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What? No way the conference goes to 11 members. It will be tweleve or nothing. I could possibly see the conference taking UND and UVSC at some point, but I'm not sold on this certainty that many of you seem to think that there are two additional spots in the conference. 10 is the optimum number for a basketball conference, and the conference needs to hold onto its members a lot better in the future than it has in the next decade in order to keep its autobid, so turmoil will probably be kept to a minimum. Maybe someone could explain the advantage of 12 over ten to me, as I'm really curious what the reason for expanding to twelve would be? I don't see the mo valley looking for twelve, and they are very stable, and could get almost any mid major they wanted into their conference. This is an honest question, I'm not mocking anybody this time.

Hey, thats great! So, how about those new facilities you're ready for too. Are those going to be coming from those same sources? Tickets and the cost of an education might be getting a little tougher to swallow soon according to your plan....

Thats kind of the problem there though. How did you draw that conclusion that it was that bad? I know its bad, you know its bad, but where is the cut off for being that bad, and being just good enough? How can you tell? What "legal" terms can you use to define "badness". Someone could say something about how being Irish was given to us by the english to offend us and its and insult, but I still stand with it, why don't african americans deal with this the same way". This is a tricky issue, but I don't understand how decisions like this could be left up to autonomous institutions. What if I went to podunk U in D-III right now, and slowly changed the curriculum to majors such as "White Studies" or "Adolf Hitler" or something like that, and had the schools mascot changed to the fighting Nazi's and a guy dressed as a swastika was running around at the basketball games. You're telling me that the NCAA doesn't have a right to intervene then? Or if they do, doesn't that give them a universal right to intervene with institutions names? You can't pick and choose the cases based on how offended you are by them, or by what many in this country would percieve to be common sense. It will be interesting to see how the court case turns out.

I just had a quick question on this debate. Say some college has an obviously offensive name, like fight n_ or something along those lines (not that UND's name is offensive, this is theoretical). What would be the process for getting the school to change its name? Would the NCAA have any jurisdiction over that situation? Or is the burden all on the individual school? I think the NCAA would be liable in court, so do you think they have jurisdiction over that? Just wanted to get your take on that.

Please Clayton, enlighten me to the source of the millions that are going to be flowing into UND soon, despite not being able to balance your budget in D-II. Explain these hard "concepts" Clayton. You must have a firm grasp of them to be able to both post a sacastic answer that had nothing to do with what I said, AND a personal insult insinuating that I'm idiot, and asking "why I'm concerned". Theres conceptual thinking if I've ever saw some! Tell you what, I'll tell you why I'm concerned, when you explain where all of this money is coming from. Or maybe you don't want to tell me, because I'm might discover the location of the illusive money tree that UND has hidden on campus. Is the money tree coming into harvest soon? Is that why there are all of the secrets? If its about the money tree, feel free to PM me! I won't let your secret slip!

Sources.... hmmmm.... let me think. Oh, thats right, your own D-I report stated you were running a deficit. If you read some of my previous posts, quite a few of them are focused on this "D-I evaluation" or whatever it was called. Its funny how all of the posts basically tell me to "mind my own business", and none of them even attempted to explain where money for all of this is going to come from. Anybody have any thoughts on this? Or maybe you could just try to trash me and pretend that money grows on trees.

Simply incredible how a school running a deficit somehow has money for a lawsuit against the NCAA, a move to D-I, and all of these new facilities. You don't think maybe you're stretching the money a little thin here? I mean come on, Kupchella doesn't even think you have money to move D-I, but you're AD has money for new facilities, a move up etc.? At some point fiscal reality is going to set in on the campus.

My guess is that the mid con will take IPFW, UTPA, UVSC, SDSU, and NDSU, to put it at twelve. It would have the benefit of saving the almighty dollar for travel in the conference, which I think has become a huge concern with the current geography. I think that the hope is the money that is saved will be reinvested back into the basketball. From what I've read in the papers, Douple really seems like he wants to raise the competitiveness of the conference, much like the NSIC did when they went to D-II, although I think UND or USD would be a stronger canidate for improvement than IPFW is. If the expansion does go to tweleve, UND may be in some trouble conference wise. I can see them getting added after a possible big east breakup, but since there are already contracts going through 2014 or 2015 for that, UND would have quite awhile as an independent.

