Jump to content
SiouxSports.com Forum

The Sicatoka

Moderators
  • Posts

    37,111
  • Joined

  • Days Won

    578

Everything posted by The Sicatoka

  1. My point is money. It is what is really driving all of this conversation. NDSU is not happy with underfunded programs watering down DII. Fair enough. But the "Ohio States" (I'll pick them as an example) can't be happy about seeing the profit sharing check (from BB television primarily) keep getting smaller as low-budget programs keep popping up and taking a cut of the pie. NDSU made a move. What prevents the "Ohio States" from making a move to protect their fiscal positions? Now, let me make an argument why UND should go DI: Teams playing in hockey's Frozen Four get a cut of the profits .... if you are a DI in all sports. How much money did UND lose out on in 1997, 2000, and 2001?
  2. Come on, any real Gopher fan would cheer for UND in the early west semi. Why? 1. WCHA (WCHA RS4 defeats CCHA RS champs? That helps the league in the future.) 2. Wouldn't they take more joy in ending the Sioux season versus Ferris' season? If they were brave and strong, they'd cheer for the Sioux on Friday.
  3. Try looking here for starters: http://www.ncaasports.com/icehockey/mens/story/6263459 More info will probably come as the week moves along.
  4. A bunch of schools join a division when they only have athletic budgets that are 20% of some of that division's powerhouses. The powerhouses don't like what they are seeing happening to their division. How long are they going to be bled, by folks spending 1/5 of what they are, on athletics? Now, am I talking about UM-Crookston joining DII (compared to NDSU) or Ohio State ($80 million on athletics) looking at the influx of comparatively small schools to DI? The big DIs are taking notice. That's what those NCAA articles show.
  5. bisonguy: I know the date. I was doing some looking though what the NCAA was up to. Those were some eyecatching words no matter the date. My conclusion after reading some past issues of NCAA news? The NCAA has no idea what it is doing.
  6. If UMD is fake, I don't want to see real.
  7. The current rule is this: If a school hosting a regional is in the tournament, they play at that regional site. That's why Minnesota will play at Mariucci, that's why Michigan will play at Yost. BU is a host somewhere this year. They aren't hosting in their barn however, but they will play in the regional that they are hosting.
  8. Some interesting words from NCAA press releases: May 25, 2001 July 24, 2001
  9. I don't have all the numbers but I'll work from your list. (You have to love Friday afternoon and a search engine. ) ~500 million on flood protection: The Army Corps says about 2/3 of that number for both GF and EGF. GF and EGF pick up significant chunks of that with local dollars. 100+ million (plus attendant costs to the city improving infrastructure of several million more) on the Ralph: The Ralph was $104 million (and change) of private donation dollars. Yes, the city put in some infrastructure, but not much. It sits on pre-existing streets in a pre-developed area. A recent GF Herald article stated that REA brings $17,000+ per month in sales tax revenue to GF. Nearly 100 million on the Alerus: The Alerus ended up at about 75% of the number you cite. What's interesting here? Sales tax revenue (see The Ralph above) goes to pay this off. 11 million dollar publicly-financed hotel: No, CANAD would build the hotel. Private dollars. Yes, they'd get a lease on the land similar to that of NDSU to Fargo for the land to build FargoDome on, plus some tax breaks. 20+ million (if the GFH gets what they want) on an indoor waterpark: From The Herald: "To me, the only acceptable one is the $7 million one because that's the only one we can afford and the only one that will pass (a vote of the people)," (GF city) commissioner Bill Hutchison said. None has been decided on. GF lost their water park to the 1997 flood. A new arena (7 million): Again, privately financed by REA. No taxpayer dollars. Dome over Memorial: Dome is way too strong of a word. Sports bubble, and it would just cover the turf and track so they could be used all year. $1 million on new turf at Memorial: Did UND know the Aurora/Alerus would ever pass and be built? Your number for REA max is about 4000 too high. They only got 13500 in for KU hoops. Old REA is 31 years old and you can see through the exterior wall in some spots (seriously, see 'rust' above). There is talk (first link in thread) of bringing it down. Hyslop is 80+ years old. UND has found a way to update its athletic facilities without being a strain on the State or city of GF. (Yes, GF built the Alerus Center. And Fargo built FargoDome. Call it a wash there.) I'm not sure what your concern is. And at the risk of repeating myself, the rational explanation follows Fargo's explanation for building FargoDome: If you build it they will come. Right? The knock on GF has always been "nothing to do up there." Well, now there's something to do there. The chances for getting new business and industry (non-service sector employment) improves. That is also part of the "build FargoDome" rationale, yes? Why shouldn't GF it a shot?
  10. Roger Thomas said what he said. That's the first thing I've heard any UND official say that wasn't strictly "stay DII." It's worth noting. Does it mean anything? Like I've said, it should be an interesting summer. The BSC is looking at possible expansion. You're reading into that. And I never said "NDSU will not." I'd give them a chance, but others have better chances. (It's travel that is the sticking point.) Idaho may have solved the current problem, but the NCAA is looking at defining a home game more closely to prevent Wyoming from playing a home game in Memphis again. This would most likely affect Idaho's plan as well.
