planet2county

Time to go to plan Z. http://www.theeagle.com/news/a_m/a-m-chancellor-merger-of-kingsville-and-corpus-christi-schools/article_e06d4350-ac3e-11e6-890c-b3dc62e921de.html

This article may been posted previously. It is from 2015. Among other things, it discusses out of conference scheduling issues for Big Sky teams. http://magicvalley.com/sports/local/troubles-looming-in-the-big-sky-conference/article_b7632335-3267-5aae-80c9-e8da9de552e8.html Carry on.

http://www.themonitor.com/sports/facing-new-challenges-wac-commissioner-hurd-remains-optimistic/article_ffe2d9c4-9457-11e6-91c0-e30721648a3d.html

NDSU grad and JohnboyND7 are accurate with their depictions. Concerned with changing landscape of college athletics in the area. Rumors of other schools in DAC exploring options. Their approach at the time was similar to UND. In 2005, DAC Presidents and AD's discussed whole conference moving up to D2.

My strategic thinking is based on reality and I know I have more insight to Minot State than you do. I also know the state of the Minot St. hockey program at the time of the discussions to D2. The consultants report for Simon Fraser should completed based on the time table given in April by the AD. The consultant is the same as used for Moorhead.

So Minot's move to D2 was just a ruse to get D1 hockey, brilliant. I sure that is based on you personal discussions with administration and boosters at the time of the move. So when are they going to make the announcement or are they waiting to develop an app for that?

Obviously, you do not have any real insight to the Minot situation. if you did, you would know the history the hockey community has with the State Fair board. You have no clue about the economic situation in Minot. Recent history has shown, long time rivalries can take a back seat to conference selection and movement.

The Arizona St. situation illustrates there are more considerations to operating in D1 than just announcing a move, even for a P5. It is highly improbable that Minot would go D1. Lack the needed sustained funding, would need a facility, and would need people with D1 experience to spearhead campaign. They would need old CCHA teams to break away from WCHA. Simon Fraser would have some unique hurdles of their own. Be careful what you wish for on western D1 expansion. It could result in Denver and CC leaving NCHC despite history with UND.

Here is an article regarding Duluth's approach. http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/3938212-how-duluths-plummeting-hockey-participation-turned-around Also, an article with Gretzky's thoughts http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/wayne-gretzky-interview-national-1.3800604?**************

Manitoba Bisons play Canadian rules in Canada West conference. They had a 7 overtime game last weekend. They draw around 2,000. BC high schools play American rules.

Badgers and Gophers likely to be in tourney. UMD has the best chance of the rest as of today. Bemidji, UND, and Ohio St. probably battling for 4-6. Depends on development of younger players. UND looks to have some verbals with potential coming in.

I think Morningside is happy where they are at. I think the schools below are happy where they are at also. 17,535: UW-Oshkosh at UW-Whitewater, 10/8/1617,327: St. Thomas at St. John's, 9/26/1516,514: St. Thomas at St. John's, 9/24/16 The Big Sky and Summit/MVFC are both good conferences. Each has its pro and cons.

Here is an article that was posted on the Idaho message board: http://pilotonline.com/ap/sports/taking-the-fcs-route-to-the-nfl-has-proven-to/article_552b1ddb-ed0a-5fd7-8adb-495e24fe33f4.html

Yes, Ralph took the initiative and funded that intiative.

Ask yourself where hockey would be without a multi-million dollar contribution.

If you advocate cutting programs, are you advocating the savings returns to the institutional side? Are you looking to redistribute a portion of the dollars? At what percentage? What will be the percentage doled out to each program remaining?

Some 2015-2016 Men's Hockey Avg. Attendance Alaska-Anchorage 1763, Mercyhurst 1283, Canisius 1092, Holy Cross 1060, Niagara 892, Robert Morris 851

If it happens, let us know.

I appreciate that. Participation in sports is trending lower in areas along with attendance at high school and college by younger adults. I just think the idea of redistributing savings to other programs, isn't going to be a magical solution. If Idaho had real financial commitment to their football program they would continue to be FBS. It easy to point fingers at adminstration. Somehow, I do not think OSU football boosters always needs the right administration to make things happen.

There is also more cost, so it is relative. It is also one thing to project and another to have money in hand. Also, I would be disappointed if football didn't have a large number of boosters based on the number of participants and the number of years it has been played. I am also smart enough to know football isn't going be chopped anytime soon. I enjoy UND football. But I doubt when sports were introduced at UND in the early years, they were projecting national championships. I also see what is going around at all levels of college sports, sometimes egos, presumed status are drivers in athletic decisions and financials are an afterthought.

So are you basing financials on NDSU and Montana? Where are they at now? I am strictly talking financials? What is it going cost to get there? Are commitments from boosters in place?

What are the numbers for football? Have they made money or lost money? Have contributions covered the cost of moving up? What is the realistic top end financially for football based on other programs? To give you an idea on volleyball, Minnesota played in Wisconsin to a sold out crowd of about 5,400. Top end at Nebraska is 10,0000.

I remember when the U of Minnesota had separate departments for men's and women's athletics. The argument for merging is that it would enhance the football program. Sometimes things do not work like we expect them to. The new football stadium was the next big thing to push Gopher football to the top. I guess now it is going to be the new practice facility. For info purposes, I remember the boathouse ordeal at the U of M. The estimated cost was 4.6 million.

I am male and will be following women's hockey game tonight. I wish the coaching staff and players well. One of the best hockey games I have ever seen was the Women's World Cup Final between US and Canada. I have been fortunate enough to attend Men's Final 4, Women's Final 4, WCHA Final 5, US Junior "A" Finals, US Junior "B" Finals, Men's World Cup Semi-Finals with Finland and USA, WHL playoffs, and NHL games in Colorado, Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg. I was at the Holy Cross game, six rows up from where the puck sat in the crease and have saw Jake spike the eye. I have sat through plenty of men's clutch and grab snooze fests. I appreciate the differences and enjoy good competitive matches in all sporting events.

I do not know about that. Some Texas high school football teams may have a bigger budget than UND. Now whether you think that is good or not, that is up to each individual. I just don't know if if the projected financial upside to some legacy sports is as high as some think and needs to be examined.