star2city

Don't ever recall UND being a Tier 1 rated Research University, but it is according to the latest US News and World Report ratings If this is indeed the first year with a Tier 1 ranking, would be a significant milestone for UND. US News may have increased the # of schools in Tier 1, but UND is now tied with Hawaii for #159. Looking for last year's ratings.

Imagine if they and Mankato attempted to move to DI. If SCSU is having issues, Bemidji, Southwest St, Winona, Mankato (dropped four sports), and Moorhead must all be feeling major pains

$40 mill would be a piece of cake! ... Forgot about the suites that would be needed too! But, seriously, that kind of money wouldn't be expended on any University project unless it had long-term dividends: like an FBS stadium. Another option is adding 4000 seat to the south end of the Alerus. TCU just announced a major renovation of their stadium to give it all the modern amenities, but yet give it an old-time feel, all for just $105 mill. TCU's big plans for Amon Carter Stadium What's really amazing is that Regina, Saskatchewan - a relatively small city - is seriously considering building a 33,000 seat retractable domed stadium for their Roughriders. Cost will only be $386 mill, with $44 million additional for a retractable roof. Regina waiting to hear from Feds on Stadium funding

In another thread, I had suggested that Memorial Stadium could be refurbished in the future for UND to qualify from a stadium capacity issue for FBS. It would take tens of millions for any decent level of refurbishment to allow UND to move back to Memorial even for the FCS level. Memorial as is is a relic of days gone by, and no longer presents modern-day fans or the media with the experience they desire nor the money-making opportunities for the athletic department. As a minimum, these are needed: - Outdoor video big screen scoreboard for replays and advertising. - Other advertising options / screens - Built-in television broadcast capability, new speaker system - Removal of track oval (which means new oval gets built elsewhere, which is in the long-term plans, which also means a second parking ramp must be built) - New field turf shifted to west, closer to main stands - Major gutting/renovation of main stands, rest rooms, concessions, press box, locker rooms - Chair back seating - New east stands incorporated into proposed practice facility, with concessions, rest rooms, etc - Optional - new stands on north side end zone to provide semi-enclosure Is it possible? Yes. But with a $40 or $50 million donation (if not more) Even then, later games would still need to be at the Alerus for good crowds. Missoula at 0 F feels like Grand Forks at 25 F. The altitude, humidity, and wind don't compare! As far as the Packers, tickets are in such demand at Green Bay. A modified crowd (younger, with less money, who bought or received tickets for cold games) goes to late games there. If the Vikings went back to an outdoors stadium, the tolerance of the fan base for cold, miserable weather has probably changed so much that cold weather games would have half-empty stands, even if the game was sold out.

Ohio State and Penn State pay much more in to the Big Ten through the Big Ten Network and other deals than Minnesota could ever conceive. OSU and PSU's argument will be all sports need to be brought into the Big Ten, for the system to truly be fair. Every other Big Ten school - even non-hockey schools will have a say - will force the issue.

Considering that Minnesota hugely benefits from football TV revenues brought in by Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, etc, without adding much themselves, Minnesota won't be getting any sympathy from fellow Big Ten members. Nebraska was a huge draw in Norman, Ames, Columbia, and Lawrence and had been for almost 100 years. The Big Ten certainly was "considerate" of those rivalries.

In some ways, that strategy plays into the BTHC hands, as the BTHC could simply schedule six games against the other five teams, thus making a 30 game schedule for all and giving them a legitimate reason not to schedule others. If the BTHC was limited to 20 games (5 x 4), there would still be a large number of open dates. If western hockey had four conferences instead of two, conference schedules could be limited to 20 games, with almost half the matches out of conference. For example, a Notre Dame/North Dakota league could have east/west division with 4 games with teams in division, and 2 outside the division, giving 20 games (3x4 + 4x2= 20) but minimizing travel. UND could then schedule all of UMinn, BSU, SCSU, UMD, MSU-M, UW, and still have a series with a Hockey East team. The biggest issue would be the loss of the Final Five - doubt any of the league could duplicate that.

With the strained relationship between the Big Ten and Notre Dame, I doubt a BTHC would ever include Notre Dame unless Notre Dame went all in. Why would the Big Ten help elevate Notre Dame's hockey program? The relationship between Notre Dame and individual schools in the Big Ten may be cordial, but the relationship between the Big Ten office and Notre Dame is not. If a BTHC formed, 6 members would help continue rivalry scheduling: that way Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota could keep playing it's in-state schools and other rivals (UM-UND , UW-UND etc). - Warning: what follows is only speculation of the how the dominoes would fall in the event of a BTHC -- If a BTHC forms, with the amount of money that Notre Dame is pouring into it's program and new arena, Notre Dame isn't going to be satisfied playing mostly DII CCHA schedule - that type of schedule isn't telegenic. Could see Notre Dame and Miami pulling other full DI's Bowling Green and W Mich out of the CCHA to start their own league of full DI schools. Ideally, they would add teams to the east, but there aren't high enough profile schools to add. So they go west and bring in Denver and CC (Denver would insist on CC). Without UM and UW in the WCHA, Denver and CC would be looking for other options, and a Notre Dame conference could be reason enough to bolt. If they go, Omaha would too. UND would then have to seriously consider it, otherwise it would be left in a Northern Sun hockey conference. Notre Dame Miami W Mich Bowling Green Denver CC UNO UND The above league would get some decent attention on regional cable sports networks. Without Minnesota and Wisconsin, Michigan Tech would almost assuredly move to the CCHA with other Mich schools, so Mich Tech and UAF get swapped. The WCHA could be left with: UAA UAF UMD SCSU MSU-M Bemidji and MSU-Moorhead gets added The CCHA could be left with: Mich Tech N Mich LSSU Ferris Wayne St - adds hockey again UAH Lindenwood (add's DI men's hockey, to match women's)

According to tonights Hartman column, Delany wants Big Ten hockey once another school - Penn State - is added.