Wow. Thats some stunning news. Who would of guessed?

If we're correcting spelling and grammer:

Which is better for the gate, a possible at large bid to the NCAA tournament, or playing UND, a school that is going to have a terrible RPI for the next six years (Your post incorrectly states only one year of D-II, your not going to have a high RPI until you can actually recruit decent basketball players, which will start, depending on who you talk to, either after the transistion or never). Despite a single post on the subject that you referenced from denver, having conference games against UND in basketball is not where that school wants to be, and for you to say they were going to REQUEST UND as a way to go to the big sky isn't realistic. They don't want anything to do with the big sky now, but lower the conference RPI even further because of a hockey school... yeah, then Denver is going to be interested. BTW, I know that my posts don't have perfect spelling, I readily admit I don't proof read them at all. If it makes you feel good to proof read my writings and tell me about the mistakes, I'm all for you doing that in every post. Just remember it doesn't change that UND isn't going to be in a conference during its transition. Yeah, and I don't know what you would call most of your posts? You don't seem to think that there conspiracy theories (BTW, conspiracy is a pretty common word, but I guess you think they only teach it at SDSU? Maybe UND alums aren't exposed to the word conspiracy, but its used pretty widely outside of grand forks, and not just in brookings) so what would you call them? Certainly not facts. Predictions is pushing the envelope, since you don't have a real good record with your big sky predictions over the last couple of years. Maybe wild predictions? I don't know, get back to me on the correct terminology though, and the word list that only SDSU fans use, so that I'll be able to respond without being accused of being an SDSU fan when you know you're dead wrong on something.

Man, you'll never give up the dream will you? Just for the record, you really think that Denver is going to ask for UND to be in the Big Sky to get them in? Because that would really help the move from a basketball perspective right? I mean the guarunteed game against a non-eligible school with a likely horrible RPI? Thats what they want to be in, a guarunteed two games against UND, who has little chance to be even respectable in basketball until they are out of the transition. Thats really what you think Denver is going to beg for? Two games a season against UND in basketball, because of their hockey team? Thats so rediculous that its almost mind boggling. UND isn't going to be an independent for several years. Get over it and accept it now. The big sky doesn't have a huge conspiracy theory to get UND when its most convenient for UND, so that UND doesn't have to go through a transition period. Nobody in the big sky cares if your revenue falls from moving D-I. Nobody in the big sky cares if your attendance falls because of the transition. Nobody in the big sky cares if fans don't have anything to look foward to during the season. Heres your official welcome to D-I from the rest of D-I... they could care less what happens to UND, and absolutely nobody is going to look out for or care about UND except UND.

Just to restate my post before, I didn't mean it to sound like waiting for financial reasons was bad in my opinion, just that financial reasons probably were why they were waiting a year. I think that its probably a prudent move financially, although many of the athletic teams will suffer more than they already would have because of this. Your next couple recruiting classes are going to be interesting, and a challenge for your coaches.

I just saw 89rabbit, the man I've been accused of being posted there! Nice to finally meet you 89rabbit!

Yeah, I'm sure conferences are dying to have a school that will be eligible a year later. Nobody is going to be interested until you are close to being post season eligible. The getting through the transition in a conference dream should die now, because it isn't going to happen. I think the motivation around the extra year is totally financial on Kup's part.

I don't know why you would do this, unless it was to prove a point. With this plan, you're basically extending your transition process for an extra year. You're going to give recruits another reason to not play for you, exactly when you need them the most, by telling them that their freshman and sophmore years they could play for a championship, and then conclude their careers in D-I no mans land. You're basically sucker punching your teams before the boxing match even begins. The only way I can see this happening is if Kupchella is trying to prove a point about funding. Now all of the groups placing pressure on him can be told to put up or shut up, and if they don't put up, then they can't whine about not being D-I. Seems like the smart move if you don't really want to be D-I, but I don't really think this situation is going to happen.

