Expansion back on table in Big Sky

By Jeff Kolpack

September 28, 2005 at 11:00 PM

The Big Sky Conference Presidents Council will discuss expansion at its annual meeting next week. The extent of the conversation, however, is still to be determined.

"It may last 30 seconds," Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said Wednesday.

Fullerton said he wants to make sure the league looks at the future and considers all options. That could include a 12-team, two-division conference setup.

Fullerton said that would probably be the only way North Dakota State could gain entry into the league. NDSU applied for membership in the fall of 2004, but was denied when only Northern Colorado was chosen for a further look.

The Presidents Council cited distance as a major factor against NDSU.

"Everything about North Dakota State is exactly what the Big Sky Conference needs," Fullerton said. "Having 12 teams is the only way to overcome the distance problem."

Northern Colorado was eventually granted acceptance last spring starting with the 2006-07 season. NDSU, a Division I independent, is still searching for a league.

The problem with a two division setup is in football because, Fullerton said, everybody wants to play the University of Montana. The Grizzlies are the biggest home draw for the other seven Big Sky teams.

But 12 teams would be an advantage in basketball, Fullerton said. Scheduling is expected to be a hassle when the league goes to nine teams next year.

"Nine is an awkward number," Fullerton said.

If the league went to 12 teams, Fullerton said he would organize a full 22-game schedule for all teams.

"Twenty-two Division I games is a great base to work from," he said.

Fullerton cautioned that the Council's agenda for the meeting is full. But he said Montana State President Geoffrey Gamble wants to keep the discussion going to see if there is further interest.

"I know there has been some talk of expansion out of Bozeman, (Mont.)" Fullerton said.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546

By Jeff Kolpack

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough" and "Covid Kids." He is the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August.