rabidrabbit

Money - Go Sioux and Alumni - Conference - Football - GWFC Basketball - Mid-con (toward end of transition years), possibility - immediately - United Basketball Alliance. Soccer - United Soccer Conference Swimming & Diving - possible mid-con affiliate? Given Grand Forks ND for a base, the "nearby" conferences are the Big Sky, Mid-con/GWFC, and (huge stretch) Gateway/Mo Valley. Big Sky may expand. Mid-con is DEFINITELY going to expand, and Gateway/Mo Valley several years away from expanding.

This is almost a cut and paste of the SDSU or NDSU surveys prior to going D-1. Ask students, teachers, employees, and season ticketholders, they are more than likely say "Stay in our comfort zone, and only stretch if know results". Any surprise there? NOT!!! IF it's Kupchella's intent to stay D-2. This gives his position weight. However, UND appears poised to join U of Mary, Minot St. as equals. NDSU is, and SDSU down in South Dakota, are becoming the destination school in their respective states. Not just in athletics either, but in #'s of students choosing _DSU over the other college choices in the state. I hope Kupchella notices the trends, and has enough history/knowledge of who are UND's peers. And who do they expect to be evaluated with. I have never envisioned SW Minn St., U of Mary, Northern (SD), Winona to be our peers. Montana, Creighton, Northern Iowa, Bradley, Cal Poly yes. And academically, should be in vs Big 10/Big 12 for grants, research. Unfortunately, sports define how an university is perceived, so which way to go?

It's even better to beat them as a NON-Exhibition game! The SDSU women, in only 2nd year of transition went 3-4 vs NCAA & WNIT teams, and were about two teams from making the WNIT. Know that year in/year out that the NCC womens top teams were a dog-fight among UND, SDSU, NDSU with all those schools winning national crowns. There are possibilities of post-season champs after 2 yr of transition, and 7yr for NCAA's (tho this is a much more challenging possibility). It's fun to have wins over Nebraska, Alabama, Wisconsin. Hope to see you in D-1 games!

From Brandon Misener (d2football) and nd4life, an UND poster all on the AnyGivenSaturday.com UND move-up thread. Originally Posted by D2Football By the way, I am going to ND in about three weeks. I'll make my source produce the contract. If he can't I'll retract the statement regarding the contract, which really isn't a criticism of NDSU anyway. It's time to put this rumor to rest. Speaking as someone who had knowledge of The Forum's newsroom operations until a year ago, I can say with 100 percent certainty that no such contract exists. For that matter, there is no newsroom in the country that would enter into such a contract. That's simply not how newspapers work. There may indeed be other contracts between The Forum and NDSU concerning advertising and event sponsorships and what are called "tradeouts" in the industry. But the notion that a newspaper would agree to a deal with any business or institution mandating a specified level of news coverage is laughable. IMHO, The GF Herald hopefully is riding this decision process and pushing for a very open decision process. This should be the biggest news issue in Grand Forks now that spring flooding is over.

The point of raising the Mid-con is that may be a home rather than Big SKy. I believe that Big Sky would not invite a D2 in, even with a commitment to go D-1, if no SU coattails to come in on. If SU's go mid-con, and UND has not even approached Mid-con, then would be left out in the cold North Dakota winter nights, with no conference to join in D-1.

Mid-Con expansion for the SU's is more likely than Big Sky expansion. Since being in a conference is a key component to UND's decision, I am eager to see how/where UND joins a D-1 conference. Whereever it is, I suspect it's the same one as the SU's join. If it isn't, how UND did it, and survives the transition years with out the SU's being their active partner in all sports, I'm not fathoming. I suspect the Mid-con decision will be made this summer. Has UND been in talks with the Mid-Con? Or just the Big Sky? The Big SKy has been a disappointment to the SU's while going through the tough transition years. Hope you have a conference home to move to!

