Hammersmith

Two weeks ago I figured this would be a gimme for you guys. Since then, your squad has shown a little vulnerability and ours has shown a little life. Still not confident in a win, but it might actually go to five sets instead of the 3-1 match I was expecting. Hope that both squads will go without injuries this year whatever happens.

Kept both the links open in different tabs and switched frequently. Holding off on finishing my after-work beer until I was done also helped.

Sorry, NDSU and UND do this slightly differently and I didn't catch the difference. At NDSU, you probably only take 110 if you're also taking 100. If you score an 18 or up, you can go straight to 120. After passing 120 with a grade of C or better, you also get credit for 110(pass/fail most likely). A student may still choose to take 110 first if they don't feel comfortable skipping it. UND handles it differently. 18 and up takes only 110. 14-17 takes 110 with 100. Below 14 takes 95, then 110. Once you've passed 110, then you take 120. I think NDSU has a similar sub-100 class but it might be numbered 90 instead of 95. I'm pretty sure you can test out of 110 at UND or skip it if you took(and passed the test for) a dual-credit or AP English class in high school. http://www2.und.edu/...letter/?p=25405 http://www.ndsu.edu/...oming_students/

Anything below 100, English 100, Math 101 & 102. Engl 100 is a one credit writing lab that goes with Engl 110. You have to take both if you enter with an ACT English subscore of less than 18. If you scored an 18 or more, you start in Engl 120. As for math, 101 & 102 are elementary and intermediate algebra courses. You have to take at least 102 if you have an ACT math subscore of less than 22. This policy went into place for this fall at both UND & NDSU. Using the ACT breakdown from the common data sets, fully 25% of incoming freshmen at both universities will need to take a remedial math course(a touch more at UND; maybe 27-28%). And 13% of incoming freshmen will have to take remedial English at both schools. Students can try and test out if they wish to pay a testing fee and pass the test.

No clue. Someone asked the question and I answered it. I think there's a small group here who think tri-college students are "illegitimate" or something because they don't directly pay for the classes to the school they're taking a class from. A Concordia student that takes an NDSU class through the tri-college system doesn't pay money to NDSU; it's included as part of their Concordia tuition. I think the colleges keep track and pay each other any discrepancies at the end of the semester or year, but I'm not 100% certain of that. There are a bunch of restrictions on how many and exactly which classes a student can take through the tri-college system. As for the remedial question brought up a while back, this fall's data will be very interesting. It seems the the SBHE just instituted uniform standards on the subject back in March or April. If there still is a 2x difference between the two schools, then something weird is going on.

As far as I know, they are included in the total headcount. It's SBHE policy that anyone who takes a class for credit at any ND institution is counted at that institution. Now, they're not going get counted as a full-time NDSU student if they're only taking one class. They'll be counted as a part-time student just like an LRSC student who takes an online UND class is counted in the UND total headcount. Obviously a Concordia student taking a class at MSUM(or vice versa) won't be counted by NDSU in any way.

It's a good question, and I'd like to have an answer to it as well. I don't know if there are different standards at the two schools or not. I don't know if certain classes are considered remedial at NDSU but not UND. Maybe NDSU tests incoming students in certain areas and UND doesn't. I just don't know. I suspect it's more on the English side considering the sub-scores, but it could also easily be sub-trig math classes. I know NDSU gives all incoming students a math placement test; does UND do the same? It does somewhat explain the number of NDSU students taking both on-campus and distance ed classes. At NDSU, remedial classes are handled by the continuing and distance ed department. I don't know if the same is true for UND. I'm not saying all students taking both are taking remedial classes, but it's probably why NDSU's number is greater than UND's.

