nodakvindy

When I first did it, I actually had ISU and UND (wanted the Potato Bowl matchup), and UNC and Poly. I switched ISU and Poly so UNC had two Old Big Sky and two new Big Sky. Didn't see the PSU switch, but really like it. The above grouping is pretty solid and I think most schools would be pretty happy with it. The pacific schools only have to come to North Dakota once every four years. I put hypothetical groupings for all team above.

I would designate four rivals to play every year, then alternate the four of the remaining 8 you play every other year. That gives you an 8 game conference slate. UM: MSU/EWU/UND/WSU EWU: UM/PSU/CP/Sac PSU: EWU/ISU/Sac/UCD ISU: PSU/WSU/MSU/UNC WSU: ISU/SUU/UM/NAU SUU: WSU/NAU/UNC/UCD NAU: SUU/UNC/WSU/MSU UNC: NAU/UND/SUU/ISU UND: UNC/MSU/UM/CP MSU: UND/UM/ISU/NAU CP: UCD/Sac/EWU/UND UCD: CP/Sac/SUU/PSU Sac: UCD/CP/PSU/EWU I tried to preserve as many "old school" Big Sky rivalries as possible, as well as a Great West rivalry for each school.

The one thing that could have been done was to keep everything quiet until all three schools (SUU, UND and USD) were on board and all the contracts were signed. Leaks and unofficial announcements have no long term value and created the opportunity for the MVFC to swoop in at the last minute. That said, I think the idea that going to the Summit automatically meant football independence is also overstated. Football only was done for Davis and Poly, how hard did UND actually push for that. Were football only options like the Southland or Big South even explored? Finally, snubbing the Summit was just plain foolish. What was gained by the thinly veiled comments at Tom Douple? I think it's a little ironic that people have talked about the DI move being a marathon and not a sprint, but then throwing that right out the window with this Big Sky invite. Sure hindsight is 20/20, but a lot of this comes down to ego and hubris, and unfortunately that's a problem that has hurt UND for a while and apparently continues to do so.

Scholarships are the biggie for Title IX, since we already have more women's sports. Here's one solution. Start tennis and only fund 3 of the 4.5 allowed scholarship equivalencies. Then start both men's and women's lacrosse letting the women have the full 12 allowed and funding 9 of 12.6 allowed for the men.

The last couple of days have injected a little drama, but it does seem we are likely headed for the first repeat World Series in more than 30 years. Yankees pitching appears to have solidified and rest will only help going into the ALCS. Phils simply look to good against whoever comes out of the Giants-Braves series. I'd guess the LCS will go 5 or 6 games and the World Series will go 7 for the first time since 2002.

Saturday. Frattin

Despite what appeared to be some competitive matchups (and a surprising start in Game 2 by Cincinnati), its looking like all four series could be done in 3. These early blowout series really dampen the excitement and the TV ratings. Hopefully we see some comebacks as the series changes location and one or more goes to a Game 5. If not, then maybe the LCS and World Series will provide the drama and excitement.

While Halladay's no-no is obviously the story of Day 1, the best most competitive game was saved for last as the Yankees broke Minnesota's heart once again. After some September struggles, Mariano Rivera looks masterful once again. The AL Game 2s should be interesting, with the home teams trying not to go down 0-2. And it what almost seems to be the "throwaway series" the Giants look to exact some payback for 1993.

Marto

Any other baseball fans out there? Just a few minutes to Game 1 of Yanks-Twins. The has the makings of a postseason for the Ages. Phillies look pretty tough in the NL while the AL seems wide open. And the first day of the playoffs gives us only the second no-hitter in postseason history. Should be a fun month of baseball.

Also probably doesn't hurt to be in the friendly confines of the Alerus.

Minnesota can also strong arm all those schools into 2 for 1s or even perhaps finally start a beanpot-like tourney at the X. I would hope UND would only except an alternating series, every year or possibly an annual home and home. In a Big Ten world, it will be key for UND to be in a smaller conference so there are more non-conference dates available. That's why I think a conference of UND, DU, CC, UMD, Miami and Notre Dame is ideal. I prefer UMD over UNO because the Iron Range is fertile recruiting ground, Duluth is the longest rival and will have the best facility. WIth six teams you get a full round robin and still have 12 non-conference games excluding exemptions. That means you can frequently go 8 home and 4 away, pocketing a lot of extra dough. For the playoffs, you can do best of three series in the quarters, semis and finals, and you could have a pretty sizable gate. With a smaller league you could easily get four to the six teams in the NCAAs as long as they do well in non-conference play.

Hopefully UND has it's BYU plan ready, as that could be the best option. The next best option would probably be a six team league of DU, CC, UND, UMD, Notre Dame and Miami. Would be enough for an autobid but have room for non-conference games. It also preserves the most important remaining conference rivalries and gets us away from Bruce McLeod. Other leagues alignments - WCHA - UAA, UNO, MSUM, SCSU, BSU, MTU, NMU, LSSU - CCHA - UAF, FSU, WMU, BGSU, UAH, Mercyhurt, Niagara, Robert Morris

Think you have to onside kick. Give your team as many chances as possible.

I like the idea of playing in Roseau and even more importantly playing a tournament in Winnipeg. That is a smart move recruiting wise.

I think at this point, the NHL has to be hoping for a final four of Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Chicago. Sure it would mean losing Crosby, but that's more than overcome by having four of the Original Six competing for the Cup. Boston and Chicago have both been experiencing hockey Renaissances in the last couple of years and no one can question the hockey cred of Detroit and Montreal. A Montreal-Chicago final would be ideal, ensuring either a Canadian Stanley Cup winner of the end of Chicago's lengthy drought. Either outcome (or even a Bruins win) would be a huge jolt for the league - much like the Red Sox and White Sox World Series wins in '04 and '05 were great for baseball. After nearly a generation of trying to move into new markets under Bettman, making hockey relevant again in core market cities is just the tonic the league needs.

What makes you think the Governor would veto the board? Each and everyone one of them was appointed by him.

USD drew Creighton in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Good luck to the Coyotes and represent the Great West well against a long time mid-major power.

I have wondered this aloud several times. It's a recognition that is long overdue at the new Ralph to be honest.

Huge difference. Denver made the league playoffs and lost in the first round. There is usually at least one team a year that this happens to and they still get in. Vermont would finish in 9th place in the scenario I mentioned. Only the top 8 make the hockey east playoffs. Yet because of the extreme parity in hockey east and Vermont's strong non-conference record their PWR will put them in the discussion.

This is truer for the WCHA since more teams play four game series and more comparisons are lopsided. In the east where there are fewer head to head matchups, the playoff games can be decisive in flipping comparisons and have a much greater impact. On a side note, if Vermont splits this weekend and Merrimack and UMass both sweep, Vermont will not even make the Hockey East playoffs, but have a decent shot at still getting into the NCAAs due to their Pairwise Ranking. That would be a shocking development.

I don't want to put words in fightingsioux4life's mouth either, but I saw this article in USA Today last week and I think it summarizes his point and even has science to back it up. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/va...ts-silver_N.htm

Won't directly impact us this week, but a Vermont win could keep them ahead in their comparison with St. Cloud. Those comparison losses to far lower ranked teams can be costly. It certainly helps open the door for the Sioux to get by them if we keep winning.

Zajac

The state should look at instituting something like the Alaska Permanent fund. We should also be developing some sort of commuter bus system to encourage people to repopulate small communities. These communities has exising infrastructure that is able to support larger populations and if commuting were made simpler, I think you would see more people taking up the opportunities.