  11. tony: Your questions are more than fair. First, GF (city) is 49,300+ people alone (2000 census). That times your "$25k" and that's about $1.25 billion dollars. Are you sure you have the right numbers? The rational explanation follows Fargo's explanation for building FargoDome: If you build it they will come. Right? The knock on GF has always been "nothing to do up there." Well, now there's something to do there. The chances for getting new business and industry improves. That is also part of the "build FargoDome" rationale, yes? Why not give it a shot? The Hyslop (north half) was built in the 1920s. I'm sure you've been in it. It has its problems. The 1997 flood, the June "flashflood" (same one put 12' of water in FargoDome), and general wear has cause some issues with the old REA. (Whoever came up with the idea of creating a building with an exterior designed to rust?) It sounds like UND wants to bring old REA down and use the space for something else. (Past Herald story.) Regarding seats and the city: Alerus 13500, REA 11406, so, no, you can only seat about half of Grand Forks. The other half, and EGF, and everyone else, has to stand. Remember, Alerus is the city's, not UND's. Hyslop holds 5000. Old REA held 6067. Being a little tongue in cheek, but from the news report "no taxpayer dollar will be harmed in the making of a new arena." REA must have the funds or they wouldn't offer. "Hey, I think that we've got enough infrastructure now?" --- When has Fargo ever said that? Oops, April of 2000. Sorry.
  12. I hope they can set that "taste" aside and close the season in the manner that I would choose. No matter how they close the season, however, I hope they use that "taste" over the summer as a motivator to make things right next year. Adversity happens. I'm interested in seeing how it is responded to.
  13. Let me ponder aloud (sort of) some aspects to this: First, going any smaller than the current Hyslop is not a good idea in my opinion. However, they can't go too much bigger or the "why not play at Alerus?" question comes into play. Solution? About 5000 seats. Not all have to be fixed seating. Why not have some "mobile seating" that could be shared with the Olympic hockey rink? Going to the REA site offers built-in televising capabilities. You can use the existing control rooms and up-links. All you have to do is set cameras and run the cables. That matters. Why? Broadcast rights equal revenues. Another aspect of going to the REA site: Beer, and that also equals revenues. (Remember, positive revenues from REA go back to UND. Remember the check for womens hockey last fall?) The Ralph has the best training facilities around. If you want to grow the BB/VB programs (nodakvindy mentioned "DI potential") access to those facilities is key. With the size of those facilities, 20-some hoopsters and a dozen volleyballers isn't going to make much of a difference in equipment availability. And, last time I looked, there is still "undesignated space" that could be made into training areas in the ice level of REA. Is there an indoor running track around the Olympic rink right now? Will there be? There's another training facility. Who knows why types of training facilities (or athletic office space) may also be planned for such an expansion. The ice in the main arena is a problem right now. Let's get that primary problem fixed. Then let's see what putting a court on and off it will do. Still, I see the Kohl Center model and I don't like what it's doing for Wisconsin. So .... Play the majority of the BB games in the new facility. (I like "full houses.") The coaches like to play where they practice. Let them. Part of the problem with REA right now for the BB teams is it doesn't feel like "home" when they play there. Getting them more time in "the facility," even if its just using the training spaces, even if most games are played in a new arena, will make the main arena floor seem more like home. Also, wouldn't you bring the current Hyslop floor to the new arena? I'd guess you'd use that in the main REA arena for games played in there as well. (I know coaches aren't fond of the current REA court.) Other thoughts?
  14. Not to be too much of a downer here, but how effective is a guy who has been out for two months going to be in the playoffs? I can't imagine, considering the nature of his ailment, that he is in game shape.
  15. Are we sure who the WCHA ROY is. From HobeyBaker.com (as of the time of this posting):
  16. I agree. Building it any smaller than Hyslop doesn't make sense.
  17. Well here's a new twist to the whole conversation: UND eyes 'Ralph' expansion Highlights (from the GF Herald): - $7 million basketball/volleyball venue attached to the west side of Engelstad Arena's Olympic-size ice sheet building - NDSBHE gave the go-ahead to UND administration to negotiate with REA - 3,200-seat capacity for basketball game days; options could allow for seating up to 4,000 - No state money is needed for the project, financing would be handled by REA - Kupchella told the board that it's his understanding if men's and women's basketball moved to Ralph Engelstad Arena and the proposed expansion, most of their games would be played in the large 12,000-seat hockey arena (not sure how much I like that) The article includes discussion on options for Hyslop if this were to happen. I guess a wellness center just north of REA makes a little more sense now.
  18. The Sicatoka

