iramurphy

The Alumnus was not an employee. He volunteered to assist the D1 move and his role was to advise Persident Kupchella and to raise money for the move which I understand he has done very well with. Buning did not answer to this individual. If I didn't like his actions or interactions I would have told him we need to make an appointment with the president to clarify everyone's roles so there would be no miscommunication. You are correct in that if Buning was to be fired it should have been done earlier.

He was there because he coached the older guys on the 1979 team when he was a grad asst. He was also there because of his loyalty to Gene Murphy the 1979 team's head coach and one of the most respected and well liked coaches in any sport in UND history. He was there because he is and always will be a very important part of the UND family and a first class guy. That brings me to a point that I think a lot of people on need to understand. If we are going to make th D1 move we need to start paying attention to some of the things that go with being a D1 program. You don't have an announcer at your games who keeps making mistakes as to whether or not the running back is Dressler , Chappell or a variation of both (Ryan Dressler). Your announcer does not forget to introduce the Hall of Fame Team's head coach (who left his wheelchair and used a cane to walk out on to the field with his team only to be forgotten by the announcer and then only as an after thought the announcer mumbled something about Coach Murphy that most people couldn't understand. You also need to have an announcer who makes sure if you are going to announce Chappell broke the school record with 306 rushing yards you do so so the fans can hear and understand what he is saying. If the best you can do is holler "OK Sioux Fans on your feet its third and 3", you as an announcer need to upgrade before the next home game or move on. That was pathetic and embarrassing. The announcer also forgot to intrduce the family of one of the other FB coaches from the 1979 team the late Don Stoner's family. Your work as an announcer at a colleg FB game at UND starts the week before the game learning how to pronounce the names and then make sure all special events and announcements are clear. That didn't get done.

no

Chapman's problems aren't with UND or with Kupchella. His problems are that he doesn't understand he answers to the Chancellor. I believe he has pushed that issue to the limit and even Paulsen and Andrews have told him to toe the line. Getting Clayburgh off of the state board, although she was from Grand Forks, hurts him rather than helps him. She didn't like Kupchella and she was really liked Chapman. the new make up of the board will not tolerate the crap the board has tolerated from him in the past and I believe he has been told that. Chapman could have acheived everything he has without creating the conflict between himself and the 3 previous Chancellors. Paulsen, Andrews and Clayburgh were very instrumental in allowing the controversy which should have been dealt with the first time Chapman had problems with Isaac and then again with Potts and then again with Dunn. The new guy doesn't want conflict and unless Chapman creates a new problem there should be no more issues. Chapman gets most of the credit that should go to the staff and NDSU community. He has done a number of good things for them but most would have happened without him. It wouldn't have happened without the work of Inniger and his staff, the Fargo City council and the support for their athletics they get from the state and community as well as the research dollars they get both from the hard work of their faculty and the N.Dak. congressional team of Dorgan, Conrad and Pomeroy. What he does very well is he gets out and around campus and Fargo and meets and greets the right people. That is his job and he does it very well. Those are his strengths. His major weakness is his lack of integrity and problems with lack of honesty when dealing with the board and in the past with the Attorney General. His ego is the only thing I know of bigger than his ears and that I believe is a higher priority to him than NDSU.

It would be great for the athletes and for Northwood if UND's athletic Dept. would bus down the FB and hockey teams for a day to help with the cleanup. I hope the UND student body is willing to go down and help out if they are needed. Student senate should arrange for coordination with Red Cross or Salvation Army to see if they could be of help.

Weston was a pretty darn good receiver even his freshman year. He was very gradually worked into the scheme and he has improved every year but he was pretty darn good from the day he walked on campus.

$12 for youth is too much. They should be able to sell them for $5. You want kids to go and make a parnet bring the kdi along. Very few if any UND games can't accomodate 2000 kids at $5 per kid.

That is a good guess.

Heard there is a good chance another home game is close to being finalized. Good team from out east.

