Andre Dawson commits to....

[BCPanther]

First I've heard of the Valley going FBS. That doesn't really make a bunch of sense. Last I heard, didn't you have to average 20k per game just to stay 1A? Also, adding 20 scholarships when UNI gets a big part of their funding from the General Fund? Maybe 1A brings in more cash though, because you gotta think that with the state budget cuts, UNI's athletic dept is going to feel the pinch. ISU's does and their AD takes a much lower cut from the university (at least % wise).

I wonder, what is the benefit of FBS for UNI? I don't see them really growing the fanbase with that move.

It's not so much that we want to go FBS. Its that Missouri State, Illinois State, and Youngstown State really want to. If they would have a real plan to make the jump, I think us, NDSU and SDSU would really look at it.

The attendance requirement is that you average 15k per game over a rolling two year period and we aren't too far off of that right now. I look at it as being advantageous because a) to be honest, nobody cares about FCS football and b) playing Iowa, ISU, BYU, etc would give us a payout closer to $1M compared to the $300k we get now.

Yes, we are feeling the pinch right now. Thankfully we are having a good year in Basketball which should bring in a bunch of NCAA tourney money for the next six years. We have also started a new capital campaign that has raised $4million since Sept.

[cyismydog]

Johnson is a straight up beast, no doubt about it.

[Al_4_State]

So UNI will have a 1st year starting QB next year along with losing a bunch of linemen? One would think they'd be down next year, but pretty tough the two years afterwards.

I get so sick to my stomach playing UNI. They're a damn good FCS school, and they always seem far more motivated to play us and Iowa than we are to play them. I don't mean to sound like Hawk fan, but Iowa and ISU are both BCS schools. UNI isn't FBS. We can't lose to FCS schools.

[Cybyassociation]

So UNI will have a 1st year starting QB next year along with losing a bunch of linemen? One would think they'd be down next year, but pretty tough the two years afterwards.

I get so sick to my stomach playing UNI. They're a damn good FCS school, and they always seem far more motivated to play us and Iowa than we are to play them. I don't mean to sound like Hawk fan, but Iowa and ISU are both BCS schools. UNI isn't FBS. We can't afford to lose to FCS schools.

I edited it a bit. I'm guessing you werent trying to say "were immune to losing to FCS schools". The QB they have starting next year stepped in for Grace two years ago for 2 or three games when he was hurt. He threw for 162 in his first game and 191, 2 tds, 1int. He definitely has a feel for the game. I dont know so much about replacing the linemen, but I'm guessing they got quite a bit of rotation this past year since their first few games (besides the Hawks) were blow outs.

[dualthreat]

Im glad we at least took a look at him. Too bad we couldn't find a spot for him. You know, he will probably start for uni for 3 years and be a complete stud. We will all look back and think "why didn't we snag this guy?"

That seems to be EXACTLY the way UNI recruits. They bring in the kids that are just overlooked by iowa/isu and then turn them into great players. How in the hell should uni ever beat isu? UNI could not out recruit isu on any player whatsoever. ISU can have any player that has mutual interest in the two schools, yet UNI turns their players into better athletes and then they beat us in 2007 and should have beat us in 2006. That is rediculus.

[justcynn]

Haven't seen Dawson play, but whoever posted that we need to establish a CR Wash connection - I agree 100%. When I went there in the early 90's, ISU was completely irrelevant to prospective D1 Washington Athletes in both Basketball and Football. Through the years, they have turned out some good players, particularly in Football.

Go Warriors, Go State.

[06Panther]

I'm pumped about this kid. He could be great. Nice to see him choose UNI over several FBS offers.


As for next year for UNI, it will really be the first true rebuilding year in a while for us IMO. I don't expect a whole lot quite honestly. The players that will be playing are going to be really good, but they will be super young, and have no game experiece. We are losing essentially our whole D-line, O-line, and LBs. You can't replace that many good players and not miss a beat. The future is super bright though.

[ChickenWing]

Johnson is a straight up beast, no doubt about it.

That is quite an unfriendly thing to say about a young man. If he reads this website he'll be very upset.

[CycloneWarrior]

Great snag for uni. I wish isu couldve got him but I'm not mad that he went to uni

[Frak]

We have also started a new capital campaign that has raised $4million since Sept.

Comparatively, ISU is nearing the end of their recent capital campaign. Goal is $800M and they've raised $740M. And I'm sure other schools would blow ISU out of the water in this regard. That's a big step that you're talking about.

I'm sure going 1A would help recruiting a little, but they'd still be sitting behind BCS schools and they wouldn't have the BCS transfers that they currently enjoy. Interesting situation. Would definitely hurt ISU's and iowa's walk on programs a little.

[cybsball20]

Good story here

Citing family, Dawson commits to UNI | IowaPrepSports.com

Had some pretty good offers but wanted to stay close to home so his mom could see him play as she has difficulties traveling.