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Orlando Sentinel: Changing Identities

This comes as a surprise, IMHO: the University of British Columbia may be interested in playing NCAA DI hockey and basketball. The implications to the college hockey world could be rather profound, if this happened. Canadian colleges express interest in becoming members

Los Angeles Times: Rodney Dangerfield-like places that are finally getting respect

http://www.forbes.com/global/2006/0522/068.html Forbes article especially talks up job growth with Cirrus Design, LM Glasfiber, EERC, and the School of Aerospace Sciences. All four seem positioned for more growth based on energy and aerospace needs. Looks like there will be even more synergies coming in the Aerospace field with this: Nekoma vies for UAV center Having additional aerospace and avionics firms in GF, like perhaps Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrup Grumman, and maybe Australia's Aerosonde could really solidify GF's economy.

Thanks for your Hoosier perspective, Galoux! You definitely gave us a sense of Brand's brand of imperialism.

Totally agree that a number of applicants probably had a stipulation: only interested if this is going to be a DI position. If the coaching announcement is made before May 23rd, we're staying DII. If the Big Sky announces an interest in UND on the 23rd, look for additional "finalists" to be announced.

Eleven schools isn't really an option (we're not talking adding Penn State to the Big 10 here). Eight, nine, ten, and twelve schools are workable, depending on the geography and sports offerings. If there is an option that I left out, it is NDSU/SDSU/SUU, but I personallly don't see that happening.

Bob Boyd gave one interview in which he stated something to the effect that 'we look like a DI school, not a DII school.' I believe there are a number of people in the UND administration that are doing everything they can to make DI a reality within the constraints of finances and the conference situation. And if the contrary is true, that UND gets into the Big Sky conference without having to spend twp-three years as an independent, Kup, Harmeson, Boyd etc would deserve a major round of applause and kudos as they would have saved millions and saved UND the embarassment of conference reject slips. Agree they have taken a higher risk, higher reward path.

I still like UND's chances, so I voted UND/NDSU/SDSU. A perfect contra-indication of what will come down seems to be the conventional wisdom among Bison fans, so that's a good sign for us! In the past, NDSU fans were of the prevailing view that NDSU to the Sky was inevitable. Now, their prevailing wisdom is that NDSU to the MidCon is inevitable. I like those odds. But seriously, it is curious that, to my knowlegde, no one from the UND administration has even mentioned the May 23rd Big Sky meeting in all the discussion about DI. IMHO, they are protecting their relationship with the NCC - as they don't have the media (and other NCC schools) knowing they are flirting with the Big Sky in case those meetings don't go UND's way. For UND's long-term future, the worst case scenario is probably NDSU/SDSU going to the MidCon. That could probably freeze us out from both conferences. Another poor scenario would probably be the Big Sky adding NDSU and the MidCon adding SDSU. If that should happen, UND would have to wait until a Big Sky school moved to the WAC before getting consideration in the Big Sky. Also, NDSU would be in a position to blackball us if they were a conference member. If the Big Sky was intent on adding only one, their strategic choice should be SDSU to be a travel partner with UNC. By doing that, NDSU's appeal to the MidCon would plummet, as they would have no travel partner. The Big Sky would effectively have preserved its access to both NDSU and UND as potential future members.

Last night, Steven Hallstrom of WDAY was reporting that the Big Sky Conference Athletic Directors have voted to expand. He also said that Montana State

This is a DII list. If this is the case, Craig Smith should have an interview. Will there be a DI list after the Big Sky meetings?

Much of the coaching decision comes down to "are we or are we not going DI?" If we going DI, we practically have to have a coach that has DI connection for scheduling purposes in the DI transition, for recruiting beyond our region, and to help in our sex appeal to a conference. The choice and how he appears to others outside of UND in a DI environment matters, where before it didn't. Personally, I think many of the DI assistants that have applied leave a lot to be desired. I also think that Jay's father, Charlie, was one of the best DI coaches around, getting more from limited talent than most could. If Jay has half his father's talent, which I think he does, we would be unbelievably blessed. If its the same old D2 song, then you are absolutely correct, hoops guy.

I am practically speechless that someone of Spoonhour's quality could be available. Add a local assistant or two, and the UND men's basketball program would be on its way!! A few more links: Scout: Spoonhour to take SEMO job? Las Vegas Weekly

Had not realized until that Forum article that Jay Spoonhour applied for the UND job. He's my odds-on favorite - he'd be awesome for the program and would instantly grant UND men's basketball respect. Here's what the Las Vegas Sun said about him when he was the UNLV interim: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/.../516508721.html Here's what the Springfield, Mo, paper, where his dad Charlie was a legendary coach, has to say: Finding a Job is All About Timing Please, please hire Jay. Jay, please accept!

