Moorhead – University of Minnesota Athletic Director Norwood Teague would love for his school to play North Dakota State in football, but he isn’t about to go to war with the Big Ten Conference over it.

In late April, Big Ten athletic directors reached an internal agreement to stop scheduling FCS teams – like NDSU – starting in 2016.

“It is primarily television pressuring and wanting the Big Ten to provide games that are (Football Bowl Subdivision) versus FBS teams,” Teague said Tuesday at the Gopher Road Trip’s Moorhead stop at the Courtyard by Marriot. “That’s understandable. They pay us a lot of money, and it’s just the desire of television that they want us to do that. That was their message to the Big Ten.”

After just finishing his first full year as the Gophers athletic director, Teague is trying to be a team player with his new conference.

“I’d love to play North Dakota State,” Teague said. “But I have to be a good member of the Big Ten and go along with what we’re doing.”

Since moving to FCS in 2004, NDSU has played the Gophers three times. The Bison lost 10-9 in 2006, won 27-21 in 2007 and won 37-24 in 2011.

For Teague, wanting to play the Bison again and paying the bills don’t often coincide with one another.

“We operate in a world now in college athletics where we have to balance a budget,” Teague said. “(Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany) needs to go out and redo our television contracts with ABC, ESPN, Big Ten Network, and we’ve got to be a very good partner with them or we aren’t going to get the revenue we need to compete.”

According to Teague, he isn’t sure whether FCS teams will ever be on FBS schedules again or how he feels about it.

“I’m in-between on the matter,” Teague said. “I understand the heartache at FCS schools, but we don’t live in a vacuum, and we have to be part of a league and a good partner with television. I don’t know what will happen.”

Teague wanted to assure fans that there is a bigger picture toward the success of the program when talking dollar signs. It isn’t all about filling higher-up’s pockets.

“I know it sounds money-oriented, but it is what it is,” Teague said. “Balancing our budget is tough. We generate 95 percent of what we balance. We get very little from the university. We have to really fight and claw to do that. We are competing in a league that is very tough with competitors that are way ahead of us with facilities and things like that.”

Teague has had an eventful first year with the Gophers, but he’s happy to be in Minnesota.

“Being in Minnesota and being part of a great athletic department,” Teague said when asked what was the best part of his first year as AD. “Meeting great donors, great alumni and great people in the state of Minnesota.”

As for the hardest part:

“The public relations side is unlike any other at this job and this state, because we are the only Division I school in the state and there’s a lot of attention,” Teague said. “We get a microscope that’s different from any other places I’ve been, even at flagship institutions.”

Readers can reach Forum reporter Chris Murphy at (701) 241-5548

Tags: sports, gophers, football, bison, updates

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Soon after the Green Bay Packers released Desmond Bishop, the seventh-year veteran linebacker was telling Wisconsin reporters about his next step.

Bishop said he’s visiting the Minnesota Vikings, the natural move for so many former Packers players looking for a new team and an opportunity to prove their ex-employer wrong.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier declined after minicamp practice Tuesday to confirm that Bishop was visiting with the team, but Bishop told several media outlets Monday he planned to speak with the Vikings in Minnesota.

“I wouldn’t want to verify any reports,” Frazier said, adding: “We’ll be bringing in guys to work out all the time. At whatever position we bring guys in, it’s usually not a reflection of that position. It is just ongoing. We’re always trying to have a database and do whatever we can to help our football team.”

Bishop became a starter at inside linebacker for the Packers in 2010, his breakout season. He didn’t play at all last year after tearing his hamstring in a preseason game. Bishop thrived once the Packers switched to a 3-4 defense, and the Vikings use a 4-3 scheme, meaning more pass-coverage responsibilities for their middle linebacker.

But their current starter at that critical position is Erin Henderson, who has played the weak-side spot the last two years. Moving Henderson to the middle would leave either rookie Gerald Hodges, a fourth-round draft pick from Penn State, or career backup Marvin Mitchell as unproven starters at Henderson’s previous position.

“I’m playing the ‘Mike,’” Henderson said flatly, when asked if he’s set on being the middle linebacker.

Pressed further about his feelings on the Bishop situation after practice Tuesday, Henderson said, “That’s a lot of ifs. I don’t really want to think about it that way. I have a chance to play ‘Mike’ now. I don’t see why I would let it slip out of my hands or let it go any other way.”

Speaking generally about the possibility of signing Bishop, Henderson said, “It’s cool. I hope it goes well for him, that the Vikings like what they see, welcome him with open arms, welcome him to the team. Not really sure what it’s about. I’m just employee No. 50, baby. I just come out here and do what they ask me to do on the field.”

Henderson said his comfort at the middle position has grown daily this offseason. Frazier agreed.

“He’s shown more command of the defensive huddle than we expected early on. You can see that he has a lot of control, and the guys really respect everything that he’s trying to get done,” the coach said.

Chad Greenway, the long-time starter on the weak side, said he’d have no problem making room for Bishop in the lineup.

“You have to welcome guys like that with open arms. He’s a very talented player. He’s proven that in his career. If that’s the direction of the organization, that’s the direction we go as a locker room,” Greenway said.

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