The Border Clash.......NDSU v. MSU...........Septeber 24th

WYOBISONMAN · Post by **WYOBISONMAN** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:16 am

Finally the two landgrant schools from North Dakota and Montana are meeting on the football field once again. The last game between these two programs was in 1980 with the Bobcats winning the contest at Dakotah Field in Fargo by a score of 19-21. The previous year the Bison defeated the Cats in Fargo by a score of 21-7. The all time record between these two schools stands at 12-20-0 with the Cats having the advantage.

This will be an exciting match up with NDSU looking very solid in all areas except the O-line has had to fill some major holes. Returning QB Steve Walker will be tested by the Cats, who this Bison fan suspects will take BSC title. Other than the O-line, NDSU should be damn tough......and the O-line could come along well too...it is just untested.

What do the Cat fans think of this match........AND the WYOBISONMAN will be attending in Bozone!!

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:36 am

I am looking forward to this match up. Should be a great game. Anything can happen remember the NDSU/UM game a couple of years ago? My vote is for the Cats.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:44 am

As I have many relatives in eastern MT, ND, SD and the rest of the prairie, this is a game I've missed for several years. Several relatives with mixed loyalties will be in and around Bozo for most of the week before and after the game. Look for some ND license plates with MSU stickers

I think your line play will develop pretty well by starting the season with Northwestern and Weber. Hope you bring many fans and take part in some of the tailgating that's getting to be bigger each year. Should be a great time.

And I agree with your prediction about our chances this year. I think our coaches put together a tremendous group of kids athletically and our depth this year should allow us to keep rotating kids in and out and not slow down. We should also be physical enough on the line to be able to run the ball again. I'm looking for the old physical Bison-Cat games from the 60s and 70s.

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:53 am

I really like the idea of playing against the Dakota Schools every year. SDSU, NDSU and soon UND! There is more of a rivalry with these schools than Stephan F. Austin or Saint Mary.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:58 am

mquast53000 wrote:I really like the idea of playing against the Dakota Schools every year. SDSU, NDSU and soon UND! There is more of a rivalry with these schools than Stephan F. Austin or Saint Mary.

Exactly

I'd love to sign some home-home contracts with these guys over the next bunch of years.

I love the fact that they are regional which means cheaper travel and lots of fan interest. Its great to schedule teams like SFA or Sam Houston, etc, but there is some good quality talent just across the border to the east who we should be scheduling!

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:08 am

Yeah, I like to speculate and can't wait for the NCAA ruling tomorrow on the 12th game and the number of football scholarships for all schools. Maybe I'm selfish, but I'd love to see MSU playing the regional flagship institutions from the Dakotas, maybe for old times sake UNC (which will probably happen in the Big Sky at any time) and ISU. Sorry, but I can't stand seeing our kids head to Flagstaff, Sacramento, PSU and even Cheney. I'd rather have a couple city name-schools from MN on the schedule

BleedsBlue&Gold · Post by **BleedsBlue&Gold** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:21 am

These will be great games. I am glad we have another 1-aa conference in the West now. And a good conference at that. Does anybody know what the Big SKy's record was last year against the "Great Western?" (is that the name of the conf.
I really think this confernce will give some excellent compition to the Big Sky teams, and increase the strenght of the West in 1-AA polls and playoffs.

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:21 am

Cat Grad wrote:I'd rather have a couple city name-schools from MN on the schedule

Since I live in MN I would love that also but we only have one D-1 program (U of M) and they have been taking a beating in the press for padding their schedule against 1-AA teams. The D-II programs in MN are not near as good as the ND schools.

When I went to school at MSU we played the ND schools every year (non-conference) and it was a great rivalry. Back then we had U of M, Boise State, Idaho, ISU, ND, NDSU every year, ALL rivalry games. Now we have U of M and ISU. BRING ON THE BISON!

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:34 am

Cat Grad wrote:Yeah, I like to speculate and can't wait for the NCAA ruling tomorrow on the 12th game and the number of football scholarships for all schools. Maybe I'm selfish, but I'd love to see MSU playing the regional flagship institutions from the Dakotas, maybe for old times sake UNC (which will probably happen in the Big Sky at any time) and ISU. Sorry, but I can't stand seeing our kids head to Flagstaff, Sacramento, PSU and even Cheney. I'd rather have a couple city name-schools from MN on the schedule

Couldnt agree more. Dumping Suc State and PisSU for SDSU, NDSU, UNC and SUU wouldnt hurt my feelings at all. If I had things my way, here is how the conference would look.

