JBB

As a DII institution playing "out of class" in hockey, is it your desire to join NDSU in Division I? As far as Parise: the photo tells the story. He is gone so fast I hope the door doesnt hit him in the backside on the way out. I'm not sure Division I NDSU would really want to participate in a segregated sport like hockey that knows nothing of the student athlete as evidenced by the graduation rates your hockey program sports.

I was told the earth was flat. Do you believe everything you have heard?

If one sport, one division becomes the law hockey will split about 50/50. Some of the DIAA schools might even consider DII hockey. Isnt DII good enough for you? You want to play DI like the BISON?

All sports at one level would certainly bring about a DII hockey division. There are simply too many DII schools playing "DI" hockey. Where would their programs go?

Jim, wondering what your bait might catch? You caught someone that uses immature misspellings/misstatments to insult rivals. I will take this opportunity to remind them, on your behalf of course, that immature behavior of that type is not welcome here.

A DI NCC is not a possibility. It never was. A new conference might get the name but it wouldn't be anything like the old NCC and the travel issue would arise no matter what. If your going DI you have to pay much higher travel costs. Iwakota has delivered the most honest and straight forward post Ive ever read from a UND fan concerning this issue. Its a far cry from the nay saying that has resulted in tiring conversations eluded to by the administrator of this site. NDSU has made the Decision 1 for a large number of reasons. We know that the conference affiliation is important but it might not happen tomorrow. As we build relationships a future conference affiliation is certain. SDSU has had its hands tied by Nay sayers in their state. Making the move and then managing your future opportunities is the very best way to go. Success or failure is not going to be measured over the next 2 years or so. The long view is very necessary to undertake the type of change NDSU is now entering. None of the observations that floated up and out of the din of the anti move crowd both in Fargo, Grand Forks and other places were of the long view variety. All were short term criticisms of tactics. None undermined the soundness of the strategy.

Mr. Hoyte speaks up with a customary sentiment typical of the intellectually downtrodden. Naturally now that NDSU is paving the way and the benefits are becoming obvious the old plan of DI hockey/DII other sports isn't looking good. Even the NCAA hockey elite are getting a little tired of the free ride. Look for an all Big 10 hockey league in the future and the WCHA will remain DI/DII. Watch for Bemidji in the NCC, and possibly to replace WCHA Big 10 defectors. As you examine all of your options don't forget all of the great reasons put forth for staying right where you are. It seems very unlikely that a move downward in scholarships combined with some changes in the way the hockey playoff field is selected would be enough to overcome the months and months of reassurance that staying DII was absolutely the way to go. Somehow I can't believe that the long lists of negatives could be overcome by anything less than a bruised ego. It's become very obvious that UND preceives it is in a corner looking for a way out.

Any time you try and predict it's tough, especially when your trying to predict the future! You can make educated guesses. I dont think too many people are looking at the NDSU signees saying the class doesn't look good, especially for our future. It was a perfect recruiting year! By the looks of things we may have that prestigious "Golden Arm" locked up for years to come. It's an award the NDSU QBs have dominated since its inception!

NDSU had a perfect recruiting year! heres the link: www.gobison.com

The conspiracy constiuents were really logging on and pushing that yes button. Like chickens getting a piece of grain for ringing a bell. I wonder what the average number of votes per person was?

Lennon is the Earl Solmonson of UND football. We will see how good he is as the recruits of Roger Thomas move on. Last seson just might be a look at your future. I seriously doubt that Lennon would be the best candidate for the NDSU Coaching position but if he was he would be hired. I agree that Rocky was a good coach but I also agree, and have pointed out many times, that BISON football began its decline under his watch and it continued under Babich. The thing about BISON FOOTBALL is this: the past and the tradition get discussed because we have it to discuss. You guys go back 2 years.

So Sicatoka, you are publicly bowing out of "the conspiracy" on this one?

