The Sicatoka

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What a great job Sandy has! If he wins, he's a genius. If he loses, he's a fool.

What is the Big Sky most interested in? (a) Members who were first to jump into the DI-AA pool. (b) Members who are the right type of school (academics, athletics) for the profile of the conference and where it wants to go in a decade or more timeframe. If a couple years on probation aren't a big deal to a transitional school, wouldn't a conference have to carry a similar opinion if they were getting what they wanted and going in the direction they want to?

Without a quote it can only be taken as speculation from the author. You mean football contractual obligations could come into play in all of this? You mean like this?

Huh? Weren't you one of the folks surprised that UND didn't fax a petition to transision by 12/01/04 so 2004-2005 could be the transitional year? Now it's by 12/01/05 to make 2005-2006 the transitional (and accordingly 2006-2007 the first as a DI), again assuming that's the direction UND takes.

Jack Johnson? Michigan? Anyone?

sagard and Greyeagle are closet Sioux fans.

I heard PCM interviewing Phil Harmeson, first intermission, Friday, November 19, 2004, in the game versus St. Cloud State on the Clear Channel North Dakota Fighting Sioux Hockey Radio Network. What Harmeson said there matched everything I've read and heard from UND. PS - I've also corresponded privately with Harmeson on the topic. The consistency is there as well.

How do we know RT's ultimate plan? If his goal is retirement in 10 years, the commissionership in the NCC is a nice role to get there.

We're going to need Smaby, Bina, and Radke to be major minutes guys next season with three freshmen coming in (and assuming Greene will jump to the next level).

Say Montana or Delaware were to move up to DI-A. Would they finish in the top 25 in their first DI-A season? NDSU and UNC moved from DII to DI-AA and finished in the top 25 in their first seasons. What's that say about the difference in competitive levels between DI-AA and DII? That's the message behind what Kupchella said. Is he wrong? As far as "transitions", when would the BSC actually expand? When could they? How far out do BSC schools have FB and BB contracts already set for? The BSC really can't add teams and expand until they're sure those contracts won't be affected, right? How far out are BSC teams "booked". That'll say a lot about when they'll be able to play against new BSC members. UND not sending an intent to transition petition to the NCAA by 12/01/04 means that they now have roughly 350 days to make 2005-2006 a transition year if they so decide.

RT is applying for a conference commissionership. Isn't that the next step for a successful AD?

Did Southern Utah graduates get a similar letter?

Division (insert one or more Roman numeral ones here) is being flooded with small, wannabe, upstart, underfunded schools!

Wanless is a Big Sky school AD and UND did send the Big Sky a letter of interest. I wouldn't find a conversation too remarkable depending on subject matter discussed.

Wouldn't bringing Wanless back alienate a large portion of the constituency (namely those who wanted him to go)?

Not sure who the 2004 champ will be, but I can show you the 2004 contenders' numbers from last year. School Revenues Expenditures Net Montana $8,989,596 $9,843,693 ($854,097) William & Mary $12,474,036 $12,347,408 $126,638 Sam Houston State $5,566,303 $5,416,735 $149,568 James Madison $18,256,965 $17,989,122 $267,843 http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/InstList.asp

How much so with the "eggs in one basket" theory? All the way like Valpo and Drake (non-scholarship FB), or have it like they've had in DII where they're dangerous yet not a threat to a title?

You'd think they need to do something to solve the little problem of .... $2,775,513.

We passed 'mentioned' a couple miles back.

Question: Are all of the current BSC members happy there? Are any looking at other options?

We're talking about their secondary.

You could be right. It could also be that the NCAA doesn't let a DI host a DII championship. (See dakotaboy for the latest conspiriacy theory updates.)