AJS

There's one more move that should be done if we're looking at a complete restructuring. Goal. Cut through some of the BS, it's how do we fund Hockey and Football at the highest possible level, while being Title IX compliant. What needs to happen? Hockey. You need to be fully funded for scholarships (26), plus Alston, plus FCOA. You cannot go into a recruiting battle with anything less than a full scholarship (even if it's 0.90), when your competition will full scholarships. Football. Set yourself up for a potential FBS move down the line. Need to add 22, plus all the other expenses that come along with it. With the House Settlement and being able to go above 63, lead, start chipping away now. Be the first FCS school to go above 63. Next move? Cut M-Golf. Drop you to 14 sports (FCS minimum). You absorb those scholarships / $ into Hockey / Football. As you are also doing with M-Tennis. IF an FBS move becomes available down the line, you are in a much better position. Add two Women's sports at that time.

Think we found a winner if another Women's sport is needed down the road. 6 members / 4 meets a year. Cutting two sports is bad optics (even more-so when you're the only Dakota school that ever does it), but the "bad press" will pass. I think Chavez might have this one mapped out! I'm as surprised as anyone.

Talked myself into it, I’m back in on this move. Emphasizing my thought that it’s insane in the current landscape to have more than the minimum amount of required sports (even if it’s just one). Cut both, it’s clean. Redistribute the $ & scholarships to other programs. Hit reset. Hunt for a W sport to offset potential FBS move. It’s a great plan. We’ll see. Do I think this is likely from Bill Chavez? No.

I'm very pro getting to the minimum number of required sports that NCAA requires to maintain. I didn't realize now with the cuts they are at 15 (7 M, 8 W). I thought they were at 14, so that does change things for me a bit. Long-term goal has to be if your remaining peer schools go FBS, UND does to. Adding one W's sport, seems manageable to make that happen. Still, cutting two programs over a million $ a year, is a really bad look. The athletic budget is 37 million dollars. Always UND, we'll see I guess if it pays off long-term. By that I mean, the dam breaks for the other Dakota schools, but I'm guessing they'll just raise the $ needed. Until then, another black eye for No $ U.

NDSU adding scholarships, SDSU has so many sports, USD, no worries. No $ U having to cut 2 programs over a million dollars. Awesome.

Following the House Settlement, yes (within roster limits of course). With UND cutting both its M / W Tennis programs, the slim odds of adding scholarships to FB just went down even further.

Didn’t just start this year, always been this way. Speaking of scholarships, FCS schools are no longer limited at 63. How about trying to raise it to 68 (adding 5 on the Women’s side as well). Gradually add a few every year. You’d think that would be an easy sell (compared to NIL). Lead, what an advantage that would be to have more scholarship $ than your peers. Not impossible that UND is the first.

Went back and started looking at commitment dates and comparing the #'s to last year. Spring game was a week earlier this year. Relatively similar at 8 last year vs 7 this year as of April 30th. By Mid-May 2026 they had 13. Nothing from Mid-May to Mid-June. Sort of two different recruiting seasons. We'll see if things pick up over the next few weeks. One criticism to the staff / incredibly jealous of a rival, but if you've been on twitter, you can't miss NDSU's Official Visit graphics flooding your 'for you' page. All their current commits and top perspective recruits posting about it (guys that are high on UND's list as well). Weekends that start end of May, beginning of June. NDSU does such a good job at building hype, promoting themselves. I understand eventually, we'll see something from current commits but feels too passive. Not the same.

I like where this is heading. How about next year, add to the auction a Siamese Twins for a day with Chavez. Winner gets to jump right in the XXXL 3/4 Zip and Khakis with him.

I think the discourse has been pretty good on this topic. I understand the feeling people have of; I thought this was going to go a different direction. Those with that opinion, I think the feeling is, not that it's a bad direction, just surprised. Fun part is everything can change with one commit. You get Carels, that's a game changer (or any of the remaining Big 3). What if your next two commits are Carels and Fitzhenry (even if he's for 2027)? Different energy.

Always felt that two weeks after the completion of the season would seem to be what would feel right for an announcement. Nothing under a week. Not only would you want to take a few days to decompress, plus visit, still so early in this CHL to NCAA (maybe I’m off here), you wouldn’t want the perception this was a done deal all along.

Waiting for a @RhettRingers bomb in the committed recruits section!

I looked at the final NA Central Scouting ranking for reference. Filtering on WHL Forwards who are not committed (or who I don't think are). Being realistic about UND's chances with Q / OHL guys. Stopping at Cooper Williams (50), because they could have brought him in his next year if they felt he was ready. 20. Liam Ruck 23. Marcus Ruck 26. Chase Harrington 32. Mathis Preston 33. Beckett Hamilton 36. Zach Olsen 37. Tyus Sparks Looking to see if any of those 7-play college hockey next year.

New era. I don't disagree with all of your post, since you do need a mix, different roles and of course it's not about one player, it's just incredibly important to realize that everything changed last year. IMO, it's crazy to think that this 1st rounder + teams that win the championship is going to stay in the same trajectory it was the past 5 to 10 years.

One thing I have noticed this year compared to last, is from a F perspective, who are the McKenna, Martone, McQueen, Reschny type of guys? We all know the high-end Defensive players that the hockey world feel will be playing college next year. Was Belchetz the only one? Rucks? But are they really being talked about as likely to head to college? I follow UND recruiting fairly closely, but even now, really couldn't tell you who the big fish are in next years CHL to NCAA F class.

I agree. The draft position conversation is really bizarre. If you go 3 vs 8 or 12 vs 22 doesn't matter at all. Entry level contracts are all the same. Talk about bad advice if someone doesn't challenge themselves because they might get exposed and drop a handful of spots. You're going to get exposed eventually. I would think the goal would be to put the player in the best possible scenario to succeed as fast as possible in the NHL. *Goes without saying this is if a player has nothing to prove at their current level*

We’ll see. On one hand, I don’t know how I would expect him to answer, but sure doesn’t seem like he’s sold on leaving.

Schloss saying Belchetz name in a recent article is noteworthy. I do find it odd that Chyzyk doesn’t follow him.

He’s playing in Game 6 tonight. Whenever his season ends I would think he’d schedule something shortly after, but would find it odd to have something already scheduled when his team is still playing.

I believe in all of the components to building a team that will have success. There is a level of balancing classes, leadership, upperclassman. Goes without saying certain aspects are more fun when they commit. Preaching to myself patience.

I don’t either, but like @brianvf said, really need that last F spot to be elite. Someone they hope can play on the top line. Get that and next year’s F group should be excellent.

Might be going with Top 3 / Bottom 9 strategy.

Berry isn’t the coach anymore. That would have been a once valid concern.

Offers from NDSU & SDSU