1. He was at Southwest Minnesota St, as a DII head coach. (Did NDSU hire him out of Mayville? No.) BTW, is NDSU in a conference right now? That is no knock on Tim Miles, but it was really only the win against Wisconsin that put him on the map. Tim Miles is now a major reason NDSU will likely get in a conference for the 2008-9 season. 2. Even if it was for a significant pay increase?

No argument there. That may be precisely why, if an offer was given, it was later pulled (after someone higher up found out). IMO, Herbst has to be made a finalist out of respect for his years of contribution and because of that rumored event.

If we are going Division I (which I still think we are), Ralston / Buning have to impress upon a prospective conference that we are serious about men's basketball. If we hired Craig Smith, who probably is a great coach, conferences would view an NAIA DII coach as a major black mark against us until that coach has had several years under his belt. The resume of our head basketball coach has to have (a) at least some Division I experience, or (b) a whole lot of DII head coaching experience. If we hired an NAIA or JC coach, we'd instantly lose credibility and be viewed as a school with no commitment to a DI men's basketball program. It's not fair, but it's reality. Prospective conferences don't care about the pedigree of our volleyball coach, but men's basketball is a whole other issue. That said, there absolutely needs to be a local coach (Smith) on the staff that knows the area and later could potentially step into the top job.

The MidCon needs fully DI eligible members. Neither NDSU or SDSU are until the fall of 2008. They may take one ineligible member before fall of 2008, but two is a big stretch. Of course they would take SDSU's swimming programs - even if you were in the Big Sky, it doesn't have that sport. Ditto for baseball. There's no risk for the MidCon in adding SDSU/NDSU as affiliates in those sports. He very well could be a help. The best thing he can do for his former school is get the SU's into the Midcon so the Big Sky is forced to take Southern Utah. Southern Utah is your biggest advocate - it's in their best interests to get the SU's in the MidCon. UMKC is likely another advocate. ORU, Cent, IUPUI, and Oakland would have to be convinced its in their interests. ORU/Cent/IUPUI/Oakland > Sac St/Portland St/NAU Let's see: 8 + 3 = 11 - that doesn't work. You need one more team to go to 12 (UND?). So they go to 10 and add NDSU/SDSU but have to wait till 2008/9. Possible, but the travel becomes Oakland/IUPUI, Valp/W ILL, NDSU/SDSU, UMKC/ORU, Cent/SUU You are forgetting a number of other DII schools that are looking at DI. A combination of IPFW and any of the following (SIU-Edwardsville - backed by WIll, Oklahoma City U - backed by ORU, N Kentucky - backed by IUPUI) would help the MidCon's geography more than by adding NDSU/SDSU. Incidentally, all of these DII schools are undergoing or have had a DI study. The SU's are only a "fit" for the MidCon because, geographically, it has no identity. Do I think the SU's could be headed to the MidCOn? Definitely. Is it a slam dunk? Absolutely not. Dont get your hopes up to high, aff, you might get disappointed, again.

Seems to me there has been way too many sullen folks on this board who are becoming swayed by uninformed opinions. If nothing else, the DI survey should be a trumpet sound, calling Sioux fans that are passionate about DI to action. Sioux fans persevere, they take hope, they believe in what seems like the impossible. That is who we are. Reasons UND is Going DI

With every one of your posts, D1sioux, I grow more and more thankful you are no longer part of the athletic department. You may be justified in some of your views, but I think most people would characterize your behavior on this board as the very thing you accuse Buning of: unprofessional.

So do you rent?

So, aff, if you want to talk spin, how do you spin Gene Taylor's statement upon moving to DI of "I should be fired if I don't find a conference in a year?"

If the question would have been like the Herald's poll, with possible answer to the DI question being: (A) Yes (B) No (C ) Yes, after finding a respectable conference (D) Maybe in 5 or 10 years. there would IMO be more agreement between the Herald poll and the UND poll. A combination of B, C, & D on the Herald Poll gives 66% disapproval of a DI move without a conference - rather good agreement. But a combination of (A) and (C ) on the Herald Poll gives 65% approval to a DI move - with a respectable conference. Herald Poll There would be significant support for a DI move, IMO, with a conference.

This seems like the key answer: