UND Fan

Editorial comment -- It certainly appears to me that much of the bickering in this room is uncalled for. It is becoming quite tedious. A little controversy creates interesting dialogue but some of my fellow UND supporters aren't any better than the NDSU and SDSU participants. It would be great if we talked much more about sports, recruiting, etc. and get away from the immature stuff. Enough said about that, I have the following comments about REA and the DI controversy. Some of this is fact, some my observations -- I will differentiate the two: FACT - REA is adding an incrediable amount of money to UND's Athletic Department's bottom line. It is taking a great deal of pressure off the Department, which like others, has been having difficulty staying out of the red. These profits are funding the new, expensive women's hockey program and still leaving a large amount of money for other athletic needs. $ are also being put aside for future maintenance and improvement needs. OPINION - Although President Kupchella feels that UND should not even consider DI, many within the Athletic Department feel that we need to take a close look at it and see if it makes sense. Until an actual assessment is completed, even the supporters assume that is does not make financial sense to go DI. But, it may become a necessity if further scholarship cuts are made in football and the caliber of our competition would continue to decline. They know that contributions and gate receipts are going to drop if we have too many Mn-Morris' on our schedule. Additionally, they rightfully also have a real concern that the better North Dakota athletes will no longer be able to compete on DI teams. If you look at basketball, not many ND/NW MN boys go DI. The really good ones (Boschee, Jacobson, etc.) will continue to go to the Big Time. That leaves the Josh Johnson's, Adam Dobmeier's, Shawn Gabbert's, Ryan Walker's, etc. going to schools other than UND or SU. They aren't talented enough to play DI. This is even more apparent in the non-major sports. Would a good track athlete from Bismarck enjoy taking the time to fly all over the country to get his/her tail kicked by "real" DI athetes. These athletes enjoy the competition of the non-glamor sports -- I don't think they will go to a school where they can not legitimately compete! They will likely go DII. Opinion (with some fact mixed in) - UND is in the midst of making some major decisions regarding facilities. To compete in DI (especially in the boonies of northern North Dakota), you need excellent facilities including indoor practice fields. While the REA and Alerus are new and first class, UND needs a dramatic improvement as far as a basketball venue is concerned. For all practical purposes, we have no indoor track and no indoor practice facilities for the baseball, softball, football (on campus), soccer teams, etc. This, combined with the likelihood of Hyslop becoming a Wellness Center for students, has a lot of decisions on hold. I feel UND is correct in waiting until these important decisions are made before making a decision on DI. A major upgrade in facilities and fund raising for DI would not work well if both were happening at the same time. Waiting will also allow UND to see what shakes out in '04. There is always the possibility that DI will abandon the DIAA schools so they don't share in Bowl and NCAA basketball profits. This could open the door for a DIAA level for all sports. UND would jump into that in a "New York minute". While I agree that waiting makes sense, I firmly believe that UND should do a formal study of the feasiblilty and costs of DI NOW. This may prove that it makes absolutely no sense to make the move and, if this was published in the near future, it may cause SDSU to seriously consider staying DII (I don't think there is any turning back for NDSU). A study of this type would also show prospective athletes and supporters that UND isn't complacive when it comes to moving up -- just realistic. The downside in waiting -- As an avid UND fan and supporter, I also don't like the fact that SU may get a 2-3 year jump on us making the move up. It will be a difficult transition and I would hate the Bison get there before us (if we decide to make the move). Finally - as NDSU feels the move to DI is the best decision for them right now and because their President is considering doing something about the "Fighting Sioux" controversy, I strongly feel that UND should discontinue competing with NDSU in all sports after next season. With the added scholarship and much expanded recruiting base, it would be very difficult for us to be competitive anyway. I will in Florida but was in GF and Fargo over the holidays. While I know Bison fans are in a poor frame of mind after the poor FB season, it was interesting for me to talk to about 15 of their most loyal supporters. Interestingly, only two of the 15 supported the move to DI. I started this post by saying we should quit throwing jabs at each other about the decisions their schools are making (or not making) so I don't want this comment to start any of that. I simply found it interesting that so few of the random SU fans I talked to were supportive of the move!

PCM -- Regarding your post of 12:35 PM yesterday -- Well said!!

RD17 -- No one answered your question regarding the JUCO rules vs. NCAA regulations. Although the penalties would likely differ, the rules are exactly the same in that it applies to JUCOs as well. Therefore, his school in Texas also missed it. If you look at it without any bias (which a lot of people both pro-UND and anti-UND have trouble doing on this website), it is obvious that Allen didn't think he did anything wrong (although he certainly should have). If he had been trying to "hide" it, he certainly would not have chosen to attend a college 70 miles from Fargo when he could have gone to any DII school in the country! Had he gone anywhere else, it likely would have never been discovered!

Aaron Austin will play both sports with the Sioux next year. He is having a good year at FFCC. Lots of offense -- really needs to work on his defense. Manke is still listed as a QB as he isn't far hehind Groeschel. In fact, some think he may be better! Manke could easily move to a corner if it appears he won't see much game time at QB. There is another talented Manke brother at Detroit Lakes - a junior.

Good point, denbo!

It has been many years since UND played a true freshman football player. With some talented LBs being redshirted this year, I would guess that Richter will not play next year. There have been a few years (like this one) where playing 2-3 freshmen would have helped us but we are much better off giving these kids an extra year to grow, become familiar with the system, get used to college life, etc.

Thanks for the update. Hopefully, others will provide similar info as it becomes available.

Good news! It appears that Allen will be fine. He may play Saturday against Southwest State.

Pirate -- please enlighten me as to who Jarvis Thomas is.

There may be another option for UND basketball - it would be big news and make great sense! Decisions are to be made fairly soon!

JBB -- being that you and I have started a dialogue and have acknowledged that both of us tend to not give each other's school the respect they deserve -- I am compelled to ask how many NDSU FB players were names to the NCC All-Academic Team recently announced?

I agree a new arena would help but I am still not sure that a BB player capable of contributing at the DI level would agree to spend nine months a year in North Dakota's winter, far from his parents, etc. when he could go to another college with better climate and probably more exposure. It should be noted that Beasley, UND's new sensation Myron Allen (you will hear a lot about him!), and most of the other good Junior College transfers that have gone to NDSU (not the two ND kids you have this year), UNO, UNC and other NCC schools have done so because the didn't qualify for DI. If you take away the ability to recruit the Beasleys, Mike McGehees, etc., it is all that more difficult to be competitive. (Forgive me if I wrong about McGehee but I don't think I am.)

JB -- a lot of us UND fans give you a lot of grief (and often rightfully so) but I understand much of what you post is "tongue-in-cheek". I do agree that many of us are naysayers when it comes to most anything having to do with SU -- and I sense that you have the same attitude towards the Sioux and Grand Forks. However, I do think that you have a fairly good perspective on a lot of things. That being said, do you really think that NDSU can compete in basketball. Today, SU and UND (although UND is normally pretty respectable) have difficulties recruiting talented kids to the cold, barren plains of North Dakota. Plus, there aren't a great number of good DII players in the Dakotas or NW Minnesota. (It is a given that any upcoming Jeff Boschees will continue to go to the upper level of DI.) That combined with the fact that many of the kids both SU and UND have brought in recently have not qualified for DI, would make if very difficult to compete. SU may be able to pick up a few kid from the Cities who currently go out to Montana State, Montana or Wyoming. But I don't see real talented kids who have the opportuntiy to go a few different places opting for SU. Therefore, I can't see you winning against DI opponents. I truly believe that SU's terrible football season is somewhat of a fluke and you will be very competitive in IAA soon but building a winning basketball program when you are only average in DII will be very difficult. Your thoughts?

I have not been able to attend a hockey game at the Ralph since opening weekend last year. Unfortunately, I live in Florida and don't get up there often anymore. How are they using Katie O'keefe? How old is she, etc.?

Another good recruit for Coach Glas -- and Coach Lennon. Aaron Austin, originally from Hallock, MN will transfer to UND and play both sports starting next year. He averaged 15-16 points for Northern Colorado as a freshman and is now playing BB at Fergus Falls JC. He should be a great adition. He will be a junior in eligibility next fall.

I posted this in the Racism site but not sure if many would see it there. The NCAA Management Council today turned down the request of the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee to take away the 2005 Elite BB tourney from UND. This could have also had a negative affect on the 2006 Hockey Regional at UND. Great news!

Good news today!! The NCAA Management Council rejected the request of the Minority and Interests Committee to take away the 2005 Elite 8 BB tourney at UND. An opposite decision could have also negatively affected the 2006 Hockey Regional at UND.

Thanks to PCM and Forecheck for the well-written, in-depth summaries - they are greatly appreciated!

My sources tell me that UND may get two other early commitments from top quality kids. It has been a few years since we have enjoyed such a good early signing period - especially with good freshmen.

SDSUFAN -- I appreciate your insight into the DI debate. I agree with you that you folks will likely be able to compete and draw well in BB (much more so than NDSU). Obviously, despite a tough year for the Bison, they will likely be able to compete and excel in I-AA quite soon. My concern is for all the other sports: expensive, difficult to recruit and impossible to compete.

Another commitment -- Mike Gutter from Rufus King HS in Milwaukee. A 6'71/2" power forward with potential to grow. Averaged 14 points last season. He plays on a team with two excellent guards who will go DI so he probably won't have tremendous scoring stats this season. A real good recruit for the Sioux. It is nice to see them get some good freshmen coming in.

SDSUFan: I agree - Moller is a dandy! I hope that Doyle is the same type of player. I am sure that Moller's success at SDSU and in the NCC helped Doyle make his decision.

Oops - Sprig, not Spring!!

Spring -- Thanks for looking into this for all of us!

Coach Glas received his first commitment yesterday: Josh Doyle, a 6'1" point guard from Pleasant Vally High School in Bettendorf, IA. A Top 25 in the sate of Iowa. I am sure someone will attach the story from the Herald. Doing so is well beyond my level of expertise.