New "50,805" Seat Stadium

**NWIAclone** · 05-08-2010, 08:16 PM

How does ISU compare with the U of Minnesota (from the mighty Big 10) in regard to athletics? I know they just opened a new TCF Bank Stadium that seats 50,805 for football. After the Jack Trice Stadium renovations are completed, I think we'll probably seat more than that. We all know the Cyclones can compete with them in football after rolling them in the Insight Bowl last year. I've never been to Williams Arena but I've heard it's a dump compared to Hilton. Our mens basketball team has usually been just as good (if not better) than theirs. Both of the schools wrestling programs are usually highly ranked. Also, it seems like the Cyclone women can compete (and win) against most any team fielded by the Golden Gophers. Just my thoughts....

**DJK15** · 05-08-2010, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by NWIAclone

How does ISU compare with the U of Minnesota (from the mighty Big 10) in regard to athletics?

Minnesota has 18 conference titles and 6 national titles in Football. They've also got a beautiful, brand new stadium.

Tubby has the basketball team on the rise and they're usually in the top 5 in wrestling.

So, to answer your question... not well.

**mtowncyclone** · 05-08-2010, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by DJK15

Minnesota has 18 conference titles and 6 national titles in Football. They've also got a beautiful, brand new stadium.

Tubby has the basketball team on the rise and they're usually in the top 5 in wrestling.

So, to answer your question... not well.

typical big ten answer, you know denial is the first step to acceptance.

**TarHeelHawk** · 05-08-2010, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by NWIAclone

How does ISU compare with the U of Minnesota (from the mighty Big 10) in regard to athletics? I know they just opened a new TCF Bank Stadium that seats 50,805 for football. After the Jack Trice Stadium renovations are completed, I think we'll probably seat more than that. We all know the Cyclones can compete with them in football after rolling them in the Insight Bowl last year. I've never been to Williams Arena but I've heard it's a dump compared to Hilton. Our mens basketball team has usually been just as good (if not better) than theirs. Both of the schools wrestling programs are usually highly ranked. Also, it seems like the Cyclone women can compete (and win) against most any team fielded by the Golden Gophers. Just my thoughts....

**Istate** · 05-08-2010, 08:26 PM

Rolled them in football? They were a nebraska-esque fumble away from beating us. All in all, we should start with another big ten program to pick on. We could upgrade Jack as much as we want, and it would never compare kindly to TCF in the cities. It's just a beautiful stadium. Minnesota is too good in too many programs to compare well to them overall. Now, Iowa on the otherhand...

**mtowncyclone** · 05-08-2010, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by TarHeelHawk

hmmm, im feeling that was a big ten reaction as well.

**MNclone** · 05-08-2010, 08:27 PM

Well, TCF Bank Stadium is a beautiful staduim. Jack Trice won't come close even after the renovations. You are correct that Williams is a dump, compared to most any major college venue.
As you have noted, there are a few similarities that you have noted.
In my mind, there are three big differences between the Gophers and the Clones though.
1. The Gophers have a lot more money to work with than ISU. Obviously this is primarily due to the revenue sharing of the Big 10. With the funding going to the school for athletics, there is a common belief that in general the Gophers are chronic underacheivers.
2. ISU has superior fan support. The Cyclones have to compete with the hawks for fan support. The Gophers compete with the Twins, Wild, Wolves (sort of), and the Vikings. Because of this, there just aren't too many people that are all that passionate about the school.
3. Minnesota has a much greater winning tradition than ISU.

**tim_redd** · 05-08-2010, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by mtowncyclone

typical big ten answer

Yep, spout off things that happened a half century ago...

**Steve** · 05-08-2010, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by DJK15

Minnesota has 18 conference titles and 6 national titles in Football. They've also got a beautiful, brand new stadium.

Tubby has the basketball team on the rise and they're usually in the top 5 in wrestling.

So, to answer your question... not well.

I figured that Sandy Stephens, the QB on the U's last national title team, would be assume at bingo at the senior center. Unfortunately, I found out that he passed away 10 years ago. Even Gopher fans want to know what have you done for me lately.

**CloneLawman** · 05-08-2010, 08:55 PM

Minnesota has 18 conference titles and 6 national titles in Football. They've also got a beautiful, brand new stadium

Wow..so you're saying they compare favorably to Iowa then, at least in terms of national titles. Six times better..hmmmmm. And their last one is more recent than Iowa's.

I've also heard tell that many Hawkeye fans found the restrooms at MN football games to be superior to those near Jack Trice.

**alarson** · 05-08-2010, 09:03 PM

TCF, from all the pictures ive seen, looks like a very nice stadium. Williams Arena though.... is definitely a dump. As you get upstairs you could almost call it a fire hazard. Replacing that building should be next on UM's list of major facilities improvements.

But as far as competitiveness right now... we're on similar levels in most major sports.

What theyve done previously doesnt matter. We're talking about right now.

**ISU_phoria** · 05-08-2010, 09:03 PM

I think Minny is almost always top 5 in the Director's Cup, so overall, they're better than we are in athletics. Unfotunately neither school has done very well at the "big two" sports the last several years.

**ty4cy90** · 05-08-2010, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by MNclone

2. ISU has superior fan support. The Cyclones have to compete with the hawks for fan support. The Gophers compete with the Twins, Wild, Wolves (sort of), and the Vikings. Because of this, there just aren't too many people that are all that passionate about the school.

Yeah but Minnesota has 50,000 students compared to 28,000 for ISU. Magnify that by every graduation class and you should have a lot more gopher fans. Also, they have no other universities in the state to compete with. I know there were other circumstances for the bowl game, but the amount of people they brought was pretty abysmal.

**MNclone** · 05-08-2010, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by ty4cy90

Yeah but Minnesota has 50,000 students compared to 28,000 for ISU. Magnify that by every graduation class and you should have a lot more gopher fans. Also, they have no other universities in the state to compete with. I know there were other circumstances for the bowl game, but the amount of people they brought was pretty abysmal.

Can't argue with what you are saying, but I have lived up here for 7 years now and have yet to meet a diehard Gopher fan.

**dualthreat** · 05-08-2010, 09:21 PM

This is only a slightly bias question:

Does a national championship in 1940s mean anything to the team today? Except perhaps to fans who are 70+ years old that still relinquish the glory days.

Is Army a better football program than Iowa State? What about Yale?