by gabe » Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:55 am
Throughout the state, hockey is a tad bigger right now. I think it has peaked. NDSU football is a close 2nd but rising. Suprisingly, the athletic budget for the 2 sports is getting closer by the day.
Football is the biggest sport in America. Hockey is less popular than football, baseball, and basketball. Hockey falls into the same category as soccer. It's just not that big in this country.
For that reason, football has the potential to be much bigger than hockey. NDSU football is going to get some big time exposure in Illinois now that they are in the Gateway. They have sold out nearly every home football game and have played in front of numeous sellout crowds at visiting stadiums. NDSU has been on Fox Sports Net multiple times and the Big Ten Network. Most games have been on TV this year but next year, all of the games will be on TV including most of the Gateway games on Fox Sports Net Illinois/Missouri. NDSU is getting national press and respect with the #1 ranking and they haven't even gone ot the playoffs!
Ironically enough, NDSU basketball will someday be the biggest sport and it has 100X the potential. NDSU is in the Summitt, which is an out bid confernce to the NCAA Tournament. NDSU can win the confernce and with a few wins, they are suddenly into the sweet 16 and getting a gigantic check from the TV deal.