You are correct. You may also add UND to the same list. It will be a while for both schools but, that is the goal of the guy at UND who is spearheading the D1AA move. You can bet NDSU would have the same aspirations. One step at a time though.

Military leadership of all places requires the understanding that everyday you get up, you go to work with the idea that you take care of your soldiers and do whatever it takes to position them for success. If you take care of your soldiers they will not only successfully complete the mission, they will in turn take care of you. In the military, maybe more so than other professions, each of your soldiers needs to be ready to assume the role of leader and to assume the role of their immediate superiors. That is one of the reasons the US military has such an excellent record of success. If an athletic director goes to work everyday with the idea that he needs to serve his subordinates in such a way as to position them for success, and then recognize those who work for him or her as the reason for those successes, that AD will do well. He needs to figure out his staff strengths and weaknesses then provide those folks with the necessary resources to get the job done. If you can't allow those with the ability to do their jobs without micromanaging and you don't have very clear lines of communication so they understand their roles and their missions, you have set yourself and your oganization up for less than optimal success or worse yet, ossible failure. Without commenting on Mr. Buning, his Army background should have provided ample training and experience to avoid the present problems he is alleged to have. Your comment that "coming from an Army background I can understand where Mr. Buning may need to work on this aspect of his leadership style" would lead me to think you may not have any military experience outside of the movies or that if you were in the military, you did not have good leadership. I am not meaning to criticize, but too many people make the mistake of thinking military leadership is simply odering people around because you outrank them. Military leadership is similar to leadership elsewhere. Those leaders are followed out of respect from their suborinates. The stakes happen to be a lot higher than winning hockey games or football games or championships and for some there is no next season.

These are good numbers but don't forget who was doing the fund raising and started the Fighting Sioux club which not only was the key to the increased fundraising but also the Fighting Sioux club increased the season ticket holders in FB, WBB, MBB. I am not sure about hockey becaude i think hockey was either sold out or near sold out. It was a team effort and Rob Bollinger was a very important part of these improvements to all sports not just FB.

D1Fargo you have a point. Both of these guys were criticised by their boss for how both schools did not comply with the strategy the presidents were supposed to use in delaing with the legislature. I understand why Chapman and his staff are doing things the way they are and why the Med School Dean tried to do what he did. They are both trying to get more for their institutions. (I think the Med School dean and Chapman are similar by the way). Both Chapman and Kupchella deserved to have these problems addressed in their respective evaluations. I believe there is a big difference in how Chapman reacted to his crticism and how Kupchella did. That is what I think will keep Chapman in trouble with his boss whomever it is. None of this has anything to do with hatred toward NDSU. I just think when the same person keeps getting in trouble with the boss and the boss changes and the same subordinate still gets in trouble then maybe it isn't the boss.

I doubt you will understand the difference. I believe it was the Dean of the Med School rather than Kupcella himself who was operating outside of the agreeed upon process. I wouldn't know if what he was doing was with Kupchella's blessing or not. When the Chancellor told him to take care of it he did. Chapman's biggest problem isn't whether he is trying to get more outside of the agreed upon process. When the chancellor's told him to take care of it he not only didn't, but insists he doesn't have to and what he is doing is what is best for his institution. He has a point, but the State of North Dakota has set up a system that at this time has decided that is not how things will be done. The issue most are critical of is that he is having problems dealing with his supervisor and it doesn't seem to make a difference who it is. Both Potts and Dunn are having the same problems with him I will predict the new chancellor will also have problem with Chapman. Paulsen enables the behavior. The pattern of his behavior continues with how he deals with the Fargo Dome Authority and his temper and unprofessional outbursts. I don't have a problem with him trying to get more money outside of the legislature, I have a problem with his difficulty telling the truth and his difficulty working for and with others. Kupchella doesn't seem to have that problem. The word is that he is respected by his peers and that he can be trusted. Chapman does not enjoy the same respect and trust out side of the Fargo NDSU people. If Kupchella was continually having problems with his boss, and others and was in trouble with the Attorney General, I think you would see alot more criticism of him here and elsewhere. The criticism and mistrust of Chapman is not unique to this forum, nor is the respect and trust for Kupcella. It is too bad because with some mentoring, Chapman might be the best in your history. Paulsen would serve the people of the state of N.Dak. best by mentoring ratherr thann enabling.

