AJS

Is that type of scenario that far-fetched? Pac-12 loses almost all of their members and are replaced by a large majority of the MW and SMU. Who backfills the MW? Would the Dakota 4, Montana schools be completely out of the realm of a possibility? If the MW needed to say backfill 8 spots? Is the biggest issue that there's really nowhere for Pac-12 schools to go. I've read the Big-12 wants to get to 14. Would they change that to 16 if they could grab 3 Pac-12 schools? Would the BIG reconsider expansion if they could get Oregon / Washington at a discount?

I want to discuss the Dakota 4 in relation to moving to a G5 league. This would not be Football only, but instead an all-sports invite. NDSU: Need to go with the most to gain. They've maxed out at the FCS level. Interest over the past few years is on a downward trajectory. They need a change or there's no reason to believe things will turn around (fan excitement standpoint). SDSU: Based on their current standing, by far the most to lose. Highly successful but have room to grow. Moving from the Summit would be a huge blow to M/W Basketball. To me the move doesn't make sense. UND: They don't have much to lose. Do have the highest athletic budget of the Dakota 4. Painful reminder of the mistake of not moving to D1 at the time of the XDSU's. USD: Edited: I don't know enough to speculate. I would think the SL tournament would be a huge reason to not go for them as well. Given each schools location, I do feel sticking together and being united is key. Could the other three kind of in a way block NDSU from going? They would need a travel partner for MW, if the other three schools said no, they'd be essentially stuck, right?

USD / UND seem to be in similar spots when it comes to conference realignment and at least public perception. They aren't discussed at all. In relation to SDSU, what's Coyote Nations general feeling on this? Nervous? I'm interested in it.

Seems to be the conventional wisdom. As I have recently, let’s take NDSU out the conversation. One thing that is rarely brought up is the Summit League BBall tournament. If an all sport MW invite came, not only the simple question of how would SDSU afford it, but why would they give up what they have for M/W BBall?

Having two of your nine schools being Wash / Oregon State is an issue. How you laid it out makes the most sense to me. It's a brutal business. If you're making decisions on what's best for you (i.e. your conference / schools), is to essentially eliminate one of the P5 conferences.

Pac-12 currently at 9 schools. What's the general consensus out there? If UConn gets the 14th Big-12 spot than the Pac-12 could be ok? Hypothetical change SDSU for Colorado wouldn't be bad. If Arizona gets that 14th spot, how in trouble in the Pac-12? Would Boise State be the next up? That would seem disastrous for the Pac-12. Essentially adding another Wazzu or Oregon State.

Newest UND Hockey Podcast is out. Part of the focus was on potential recruits to watch. When Schlossman talks recruiting, you always try to read between the lines. Does he know more than he's letting on. Recently, when Zmolek entered the portal, the amount of time they spent talking about him made you wonder. Two names were mentioned that I got the same type of feeling, made me wonder if they know something more. Caleb Heil (G) and Masun Fleece (F). Nothing else stuck out to me, except there was zero mention of Hensler.

There are a few GPL posters who are close to USD fan forum level of delusional. Not to the USD fan forum level of course, but kind of close.

Although Mooney was never going to play Cooley, the idea that Mooney was going to commit to another school while Cooley was on roster really seemed unlikely to me. I would still have them as favorites, but this would have to open things up a bit, you'd think.

Looks like Student Orientation week just took place. Anyone hear how the preliminary numbers are looking?

Lots of good information. 3 FM NTDP guys. Harvard entering the equation for one of them definitely throws a wrench into it. Like you said @stoneySIOUX, can't blame him if that person goes that route. Lindberg doing a late visit to Minnesota isn't ideal Mooney / Hensler. This might seem like moving the goal posts a bit. The last time I was genuinely shocked with a commitment was Boeser. These two would be into that category. Although I wasn't shocked about Emery, it did give me the "maybe it can happen" feeling with Hensler. IF Mooney would commit to UND over Minnesota, that's almost more than I could process. Frank @siouxforce19 nailed it, Colin Frank. I would say one of the highest sought after uncommitted '06's. This one is a complete shot in the dark from me.

Less than a week away, let's get some predictions. How many players that are eligible to commit August 1st does UND land over the next year (Late '06 / '07 guys)? They got 5 last year that was in that group. Here's my guess. I think they get 7. I'm feeling a bit bullish with the Emery commit. Hensler Laurila Lindberg O'Neill Spehar Murphy Frank

This team does have a lot of “knowns”, still some questions, but a higher level of comfort than most years. With that in mind, this season to me boils down to as always staying healthy in key spots, but also have 3 or 4 guys completely exceed (from a fan standpoint) expectations / take their game to the next level. That could be a guy like Pedigo playing at an All-Conference level. Fort / Buckner solidifying a Safety position and raising that up to a much higher level than last year. One of the transfers being a true starter level talent on the D-Line. A RS Freshman jumping up the depth chart. I think they are that close to taking that next step.

I'm sure he did, but he also signed a FA deal with Dallas.

He is going to Michigan State, not Mankato.

Huge commitment. For multiple reasons. Most importantly from a talent standpoint, potential Top 2 round pick in next years draft. Winning a recruiting battle with two BIG Ten teams, for an NTDP guy, right before the "new" recruiting season kicks off. This one feels very important. Is this the start of a wave that we've seen at MN, BU, MI, BC the last couple years? We'll see. I'm with the group where this wouldn't change the Hensler conversation. Like @siouxforce19 said, you make room. Two things would happen, first, mid-season everything would be reevaluated. There is precedent set that says if need be, they'll bring in 9 D (Sanderson's FR year). If the Coaching staff thinks a player is valuable and needs to come in, they'll come in. The other direction, which is harsher is someone might get the conversation that they can still come in, but their $ might be minimal, PT will be hard to come by. That would be either a current recruit (1 really sticks out) or 2, at the end of the season, with a current player. Right now, you have the big $ locks for next years defensive class being Strathmann and Emery. McInnis being wait and see (injury plagued first year) but could take off. Jubenvil being low $ but maxed out of Junior years. Ausmus going to the BCHL would seem to be a guy who would be playing another year of Juniors past this next year.

All three have visited, all three will get offers. Unless you know something, i can’t follow the logic that someone whose start date is at the earliest two years away would be looking at the current roster when deciding on the school. Or are you saying UND won’t offer any Dman from this class? @brianvf I think they go 3-3 on the FM guys

Is the Alston payments a game changer? That’s yet to be seen, I believe this potentially is. My question is when could the Coaches discuss this with recruits? Not until basically last weekend? A month ago? Really interested in the recruiting landscape for Football this second half of the summer. Up until this point I believe UND has been 0-3 for recruits with competing offers that have chosen NDSU. All before the news broke of the Alston payment. My question being were they able to discuss before it went public.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/bison-have-no-immediate-plans-to-follow-unds-nearly-1-million-alston-payments?auth0Authentication=true

I'm also more interested in the 2nd Dakota team that will / wants to move up. What does SDSU have? (1) Proved in on the Field / Court. (2) Moved up / connected at the hip with NDSU. I know @The Sicatoka has done a great job of showing different financials. SDSU seems to be a distant 3rd in readiness when it comes to that. One thing we can all agree on is UND cannot be left behind this time. I'm looking at the campus / facility updates that are being / have been made. From a "hope" standpoint, the 701 Award. That's a big deal. That gave me a big boost of confidence that UND is doing things in the background to position itself. Now, it's time for the Football / Basketball teams to take that next step.