NDSU/SDSU to the GFC

[Panthers to the Bone]

http://www.in-forum.com/Sports/articles/158695

Announcement Wednesday (supposedly).

Welcome Bison and Jackrabbits.

[Marc Wigim]

Damn damn damn damn. I was researching for my article, found this news and was hoping you to beat you to it, PttB. Stupid job anyway.

[JCPanthers]

We may even get to play them both next year. We are already going to SDSU on Sept. 15th AND we are still looking for a game on the 22nd of September. Don't be surprised to see the Bison coming to the UNI Dome next year.

[Schack]

"NDSU to enter Gateway Football Conference

The Gateway Football Conference will likely open its front gate to North Dakota State today. Southern Utah athletic director Ken Beazer was contacted by NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor and South Dakota State athletic director Fred Oien on Tuesday. Beazer said he was told by both “it looked positive” that their schools would be accepted into the Gateway. Southern Utah is currently in the Great West Football Conference along with NDSU and SDSU. “I’m extremely saddened on one point for selfish reasons with the Great West Football Conference,” Beazer said. “I’m extremely happy for them. It’s a positive move for them.” "

[UNIAlum95]

Will this fracture the conference? Will this cause InSU and YSU to look elsewhere? Don't get me wrong, I think this is a great move for us. Just wondering about the logistics for those teams to travel like that.

[Chitown Panther]

This Conference is going to be rigorous (spelling?)!!!!!

IF we don't make it to the Semi-Finals this year......I'll be disappointed.

[Matt Trump]

Will this fracture the conference? Will this cause InSU and YSU to look elsewhere? Don't get me wrong, I think this is a great move for us. Just wondering about the logistics for those teams to travel like that.

YSU fans will always tell you that they are looking elsewhere. They have the potential to move to the MAC but the MAC doesn't want them because they know YSU would crush them. When the MAC expanded a few years ago they added Kent State and Akron and didn't want YSU.

As far as the Trees go, we need a whipping boy in the conference.

[Newsbreaker]

I think we all knew this was coming, and I'm sure a good chunk of the league is a bit nervous about it getting even more top-heavy.

Indiana State isn't going anywhere, unless it's D-II. Anybody that would want them in football will want them in all sports, and they aren't going to leave the MVC.

Youngstown is going to do what they're going to do. With the addition of these two, losing YSU, while weakening the league, wouldn't be a disasater. I can see why they'd be skeptical of a league where (now) all the power is in the extreme upper midwest (minus SIU).

Welcome to the Big Boy show Bison and Jackrabbits, while the growth of these programs has been VERY impressive, playing in this league every week is at minimum, a humbling experience.

[UNIAlum95]

Don't get me wrong this is a great move for the conference, but I can see InSU dropping football. Given that they bus almost everywhere (if not everywhere) those two games will stretch the limits of their budget. If they were to do that and YSU were to leave, we'd be in the same boat we are in today which is why I asked the question. I know the Bison and the Rabbits have been playing top flight ball the last couple of years. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the GFC...

[DrewDog]

What are the odds of YSU leaving the Gateway?

[BCPanther]

The only place that I see YSU going is to the MAC and FBS. There is not another upper level FCS league that they fit into any better geographically. Five years from now I think that YSU will still be a Gateway Member.

As far as InSU, I actually feel its better for the league if they leave. They cannot compete and they are not doing anybody anygood being in the league. IMO...

[Newsbreaker]

I agree with Brett. I don't think there is anywhere for YSU to go.

Now, if adding these teams (at least one of which is a legitimate top-of-league type program) makes the league tougher, but extra at-large bids don't follow with that (ie, good gateway teams are being left out for lesser teams from other leagues...ahem, this year for instance) I could see them bolting for an easier route to the post-season.

Personally, I think this will play out just like adding YSU, and WKU, did. They'll find that this is a REALLY hard league to play in, and trips to Carbondale, Youngstown, Normal and Cedar Falls are like a root canal on the day the novacane salesman forgot to show up.

[Matt Trump]

What are the odds of YSU leaving the Gateway?

Spend some time on AGS going searching the archived threads on YSU going to the BC Subdivision. There entire history of YSU and the MAC is very interesting. Their fans have some very different opinions and experiences on the issue.

[Matt Trump]

YSU is also in an excellent position being in the Gateway with their other sports programs. They participate in the Horizon and the other programs in that league do not have football so they aren't in a situation like WKU was with the Sun Belt.

[Newsbreaker]

Spend some time on AGS going searching the archived threads on YSU going to the BC Subdivision. There entire history of YSU and the MAC is very interesting. Their fans have some very different opinions and experiences on the issue.

IIRC (and I don't follow that site closely) weren't they basically "squeezed" out by Akron and Kent, when the MAC last expanded, and those two schools have a 'handshake' deal with the MAC to keep YSU out for good?

Those schools are almost on top of one another, it's odd that YSU (who's probably the better football program) is the odd man out. I think wins/losses have something to do with that.