Drew Dagget finished 4th in the 110 hurdles and the high jump. His 800m relay team also placed 4th. He is the State Champ in the 300m hurdles with an excellent time of 38.87 sec. He almost single handedly placed 4th in the Class A meet. He is a horse and should be a hell of a player for the Sioux. The Gophers missed on this kid. Coach Lennon was a big reason he will be a Sioux instead of a Bison.

You obviously don't know Coach Lennon nor the Alumni or Boosters. Here are a couple of facts. Dale didn't persue this job they contacted him. He was offered the job and turned it down. He didn't need anything from the Alumni or boosters he has full support. He wasn't looking for anything. If you know the guy you would know he wouldn't use this as a ploy for what he might want. He stayed at UND out of loyalty to the kids and to UND football. HE has had chances to move to other D1AA jobs in the past and will have more chances in the future.

Well said.

There is pressure. Hopefully you won't see it. No reason to air dirty laundry in public but I guess this is a public forum. As I mentioned in another post, I was just told by a very reliable source Dale is staying. Someone either needs to start mentoring Buning or move him along.

I was just told by a very reliable source Dale is staying. Had he left it would have been a disaster for UND FB, and would ahve hurt the D1 move and UND athletics overall. The Buning problem needs to be taken care of. There are not a lot of people who have the integrity of Dale Lennon who will put his loyalty to his kids and alma mater ahead of personal gain.

Take this to the bank. Lennon and the other coaches are not happy with Buning. His inability to communicate, lack of consistency, lack of leadership and immaturaty are the primary reasons. If you somehow don't believe this to be true, talk to the coaches yourself. They will likely not comment if they don't know and trust you, but the fact that their answer will not be a resounding vote of confidence should make if clear to even the biggest skeptic that there is a problem. None of this has anything to do with Thomas or Bollinger. The D1 momentum was in place long before Buning arrived. It was not Buning that was the impetus. It was only after President Kupchella got on board that things began moving. The work of Dan Maritinson who moved to Grand Forks from the west coast to get these things done and his working with other UND alumni and the president was what made the difference. I will tell you I did not care much for a lot of things Kupchella was doing early in the presidency. The issues with the Med School, Engelstad, the first management group of the REA etc. were bothersome. He handled it in his own way and as his tenure comes to a close the results speak volumes. I also thought Buning would be OK. I haven't had to work with him. I don't know of any Alumni who have become new big time donors because of him. His relationship with the coaches is terrible. If it is one coach, and the rest get along well with him and respect him, then I would say that coach may need to move on. If it is multiple coahces especially gentlemen like Dale Lennon and Hakstol who have been successful and are highly respected then maybe it is the AD. I believe you can include Roebuck in the group that is considering moving on because of Buning but I haven't spoken with him. A lot of people who felt he was OK have changed their minds after working with him. For those who were so high on a West Point grad, I will submit to you that any West Point grad who spent 20 years in the Army, and served in combat and retires as an LTC. had not been recognized by the military a one of the best. That should have been a red flag. One of the staff from the West Point (Army) athletic department claimed UND did not ask call them about him and he would not ahve received a resounding ercommendation from them. I will tell you this. If he stays and Lennon, Hakstol and or Roebuck leave, UND will lose a lot of support from the Alumni who have been willing to increase donations to help with the D1 move. We can't afford to have a controversy at a time like this. The FB team had a good chance to take a run at one more D2 title in the fall and had a great recruiting year. The WBB and hockey teams are also going to be contenders for national championships again next year and had good recruiting years. It is a lot easier to relace an average AD than it is to relace excellent coaches who have been loyal to UND for years.

