The Sicatoka

John, UND puts out a release semesterly talking about student-athlete GPA by team (can't go by participant because of privacy). The NCAA rates each team of each school with an APR. That factors in graduation rates. You're a bright fellow; there are your leads; go and investigate.

To date, he has not broken any forum rules.

Here's some interesting data ... straight from UND's NCAA reports. 2018 (17 sports): Revenues: $28,656,183 Expenses: $27,455,093 2017 (21 sports): Revenues: $28,201,349 Expenses: $26,727,343 UND spent more money on fewer sports in 2018. I'll say it again: They spent more money. And on fewer sports. That's called "loading up". That's called shifting dollars to priorities.

You assume much. The actions were a realignment of priorities as much as anything. What you're witnessing is that WIH is no longer a priority, nor is swimming and diving, or baseball. You assume if money was raised it would've gone for WIH; no, it seems there are other priorities. That said, a 21 sport DI department was unsustainable. I have it directly from Phil Harmeson (then acting AD) that he said as much to all the coaches when the DI move was made. UND has realigned to 17 sports. (It would've been 16 had men's golf not been privately saved.) Strangely enough, NDSU has 16 sports*. I'd say UND's department has been re-prioritized and (hate the word) right-sized. *Strangely enough, 16 sports is the minimum requirement for FBS; it's 14 for FCS. Why didn't UND go all the way to 14 if it was as bad as some claim?

Doesn't that cut both ways?

If there was an ongoing issue, clearly Grand Forks media would cover it. That said ... Where's the Fargo media follow-up asking Mr. Robbins (and his NDSU HoF mother) to substantiate their "trusted staff member" claim and to assure us that the stimulant in question is something socially benign and not something far more insidious. There are some nasty things on the NCAA banned stimulants list. (And if you insist on going back to 24 month plus old news ...) You may now continue ... ahem ... shopping at Best Buy.

Clearly. Take out hockey's expense and you lose hockey's revenues. UND Hockey is revenue net positive (revenues > expenses) meaning it adds to the department coffers. What I find curious is I have UND's 2013-2018 NCAA fiscal reports. I can't find NDSU's out there for consumption; and, a source who's asked for NDSU's recently says they are slow in responding. (And I have a person who can confirm both claims if they so choose to reveal themselves here.)

Ouch. Looked right through that one.

Was it really USD 50, Omaha 6 at the half yesterday? Ahhh ... yup. 71-13 after 3. Yeesh ...

Recruiting a guy is a year plus process. Freund's been on the job maybe three months. To get an all-state level guy from Michigan is a pretty good coup.

I wonder if Freund's QB success at UND, and also being about the same height (6'0") was an influence.

Did we have more than that on Case? On Graetz? This QB from Michigan has the intangible: He seems to win (30-6 as a three-year HS starter). My guess as to why he didn't get more interest? 6'1". To that I say: Give Russell Wilson or Drew Brees a call.

Why might a former CFO of a Fortune 500 company, a guy who was rated one of America's Top CFOs, shear away some expenses? For a CFO the answers come down to: Expenses are too high or There are other intentions and priorities for those dollars. I've been at more than one company that has cut a product or division and remapped spending and used that opportunity to refocus and expand a more valuable asset.

Per UND's 2017 fiscal reporting to the NCAA, UND's men's hockey incurred operating expenses of $4,420,927 and had revenues of $5,173,599. (I have the a PDF of the report.) I'd say your estimates and assumptions are a wee tad bit off. Please return with valid data. Thank you.

You seem edgy. Too much caffeine?

Congratulations on the Clean Victory?

The very latest in recruiting tools ...

Did this Schuster name even appear "on the radar" with UND fans before this morning? Here's where gfhockey claims he knew.

How about kickoffs going 3 yards deep into the endzone.

About this Schuster fellow: There are some pretty solid FCS programs in that list. And yeah, Michigan State took a look.

Seems a specialist competition (punters, kickers) may be at hand ...

I'd take that right about now ...

I can't believe I'm about to type what I'm about to type ... I can't put it onto anyone in this junior class (with Smith as a long-shot). My best guess is Kierstad with the C; next would be JBD. And I could legitimately see Mark Senden with an A as a sophomore.

Sweet ... another winter storm rollin' on is and I'm not done moving the piles and drifts from the last.

FTFY.