Co-locate the Wellness Center and Library on the same property. The Alerus issue - including development - is one that all local government should tackle, so that taxes go down. The City Council, Park Board, and School Board do not coordinate growth in the city whatsoever, and is tragic. Co-locating is basic development 101 and seems totally foreign to city leaders except for those on the Park Board, including a voting member/employee with a clear conflict of interest that did not recluse something from voting, who will help line a private developers' pocket. By locating those two properties at or near the Alerus, the Alerus area would receive much more traffic, a nearby Wellness Center improves the Alerus' capability to attract conferences and conventions, and the improved traffic would increase likelihood of commercial development on 42nd. It's a win-win-win for everybody, but the other government bodies seemingly refuse to cooperate with each other for the greater good.

Another Oil Boom in ND: Bottineau County and the Spearfish Formation

Schedule out No Montana on the schedule (did they defer the trip to GF until next year?), but La Tech is on it and is at home. Longwood and Sac State are the other newly released DI teams at home. La Tech and N Colo both have scheduling issues during conference season due to 9-team conferences, so nice to see their scheduling quirks being used as opportunities (like mixing in the Greeley trip with Utah Valley). Good schedule for where the Sioux are in the program. As the release stated, the schedule is ideal as far as minimizing lost class time. Very efficient use of time and resources: no trip out of the time zone or down south without at least two games scheduled. Wish they would spell Sacramento correct.

Detroit News: CCHA Commissioner very interested in Penn State I would hope Atlantic Hockey would offer UAH a spot.

With ND now the 4th biggest oil producer and production expected to double to even triple, this is great news. Since petroleum engineering is somewhat of a combination of geology, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering principles, makes sense to utilize existing strengths. Would really like to see the engineering department add two more majors they have discussed: biomedical and aeronautical.

Just knew you would agree! In the world according to ESPN et. al., FCS and DII football are such niche sports, no one knows the difference. As much as people brag up the Missouri Valley, it's schools aren't exactly research or academic powerhouses. Someday, would really like to see a Northern Pacific division of the WAC (Idaho, Montana, Montana St, Wyoming, UND, NDSU). If the North Dakota DAC teams can line up with Montana/Idaho/Oregon/Utah schools, one would think the flagships could. As far as Iowa State, they basically have a standing invite to the Big East (if that conference still exists ).

At times, I may just stir the pot a little. But, hey, they need help recognizing their insecurities. Just providing a public service. BTW, IMHO the time is fast approaching that UND and NDSU need to be partner as prospective FBS schools to gain WAC admission. If or when Montana gets in, Montana State would likely close follow. Once that happens, North Dakota schools could come into play. If UND can continue to build up its facilities (new parking garage to allow building track/soccer field, upgraded Memorial), and it's TV broadcasting capability (expand relationship with FCS, move into Canadian systems, HD, etc), it would be better set than most existing WAC schools. I also think that NDSU needs to relook at whom it is competing with academically: SDSU is attracting many Minnesota students and is practically a duplication of NDSU academics. For the betterment of the state of ND, athletic cooperation between UND and NDSU should be pursued to bring both to FBS.

This will drive certain NDSU fans bonkers: UND included within 10 FCS programs that should jump to FBS Most of these suggestions are not at all feasible: financially, or due to conference invite issues, from a media perspective, or from a stadium perspective. Appy State is probably most ready (Montana needs more sports added), and UMass and Delaware really should play up soon. UND would really have to redo Memorial Stadium to 20,000+ seats - moving the track out of there - and maybe play later November games and Thursday night TV games in the Alerus. If the new indoor practice facility is really getting built, Memorial Stadium's location does become more game friendly (pre-game parties/half-time fan warmup ), FBS does become more feasible 10 years down the road.

NIU has right stuff on both sides of ball NIU gets vote in first poll NIU and Temple favored in MAC NIU intensity picks up

NW St looking to improve after winless season

Des Moines Register

This time, I think it is real. A hockey-loving alum comes into $4.7 Billion from Marcellus Shale rights: $80 million is nothing but chump change for him to play with. Delaney (the Big Ten Commish) is seeing $ signs with the additional programming for the Big Ten Network. Nittany: DI Hockey coming to a PennSt rink

Altoona Mirror: Penn State close to adding hockey Pennlive blog

After all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, 9 games are now scheduled: Live chat - 2 more games to be announced For 2012, the scheduling will be much easier!

@Nebraska on Jan 2nd Link

It makes sense from a recruiting standpoint: potential Minnesota recruits and USHL players get to see CCHA teams live. Moreover, their family and friends would get to watch them play if MSUM ever got in the CCHA. UAH deserves the CCHA bid, but the CCHA has been bull headed about it.