The Sicatoka

Who started this? A group of NDSU alumni, namely, the NDSU Foundation. How? They closed the open spigot of money during a meeting during NDSU's homecoming week. Why? Money is tight and they probably started to question where some of it was going. Like what? Say ... - $1,000,000.00 cost overrun on a new president's house - $50,000.00 per year (no-show) job for president's wife - $83,000.00 average annual expenses by the president paid from open NDSU Development Foundation account, and the clincher, - $22,000.00 (boondoggle?) trip to Washington, DC, taking the whole family on private charter. But isn't all that NDSU Foundation money private money? Yes, it is. But they rely on private donors who expect accountability from the Foundation. Lose the accountability, lose the donors. So why'd they release all of this information to the press? Isn't the NDSU Foundation private? They don't have to do open records. Ah, there's the key question: Why *did* the NDSU Foundation willingly put all of this dirty laundry out to the media.

I'd rather be an affiliate member of a Big Ten Hockey Conference (even if it cost the moniker, and they probably won't play us non-conference with it) than left behind with Bemidji State and the rest. In closing, what "mksioux" said:

Heck, it's never fun when they take your play-money away. http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/137168/

All of this termoil, ... and a lame-duck president too. Brilliant!

I'd go with Shawn-O and guess "Alumni Development & Ops". (It is the biggest chunk. ) Does anyone know what kind of plane NDSU owns? Does anyone know what kind of plane Chapman chartered instead? Here's the Fargo Jet Center stable: http://www.fargojet.com/flight_operations/the_fleet.php (I'm willing to bet Chapman upgraded from what NDSU owns and took the Citation SII to DC to make a splash. Any takers?)

Why'd the theme music to the old TV show "Dragnet" just run in my head? ... bah, ba-dump-bump, ... bah, ba-dump-bump-baaaaaaaaaah ... "The story you're about to hear is true, ... " ... we'd have changed the names to protect the innocent, but there aren't any.

Didn't happen, so we'll never know.

Chapman's discretionary fund (and remember, this is what he's spending beyond his $300+k salary plus the $75k from NDSU Foundation, and the $50k "no show" job the NDSU Foundation has for Mrs. Chapman) ...

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/137045/

One president charters; the other flies commerical. Now, which one is the president of the absolute best collegiate flight program on earth, with the largest private aircraft fleet, and which runs an ag school. Isn't that just mind-boggling. One's being a steward of the public trust, the other, not so much.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/137078/

How many understand the "Susan Powter" comment/reference. That's pretty good. But, yes "landscaping in the memo" was instant classic.

He did not lose his license. He did apologize for the untoward events. The FBI did investigate and did not find any of the alleged leanings. (No "almosts" in that.) Worse? http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/200...s/21325141.html The man has been dead for nearly seven years now. Can we bury him and argue the merits of today?

Bohl's fiancee. She's being tossed under the bus for their 1-5 season so why not for this too?

Way to step up! (Didn't Kupchella get ripped by NDSU folks for being out of town and unavailable for comment during times of strife?)

Can anyone at The Forum do math? 2000 events / 366 days (last year was a leap year) is about 5.5 events per day. Seriously? If you assume five day weeks (260 days) that's about 7.7 events per day. Working folks out there: That'd be like counting each hour of your "40 hours/week, 50 weeks/year" job as a separate "event".

Seems they may have way overspent on too many things at the North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science (but definitely not Project or Money Management). Chapman's deferred pay is going away as are a couple, what can only be described as, slush funds. It's a long read. Enjoy. http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/256085/

University of Sioux Falls is the defending NAIA national champion and is on a 20 game winning streak. They are a good team. UND is their "Texas Tech". They will bring their best game (just like UND took theirs to Lubbock). Massey says USF (223) is not that different from South Dakota (177) and Stony Brook (204). Massey says USF (223) is better than Northwestern State (243)! Stony Brook and Northwestern State helped us beat them through their missteps. Don't expect that help from USF: Teams on 20 game winning streaks don't give games away. Don't underestimate USF in this game because they're looking to make a name for themselves.

Sioux Falls is a pretty good team and they're the problem in the windshield. Quit looking in the mirror. USF seems to be focused on us, and why not: We're their "Texas Tech".

Hey, I went to Friday hockey. I had to drive home and back for the Saturday double. (Hint: I don't live in Grand Forks County or an adjoining county.) And l slept in ... to all of 8:30 am!

I'm not sure Wisconsin has thought this through. This really doesn't do much to help their travel. And they'd be losing their biggest "sell" at Kohl Center (UND). Minnesota would come out of this for the worse. Do they want to trade bus travel to Duluth, SCSU, and MSU-M for air flights to Columbus, Ann Arbor, and East Lansing? And will the teams from Columbus, Ann Arbor, and East Lansing sell as well as Duluth, SCSU, and MSU-M at Mariucci? History says no. Related to the UND moniker: Will UM or UW play UND in hockey if they aren't all in the WCHA? And how would this affect womens hockey alignments? Remember: tOSU womens hockey is in the WCHA.

Attendance numbers ... 2008-09 Season at Mariucci: Mich @ Minn (11/28/2008): 10217 MSU @ Minn (11/29/2008): 9985 2006-07 Season at Mariucci: MSU @ Minn (11/24/2006): 10145 Mich @ Minn (11/25/2006): 10118 UND @ Minn (01/26/2007): 10197 UND @ Minn (01/27/2007): 10208 2007-08 Season at Mariucci: OSU @ Minn (10/25/2007): 9054 OSU @ Minn (10/26/2007): 9573 UND @ Minn (02/01/2008): 10222 UND @ Minn (02/02/2008): 10197 2008-09 Season at Kohl: MSU @ UW (11/28/2008): 12695 Mich @ UW (11/29/2008): 14025 UND @ UW (03/06/2009): 14179 UND @ UW (03/07/2009): 15237 2006-07 Season at Kohl: Mich @ UW (11/24/2006): 13592 MSU @ UW (11/25/2006): 14120 UND @ UW (10/13/2006): 14336 UND @ UW (10/14/2006): 15237 One last note: OSU hosted Notre Dame, Michigan State, Michigan, and Miami last year. Not once did they go over 9300 (in a rink that holds 17000+). They only drew in the low 6000s for Notre Dame.

RE: STUDENTS Not an excuse, however, students didn't show up at NDSU's game either. My guesses? 1. The weather. Having turned cold early some may be taking that trip home now before it really sets in. 2. ND pheasant opener. 3. For UND, Gophers in town next weekend so this would be the weekend to go home (even before the first two above). 4. Opponent: NDSU fans expected to get beat so they stayed home; UND fans asked "Stony Brook?" and assumed a lesser team.

Stony Brook, like Northwestern State, self-destructed. Their three turnovers turned into 21 UND points. And if you are ever offered a free seminar on clock management hosted by the SB coaching staff ... stay home. Sioux Falls is a good team. UND is their "Texas Tech". The team had better be ready for a good opponent's best game.