The Sicatoka

From Dr. Kupchella's letter on this subject: The "we" in there includes Roger Thomas and Dr. Phil Harmeson (UND's NCAA faculty representative). PS - Same source:

Why do currents matter? The theme with going DI-AA is increased costs. PSU is a case study showing this.

That would include yours then too. Forgive me for placing a higher value on the opinion of a man at the pinacle of his profession, namely Andy Murray, head coach, Los Angeles Kings, when it comes to judging hockey arenas.

PSU jumped before Oregon and OSU "re-emerged" so that was to their advantage. Then OU and OSU re-emerged. Say they only get 1/5 the media attention of NDSU or UND; however, there are 5 times the number of people out there as well. It's roughly a wash. PSU made the playoffs eight times and twice reached the national championship, losing both games, from 1987 to 1995. That's not a bad time to make the transition. Yet, they struggle. Sure, Montana and MSU would be better comparisons, but they've also had budgetary issues of late. The reality, because all this is purely speculation, is this: That's from an old story in The Oregonian and the link may not work any more. http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian...11019327120.xml Were UND to consider such a move, I'd like to know they have it figured out (how they are going to pay for nearly doubling, which is about the norm, and PSU did more than that, the athletic budget). I'm sure that Sioux Hockey revenues would be a key in all the calculations: economic engine.

Imagine trying to get goalie gear through airport security.

PSU is a bad comparison to UND from the "economic engine" point of view. The transition (probation periods) was just about guaranteed to harm PSU's "engine" (football). That probably wouldn't be the case for UND and its "engine" (hockey). On that we probably agree. However, PSU is still in a state with a much larger population and overall state economic base than UND. From that perspective the advantage is not nearly as great. Alternatively, PSU's situation does compare quite well ("economic engine", state resources available) to certain other schools still hoping to gain entry to the Big Sky at some point.

Wouldn't that be true for anyone looking at such a transition? PS - It's not really 27. It's 54. For each mens football scholarship added (from 36 to 63) it'd be wise to add one for the womens sports to stay in compliance with Federal law (Title IX).

I was told that since 9/11 the team has chartered to games (no commerical flights). Can anyone confirm this?

We're not talking hockey. We're not talking about being a top school in the state. We're talking about paying, not subsidizing with university general funds or student fees, paying, the bills. Thus, PCM's comments about "the economic engine that makes it possible" if such a decision were to be made.

Now you're an expert on hockey venues? How many college games have you watched at each? Where'd you sit in each? Who was playing? What makes one better than the others? I'll trust Sioux forward Brady Murray's father* when it comes to rating hockey facilities. I suspect he has better hockey facilities judging credentials. And I'm not sure you'll like what he said. * Make sure you look at that domain name and understand who Andy Murray is.

Not understanding PCM's point (needing the economics to work) is the main reason for lack of success for many attempting the transition. For example, Portland State, of the Big Sky, one of most successful DIIs of the late 1980s and early 1990s, now has to subsidize by university general fund dollars and student fees two-thirds of their athletic department budget. Plus, within the last year they've dropped mens and womens tennis pleading poverty.

The whole list: http://www.undalumni.org/sioux-gala-auction-items.htm

(gulp) Which border?

Hey! I thought we agreed that we wouldn't discuss "Milbank" in public. Now PCM will be mad. Maybe PCM won't notice now that he's gloating and claiming that he's the "Slovakian Pipeline." And I'll have you know I've picked up Zap, Pillsbury, and Napoleon on my scouting responsibilities list.

Which is newer? The MacInnis at Tech may be older, but they just recently put money into it. The DECC is the same age (roughly). And Mankato is newer than 1972. Anchorage? How about if I change that to "least recently refurbished"?

How could I have that job? You haven't retired yet.

A while back young phenom Kobasew went to BC and bailed after one year. Now a young phenom Pineault goes to BC for a year and bails. This fall young phenom Dan Bertram goes to BC. I wonder if BC will do for Bertram everything it did for the other two.

Current HS juniors generally become HS seniors the next year. That is the normal transition path. Well, except for guys like Diggler.

Things would be great! The team would be in the oldest arena in the WCHA. The facility would need serious structural upgrades. There'd be half the seats and they'd be plastic. There'd be no replay boards at center ice. You wouldn't be able to have a beer. There'd be no Dippin' Dots. Zach Parise would have been a Gopher. The basketball and volleyball teams would still be in Hyslop for another 50 years. The only concert venue in Grand Forks would be the acoustically-challenged Alerus. I'm sure I'm missing some. But still, things would be most excellent if Ralph hadn't given us the best venue in the country. I hope your cynicism detectors picked all that up.

As far as HS juniors getting "looks" from teams, doesn't UND have verbals from current HS juniors TJ Oshie (Warroad), Taylor Chorney (S-SM), and Brian Lee (Moorhead)? Which few were "missed"?

Most draft picks aren't for "immediate needs." Teams go for free agents for those. The draft is more for the future (two to five years), to develop and build. Drafting is more like playing the speculation markets. That's why I have no problem with 17 or 18 year olds being drafted.

Boston to Orono in 2.5 hours? It's a 240 mile trip and the drive from Boston to the NH line (about 45 miles) is normally over an hour on a good day (thanks to traffic and toll booths). What kind of car are you renting?

Oh yeah. The US should be more like the Danish. Look what working for "careful and logical" change "of the underlying conditions" got them. But I don't recall the planes being flown into buildings in Copenhagen either.