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Herald editorial from this weekend Bresciani must be very worried about Kelley's future. But the Herald retorts that the SBoHE is very, very pleased with Kelley. The SBoHE would never ever fire Kelley. The issue is that the Governor and Legislature will get rid of all of them for dysfunctionality, arrogance, insubordination, and down right deceit. Even Lloyd Omdahl agrees that the SBoHE is dyfunctional. The Alice Hoffert issue is just the tip of the iceberg.

Herald Link to Kelley's Statements on KFGO Considering that Kelley's administration almost certainly helped orchestrate the NCAA statement, should anyone be surprised that Kelley was "not surprised."

A communications fortress around Twamley Hall is being built. People like Alice Hoffert had too many friends in Bismarck that were on a first-name basis. Now, any informal state questions have to go through Kelley or Kelley's new VP of Public Relations, which hasn't been announced yet. How convenient that a new VP of Public Relations position was created just before Alice was sacked. Guess the new PR person will come in just at the right time for the name change.

That is huge news for the swimming program! But since the WAC doesn't have men's swimming, what would be it's destination? The MVC, Sunbelt, and CUSA all only have a couple of men's teams. Edit: Just did some checking. A men's swimming conference of: Denver Seattle North Dakota Pacific Bakersfield Hawaii could make an appearance, either as a new WAC sport, or as part of the Mountain Pacific Federation. Mountain Pacific Federation - an umbrella conference for western olympic sports The WAC women's swimming lineup will be: San Jose St Idaho Seattle Denver Northern Arizona New Mexico St North Dakota - possibly Hawaii as the Big West doesn't sponsor swimming

WSJ: US on verge of Industrial Renaissance because of shale boom

The Independent (London): There Will Be Bucks in the Town that Struck Black Gold A Williston of 60,000 people?

A short special session of the legislature will be upcoming to deal with legislative redistricting after the 2010 census. When that session will be is a whole other question: potentially after the next Big Sky meeting in October. There are a number of things going against UND on this issue, even more than "just the NCAA". UND doesn't have the power of Utah (Orin Hatch), the money of Florida State in dealing with the Big Sky or the NCAA, plus UND has a very very well organized anti-nickname organization within the University, BRIDGES that has created ill-will anywhere it can . Could anyone honestly tell me that the WCHA would ban UND from hosting WCHA post-season games, even though the WCHA is filled with virulently anti-nickname presidents - moreso than the Big Sky? The WCHA would never ever ban UND because of the money it brings it to other presidents and their athletic departments. If UAA had a nickname in the same situation, UAA would be banned from WCHA hosting.

The WAC hasn't said anything, but they are desperate for FBS football schools that have a pulse and can pay bills. Since bowl games aren't part of any NCAA playoffs, the nickname theoretically wouldn't "harm" the WAC as a league as much. Sounds like Fullerton and the Big Sky presidents are talking about banning UND from hosting Big Sky postseason tournaments, not kicking UND out, but if worse came to worse, the WAC would have to be looked at.

Collegehoops.net Interview of Coach Glass

Agree. Changing the name from "Fighting Sioux" to "Spirit Lake Sioux" is really a game changer at this point. Spirit Lake has given the name in perpetuity. It totally changes the dynamics of any talks with the NCAA, and with the Big Sky and any other conference or school. It removes some of the supposedly negative connotations of "Fighting". It grants Spirit Lake and in turn the Devils Lake region national recognition, which both badly need. It's a winning idea that even the NCAA would almost have to approve because of Spirit Lake approval.

Part of this is posturing. The question is how much. If the Big Sky was really concerned about it's schools meeting all NCAA requirements, it would kick out Idaho State now. Idaho State has been banned from football postseason - which is worse than a ban from hosting post-season games - yet no threats are being publicly made at Idaho State for horrible academic progress or even having a football coach that has a record of cheating and NCAA probation. Not saying that UND is in a good position, but would bylaws allow UND to be evicted without the potential for a huge lawsuit against the Big Sky? If the ND AG does in fact sue the NCAA for anti-trust as the law states he needs to, is the Big Sky fearful about offering UND shelter?

That's a bad peep. Looks like I'm going to have to retract my earlier statements.

Richard Hanson? With all the bad blood between the SBoHE and the legislature still hanging around from the Chapman era, this is probably best for everybody. UND grad William Ruud, who interviewed for NDSU's job and probably would have been a serious candidate for UND if he hadn't just accepted the presidendency at Shippensburg State, may be getting some attention.

Were you using Bowbells as the comparison town? The population decline of Burke County is absolutely incredible: 10,000 people in 1930 and less than 2000 in 2010. Burke County had 1/3rd of the population of Cass County in 1930 and now it has 1/75th the population. Burke County is now mostly Senior Citizens (average age of Columbus was 57 by census data), so another decade without development of some kind, and Burke County would have been just one huge bonanza farm with a nursing home.

The development that Annabelle Homes has planned for Columbus (population 600 + in 1960 to 119 now ) was unfathomable just a few short years ago, when Columbus was consigned to being a ghost town in another generation. Columbus development - 150 homes Columbus is the epicenter of where Sirius Mining/Dakota Salts wants to begin deep well potash mining: Dakota Salts project

Towns that have been declining in population for 80 years may double in population soon: Major developments planned for small towns in NW ND

Fresno State converting from grass to Fieldturf: UND game will be first on new turf

Alouettes Tibesar brings new intensity to defense

While President Kelley was conveniently out of town, his new VP fired Alice Hoffert. Termination Letter Herald I don't have a problem with making major shakeups in any administration, but no matter how you do it, just treat the person with some level of respect. At least give a person at that level six months to a year in a consulting role. She was going to be paid for a year anyway. Kelley knew all about this - and if he didn't he doesn't have any control of his staff. Kelley again seems to take a coward's way toward people and ideas, much like the underhanded crap he pulled on the Sioux name. Dr. Kelley, the manner in which you and Reesor pulled off a firing is an embarrassment to the University community. We deserve and demand better.

Overcoming the Odds: From Miami Gardens to North Dakota

Men's Basketball attendance leaders UND was third in attendance among reclassifying schools (Seattle was first by a wide margin.) UND would be behind Montana, Montana St, N Colo, Weber St, and S Utah in Big Sky attendance. The Big Sky has a slight lead over the Summit in attendance.

I didn't include baseball or softball attendance for UND, as the crowds are usually so small. For certain other schools with larger attendances (more than 2000 total), I did include baseball and softball. UND's website lists Kraft Field capacity as 2000:

Perhaps the Fargo Forum should really do some research before spouting off in their editorials about the Big Sky kicking UND out and no other conference would touch UND because of the legislatures' actions. Not a word out of Bisonville either, whose talking heads had descended into its typical orgy of misinformation, convincing seemingly all of their followers that UND would not only be thrown out of the Big Sky, but the NCAA would invalidate the DI transition. That's the type of media and internet B.S. that my earlier post was responding to. There are no schools in the Big Sky remotely like St Cloud St in culture. There also aren't schools out west like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, who behave like nosy and elitist and Midwestern small town neighbors who object and ban you from their parties for flying a certain flag on UND's lawn. The West is culturally much more open, tolerant, eclectic, and accepting of differing viewpoints, even if people disagree with you.

Idaho State Journal (Pocatello):

NCAA APR release for 2010 Here's UND's Academic Progress Report scores for each sport. A score under 925 potentially causes a loss of scholarships, while a score under 900 may result in a school being banned from NCAA playoffs. A score of 1000 indicates perfection (100% graduation within a specified time frame). Since UND is in transition except in hockey, the APR becomes especially meaningful in 2012. The sport with the biggest issue is men's cross country, while baseball and men's swimming are also relatively low. The men's ice hockey score is now in great shape at 976, which has probably been helped by a rule change that doesn't penalize schools when undergrads leave school to go professional. Men's football is sitting comfortably at 972, even with some high profile academic dropouts. Sport School State Academic Year Multi-Year Rate Penalties Baseball University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 940 Baseball University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 936 Football University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 971 Football University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 972 Men's Basketball University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 960 Men's Basketball University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 961 Men's Cross Country University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 813 Men's Cross Country University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 906 Men's Golf University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 1000 Men's Golf University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 980 Men's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2004 - 2005 918 Men's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2005 - 2006 930 Men's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2006 - 2007 941 Men's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2007 - 2008 943 Men's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 973 Men's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 976 Men's Swimming University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 923 Men's Swimming University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 934 Men's Track, Indoor University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 932 Men's Track, Indoor University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 946 Men's Track, Outdoor University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 932 Men's Track, Outdoor University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 946 Softball University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 979 Softball University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 990 Women's Basketball University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 1000 Women's Basketball University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 964 Women's Cross Country University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 1000 Women's Cross Country University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 985 Women's Golf University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 1000 Women's Golf University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 1000 Women's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2004 - 2005 961 Women's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2005 - 2006 936 Women's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2006 - 2007 952 Women's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2007 - 2008 961 Women's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 965 Women's Ice Hockey University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 980 Women's Soccer University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 1000 Women's Soccer University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 993 Women's Swimming University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 944 Women's Swimming University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 971 Women's Tennis University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 1000 Women's Tennis University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 966 Women's Track, Indoor University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 974 Women's Track, Indoor University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 976 Women's Track, Outdoor University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 974 Women's Track, Outdoor University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 976 Women's Volleyball University of North Dakota ND 2008 - 2009 1000 Women's Volleyball University of North Dakota ND 2009 - 2010 989 Idaho State football has been banned from post-season play due to its low APR: link