The Sicatoka

Actually, isn't this year NDSU's "provisional" year and next year, under the NCAA language NDSU's "first year." A requirement during "first year" is: 20.5.2.2.2 First Year. During the first year of reclassification, an institution must satisfy the following requirements: .... ( c ) Apply Division I legislation to the greatest extent possible; ... Now what are those requirements of interest here: 14.5.1 Residence Requirement

That is a new one to me as well. I'd only been familiar with the "National Letter of Intent." That "institutional letter" must be some kind of loophole in the NCAA rules so the school can use the student-athlete's name in a press release before they are on campus on a full time basis.

Wasn't it Bochenski who said earlier this year something like: You don't score on 100% of the shots that are not on net.

I believe it was pointed out by the comic Steven Wright that it is "a penny for your thoughts" but people "put their two cents in" and that someone is making a penny on the transaction.

Saturday's Forum listed NDSU as having two confirmed home dates for football in 2004: California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Northwestern (Louisiana) State University (Natchitoches, Louisiana)

Actually, I'd guess your best bet would be one of the Clear Channel ND stations (considering they have the broadcast rights to Sioux Athletics on radio). KFGO-AM 790 Fargo KVOX-AM 1280 Moorhead KFYR-AM 550 Bismarck KKXL-AM 1440 Grand Forks Maybe the other GF AM stations will be there: KNOX-AM 1310 KCNN-AM 1590 I'd doubt WDAY-AM 970 Fargo (radio home of NDSU) would give this much of a glance. Your best bet might be to check FightingSioux.com later in the day.

On the subject of HS sports, maybe it's nostalgia ("the good ol' days") but I'd have to agree that the performance level ND HS BB has, at best, held steady over the last 20 years. A general note: A transfer from any DI (for example DI-AAA UW-Green Bay) to any other DI would require him to sit out for a season. A transfer to a DII or DIII and he'd be immediately eligible to play. * DI-AAA: They don't play football at all.

You always pay more for steak than hamburger.

The first story I've seen so far this year about tuition increases at ND State Board of Higher Education schools showed up in Saturday's Fargo Forum. This is what NDSU projects:

Control what you can control. The rest takes care of itself. Beat CC.

"We prefer March 17 over February 14, but only 'cause it's green. " Or to placate Dr. K there should be a sign mentioned in here: Welcome Fellow Scholars.

So there is an Oshie - Warrorad tie-in.

Mentioning quotes, I'm surprised this one hasn't received more chatter: From The (Golden) Boys Are Back In Town

Warroad's football roster listed TJ Oshie at 5'10" and 165. He's listed there as a RB and DB.

I always feel like I'm being a cranky, crotchety, curmudgeon when I point those things out. But hey, I'm just a messenger. Don't shoot!

We'll put this one into M. Stuart-ese Sioux Hockey -- "It's a good thing."

As long as were agreeing on things here, I'll admit I would have liked to see Rohle or the Fargo South TE (like I'm going to try to spell that ) play collegiate home games in The Alerus Center. They'll be the backbone of this NDSU class on offense.

Does that mean if Bismarck High had won, Dressler (going to UND) would have won AAA POTY? Oh pity, UND will struggle by with "leftovers" .... like the ND AAA POTY runner-up and the ND AA POTY. Oh woe is Dale Lennon.

Yes, that is true. That's why I wanted a "today" snapshot. The question that started this, however, is about the caliber of athletes ND HS athletics puts out. Relating to "next year," the question becomes are they Division I caliber athletes or playing for a Division I team? Were they recruited by multiple Division I programs or just one? (I know we can't answer that for most.) The number of ND HS athletes playing Division II jumped considerably when the NSIC went DII. That doesn't say the caliber of the ND HS athlete went up.

The caliber of HS play in various sports in ND isn't the same caliber as in the rest of the country. The caliber of ND HS basketball and football isn't nearly what it is in other places. ND HS hockey is closer (a little) to the rest of the nation than those two sports; still, it's not what it is elsewhere, but ND is able to produce more DI players in that area. I'm not looking to start a war here. I'm just asking. Not counting NDSU (to eliminate the "automatic" transition of a bunch), how many ND athletes are currently playing in DI basketball, football, and hockey? I can start a hockey list easily: At UND: 6 (Bina, Fuher, Fylling, Massen, Schneider, Ziegelmann) At Minnesota: 3 (G Potulny, R Potulny, Irmen) At SCSU: 1 At Michigan St: 1 (?) At Bemidji St: 1 (Sedevie) Help? Football? The center at Minnesota and Terry at Iowa State. Basketball? You got me. Bison Kent: I suspect your answer will sift out of these lists.

When'd that change? Eh, no worries. It's just the Badger reporter. We still have our guy in Grand Forks.

That'd all be him.

I thought you had to lift the cap and look down the pump down opening on a septic tank in Sterns County to see that.

No, no, no! Get with the program "NDSU grad." Ol' "1234" says those two (a AAA and the AA player of the year) are "leftovers" compared to a guy who played, what was it, A or 9-man. Get with the program and keep with the same spin.