Yeah, you have. He said "Chapman needs to recognize my authority or I'm quitting". Seems like Potts doesn't think that Chapman has been listening to him. You don't need to hear Chapman did XXX in order to understand that Potts thinks that he is being insubordinate. By the way, its the monday after Potts demanded that statement. Whats taking Chapman so long to recognize that his boss has authority over him? Seems a little insubordinate to me. Did you ever think that Potts HAS tried to deal with this behind closed doors, and Chapman hasn't bothered listening. Threatening to quit your job is usually your last recourse, not your first. Potts made this statement publically, so that if hes forced out, who ever interviews for this job next will know full and well what the reason for him leaving was, so that people will understand the situation when the interview for the job. I'm pretty sure that Potts wasn't trying to stop Chapman from getting additional funds, more like he was stopping Chapman from taking funds from other institutions. I think NDSU fans know that too, and they don't really have a problem with it, so they are supporting Chapman on this. If 10 other presidents don't have a problem with a funding system, than I'm guessing its pretty fair. To be fair on my part though, I don't have any proof that this is what actually happened, but I find it extremely unlikely that a man in charge of the education system would fight someone from getting more money for the education system. It doesn't really seem to be in their best interests. So, pretty much, might makes right? Or the end justifies the means? Come on, you know that there is an obligation to stay within the educational system for these fights for money, and not bring the legislature into it. Potts should be the only connection, not Chapman, Kupchella, or any of the presidents.

Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't YOU provide some facts? I don't think the burden of proof is on me here, your the one coming on and trashing anybody who thinks that there might be a problem with Chapman when the Chancellor is willing to quit his job over him. Heres a couple of facts: 1. Every president except Chapman is fine with the current system. 2. The Chancellor has threatened to resign because of Chapman. 3. Chapman refuses to even say that Potts has authority over him, WHEN HE OBVIOUSLY DOES. So, theres three FACTS. Now, in your next post, instead of trying to trash me, and not saying a single argument about the situation YOU PROVIDE SOME FACTS. I WANT THESE FACTS LISTED, AS I'VE DONE ABOVE. And for such a FACT based guy, you sure as hel! haven't taken the time to get the FACTS about my history of posting. HINT: THERE ISN'T A SINGLE POST BEFORE THIS THREAD THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH TRASHING NDSU. ON THE CONTRARY, MOST OF MY POSTS ARE ARGUING WITH UND SUPPORTERS. So lets see it D-I in Fargo. Can you actually complete an intelligent post? Or are you just going to talk about: 1. You're an idiot because you don't agree with me. 2. You don't like NDSU because your jealous of how great it is. 3. Chapman is the best becasue XXX not related to this situation in anyway.\ 4. UND did XXX not related to this situation. The burdens on you now. Theres your three FACTS. Another post with no substance, only trying to trash me, and I'm done responding.

I guess after that all I have to say is good luck to the NDUS system. I can promise that if the board refuses to reaffirm Pott's authority, that no qualified applicant will come within a hundred miles of that job. Why would you? The job is a complete farce if you don't have the authority to do your job.

I know, being realistic is sooooo over-rated. Why do that, when you can act like finances have nothing to do with an athletic department.

You might be right, but that is the system that all university's in ND are put under, and the people on the board are put in place by the legislature you elect (I think, I might be wrong on that, they might also be selected by the govenor). If you truly think that the system isn't working then you, the voter, need to go to your legislature, and let them know that. It isn't up to Chapman, under almost any circumstances and unless something illegal is going on, to go around the system. And if the system is truly as disfunctional as you think, than can you honestly blame potts for the situation going on? Thats much bigger than one man, and Chapman going around him isn't the solution to the problem. To fix the situation all parties need to work together. The board, Potts and Chapman, as well as the rest of the presidents, need to figure out how to best solve the situation and compromise on the budget and other problems. The solution isn't to have potts try to work out a solution, only to have 10 presidents obey it, and an 11th try to circumvent it, as he has claimed Chapman did. If that is truly what happened, I think that there is strong likelyhood it did, based on Potts actions, than I can't blame Potts for being pissed. Whats someone in that situation supposed to do?