Being honest, SDSU is successfully transitioning to D-1. Our football is playing very well, against top 25 competition, and we have the schollies transition in place to fund the 63 in 2008 at the latest. The Rabbits will succeed, and are succeeding quite well in other sports also. Likewise, I believe that IF UND does decide to transition to D-1, that you would succeed. There is no reason, whatsoever, to believe otherwise. If you are going to dive, you must envision success, otherwise you will belly or back flop. If you choose not to dive (move up), you won't have a clue as to what would have happend if you tried. Best of luck on the MANY decisions you have. Many VERY nasty, dividing comments are going back & forth here, and also at bisonville. Trust me, you don't want to alienate your nearest 2 D-1AA compatriots. We will both succeed in this transition. UND is alone, and if succeed in getting NDSU & SDSU so disgusted with you, your nearest competitors become UNI & UNC. And trust that they won't help you to D-1 as much as the Rabbits/Bison could or likely would.

Star - This is good info on why didn't move. Thanks for sharing. This non-89 Rabbit wishes the Sioux the best in making your decision. NCC with UND in it, will continue to be one of the top D-2 conferences. Unfortunately the D-2 world is evolving, and not in a positive manner. Enjoyed participating against you in the NCC, and hope that we'll be playing you again at the D-1 level in the near future. But if you choose to remain in the NCC, you help the NCC.

Yes, the Transition year, play away at the D-1AA programs, for the most part. Maybe get somebody in to Grand Forks who's looking for an away game in 2007 in a home and home arrangement. Don't know how Big Sky would set up schedule-wise. However, if join GWFC, and using UNC's 2005 schedule as a guide, you'd have SDSU and Cal Poly at Grand Forks, and NDSU, UC-Davis and SUU as away games. So, to get to 5 home games, want to add to D-2's and 1 OOC home-home (maybe UCA Bears?) This is an example. But a reasonable start. Second year, likely to see reverse of GWFC home away, your OOC home-home, then add in more OOC games. Yes, this Rabbit would like to see you amongst your peers again, and back playing us, on an even basis year in/out. BTW, the "play-down" reference was divisional, D-2 vs D-1AA vs D-1. VERY few (if any) play-downs at the lower divisional home field. Almost always at the upper school's home.

This is a tough decision that the SIOUX face! Best luck in making it. It appears that if you stay in D-2, that you'll have plenty of NSIC and DAK10 schools to play locally. Costs (and revenues) will continue to decrease. Hockey will continue to rule and suck off larger and larger % of the athletic budget. D-1 has a lot of risks. Football conference appears to be either invite from Big Sky (along withthe SU's), or from the Great West (again with the SU's). Basketball, and other sports, if don't get Big Sky, then the United (pick your sport) conferences will provide a home to start in. Mid-con and Big Sky remain as future homes when eligible for play-offs and schools shift in and out. Who knows, maybe a D-1 NCC would be reformed in 2015 when all the schools that would ever move up have moved up.

UNI dome built in 1977. Suspect, that like USD, they've replaced the teflon-coated, fiberglas roofing system at least once, and may not have an air supported system at this time. UNI will not be coming to Grand Forks as long as UND stays D-2. Neither will SDSU or NDSU. It's a completely losing situation for the D-1's to go to a smaller school's home field. Should UND decide to bite the bullet and go D-1, your first year's home games will consist of the D-2 games, and if go Big Sky (huge assumption) then whatever conference games you get. If you go Great West (assuming there is a Great West to go to), then you will fill in the scheduling spot that UNC made when they went Big Sky. Your OOC - look to play the non-schollies D-1AA (Alpo, Drake, Dayton). Of course, Ga Southern has shown a great willingness to play new transitionals (their powerpuff games). But be assured the first year of transition, no power school will play you at home. For verification, see NDSU, SDSU 2004 schedules and U Cent Ark (2006) schedules for info. Good games, against top schools, those you can get. But as away games. Hope this is the initiation to consistent D-1AA play. Otherwise, great success to you in the NCC and D-2.

