supersioux

I don't think that UND FAN's comment should be taken as racist. It's a valid point that as UND needs to reach into area like Milwaukee, Chicago, Des Moines, Denver, ect with the move to DI. That more and more recruits will be non-white. It's certainly something to think about if any AC coaching job opens in FB or BB. I think that we all agree that there are many great white athletes.

Let me join in and say "Thank You" Brad Berry. You will be missed.

It really is rough math, I just figured that a full scholarship is about 11,000 (ND & MN) I know that out of state is more but it's the same principal. I used a roster size of 24. Simply divide 33,000(value of 3 schollies) by 24 and you get about 1,300. That's assuming that your entire team absorbs the lack of scholarships. Note: I'm no expert so if it's not that simple I appologize. I do know that there are many teams that in all divisions that compete with less than the max. For instance if UND football gets to 57 and not 63 is that a reason to not be successfull?

I just don't think that having a few less scholarships is a huge deal. For instance if a team is at 15 instead of 18 that would mean that each player gets about $1,300 less than the team that is allowed 18 scollies. I do buy that location may be a big factor especially for female athletes and ND is turing out a ton of DI W hockey players. I'll buy that location may be a factor but I don't see a kid turning down the Ralph for MSU's All Seasons (and yes I've been there) for $1,000 unless there are other reasons (one of which could be location for twin city kids).

IMHO that scholarships aren't the even close to the biggest reason that we can't compete. The Ralph should make up for some difference in scholarship dollars. I mean would you play at Bemedji State for an extra 1000 or 2000 dollars over UND? Also are we so positive that everyone in the WCHA is fully funded? Mostly SCSU, Bemedji, or others?

I would guess that plans for an indoor practice facility would be announced sometime this fall after the facility master plan. After all St. Cloud covers their facilityand MN State Southwest just announced plans for a similair facility, one that will be covered in the winter months for training. I think the biggest question is what it will be like, where it will go, and will it be a competition site for any current sports.

I believe Men's lacrosse is an automatic because their is only DI lacrosse, like hockey. So really essentailly in 4 years we could have DI M Hockey W Hockey M Lacrosse W Lacrosse M Swimming W Soccer All eligible for and able for the post season.

I think on the Men's side it's easy with Men's Swimming. On the women's side it's a little more debateable. I believe NDSU picked VB and just looking at NDSU I think that they didn't realize how big of a jump it is in VB. It's really got to be either Swimming or Soccer. I think that NDSU has had moderate success with soccer in the transition and UND has had hands down more success in DII soccer than did NDSU. Swimming makes some sense to keep men's and women's together but as successfull as UND has been I wonder how many of our swimmers PR's make the DI qualifying cut. With that said my vote goes for Men's Swimming and Soccer

Do we know if the money is for Athletics specificly?

I'm just curious what sports at UND support themselves "at the gate or through donations"? My guess is that would maybe be one (Men's Hockey).

I agree with that. I think one big question is about tradition and if or how it will change. Part of UND athletics is being successfull nationally in many programs. This is simply why I am still on the fence (although if asked to vote in polls, I vote yes). Is it more prestegious to content for national titles in division II (I'm talking many sports and athletes) or celebarate conference titles and national tournament appearances. The more and more DII becomes watered down more appealing it becomes to be DI

Bincity- I am on the fence with a DI move, but you post disterbed me a little. You are for competing in championship and feel that going IA would destroy tradition. What would a DI move do to WBB tradition? Or does it matter?

Seems like a questionable hire? Anybody agree? I wonder what the canidate pool was like?

Any suggestions for places in Bismarck. There are Sioux Fans in Western ND too.

Hockey Mom, I'm with you. At least have the decency to tell people what it was for. If it was that bad people would probably understand why she was cut. I have to believe that there was a reason but the question is weather it was bad enough to send her packing. If it was Parise, SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER the question. I guess that women's hockey can get away with it and not have to answer the question. The other thing that seems odd to me was the 3rd Goalie played against Wisc. If she hadn't played all year it wouldn't make sense to burn a year of eligibility for one period. That seems very questionable, unless I'm misinformed.

I do think that this is typical for administrators to do. I would think that this occurs for all sports.

Hockey Mom, I have been to between 6 and 10 home games each of the past two season. I wasn't in GF before that and I am by no means am hockey expert. I would classify myself as a casual sports fan. I will admitt that I did expect more this season. With the olympians gone the difference from top to bottom should be closer. I can only believe that it will widen next year. Starting a new program can be difficulty but I have to believe that it is easier to sell a new program to recruits than one that is a prenial cellar dwellar, and that is what's happening each year that goes by it is going to be more an more difficult to recruit becuase of the lack of success and the fact the "we are a new program" carries less weight. But I do have a question for you, "Do you think that next year will be better?" By that I mean will they finish above last place, win more than 7 games and earn more than 6 points in the WCHA?

You are assuming that all the other teams are fully funded which is not the case. Not everyone has a Ralph either, which should make the startup easiser. I think that we lose some very good seniors and the will have a green goaltender which could be a challenge. I was looking at it from a standpoint of wins the past four years. 2002-3- 10wins 2003-4- 16wins 2004-5- 9wins 2005-6- 7wins I know that we started the WCHA in 2004-5, but there is no reason to regress while we are getting more funding and further along. We now lose 8 seniors, nine if you count Maggie who was cut only a few days before Senior Day. I know that there are some good young players but I don't see us going the other direction anytime soon.

What do fans really think?

YEAH! I agree!...A DI(?) Mens coach making $57,000??? WOW

Thats the rumor. It seems odd that an institution would make a move like this after starting the program only two years ago. I know they are cash strapped but is it the much worse than two years ago. I have a friend from EGF that plays there, I can only imagine what her feelings are.

I'm with you on keeping the soccer field where it is at. Upgrades would be minimal and the location is ideal. I've always thought that a scoreboard and the type of white fence that is near the southwest corner of the betty would go along ways for a soccer facility. Add a walkway and some concrete for the bleachers to sit on and I think that you have a pretty good facility. It would also give the administration the ability to charge admission, which could help the budget a bit. After all they draw near the same as W Hockey. I would guess that most DI soccer programs don't use a shared facility. I wonder if the idea of putting a bubble over Memorial (like St Cloud does) has been explored this could kill the indoor practice needs. I don't know about anyone else but it will be interesting to see what the next 6 to 12 months bring!

I agree that before anything can be done admin and the president need to figure out DI or DII. This would greatly impact the hire. I'm also curious as to what they do with the opening for VB. Regardless, the ball needs to be in administrations court before any changes can be made. My two cents anyhow

Women lost 8-0. I thought that we are suppose to be closing the gap on some of these teams. This year there are no Olympians playing and we seem to be getting further away. Whats the deal with this program? We competed better last year.