star2city

aff: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun Believe it or not, Aff, I understand your points. In the early 1990’s, when the FargoDome was just built, when NDSU football and women’s basketball were at higher competitive levels, when NCAA reclassification periods were shorter (and the Mid-Con desperate for members), if NDSU would have gone Division I, they would have left UND in the dust. At that time, UND needed facility upgrades everywhere, hockey was down, budgets were struggling, and then the flood hit. NDSU missed their opportune moment to move up. At present, I don’t think UND supporters are exactly shaking in their boots worried about NDSU’s success in Div I. In 1992, they had reason to be concerned. Now, the Ralph has changed everything. UND is biding their time, building up facilities, endowments and their programs. If and when a conference membership opportunity becomes available that is beneficial to the school (i.e. the conference must include some level of recognition in the Minneapolis media), the school will move up. I’ve always believed the ideal potential conference for UND is the Horizon, if a Minnesota school (such as UMD) moved up also. The Horizon, wanting to add Minnesota to its media footprint, would be interested, but would not be interested an NDSU/SDSU pair or a UND/non-Minnesota pairing.

Considering “Tuk” drives around in a vehicle with a “H8UND” license plate, this has got to be the most hilariously hypocritical statement yet!! These same fans complaining about my posts were just a few weeks ago rejoicing in the bissonville forum about anti-UND personalized license plates, like UND WHO and NOT UND. You’d be hard pressed to find any self-respecting UND fan that would disgrace their vehicle with anti-NDSU venom, as we have positive things to be thankful for. Perhaps the real issue is that my postings had real substance to them, something that Div I cheerleading posts on Bisonville severely lack. Considering that my earlier posting correctly predicted: (a) the Big Sky rejection of NDSU/SDSU, (b) the formation of the Great West conference one year before it happened, © the formation of an independent Div I alliance for 2005-6 (which Coach Miles has confirmed), perhaps the focus should be how to avoid my prognistications from coming true. After all, what could I, a lowly UND grad, possibly know? It is not like I have access to significant figures in the college sports world, like ESPN announcers, or sportswriters, or Div I AD s and coaches, or Bowl representatives, do I? If the same ideas came from an NDSU grad, would you run him out of town? Surely NDSU graduates are capable of harnessing some energy and creative and constructive thought to prove my prognostications wrong, are they not?

If population was the determining factor, UND and NDSU would be smaller than USD and SDSU. They are not. North Dakota schools have made more significant inroads into gaining allegiances of Minnesotan’s than South Dakota schools have. About 30% of UND students are Minnesota natives and I would guarantee you that UND's name recognition in the Twin Cities is higher than that of either South Dakota school. Denver was originally added to the Sunbelt Conference because Denver U has a disproportionate share of executives within the cable and satellite TV industries (which have corporate headquarters in metro south Denver.) The influence of these same Denver U alumni executives can help create cable TV contracts for a conference, where none existed before. At the very least, the conference benefits with increased exposure, if not also financially. Northern Colorado would be a natural partner, so that travel expenses are minimized (two for one). Bringing in two more schools (to twelve) decreases the prospects of any one school going to the Big Dance by 20% and divides the conference revenue sharing pie among two more hungry mouths. Twelve makes economic sense when a conference has football or when a conference gets multiple basketball bids, neither of which applies to the Mid-Con. If Cal-Davis alumni come through, it will be in this decade. The WAC wants UC-Davis and probably even Cal Poly-SLO as an insurance policy against future Mountain West raids. This actually wouldn’t surprise me. SDSU=Drake?

It is always sort of fun to prognosticate, so here goes another set: 1. 2004: Mid-Continent adds Denver. 2. 2005: Big Sky adds Southern Utah to its membership. Montana’s issues on academics are overriden by other conference members and concern that Sac State will leave. 3. 2005: Mid-Continent adds Northern Colorado (football stays in Great West) as a travel partner for Denver and declares a moratorium on expansion, saying “ten is enough”. 4. 2005: Readily apparent that the WAC is courting UC-Davis as a future member, Sac State stays in Big Sky, keeping the membership ranks at nine. Great West loses its shot at future automatic bid with only five members, and with UC-Davis moving to the WAC in 2007 the Great West will only have four members. 5. In 2006, SDSU, beset by scandal, character issues, financial woes, the dropping of athletic programs, a lack of conference affiliation and a change in vision by a new president, announces a move back to Div II and reseeks membership in the North Central Conference. A last-ditch funding attempt by SDSU in the state legislature to have both SDSU and USD funded at Div I levels was defeated. The NCC accepts SDSU for the 2008 season, and partners them with Northern State, who was accepted into the NCC in for 2006 season, as was UN-Kearney. The travel partners will be USD-Augie, UNO-UNK, SDSU-NSU, UND-UMD, SCSU-MSUM. 6. NDSU, still awaiting a conference affiliation (except for the four-team, soon to be three-team, Great West Conference), stubbornly clings to Div I status. They have had modest success in wrestling and I-AA football, but their men’s and once-proud women’s basketball programs have especially experienced difficult times: no home opponents above the 250 RPI rank, extensive travel, and loss of morale. The loss of SDSU to Division II raises Div I costs and, lacking a travel partner, further reduces their conference affiliation chances. By 2007, if the amount of money spent on Div I from Div II levels had been allocated to facilities improvement, a revamped BSA would have been paid for. Instead, the BSA is still a bleachered-quonset structure that conference search committees have shuddered at in disgust. In desperation, needing a travel partner and an association with a respected program, the bisson turn their eyes northward to the very school that they wanted to leave in the dust. The Fighting Sioux, dominating Div II, with new facilities to showcase all their sports, are without question a compelling addition to any mid-major conference. On their knees, begging forgiveness for past transgressions, the bisson administration “proposes” an alliance.

It is rather fascinating that media and fans of former NCC schools continue to think that their past athletic performance and current academic and land-grant status have much of anything to do with obtaining Div I conference affiliation. Those are official lines of University Presidents, but the bottom line is other conference members require a monetarily gain if a school is added. When the ACC added Miami, Va Tech, and Boston College, it was all about more money, which a conference football championship game provides. With the addition of those three schools, the ACC lost academic credibility and its basketball tradition was cheapened. If NDSU or SDSU showed a business plan that would financially benefit the Mid-Con or Big Sky athletic departments , NDSU and SDSU would be accepted this summer. But in reality, the athletic budgets of schools in those conferences get harmed, not helped, by expanding to Fargo and Brookings. The business plan for the Great West was compelling for all schools involved, so it happened. Until Taylor and Oien can show a compelling business plan that helps Mid-Con or Big Sky conference schools, like guaranteed increases in visiting paying fans or outright subsidies, no conference membership will be forthcoming.

Of the total attendance, students and free military passes probably account for 1/3rd of tickets issued. The average ticket sold benefitted UND football by about $9.15, not $5.94. Considering season tickets are reduced price compared with single game prices, the $9.15/seat is probably around 70% of the average ticket price. The rest went to the Alerus, which must pay for event staffing and cleanup costs, and to Ticketmaster. Membership in the Fighting Sioux club is an important source of indirect football revenue, just like Teammakers is for the Bison. I'd be surprised if Bison football ticket revenue, excluding Teammakers and concessions , was above $500,000, especially considering all the discounted single game tickets available at places like Stop-n-Go. Can't find the link, but the terms of the Alerus contract had been on the internet. If recalled correctly, it was a three tier system, where the Alerus would take increasing cuts of the revenue as attendance increased.

The 4th place finish by the Sioux has got to be another ego-brusier for the 8th place bisson and 9th place rabbits, which have both experienced a whole season full of disappointments. Both had such high expectations of making statements in their last year at Div II. For the bisson alone, recall what they've had to endure: the loss of the Nickle, no FB playoffs, no wrestling championship, two losses to the Sioux basketball women to end their tournaments, the final men's bball loss in overtime, no playoff for the pre-season favorite baseball team, and no Div II championship of any kind. By using bisson backers own rationale that Div II is not worthy of them, the championship scoreboard, by their own reckoning, must now be revised. Current Division Championships UND 11, NDSU 0. Division I Scorecard UND 7, NDSU 0. Come July 1st, 11 > 0, 7 > 0 .

Info on the US Junior Evaluation Camp just released this evening: Roster & Schedule Announced For 2004 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp Here's the schedule: The schedule for the 2004 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp is as follows: Date Matchup Time (CST) Location Mon., Aug. 9 Practice TBD Grand Forks, N.D. Tues., Aug. 10 USA Blue vs. Sweden 4 p.m. Grand Forks, N.D. USA White vs. Finland 7 p.m. Grand Forks, N.D. Wed., Aug. 11 USA Blue vs. Finland 5 p.m. Thief River Falls, Minn. USA White vs. Sweden 8 p.m. Thief River Falls, Minn. Fri., Aug. 13 Sweden vs. Finland 4 p.m. Grand Forks, N.D. USA Blue vs. USA White 7 p.m. Grand Forks, N.D. Sat., Aug. 14 USA White vs. Sweden 1 p.m. Grand Forks, N.D. USA Blue vs. Finland 4 p.m. Grand Forks, N.D. Invited Roster

Here's the latest on a beefed-up (+20 lbs) Jerome Beasley: It’s My Time to Shine

No, legally they can't without state and federal government approval, which won't be easy. Turtle Mountain wants a casino near a population base, which Grand Forks, being between Fargo and Winnipeg, conveniently provides relative to Belcourt. The claims of historical ties are of minor legal benefit. Edited late additions from Sunday's Herald: Casino legal hurdles Turtle Mountain ties to GF The White Earth and Red Lake Chippewa tribes in Minnesota, being envious of the enormous amounts of gambling profits being made by tribes near the Cities, have been pleading poverty and asking the Minnesota Legislature for approval to build an off-reservation casino in the northwest suburbs or by the Mall of America (with the State of Minnesota getting a piece of the profits). The legislation failed this year, but next year it is considered more likely to pass. Although the Turtle Mountain tribe would want the casino just off I-29, if it had to happen, a location further away such as near Turtle River State Park would better. The twenty miles or so would provide separation from the city and maybe some golf course and more extensive trail rides for horses and/or X-country skiing could be developed.

This study from Creighton University confirms the above statement:

Turtle Mountain tribe explores off-reservation gaming in Grand Forks Personally, I've never been a proponent of gambling as an economic engine (in spite of what Las Vegas and even Biloxi, Mississippi have become) not only because of the social cost, but also because it negatively affects the local business culture in ways detrimental to manufacturing and service industries (all IMHO, of course). It will be interesting how this develops locally and at the state level.

With the resignation of Clarence Holley at Mankato, Chris Mussman would seem the ideal candidate, with his ties and previous coaching experience down there. What would be the impact on the Sioux offense this fall if he should leave?

Press coverage of Mike Commodore seems to be all the rage in Canada. In addition to the cover of Hockey News (Canada edition) and Don Cherry sporting a carrot-top wig on Hockey Night, here's two recent articles: Today's Toronto Star Flaming mop top tale grows - Homage to Commodore Cult-like and the Calgary Sun from late last month LIKE MIKE - Defenceman becomes most unlikely celebrity which included this quote:

From this Dakota Student article, the planned square footage is 101,000. Initially, a $50 student fee approval for renovation of the Hyslop turned out more expensive than expected. So another student vote approved the larger building and a $45 increase rather then a 40,000 sq ft building with no fee increase. The total cost will be $19+ mill.

That location is considered temporary, if I'm not mistaken, as it is highly valued developable property. A soccer field location closer to the Coulee would make more optimal use of the property. If a pedestrian bridge was added over the Coulee to the UND-owned land west of the Coulee (northwest of Engelstad and adjacent to the Chrysler dealership that the ROTC now uses), it would actually make a rather picturesque setting for low-lying land that probably would not otherwise be developed.

The design and layout of the new Wellness Center has been out, and just curious about what others think of them. My first reaction is: wouldn’t it be great to be a UND student in 2006! My other reaction is: why isn’t the building design in more of a Gothic style like the Ralph? It also looks like there will be plenty of parking, which will conveniently benefit the Betty. Finally, wasn’t there a plan to construct a soccer field enclosed by a brick wall in this area?

There's anything but an off-season anymore with you guys? A rivalry with Minnesota-Duluth should be emphasized, what with Schweigert and Sandelin there.

Bison Needs/Progress: $1.5 annually - Budget increase - $ 1 million short $ 15 mill - Athletic Endowment - no progress made $ 20 mill - Facilities Improvement (BSA) - all talk, no walk $ 2-3 mill Media(In-house production/Cable/Internet/Magazine) - Fargo Forum does double duty! Total needs over next five years over and above previous budgets: $45 million Total progress: New 2004 Bison motto: “Fear Has a New Face: $$Benjamins$$ !! “ Sioux Checklist: Budget: check Endowment: Bollinger working Facilities Improvement: check (but more to come) Media: check Who would you bet on? The Hare or the Tortoise?

During his speech at the UND Commencement, Sean O'Keefe, NASA chief, showed considerable depth and empathy by these statements: UND Commencement Speaker: NASA's Sean O'Keefe

Tony: I actually think you put together a rather well-thought out proposal. Maybe Marcil will become its advocate. A requirement that Div I should have to limit the number of schools moving up from Div II is some type of performance scoring system (i. e. averaging within the top 20 for five years in the Div II Athletic Director's Cup, for instance). This would limit the number of non-football school moving up that have not paid their "dues."

If points were awarded for sports outside those offered by the NCC (which would be a fuller measure of an athletic department's performance), the results would be as follows: UND 214 Mankato 213 NDSU 203 SCSU 201 USD 192 SDSU 174 UNO 167 AC 130 If attendance was the criteria, UND would more than double the three second place contenders: UNO, SCSU, and SDSU.

The Fresno Bee had a long expose on Fresno State's equestrian team, due to a recent death of a member while practicing. The equestrian team helped the Fresno State equine department (equestrian athletes provided cheap labor - cleaned the barns - and those with personally-owned horses paid rent ) as well as helped pad Title IX numbers. Since the article requires registration, here's portions:

After posting last night, I was almost certain Tony would post some vitriol damning Marcil’s proposal. After all, Marcil’s proposal damages the sanctity of the I-AA /Div II football segregation and the sacredness of the Bison’s so-called “March to Division I”. Sure enough, here was Tony's post (Reader's Digest condensed version ): Since 1975, relative to the growth in size of Div I, Div II numbers are way down. For non-football schools, the financial risk/rewards of a Div I move are much more favorable than for football schools. The number of non-football schools that moved to Div I in the last decade or so is staggering: Belmont, IUPUI, IPFW, TAMUCC, Birmingham-Southern, Samford, High Point, Stony Brook, Hartford, Albany, Binghamton, Lipscomb, Campbell, Radford, Quinnipiac, Denver, Oakland, and Longwood, to name a few. These schools didn’t have an impact at the Div II level, and don’t even, with a few exceptions, have anywhere near the athletic department of an NCC school. Marcil’s proposals addresses concerns of both football and non-football schools in Division II. Both sets of schools have concerns that are far different from each other. Within each set, the movement is toward each end of the of spectrum, not toward the center. A non-scholarship football championship for Division I/II gives those Div I schools something to play for, and lessens the downward scholarship trend in Div II. For consistency in argument, those in principle against a non-scholarship football championship should also be in favor of eliminating the IAA football championship (a lesser championship in a higher division).

My apologies to The Sicatoka It shouldn't be a problem if they just added women's equestrian. But seriously, football schools like TAMUK or Valdosta State would probably want a higher level football but stay DivII in other sports. The entire Div I Ohio Valley Conference, which is really a basketball league, would probably all drop to 36 scholarships (and East Tenn. State wouldn't have dropped football). The Southland Conference, which is a football league with almost no basketball tradition, would offer "I-AA" football and be Div II in other sports. Div I schools like Valpo and Drake that offer non-scholarship football would now have a true championship to play for and numerous other Div I schools that don't offer football (Seton Hall, Marquette, etc.) would probably offer it. DivII schools that want to reduce scholarships would have the no-scholarship option. Everyone wins, especially the athletes and the fans. As far as the names, just name them something else, like AAA, AAAA, and AAAAA.