The Sicatoka

Dude. Nailed it. NCC 2.0

It all makes sense now ... the Big Ten Conference (BTC) formed the BTHC (Big Ten Hockey Conference). UND (and DU and UNO) have the NCHC. Well, as Jack Michaels said on KFGO this morning, ..."We're putting the band back together." -- Jake Blues This new "Summit" is the band being put back together (UND, NDSU, SDSU, USD, Omaha, a team in Colorado). It is going to be renamed the NCC, because about half the members are already in the (... wait for it ...) NCHC.

" ... a-couple-thirteen-fourteen ... " " ... fifteen, it was actually thirteen but fifteen sounds like more than fourteen ... " OK, I'm done channeling Common Man on KFAN.

Allow me a simple posit: Look at the MAC. Yes, the G5 FBS Mid-America Conference. Those schools have nothing on UND, NDSU, SDSU, USD, Montana, Montana State, Idaho. A MAC type conference is missing in the west. It used to be the WAC, before WAC football died.

That honestly exists today. Most folks call it the "G5". P5: Big Ten, ACC, SEC, Big Twelve, PAC-12 G5: MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, C-USA, AAC, WAC

What folks forget is that the MAC is a DI FBS conference. Somehow*. *Yes, yes, I know we have some MAC fans (from NCHC hockey schools WMU and Miami) that lurk here. Sorry guys, it had to be said.

And now we cut live to Mafia shortly after this last post ...

Summit Hockey? No. ... Not until NDSU adds hockey. (The sound you just heard was heads in Fargo exploding. ) Merging the conference offices of the NCHC and the Summit to save expenses (staff, office space, etc.)? Wouldn't be surprised to see it happen down the road. However, first the MVFC has to approve adding member number ELEVEN tomorrow. Eleven is not a great number for a FB only conference.

Two. Five. Eleven. Eight. This team is right about where someone who knows what those numbers are rationally expected.

OK, I'll bite. Eleven is unworkable. Who is leaving in 2020: YSU or Missouri State. That's the only way this makes sense for the MVFC. And even then ten is bad. Are both going? That'd make nine, a much better number for football conferences.

Same question for the MFVC: The eastern members weren't happy about adding western (NDSU, SDSU) schools the last time around. The current MVFC: Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Youngstown State, Western Illinois NDSU, SDSU, USD, Northern Iowa UNI will be looking at a lot of trips to the I-29 corridor where Youngstown won't be looking at as many is my best guess. That may raise a Panther's ire.

I'm really surprised the Indiana schools (IPFW and IUPUI) went for this ... or did they, meaning, school presidents vote on admitting new members and they weren't happy about adding "western" (NDSU, SDSU) schools the last time around. Did the Indianas get out-voted by the western contingent? The current Summit: WIU, USD, SDSU, ORU, Omaha, NDSU, IPFW, IUPUI, Denver.

There'd better be agreements about membership upon arrival (and for a number of years after) ala what Idaho had with the BSC when they rejoined.

This just in: The Summit League is calling a Friday press conference. Reports are that they'll be renaming themselves the ... North Central Conference 2.0

So you haven't seen the "gender neutral" rest rooms in A. Glenn Hill Hall at NDSU? They're right across from the traditional mens and womens rest rooms. Not kidding.

And then the P&I years come and it's $30+ million annually.

Kennedy tried to put the issue to rest. He had to or the buzz would be an ongoing distraction. The Legislature is resurrecting it.

Seems the costs of college athletics is catching up with more than we knew. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-01-04/college-football-s-top-teams-are-built-on-crippling-debt Yes, you read that. Cal's budget deficit is roughly our entire budget. They run 30 programs. They are looking at cutting.

Duluth was dumping it toward Ausmus this weekend.

I believe UND sports not called football, mens hockey, basketball, or volleyball should be concerned. I'm not sure what to think about womens hockey. I don't believe there is any sort of "Ralph mandate" but I do know it's an easy match for mens hockey.

Charley got a sweet job that doesn't involve getting home close to midnight most nights.

How soon we forget what Stetcher, Ladue, and Thompson looked like as freshmen. Johnson, Peski, and Poolman the younger, will be fine. Poolman the younger is 21 so you can see it's slowing down for him game by game; Johnson and Peski are showing progress.

Honestly, Kennedy is playing this like a politician. He needed to not be "dictatorial" (as was accused of) Ed Schafer so he involved the IAC in the process. The IAC whiffed and Kennedy took their whiff recommendation. Plus, he said he's done. But now, if the State cuts, mandating he take action that he never planned on, well, all blame shifts to Bismarck. He had to do it because the bosses told him to and the cuts are theirs, not his. Kennedy gets the wins in every direction: the IAC (a wing of the University Senate) got to feel included and hugged by Kennedy; Kennedy got to hand the ax to someone else.

No, I think they were bionic. "We can rebuild him, ... better, faster, stronger ... "