I have no idea whats going on? And please, don't ever state the "I can't find anything wrong with Chapman doing his job to the best of his ability either". If he isn't working within the NDUS system, guess what? HE ISN'T DOING HIS JOB. If he refuses to listen to his superior HE ISN'T DOING HIS JOB. There isn't a problem with him doing his best within the framework of the NDUS, but when he goes outside of that, he is dead wrong, and everyone knows that. You're right, everyone is against NDSU, theres a big conspiracy. Potts is out to screw you guys. I think you're the one that needs a source the Potts is trying to screw NDSU. I would think that most NEUTRAL people would think that the administrator of the system is doing his best to distribute funds to all the schools as equally as possible. Where is this source that he isn't? Oh, wait, Chapman said so, and he took you D-I, so he must be right. You thinking that I need a source to prove that there isn't a conspiracy against NDSU is way too funny. So please, enlighten me to these "facts". Funny how you demand to see all these "facts", and yet you're entire idiotic post doesnt' present a single "fact". Maybe in the future take some of your own advice. What are the facts? That NDSU is the victim of a great UND conspiracy theory to underfund the school? Give me a break, you have to be the biggest homer on earth to believe that. Oh, wait though, me, the one that spends time on this board mostly blasting people from UND, I'm the one that isn't neutral. No, for Neurtrality, we all need to turn to D-I in Fargo. There's a guy with no allegiance. Seriously, read what I've posted before. Does it sound like a UND fan? 90% of the people on this board hate me, and the other 10% tolerate me, and yet you manage to post that I'm a UND fan. Amazing. Yes, Potts is just trying to screw NDSU, him and Kupchella get together and plot against NDSU. Did you already forget about Potts booting UND out of Fargo? Seems pretty unbiased to me. Is it maybe possible that Potts is doing the best he can with an entire NDUS that is underfunded? No, NDSU must be getting screwed by UND, what else could it be? If thats your position, then have those schools cut. They have a mission for the state right now, and they deserve a fair proportion of money to fullfill that mission. You talk like the state money for education is divided evenly between the schools. UND and NDSU are getting much, much, much more money than either of those two schools as they should. But that doesn't mean that NDSU and UND also have a right to take even more of their money either. While those schools are operating, they deserve to have similar proportioned operating budgets to UND or NDSU, meaning that if NDSU is funded at 60% of what it needs for its student enrollment and majors, than Mayville should get 60% of what they need. I think what you're actually advocating is cutting those schools, which I would agree with. But you can't simply cut their budgets and leave them open so that students who attend there are sending their money to Fargo or Grand Forks and not getting the education they're paying for. While their open, they deserve money, but they probably should be closed. My mistake, I guess I thought opinions not favorable to NDSU were allowed! Whoops, I guess I didn't read the edict from Joe Chapman stating that he was correct because he took NDSU D-I. Don't worry it won't happen again. I wouldn't want to offend someone as great as an NDSU fan. I truly appreciate your post. That was by far the most rediculous, idiotic, homer filled writing I have ever read. You remind me of the people that would go support M. Jackson during his trials. They have no idea what was going on, but anybody that even said there might be a problem was absolutely wrong. They knew he wasn't guilty, becuase.... they liked his songs. You know Chapman hasn't done anything wrong.... because he took NDSU D-I.

The point is that he wasted money that could have been used otherwise. Whats more important? New computers or a hot tub for chapman? New books for the library or a hot tub for chapman. Its rediculous that this story is even true, shows a lot of arrogance. And besides that, it gave me the image of Joe Chapman in his swimming suit, its not good.

When I said that I was thinking more along the lines of why does Potts have to prove everything, while Chapman plays dumb. This whole situation is between two people, I don't know why only one of them needs to put himself in place to be crucified, while the other just sits back and plays dumb (Chapman).