I'm confused. UNH, Maine, etc appear to be able to support hockey, field competitive football, basketball, and other sports (including baseball, seen them in the CWS a couple of times). So what, if anything do these schools have that UND is missing? Other schools, Presbyterian College, and Campbell University are moving up and with football. I live down by Fl Gulf Coast Univ. We NEVER see this athletic program reported even here. Why is a strong, hi attendance, good funding university even considering that remaining D-II is the place to stay? Time to MOVE forward is now! Can deal with the name change, or sue NCAA, address the transition issues. If Big Sky aren't available during transition, join the United _____ Conferences so have games/Matches, and return to playing your peer schools. The heart of NCC that was champions was four schools, UNI, UND, NDSU & SDSU. Three of these are D-1.

Be Flick Flickertail, LOL Of course, the Attorney (fighting) Sue works well for the JD school that UND is. Then just change symbol to a Judge, and still use all the same cheers. LOL

If this is a good precedent, then add in South Dakota, the Coyote State. Great trend of the State animal is the University of symbol. Then, Flickertail is the recommended choice. AND KEEPS YOU OUT OF THE "FOR HER PLEASURE" TAUNTS

Simply put, this is to address a need BY UNI for a D-2 game. UNI has a murderous schedule this year. They needed a warm-up game. So, while I'll acknowledge that I'm pulling for our new Wrestling Conference partner to win this game, I'll also acknowledge that UND is in almost exactly the same position that NDSU was when they knocked off Montana. You'll have a good sense of how much you'll need to upgrade to move to D-1 with this game. Further, SDSU, a transitional like NDSU, plays UNI the following week. This will give you a sense of where you are vs. D-1, where a team with a long history with you, and hopefully a great future with you, is after 3 yrs of transition is relative to the top of 1-AA. The Bison, still in transition, presented NO upside, other than possible bragging right, for UNI this year. And neither team was budging from having a home game on their turf this year. IMHO, THAT's why NDSU vs. UNI isn't happening this year. However, I can only read about it, and have NO inside info. Sioux - Good luck with the NCC - hope this is your final year there, and that we'll see/enjoy your presence in D-1 soon. Enjoy, and play well, the "measuring stick" game with UNI.

It's done! http://www.in-forum.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8H7BCRO3 UNI-glas Royal!!!

Ok - Say the Sioux stay in D-II, doesn't that mean that you are locking yourself out from revenues that Maine and UNH and other D-1 schools with hockey enjoy. Is anything better for Sioux fans to stay where you are at (D-11, NCC)? Or is the NCC time clicking loudly with UNI, UNC, and two Ag schools gone? I think the cost of remaining in D-11 is very high.

Hi Sioux! Been reading here, at the NCC site and AnyGivenSaturday.com (a wonderful D-1AA fan board). Would love to have you, ex-NCC foe leap to D-1AA, sooner rather than later. Why? Because you're at the top end of D-11, you'll come in as a strong D-I transitional (See SDSU, Cal-Davis, NDSU) and the timing is already 3 years later than should have. Financially, the numbers are there for ya. Attendance is there. Your strong traditional rivals are there (UNI, UNC, SDSU, NDSU). After done transitioning Minnesota, Wis., Kansas, Wyo., Mont. and all the nearby large schools will be your OOC schedules. Likewise, it's appearing that the Mid-Con is going to open up to expansion, but that's a bb conference, with all-sports. Leaves the Great West Football Conference looking to add a strong football school. Look in the mirror, maybe you'll find one. The two SU's have started a basketball alliance that are basically for transitioning schools, so even if Mid-Con and Big Sky don't want you with all the transitional issues you'll bring (unavoidable), you'll still have games and a "league" for this trying period. I know there's bad blood between the two No Dak schools, but realistically, you're better off together than divorced. Hope to see you in D-1 play in the near future!!!