BadlandsGriz

Trying to talk about athletics, but I assume you mean the whole Ag thing. Both schools get significant subsidies from different sources. In terms of NSF/NIH funding, the most recent numbers I saw mirror the publication numbers I posted above. I'd be careful, though, especially in the context of AAU, since you’re really up against the "statistics of small numbers" for both schools. Plus, doctors and lawyers typically don't try to get NSF funding or publish papers. Like I said earlier, different schools - different niches. Let's leave it at that. The point I was trying to make is that AAU is not a rational possibility for NDSU in the next 5-10 years, and more importantly, it has no bearing on athletics. DB knows this. NDSU just initiated an internal "Grand Challenge" competition for $ 1M in funding. Indiana U is doing the same thing - for $300M. That pretty much sums it up. Time to watch some football ...

Let’s take rational look and bring this thread back to Big Sky athletics Research publications in 2014 (Thompson-Reuters) Texas Tech (2000), NDSU (1000), UNLV (1000), Wyoming (1000), UND (500), UMD (500) The difference between NDSU and UND is comparable to the difference between Texas Tech and NDSU. UND is on par with UMD (also med school). Texas Tech has no chance at AAU right now, and I estimate it would take 15 years for NDSU to have a realistic shot, but that club appears to shrinking, not growing. DB is probably trying to spin positive PR for NDSU while finding a way to move on as a president. Endowment varies too wildly among public schools to be a meaningful metric, but NDSU REALLY needs to work on theirs. None of this translates to athletics (see recent loss of Gopher hockey to UMD and Vermont) 2014-2015 Learfield Standings (HIGHLY dependent on year) Texas Tech (40) – 556 Boise State (64) – 337 NDSU (69) – 300 Wyoming (176) – 87.5 UND (179) - 83 NDSU belongs in MWC (not Big12 or FCS), whereas UND and Wyoming should be BigSky. I personally agree with that assessment. NDSU would drop after such a move because the competition would be higher, though.

Also, the Ag thing ... in 2014, NDSU published about 1000 papers - only 200 of those were in Ag. In the same period, UND published about 500. This is from Thomson-Reuters Web of Science. Different schools, different niches. A typical AAU public school is about 10x higher - I don't see NDSU closing that gap in 5 years. Not possible (in my opinion).

Sorry, was watching the Lynx. Nice win ladies!! I would say virtually nil. Don't think that's his point, though. I think he sees an opportunity to ramp it up a notch academically and he has to rally the troops. He also may be trying to plot his next job. Who knows ... I also doubt anybody is laughing at ND for it. It's ambition, an admirable human trait. As for FBS, the only option I see for NDSU is the MWC, and (correct me if I am wrong) none of those schools are AAU. I think most people in ND would say it's cool that he's trying, in the same way it's cool that the Bison rule FCS football and the Sioux rule NCAA hockey. It's a small state. We should all try to get along.

NDSU has already achieved Very High Research Status (https://www.ndsu.edu/news/view/detail/5527/).