the Gateway meetings...not asked to join, but just asked to visit at the league meetings. Could be a first step, but as the article says, it's all about what the presidents vote on.

[alleycat]

Appears W. Illinois President giving support to add SDSU and NDSU to the Gateway, but not all may agree. According to the article below, there appears to be some apprehension in adding NDSU and SDSU. Last month, Missouri State athletic director Bill Rowe and Illinois State head football coach Denver Johnson both expressed concern over NDSU’s sound program, especially its facilities.

“The league is tough enough now,” Johnson told the Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington, Ill. “You start rolling those people in there and at some point it starts to become a detriment to everybody.”

http://www.in-forum.com/archive/index.cfm?page=archive_article&id=334049

[igo4uni]

Appears W. Illinois President giving support to add SDSU and NDSU to the Gateway, but not all may agree. According to the article below, there appears to be some apprehension in adding NDSU and SDSU. Last month, Missouri State athletic director Bill Rowe and Illinois State head football coach Denver Johnson both expressed concern over NDSU’s sound program, especially its facilities.

“The league is tough enough now,” Johnson told the Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington, Ill. “You start rolling those people in there and at some point it starts to become a detriment to everybody.”

http://www.in-forum.com/archive/inde...icle&id=334049

Ill State and MSU need to step up to the plate. The addition of quality teams makes everyone better.