ArchyAlum11

Well I was watching the game on NCHC.tv so I can't speak to the start of the Game, but I don't think I heard "Fighting Hawks" once by the commentator or the announcer in the arena... wonder why that is... Oh yes and... SIOUX YEA YEA!

Funding has been an issue for MNSCU in the past, mostly because Lobbying efforts by the U of M, but that is starting to change now, MNSU recently got a bigger budget, as well as a major renovation to the Verizon Wireless Center, and a New Clinical Sciences building. The University has some good momentum going which they can capitalize on hopefully and make a move to D1, but at this point I guess we have to wait and see.

If Mankato ( Or saint cloud for that matter) were to move up to D1 it would likely get a lot attention in the twin cities, especially seeing as goofer sports are mostly an abject joke across the board these days, as well as the fact that it would mean that Minnesota would have two D1 schools for the first time, and as we are all aware minneostans don't tend to show up for losers, one only needs to look at the decline of gopher hockey to see that. Ff we take that approach why was MVFC or Big Sky interested in Adding UND? Its an isolated metro area with only about 100,000 people, it was new to D-1 and Hockey was (and still is) the school's major sport. Sound at all like Mankato? The Mankato metro area is about a 100,000 people with a school that hypothetically would be new to D1 but has had good D2 success and their major sport is D1 hockey. I think a lot would depend on what happens if the Power Five Conferences decide to form their own sub Division. However I don't see Mankato as a stretch for either MFVC or Big Sky, The School would actually be tied for 2nd interms of size in MVFC, it would be middle of the pack in Big sky. As far as metro area's go it would be on the same level as UND, Bozeman or Missoula, the only major Obstacle they need to overcome, is getting a new football stadium, which is starting to be talked about more seriously now that the Renovation to the hockey arena are complete. So I'm not sure how kato as a market is any worse than most of the other MVFC or even many of the Big Sky venue's.

A little at first maybe, but I think that they realize that not going into the NCHC gave them the chance to get a bit more exposure and build up their program, also the costs to be in NCHC.

MNSU won't dump football as it is easily the next most popular sport next to hockey, if MNSU decided to go D1 it will be awhile before they made the move, also I would think that MVFC or BigSky would be interested in breaking into Minnesota as market, esspeically since gopher sports are pretty much across the board terrible these days.

They won't the BigTen has stopped Scheduling games with FCS opponents, but I think it would be good for the state, the gophers have to great a sense of entitlement when it comes to in state support.

The U has one of the most powerful "education" lobbies in the Minnesota State Government, they do everything they can to keep the state colleges as a disadvantage, its part of the reason that the State Universities are woefully under funded while the U continues to get just about everything it asks for, like a sports village.

It would be interesting, assuming the evil Maroon and Gold empire doesn't squash it, never underestimate the lobbying power of that behemoth. But I think UND would win the battles more often than not early on, UND has the better facilities and a more established team in D1 but in 10 years who knows, could make for a good rivalry for the two schools, especially if the NCHC can manage to poach the Mav's from the WCHA. Hypothetically they would be competing against each other in every sport not too mention the schools are a similar size and Mankato and Grand Forks are similar in size as well.

I would agree to an extent with you football has definitely been undervalued, I think part of that is that UND didn't go D-1 with NDSU, but at this point that is a mute point. Up until this year UND football hasn't exactly been too good, I was going to school at UND during the last years of D2 and the Transition, I remember good sized crowds showing up to watch UND trample all over its other D2 opponents, however once D1 transition happened and we weren't stomping all over our opponents anymore interest dropped off, questionable coaching didn't help either. However now that UND has a good coach and is starting to get some traction in the win department I think the community will start to return, a post season appearance would have helped but UND was robbed of that. Also if anyone knows anyone who is filthy rich A new stadium on campus probably would be a big boost to recruiting and fan interest as well as creating an awesome atmosphere.

I work down at Minnesota State University, Mankato I have heard some rumors going around that they are quietly investigating going D-1. I have heard that they have done this before and decided not to move up. However their football and basketball program have had some real success in the past few years and they did put forward a plan very recently for a complete overhaul of the outdoor sports facilities that included a new football stadium with upgraded press facilities and a practice dome, so I'm thinking their could be some substance to this rumor. Any thoughts on how a D-1 FCS program in Mankato would affect UND and FCS if it turns out to be more than just a rumor?

I think you might be exaggerating a little bit, I think we all acknowledge that hypothetically NDSU would require a gift on the level of what was received by Penn State or ASU received. However I think you may be underestimating how quickly they could become competitive. All it would take is the right coaching staff and a willingness to recruit the right players. Look at what Mike Hastings has been able to do for the program at Mankato in just a few years, he managed to take program that was decent but under exposed due to playing in the hands down toughest conference in college hockey, and turned it into a competitive program. Yes part of there higher ranking is in part due to being in a bit more watered down conference, but keep in mind they have been getting wins against NCHC teams (not this year, wow talk about a flat start), he has done it by recruiting the right players who will stay 3 to 4 years, are team players and have enough skill to be competitive. If you get the right coaching staff with a solid plan NDSU (or UNLV since they are more likely to add hockey in the near future) could have a competitive a decent team quickly and a competitive program in a few years.

Kato's fan-base has grown a lot too, their arena has undergone a major renovation too, its a much better venue now.

I would love to see them add women hockey, as someone with a niece who is an aspiring hockey player I would love to see the sport continue to grow for women as well, but for god sake can we just let them check like the guys!?

Title nine would make adding hockey difficult and I doubt they would add womens hockey in addition to mens hockey, I think ASU added womens rowing to meet title nine, i guess they though it had less overhead.

That would Be a good idea, the Elite of the East vs the Elite of the West. Maybe make it a multi league invitational based of preseason polls or something. Shoot you could even do it in Vegas and you'd probably get a high attendance.

Oddly enough NDSU's men's club team isn't that great*, but they have a really good women's club program. *that was when I looked into them about 2 years ago, things may have changed since then.

Really... does adding a verb in front of hawks suddenly make it a great new nickname?

I think they would just be happy that people remembered chicken hawk.

Wait i have done it, I have single handedly saved the fighting hawks name with the most awesome mascot we could hope for.

Hear is one of the articles which is suggesting that UNLV will soon be joining the D1 hockey club, http://mayorsmanor.com/2015/12/more-hockey-in-vegas-unlv-looking-to-go-division-1/

That is part of the reason the could do well, People will travel to watch there team play there, Their is abundance of cheap flights to Vegas, and an abundance of good hotel deals at diffrent levels. Plus can anyone say $5.00 Lobster Dog?

I submitted raiders for a similar reason a lot of good aviation potential.