I have known Pat Seaworth for over 50years. He is one of the brightest attorneys I have ever met. His legal opinions are opinions without rancor or prejudice. He attended UND for 2 years and NDSU for 2 years and got his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Dunn was an NDSU guy but is also a man of integrity. I believe they are both respected by their peers and Seaworth is a Bismarck native and I am not aware he has any problems with NDSU and in fact I have seen him cheer for them when he was in college. This issue is no longer a rivalry issue. It is a serious issue where Chapman is again trying to bully people and get his supporters on the SBoHE to enable him to do so. I don't think Paulsen will do so again but I am not sure. Chapman is not trusted nor respected by the other presidents. Now he is having major problems with his supervisor (the guy he answers to). That means he hasn't been able to take direction from either Potts or Dunn. He will likely have trouble with the next chancellor as well. He has displayed similar behavior and temper and bullying when dealing with the Fargo Dome authority and has used the NDSU supporters on the city council to undermine the agreements he reached with the dome authority to get "a better deal". He recently made requests to have only certain people from the dome authority negotiate with NDSU. I spoke with a gentleman who served on the Mn. SBoHE when it was in existence. He is an NDSU alumnus and a big NDSU fan. He said their SBoHE "would have fired his ass". The rest of the state is beginning to tire of his immature antics and it will hurt NDSU. The strength of NDSU is not Joe Chapman but the faculty, students, and their community. They shouldn't sell themselves short. Their recent success has more to do with those entities than Joe Chapman. He has accomplished a lot and has done some good things. He is developing a pattern of not being able to get along with his supervisors and is creating turmoil with the chancellor and SBoHE. They tolerated it once and supported him. I don't think they will continue to do so. His request to have Dunn not do his performance evaluation is cowardly at best. He acts dishonestly and in an unprofessional manner then doesn't want to be held accountable. NDSU is too good of a school and has made to many recent gains to jeopardize things with Chapman's unprofessionalism.

You seem to miss the point. Chapman has done a number of good things for NDSU. It does not give him the right to lie and to try to bully people. The end does not justify the means. The real facts are known by a number of people. That includes those who watched and listened to his recent meltdown when he met with Fargo folks over the Dome rental issue that didn't get reported. He lied to people at that meeeting and put on quite a show ranting and raving. It was all quite unprofessional. Those who are on the Dome authority seem to know about this. He has a pattern of lying to people. It isn't just those folks and Dunn who (worked for NDSU). The SBoHE attorney (who by the way attended NDSU and got his law degree from Wash U in St. Louis not UND) did not make any negative comments about Chapman but seems to know the facts. Potts was not a UND guy but worked for he people of N.Dak. Chapman can't seem to get along with any of these folks. At some time you will need to get your head out of the sand and face the fact that this guy is a loose cannon. He has done a lot for NDSU but if you excuse his dishonesty and bullying then I guess the end does justigfy the means and all colleges and Universities in the state need to take off the gloves and fend for themselves. In the long run it will cost the taxpayers more and give ammunition to those who don't see the value of education spending and it will hurt NDSU in the long run. It will likely lead to some new legislation that will keep his successor and the other presidents from being as effective. You are wrong if you think Chapman doesn't care what others think. He was literally sweating when he was grilled by the Attorney General the last time he got out of line and if he has hired an attorney and is whining to Paulsen and the public he must be concerned about what someone is thinking. Even Paulsen won't put up with this forever. Doesn't mean he doesn't do good things. He just needs to remember to tell the truth and needs to remember he works for the taxpayers of the state of N.Dak. not just the athletic fans at NDSU. There are a number of academic folks there who are not impressed with his bullying or unprofessional behavior. I think you should also add to the things you know about Chapman. His top priority is Joe Chapman.