The Sicatoka

Let's see .... 50 yards long plus two 8 yard long end zones would make it 66 yards long. Three feet in a yard means that it is 198 feet long. 85 feet wide by 198 feet long? Roughly 200 feet by 85 feet? Isn't that a regulation NHL size .... Oh my heavens! They are playing indoor football .... in a hockey rink! Well, I guess the guys afraid of sharp blades and sticks need a little time in the spotlight too.

In response to the subject of this thread .... Change "Bluto" to "Diggler", "Otter" to "PCM", and "Boon" to "The Sicatoka" for a real chuckle.

It's far from a new idea. "To Infinity and beyond!"

He was certified by the NY Little League Association. Jesus saves! Parise scores on the rebound!

Hold it. Wednesday, February 4, 2004 was the first day a HS senior could sign an LOI in fooball. The last day is April 1, 2004. An LOI is an offer of a grant-in-aid, a "contract" (I put that in quotes because it raises the hair on the back of the NCAA's neck ): "We'll give you this much money if you play here." Putting an LOI, which must contain an offer of grant-in-aid, in front of a guy must mean the letter is good until the end of the period, wouldn't it? If that bulletin board report is true, waiting two weeks cost him nothing.

I believe your "special funds" definition is "textbook" (or right out of the link). The reason these changes have to go to the Legislature, even if construction is funded "externally," is because the State has to pay for the long-term operations of them (heat, lights, etc.).

Yes, Fargo leased land from NDSU. The City of Fargo owns each facility. The budget of either is neither a plus or minus toward the NDSU Athletics' budget. How'd we get here from Hallstrom?

Good catch.

Fan behavior was a major subject at the NCAA convention in Nashville last month. Notice how this comes up now at UND, Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, etc., right after that convention? You can blame Dr. Kupchella. He's just the messenger, as is Roger Thomas. Dr. Miles Brand, president of the NCAA, is the guy you want to talk to.

Read my PS right after where you quoted me.

$13 MM? Who-what-where? I'll need a source on that one. The Ralph and The Betty are both "no state funds" projects. As far as the FargoDome running black every year .... why does that matter in this context? That is a City of Fargo (not NDSU) owned complex that has a lease agreement with NDSU for land and usage. FargoDome's overall budget result is neither a positive nor negative for NDSU. This issue is this: Why should the City of Fargo build locker rooms for NDSU when you state that NDSU could do it without them?

My upper deck section full of "old people" season ticket holders was louder and more into the game Saturday than the student sections in the upper deck. What is up with that? Someone mentioned the Cameron Crazies. They are into the game. And they don't have to cuss to do it. See, there is a happy medium. PS - I say move the students into Section 105, 106, and 107. There they could stand and interfere with only their view.

bisonguy, If things are so good in the Bison Athletics books, why did NDSU - ask the City of Fargo to foot the up-front bill for new lockers and offices for NDSU football in the FargoDome, and - ask the ND Legislature for $15,000,000.00 for renovations of the Bison Sports Arena?

The hand-held Palm Pilot ticket scanners are all over at The Ralph.

I didn't want to have to say, "Put on as much extra weight as Diggler carries around" so I just pulled a number out of the clear blue sky. PS - I'm worried about you if you know boxing weight class numbers.

You bet ouch. When all the numbers come out, I'm sure we'll see nearly every campus in the state with back to back double-digit years. I have my idea on how to solve it, but folks in Mayville, Valley City, Bottineau, and Williston wouldn't like it.

As a "land grant", NDSU is allowed to bid on certain government that research that UND is not allowed to bid on. Being #200 without that preference program in place working for it (I'll avoid the unlevel playing field characterization) working for UND is far from a bad thing. Alternatively, all that money to NDSU and they still haven't reached that particular Carngie level?

Who talked facilities or coaches? SDSU had more scholarships than most of DII, an "unfair fight" if you will, and couldn't win. Now they are going into a "more fair fight" (more of the competition have the same number of scholarships as them) and they'll do better? That's like saying "I couldn't win as welterweight against fly-weights so I'll put on 200 pounds, become a light-heavyweight, and I fully expect to beat other light-heavyweights."

This past year we exceeded the threshold for the Carnegie classification of

SDSU had more scholarships than the average DII and couldn't compete. They had the advantage and couldn't use it to their own. So going to a place where more teams have more scholarships is going to make it better? That's the spin that just doesn't pass the logic test.

Yes, the NHL may strike. Old news. However (stand by, nightmare scenario for Bison hockey hating types to follow), that strike may just cause the NHL teams to not sign all the players they probably would have signed this summer. With the current threat of no collective bargaining agreement after June, and teams knowing they are going to push hard for a salary cap, they won't sign high priced free agents, and, assuming they are thinking rookie slots or a rookie salary cap, may not sign their draft choices until after a new CBA is in place. No CBA would be the cause of a strike. The strike, some sources suggest, may last from fall of 2004 into early 2005. So why should that matter to folks that dislike college hockey, especially UND Fighting Sioux college hockey? That probably is a sign that UND would keep their high-powered line-up in tact. That line-up includes a couple of Hobey Baker candidates, the son of an NHL head coach, and numerous NHL draft picks. That line-up has gotten UND attention in newspapers in Boston, Minneapolis, and Denver, plus Sports Illustrated, the New York Times and others national publications that I'm sure I'm forgetting. Plus, hockey fans needing a fix and not having the NHL just may be given a taste of more college hockey. Given that UND and the REA is already putting all home games up on digital satellite, who knows. Optimistic scenario? Sure, but no more optimistic than the pessimistic nature in which this thread was started. The thought of an NHL strike bothers me not in the least.

(I can't believe I missed this before.) Heck yes, I stay indoors. In my leather chair, Drinking a cold beverage, Munching on goodies, Watching hockey, .... In Ralph Engelstad Arena.

What bad thing did you do that your punishment is watching the Timberwolves?

Ah yes, that Summer Olympics sport.