It will matter, and it's going to be a huge deal. If UND quits, and it seems like they eventually might, they wont be able to play any other DiAA football teams in the country. That will be the test. After next year the games will be non conference and scheduling problems will not be an excuse. If UND is going to play any DIAA football games they are going to have to include the BISON. If they are going to play exclusively in DII, and that's certainly likely, then they can bow out, but I think it's clear across the state of North Dakota that NDSU is ready, willing, and able now and long into the future. What color of wig will Roger Thomas wear when he announces the end of the series? Iowa and Iowa State went through something similar and they have continued to play. GO STATE!!!! As far as the name thing goes. I will respect your wishes, but I will comply with the resolution recently passed by the NDSU Student Senate. On the other hand I would hope the board would stay clear of statements like the yellow stream etc etc etc.

Thomas, at least to my knowledge, did not say it would be discontinued next year, and I dont think I said that, but he has said that the future of the rivarly would be open to evaluation. Others however have come out and stated it bluntly. Especially after the actions of the NDSU Student Senate with regards to using the name. The point I was making was the game would go on next year no matter what Thomas says unless he is going to accept a forfiet. After all, it is an NCC game. What do you mean childish digs? Roger Thomas did appear in a green wig at the Ralph last season to show the kids how they could have a good time without standing up and blocking the view of the as he put it "our most important fans". I thought it was a very good move and dont want to see it forgotten. Identifying him with his own actions can hardly be considered a dig, unless others feel his behavior was not appropriate. I still believe the future of the rivalry is in your hands. NDSU will always keep the door open and I think they would be open to a home/home competition. I don't see any way the rivalry could be discontinued without a truly disastrous public relations problem. If UND were to discontinue the competition they certainly couldnt accept any other DIAA games.

My question is this: did Thomas have his green hockey wig on when he made the comment? Your right Tony, there have been posts that have called for an immediate end to the competition regardless of conference rules. We will play next year no matter what Hockey Roger "you kids can have fun anyway" Thomas says or any of the other "fans" for that matter. It's 2004 when UND will have to face their future. NDSU will always have the door open. My guess is a home/home will be acceptable for the NDSU BISON. If they quit it's going to be an admission of inferiority and a public relations disaster for the fighting sue.

Don't be too sure. The home team locker room is really nice. The field is good, the stands suck, but who cares. It's the visitor locker rooms and visitor stands that really really suck. You also have to remember that they are going to build a new 6.000 seater for football this summer. It will be south of the hockey arena in the parking lots. It will be small, but from what I have seen it will be a nice little bowl. Most people that I have talked to want it to be 10,000.

St. Cloud owned the league last year except for an OT loss at UNC. St. Cloud is also making a statement in BB. They cant hope to move up until they do something with that football stadium and then I really dont think they have the community or alumni support to do it. But, if they keep winning their two minor sports, BB and football, they might just start to draw more than flys. Its all hockey at SCSU (if anything at all besides partying) and I dont think thats changing even if they build the new 6,000 seat football arena. They might have the coaching and the players right now, but they dont have any idea how to run a football program outside of the locker room. Anybody with a business in St. Cloud could probably buy that program if they would just step up with a little support.

The construction of the new horse racing track in Fargo opens the door for NDSU to join the growing national trend for women's equestrian sports.

You have become trivial and mere shadow of your former self, which wasn't that much to begin with!

Pretty good? Next year is your last chance to beat the BISON at football.

It cant hurt either school.

I think it was a student sponsored thing. They had someone dressed up like a BISON player and had them acting in an unfortunate manner. They also turned the lights out as the NDSU cheer squad was completing a pyramid. Maybe shambles was a little strong, but the program is not where many fans thought it would be. As far as our lottery win in Fargo goes there is no final word yet. But you have to admit Babich is putting together one stellar recruiting class! Even in his darkest hours, and there were/are a lot of them, he stood steadfast behind his team and staff and what they were doing. He did not waiver a bit.

What makes you think I was talking to you DMB?

What's Robbie Meeks background?

I was talking about the "entertainment" at the most recent NDSU basketball victory in Grand Forks. Some of you may have missed it, but it was clear the mentally handicapped were being publicly mocked. The rules problem is of course the Allen situation. Your BB coach recruited and played a pro. Your crisis is the basketball coach and his future or lack of it. It's starting to look like he might not be the guy. The program is in a shambles, the Crookston game was a real eye opener and there are many other signs of coaching weakness. I know we have our own problems at NDSU, but this is a UND board and the thread is about Allen, which certainly leads to the coach and the state of the program. As far as the NDSU T shirt? It's in good humor with malice to none.