    Pairwise

    Simple things at this point: - cheer for those ahead of UND in the PWR to win (it's tough to catch people in PWR unless you win) Closer to home, I'd actually like to see Minnesota beat MSU-Mankato and then have MSU-Mankato lose to UMD in the third place game (on short rest, assuming CC beats UMD). Look at the PWR. That would maybe set MSU-M below UND (rather than a tie).
  19. The 16 teams are: - six conference tournament winners (WCHA, CCHA, ECAC, HEA, MAAC, CHA) get auto-bids - the ten highest ranked teams in the Pairwise Rankings that do not have autobids
  20. Or Alabama-Huntsville.
  21. Maybe we'll just agree to disagree on this: Was it inevitable versus don't you try one more time. RT has given the signal that DII may make the move to "tip the balance" of UND's mindset (see above). Believe it or not, that would probably work more in NDSU's favor. I know Bison fans don't want to hear this, but UND would probably be a better DI "travel partner" for NDSU (versus SDSU). Logistics in and out of Grand Forks are better than those in Brookings (having to go through Sioux Falls). That matters to outside conferences. Being able to show outside conferences certain facilities in Grand Forks versus Brookings would matter as well. Conference? Who knows. Maybe Big Sky wants to go to 12 teams so it could split east/west. All we are doing is speculating. Based on articles in papers however, BSC seems interested in seeing if the NCAA is going to push Idaho back down to IAA (because of FB attendance criteria). They also seemed more interested in UCD (because of SacSt). UNC would be logical as would Southern Utah, based on geography (maybe not logistics). I know the BSC didn't flat out say "no" to NDSU and SDSU but they told them to "explore other options." That, to me, almost reads as a polite way of saying the same thing. Bison Kent: If I were to guess, I'd guess that the further west the current BSC member is the more against "eastern" (meaning Dakotas) expansion the school is. And before anyone jumps on me with all of this, yes, I'm still terrified of the vast unknown of money/costs.
  22. Consider it an attempt to "embrace diversity" if it makes you feel better.
  23. Playing hooky today? Careful, someone may tell the truant officer at school.
  24. Those remarks could also be spun (as you are spinning) as, "We hope that DII realizes what it is doing to itself and stops. We'll point it out one last time and try to convince them to stop." Spinning that as lack of leadership would be just as easy as spinning NDSU's approach as being quitters (on a long, past positive relationship) when they don't get their way. I'm tired of spin. You chose to ignore the Thomas statement that is the first sign of softening on the issue by any official of UND, namely, "But it (further reductions) also might tip the balance because we're surrounded by the schools that are looking at Division I-AA football" When he says "tip the balance" what do you think he means? What is dishonorable about making an attempt to salvage something that has worked in the past? Back to the "diplomacy" analogy, don't you keep talking and trying until it is rock-solid sure that nothing else will work? Until a vote happens it's not inevitable. UND should be saddened (not shocked because of history) if it happens, because they tried to make another case and no one listened. It's not certain until the vote happens. (However, I'd bet the same way you'd bet. I hope you're not surprised.) Claiming UND's leadership "scuttled" the effort is spin. Do you believe a DI(AA) NCC was realistic, UND taking the position they did or not? The enthusiastic, fond of the NCC and nostalgia, side of me believes it would be possible and a good thing. The pragmatic side of me crashes me to reality, namely because .... Most of the NCC just can not afford a move to DIAA. USD took its stance, without having DI hockey, because of budget concerns. (Yes, SDSU took a different stance.) Augustana? See USD. Minnesota (the state) is running a $4,200,000,000.00 budget deficit and is cutting higher ed funding. Where can SCSU, MSU-Mankato, and UM-Duluth find more revenue to fund it? And with Creighton in Omaha and UN-Lincoln just 60 miles away, would the state of Nebraska fund it for UN-Omaha? UNO made statements about going to the MIAC (DII) rather than going IAA. A "best scenario" from the beginning would have been UNC, NDSU, SDSU, USD, and UND. That's five, and five does not a new conference make. What would be your solution?
  25. St. PAUL, Thief River FALLS, it'd be an easy mis-hear off the tube. Engelstad is a former UND goaltender and UND graduate ('54) with a degree in business. http://www.ralphengelstadarena.com/ralph.html
×
×
  • Create New...