The Sicatoka

And the answer is .... $20 million. Thank you, Mrs. Engelstad. And all of your family.

The press conference for this is starting right about .... now.

Would that be the same guy who works for the UND Alumni Association? Interesting ...

And now I lost my lunch.

Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't, but he'd still eat your lunch.

Bemidji State hopes to raise $2.5 million by May 2008 to have funds available to allow their program to survive. That's the annual hockey budget in Minneapolis or Madison or Grand Forks or Denver. There's problem #1. The WCHA is already playing an unbalanced "rivals" schedule. That's with 10 teams. How do you make an 11 team league work out for travel and schedule? That's problem #2. Would it be great for BSU? Sure. But as much as we'd all love the "feel good" storybook ending you have to look at things logically, not emotionally, if you want to make sure they'll work for the long haul. The WCHA and BSU aren't a fit for each other right now. But read the articles. The conversations are not over, they're just on hold for now.

This number you're talking about ($750 MM, not UND's $500 MM endowment number) includes on-campus construction, does it not? There's no "give up on on-campus construction" in that; by your definition ($750 MM) it's included (stadiums). UND did $400 MM in the preceding 10 years with one or two small targetted campaigns (for example, $20 MM for College of Bus and Pub Admin). Now they are going "full active" to raise money from any and all sources. I trust you can see the difference. Finally, the time value of money: UND did $400 MM over the preceding 10 years. What's $400 MM "worth" 10 years later? Assuming 4% return, roughly $600 MM. Put another way, talking about $600 MM today would have been like talking about $400 MM in 1997 (and there was no active campaign in 1997).

Where's The Betty?

The Alerus Center will gladly leave hosting indoor water skiing to the Fargodome given that Fargodome has the experience having previously been filled with 8, and then 12, feet of water. (Historic footnote: GF had planned on a below grade floor in The Al but Fargodome's flooding adventures, and the notion that putting The Al at grade could have it serve as a shelter or staging area during potential future flooding events, kept the field out of a hole.)

Well, if you don't believe that's possible at UND over the course of 10 years, how ever did this happen? And "not trying to be a jerk here", but that "is in addition to what people are already giving in scholarships, athletic tickets, athletic gifts, facility repairs, ... "

Did you say TRIOUXPER should be committed?

They killed Kenny!

Why ruin the convention center aspect just for hoop. The Al holds 9000 in BB config already. (So many folks forget that about half of the west grandstand is mobile.)

Speaking as one of the hockey gods, you finally got one correct. The Ralph isn't great for hoop but having seen games in each it's better than Fargodome in hoops setup. Now, just for the pleasure and enjoyment of "aff" : After the on-campus football stadium (heck, let's go retractable roof while we're at it ) as a make-up to the city and Alerus Center UND will move basketball over there. How's that.

You thought? Thanks for the input but I'll go with .... http://www.und.edu/dept/our/uletter/07112003.html#15 They've put 3300 into it (and the end court seating systems are smaller than they could be). But why would you need more when you have access to The Al and The Ralph?

A rolling opening. http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/i...ection=homepage

They're talking stadium without funding .... Where's "aff" to rail against this?

Ya'know, aff is right. I'd like the world's best hockey rink, a practice rink, and a 3500 seat basketball/volleyball training facility. It means each person here has to give $35,456. I guess it's not going to happen.

The other stuff, the wish list, I don't know. But go back and look at Kupchella's strategic plans. He's consistently executed what he's said he would. Now note Priority G, Goal 1. I believe Dr. Kupchella will hit this one also. (You'll also love A-5.)

You are the company you keep.

If all it takes to force something to change is a small group of folks who are offended, I'm almost positive that I can find a group of American Indians who find use of the sacred (think: religious) symbols of the gifts of the Great Spirit as a sports team mascots offensive. And thus that usage would have to change, right?

"First I must break you."

"You stinkin' Ruskie liar! You told me if I switched to vodka and wore this furry hat you'd change the nickname to Commies and I could play for Russia! And now you're saying "No"? You guys are worse than Don Adam!" Somebody get Mike a tuuk and a Molson, eh.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/i...ection=homepage

Just as he spurs the team on, Parise and Zajac race to board Langenbrunner's invisible stagecoach.