Big Sky North Region
1. Montana State
2. Montana
3. Eastern Wash
4. NDSU
5. SDSU

Big Sky South Region
1. Idaho St
2. Weber St
3. Northern Arizona
4. Northern Colorado
5. Southern Utah

Conference Championship would be last game of the season pitting top team from each half against each other on the team with the best record home turf. Down side is that the North would dominate the South in pretty much all sports!

BleedsBlue&Gold · Post by **BleedsBlue&Gold** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:36 am

I like the split up between North and South, but we would want atomatic playoff/tourny bids for the winner of each.

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:44 am

Having a North and South would give the Big Sky Conference some serious teeth.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:51 am

Look what that dang NoDak went and did! Got everybody off track and talking about conference realignment again. Actually, I'm more excited about tomorrows NCAA vote because all the wannabe conferences are going to have to share with 1-AA schools the big conferences money games and we'll probably

have the same number of scholarships as the WAC, MAC, CUSA, MW, and whatever ash and trash conferences are suing to get some of the BCS money. Somebody needs to tell ND to get with the program

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:09 pm

Cat Pride wrote:
Cat Grad wrote:Yeah, I like to speculate and can't wait for the NCAA ruling tomorrow on the 12th game and the number of football scholarships for all schools. Maybe I'm selfish, but I'd love to see MSU playing the regional flagship institutions from the Dakotas, maybe for old times sake UNC (which will probably happen in the Big Sky at any time) and ISU. Sorry, but I can't stand seeing our kids head to Flagstaff, Sacramento, PSU and even Cheney. I'd rather have a couple city name-schools from MN on the schedule
Couldnt agree more. Dumping Suc State and PisSU for SDSU, NDSU, UNC and SUU wouldnt hurt my feelings at all. If I had things my way, here is how the conference would look.

Big Sky North Region
1. Montana State
2. Montana
3. Eastern Wash
4. NDSU
5. SDSU

Big Sky South Region
1. Idaho St
2. Weber St
3. Northern Arizona
4. Northern Colorado
5. Southern Utah

Conference Championship would be last game of the season pitting top team from each half against each other on the team with the best record home turf. Down side is that the North would dominate the South in pretty much all sports!

I totally agree. I think that would be an excellent BSC move. It has more of a "Big Sky" look and feel to it, as well as the competition meaning a littl more.

WYOBISONMAN · Post by **WYOBISONMAN** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:11 pm

I plan on tailgating at the game. What parts of the parking lot are set up for tailgating? Any rules on booze while tailgating? What bars are good after the game? (I have always liked the Hauf, Molly or Rocking R).

Grizlaw · Post by **Grizlaw** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:19 pm

BleedsBlue&Gold wrote:I like the split up between North and South, but we would want atomatic playoff/tourny bids for the winner of each.

In theory, I like the idea, but we'd never get an auto bid for each five-team division. The A-10 has twelve teams in two divisions, and they only get one auto bid...

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:21 pm

WYOBISONMAN wrote:I plan on tailgating at the game. What parts of the parking lot are set up for tailgating? Any rules on booze while tailgating? What bars are good after the game? (I have always liked the Hauf, Molly or Rocking R).

Tailgating is on the East side just outside the stadium. I will be there as well, as I am for all the games too. The only booze rule I can think of is that you can't bring any into the stadium. After the games I go to Pork Chop John's sports bar.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:27 pm

The parking lot adjacent to the stadium allows for pretty cheap parking for your R.V.; leave it there during the game and drink all you can--just don't take any in the stadium unless you're in the skyboxes

Again, watch for all the North Dakota license plates with MSU logos all over them parked next to our little camper. Stop by and have a few and some of their good ND beef

Gamehunter · Post by **Gamehunter** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 2:11 pm

Yes, this should be a very good game. I wish I could go. How big is the bobcat statdium?

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 2:14 pm

12-13k. It appears there's at least half that many in the east parking lot all game partaking of John Barleycorn.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:10 pm

The stadium actually seats 15000+