[UAV Research at UND]

Grand Forks border patrol to get drone next spring

Grand Forks) GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) The new federal Customs and Border Patrol air branch in Grand Forks will start using a drone to patrol the northern border next spring.

Senator Kent Conrad says the first of four aircraft will arrive in Grand Forks around April 15th.

Conrad briefed border agents yesterday on a federal Homeland Security bill headed for a House-Senate conference committee.

A formal opening of the new northern border air wing at the Grand Forks airport is set for September 22nd. Conrad says it'll be an operational hub.

He says 85 agents will be added to help guard the 861 border miles in the Grand Forks district.

He says the southern border has some 12,000 agents, or about 12 times as many as the northern border.

[NCAA Imposes 4-year Moratorium on DI Move-ups]

If it does prevent movement from FCS to FBS, then the talk of Montana and/or Sacramento St. moving up will die. It also mean that there will be more stability within the conferences which doesn't help UND.

[NCAA Imposes 4-year Moratorium on DI Move-ups]

UND, like NDSU, has been a Division I school for years and just didn't realize it. I was skeptical when NDSU made the jump and if you go back in my past posts you can probably see a comment regarding that. Whether it was NSDU or the possibility of global warming that made UND move doesn't matter to me at this point. I'm just thankful that the move was made before the door closed.

[NCAA Imposes 4-year Moratorium on DI Move-ups]

Wow, that was a close call.

[All Day Fighting Sioux Events]

The first weekend in November is the weekend that I have chosen. Football, Men's and Women's hockey and soccer all are at home that week. What they used to refer to as Siouxper weekend. Can't wait.

[New Football Commercial]

And the ad campaign has begun. Simple, but nice ad.

I see the sponsor of the ad is Canad Inns. Like I said in another thread the potential for game day at Alerus/Canad is huge.

[Away Games]

With UND going into the FCS, hopefully in the next couple of years they'll be playing some teams in the south. I'd love to take a little trip over to Louisiana to see a game.

[Buning Problem?]

[Fall Camp]

Football Gazette names three Sioux on preseason All-America team

University of North Dakota senior wide receiver Weston Dressler, junior center Mitch Braegelmann and sophomore running back Ryan Chappell have each been named to the 2007 Don Hansen

[2007-2008 BASKETBALL SCHEDULE]

I'm sure that scheduling is going to get harder before it gets any better, with next year being the toughest.

[UAV Research at UND]

More aerial drones coming soon to U.S. borders

In September, CBP plans to inaugurate one of the flying machines at an operations center in Grand Forks, N.D., and in November, it plans to accept a second UAV as part of its southwestern fleet.

[UND's 125th Anniversary]

Take a look at the "new" Memorial Stadium in picture 4.

[UND's 125th Anniversary]

UND approaches 125

UND officials today outlined a series of planned events connected with the school's 125th anniversary in 2008.

Those plans begin with a massive group photo Aug. 20 in front of Carnegie Hall, referred to in the school's announcement as "the largest photo opportunity ever held on campus."

Officials plan to plot out several thousand students, faculty and staff into the shape of a large "UND" for the photo, said Bob Boyd, vice president for student and outreach services. Students will arrive on campus the weekend before the photo shoot, so campus officials hope to wrangle parents and alumni into the photo as well, said Alice Brekke, UND budget director and a 125th anniversary committee member.

The first 5,000 participants in the photo will be given green T-shirts with the new 125th anniversary logo, Boyd said.

UND's official 125 website...UND 125

[women's basketball 2007-08]

Women's schedule has been released...UND announces 2007-08 women's basketball schedule

University of North Dakota head women

[Fall Camp]

Talented UND offense to aid green QB

You can’t spell Danny Freund without UND.

That’s the sentiment the University of North Dakota starting quarterback has adopted heading into his first season as a starter.

For Freund, success this year comes down the talented group that will surround him in the offensive huddle.

“The tools and abilities of the guys around me I think are going to help ease the transition in there,” Freund said Monday during the Sioux’s annual football media day. “It will help me, especially in the first couple games, as I’m getting acclimated to the college game.

“I’m just going to try to make the right decisions and be a leader.”

Has anyone had the opportunity to watch Freund?

The Sioux’s mixture of size up front and speed at all skill positions on offense will be a major factor in the team’s quest for an NCAA Division II playoff berth in its final season in the North Central Conference. Next season, UND will begin its five-year transition for reclassification into Division I-AA.

Someone at the Forum didn't get the memo that you don't call it I-AA anymore, lest you be flogged by a certain group of people.

