The Sicatoka

They're all just something the rest of the world sleeps over during transcontinental flights.

The only WAC or BSC schools with higher rated academics than UND? Cal-Davis, Denver, Idaho.

If Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, and Portland State are mentioned first, and then Weber State, Sac State, and Northern Arizona mentioned as "middle class", how do Idaho State, Eastern Washington, Southern Utah, and Northern Colorado feel about now? Ouch. Academics matter.

Idaho has not averaged 15000 for the last three seasons (and five of the last six). You (supposedly) have to average 15000 (tickets sold or actual attendance) once every two years on a rolling basis. EMU has a 5000 year and then a 15001 year (because their rival comes ot their house) and then a 5000 year ... (repeat ad nauseum). The NCAA needs to be serious: Why does attendance matter, especially if it's unenforced? Shouldn't the issue be what's best for student-athletes? If the school can afford the scholarships, aren't more scholarship opportunities better for student-athletes? Attendance data: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Stats/Football/Attendance/index.html

The WAC has made themselves a fine mess. By taking the quick and easy solution (UTA, UTSA, TSU, DU, SU) without a plan for down the road the WAC has put themselves in a worse position than they were when Nevada, Hawaii, Frenso and SJSU bolted on them. The WAC is lacking a true "core" to the conference. They're playing "Go Fish!" to find new members but not looking in their hand before calling out a card. They may get the card but it won't match what they have. What they are getting is renters, not buyers, of a membership in their conference. That's not a formula for success. That's not building a core group to be the backbone of a conference. Trying to cobble together an eastern wing will only do one thing for the WAC: Two years from now, when those eastern schools finish transition from FCS to FBS they'll leave the WAC so as to not have to cross the Mississippi River for a game again. And the WAC will be just as screwed then as today, as two years ago. If the WAC has a clue they'll press the reset button and begin to establish a core of schools, schools that are buyers, not renters, even if it means swallowing some pride today. So, yes, I'd love UND to be in the WAC, but a WAC made up of buyers, not renters.

SRO tickets on the endzone catwalks. (Don't tell the fire marshall. )

The tweet in question used the words "football members". In the video report it just says "members". PS - Montana's announcement was removing the "interim" from their head coach's title and signing him to a two-year deal.

Speculation on that falls into one of two categories: - removing the "interim" from the title of their current head FB coach - preliminary findings report from the NCAA investigations into rape allegations surrounding the Montana FB team

The old rule was you had to have a 30,000 seat stadium. They changed the rule to "have to average 15,000 in attendance". Then they changed it to "average 15,000 one out of every two years". I'm not sure when Alerus was planned during all that, but I'm pretty sure the planning was done before the "15k average" rule came around.

The mods can't be everywhere and miss some things. This board can self-police pretty well when it needs to. Nothing wrong with that. I actually find it refreshing.

I don't mean to come off as a jerk about this, but honestly, how many of you recognize, by voice alone, Pat Sweeney, Dan Hammer, Tim Hennessy, Jack Michaels, or even Paul Ralston, Darin Looker, Jim Bollman, Tim O'Keefe, or Scott Swygman?

The WAC could become an Olympic sports (no FB) conference if conference members with FB could find homes for their programs (or survive as independents). The WAC? Make money? Oh, ... wait, ... were you serious? As it sits now, I suspect the biggest revenue source for the WAC will be exit fees paid over five years from schools like Nevada and Fresno State or maybe MBB tournament dollars.

NFC North.

The WAC could be stable if their leadership had a plan to achieve it, and not just stop-gap quick-fixes. The WAC has a few good things going for it still, like the exit fees that'll be coming in from some of the schools that bolted for the MWC will provide some nice cash over the next five years.

For NDSU (or SDSU) to do anything before their 8 years in Summit or MVFC is up would cost them $500k per conference. Yes, for NDSU to completely "jump ship" on both the Summit and MVFC before spending the full 8 years would cost them a total of $1,000,000.00. NDSU is through 4 of the 8 years. They 2016 season is the first season they could play outside the MVFC and not have to pay a buy-out. And if you ask NDSU fans at Bisonville, the end game for them is full membership in the Missouri Valley.

More about the MWC shunning Idaho and NMSU. http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/07/25/bmurphy/mountain_west_rules_out_adding_idaho_new_mexico_state_again

We cleared all this up earlier.

If you weren't familiar with what a "junk-punch" would feel like, ask the athletic departments in Las Cruses and Moscow. As of about two hours ago they're familiar.

Is Midco a full-time job for Hammer or will he still be on Valley News Live?

The new voice of UND Hockey on Midcontinent?

Could it be that we are losing Pat Sweeney but returning to ... Hammer Time! Given the nature of the new Midco deal, I wonder if Dan Hammer wouldn't do both hockey and football for TV. I'd take that in a minute.

That's the prayer in Missoula, Montana.

Khrushchev and Mao were "First Chairman" for their respective Central Committees.

The Montanas wanted UND because UND looks like them academically and athletically, and has many of the same long-range goals and aspirations.

{DING!} You are correct, sir. Note the school of athlete number three of the four: http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=45926&SPID=4116&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205429834&DB_OEM_ID=10100 Here's the WAC WIki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Athletic_Conference#Affiliate_members