[Fall Camp]

UND FOOTBALL: Freund's wait is over

For the last three seasons, UND junior quarterback Danny Freund patiently stood on the sidelines and watched the offense rewrite the school's record book.

Led by electrifying receiver Weston Dressler, UND's offense totaled 1,245 points in 40 games - a three-year scoring clip unmatched in recent Sioux football history.

[Fall Camp]

I haven't had time to watch this yet....Lennon addresses 2007 season at annual media day luncheon

University of North Dakota head football coach Dale Lennon officially introduced the 2007 season this afternoon at the team's annual football media day luncheon at the Alerus Center. UND began its first full week of pre-fall practice this morning at Memorial Stadium.

[Sioux Join Great West]

Not that I'm thinking of a way out of the Great West, as I think it is great for the guys to have something to play for during the transition, but I wonder what the requirements are for the 5 year commitment. For instance, what constitutes a conference? If one or both of the California schools left or SUU became a member of the Big Sky, would we still be required to membership? With all that happened conference-wise in the past 5 years, there are bound to be more changes and moves being made.

From what I've read on other boards, U of San Diego doesn't appear likely to join the Great West and there don't appear to be a lot of Western Dvision II teams making the move to Division I, so 5 may be a maximum number for this conference.

[UND Athletics]

UND ATHLETICS: Going out with a bang?

Buning said he met with the UND athletic staff last week. He wants the Sioux athletic program to leave its mark in its final Division II season.

“Let's not shy away from our goals,” Buning said. “I'd like to see us go out and win the North Central Conference Cup. We were runner-up last season and we won it the year before. I'd also like to see us win the national (all-sports) director's cup.

“Beating Grand Valley State for that (national all-sports cup) is a huge goal, but let's give it a run.

“And I'd like to see us win a national championship in a men's and women's sport.”

He wants all of UND's sports teams to go out on a high note.

“I want to get 100 percent winning records,” Buning said, referring to the school's last Division II season.

As UND approaches its final Division II season, here's a sampling of what's on the horizon for some of the Sioux athletic programs:

I would have thought the swimming and diving teams would have at least been mentioned.

[Potshots at Grand Forks]

Rather than start a new thread to announce a new hotel to be built along the 42nd Avenue corridor, I'll just hijack this one.

According to Grand Forks Life a Country Inn and Suites is to be built along 42nd.

[Jim Kleinsasser]

Here is a start JFR.. More Dakotans than Minnesotans on team

Perhaps the Vikings should consider a name change because they have as many players on their training camp roster from South Dakota and North Dakota - two each - as they do from Minnesota.

"Those South Dakota guys are pretty tight," quarterback Brooks Bollinger said. "Not as tight as us North Dakota guys."

So what gives?

It's not like NFL players grow on trees in the 46th and 47th most populous states. Do Bollinger (Grand Forks, N.D.), tight end Jim Kleinsasser (Carrington, N.D.) and linebackers Ben Leber (Vermillion) and Chad Greenway (Mount Vernon) share traits the Vikings covet?

[A place for political discussions]

Actually, a strong case could be made for religion. And the line of politics and religion is pretty gray, at that.

The Middle East is a prime example of the intertwining of religion and politics.

[TV Games]

And hopefully some playoff games.

[Fighting Sioux Facts]

Umm, back in my day they (not me I was special ) waiting outside all night to get good seats AFTER waiting in line earlier in the week to get tickets to get in the building. So who says she didn't put her time in.

You missed out on the waiting all night thing. We would leave The Spud go to the Winter Sports Building and wait in line until they opened the ticket office the next morning. At that time Wisconsin (early '80's) Wisconsin was "the ticket" to get. We had a lot of fun during those icy nights.

[A place for political discussions]

Despite the consensus so far being against, I can explain why I've forbidden it in the past.

Everyone here is a Sioux fan and for the most part we manage to get along talking about our team. Disagreements may form over whether to canonize or fire Hakstol, but it rarely leads to true personal conflict between people.

If people used this community to debate politics, I think it would be much more likely that someone would develop a real personal dislike for someone else, based on political arguments. My fear is that such conflict would make it tougher for them to have a civil conversation about Sioux hockey, and that the political debates and conflicts would seep into and harm the community in its discussions about the intended topic, your UND Fighting Sioux.

I love politics and political discussions, but I don't want them here. There are plenty of places to engage in such conversations. I agree that some will be viewed in a different light when their political views are laid out on a message board. I have already witnessed some of that on the bridge collapse thread and the "what annoys you" thread. Let's keep this a forum for the discussion of UND and Grand Forks.