For the current academic year, not for a few months. We also can't find out the last part of your question about a 4-way breakdown. We can answer two of your questions from last year: on-campus vs. off campus and incoming ACT scores from both schools. The first numbers are found in the SBHE fall 2011 enrollment report, and the second comes from the respective school's common data set report. Fall 2011 Enrollment: NDSU face to face on-campus: 13,653 UND face to face on-campus: 11,975 NDSU distance ed-only: 746 UND distance ed-only: 2722 NDSU on-campus students that also took some form of distance ed: 2867 UND on-campus students that also took some form of distance ed: 1430 2011 Incoming freshmen ACT scores: (composite/math/english) NDSU 75th percentile: 26/26/25 UND 75th percentile: 26/26/25 NDSU 25th percentile: 21/21/19 UND 25th percentile: 21/20/20 Taking it one step further... score - NDSU/UND 30-36 - 8%/6% 24-29 - 42%/39% 18-23 - 46%/50% 12-17 - 3%/5% 0-11 - 0%/0% (NDSU adds up to 99% due to rounding) http://www.ndus.noda...eport--5-12.pdf http://www.ndsu.edu/...S_2011-2012.pdf http://und.edu/resea...s-2011-2012.pdf

According to an old post by SiouxMD that linked to a now defunct Herald article, it was $350,000.

Well, here you go: http://pioneerathletics.com/store-product-SLSC5 Buy some of that and away you go.

Yes and no. Technically it's a single-game contract. But it's also a bit of payback for Montana State backing out of a home and home several years ago. Regardless, there won't be another Montana State/NDSU game until another contract is signed. The only current NDSU home and home contracts that I know of are the Montana series and a USD game in Fargo that was part of a contract signed before their MVFC invite.

See, I'm wondering if it didn't come up when the field design was sent to Astroturf. Nobody would know better than them.

Yep, that's where I got my info from. I was paraphrasing directly from the rulebook. The Fargodome pinwheel was not advertising; it was simply the name of the facility. The Alerus is a different animal. The Alerus Center is called that because Alerus Financial paid naming rights for the facility; naming rights that included the field. You want to put "Alerus Center" on the field in simple text? No problem. You want to put on "Alerus Financial Field" in simple text? No problem. You want to use "Alerus" with the distinctive font and blue swoosh? I don't know if that's okay or not. That's why I called it a gray area. I realize that it was on the old turf, but I don't know if that's because the old turf predated the rule, it was checked and kosher, or it was against the rules but nobody checked or cared. That's why I would love to hear someone in authority comment on it.

I've been wondering for a while if the Alerus logo was allowed by NCAA rules. Text is allowed if naming rights are purchased, but no corporate logos are allowed on the playing field. Just look at the new Fargodome turf. Gate City Bank is spelled out in simple text. The only place the logo occurs is between the sidelines and the wall, outside the playing field. To my untrained eye, the Alerus logo seems to be in a gray area. On the one hand, it's text. On the other hand, the blue "swoosh" could be considered their logo. The current absence of a midfield logo/text probably has nothing to do with the above, but it would be interesting to hear something from someone in authority.

He was going to be your sideline reporter, but Hoak hired him away when Dan Hammer left for Midco Sports.

You can watch a "live" feed of the installation of the turf. (I'm not sure how often the image updates or whether you have to refresh manually.) If you don't mind the obvious error, you can see it here: http://www.astroturf...ews.aspx?id=453 I'll try to find a direct link. Astroturf is reusing the system they used for the FD, so the direct link name looks wrong even though it is the Alerus: http://www.astroturf.com/videos/fargodome.html

If you take in a Redhawks game at Newman, make sure to get a Hi Ho burger at their stand next to the beer garden. They used to deliver to your seat with a phone call or text message, but I'm not sure if they still do that. Overall, I'd put JL #1 and Hi Ho #2 primarily based on the beer selection at JL; the burgers are pretty close to equal. Also like the fries at JL, but that's a personal preference. If you haven't had them, they're the matchstick type like McDonalds. 5 Guys has the worst fries of them all IMO, but I've met lots of people who absolutely love them.

Go with Fargo Forks instead. That way you can write a theme song using the Brady Bunch music.

In a perfect world, ND would have no more than four 4-year schools and they would be in GF, Fargo, Minot & Bismarck. But there are two good reasons to give Dickinson the nod over Bismarck today. First, why replace existing infrastructure? But I like the second reason more. Dickinson has unique geography and geology in ND. It's roughly halfway between the prehistoric lake bed of the RRV and Yellowstone. It's fairly close to the Montana fossil beds and the Black Hills. It sits on the edge of the two most interesting geological features in ND: the Badlands and the Bakken. It's the closest major ND city to the Rocky Mountains. It would make sense to put the best geology, paleontology, archaeology, anthropology, etc. programs there. Maybe even a limited and very focused graduate school. I'd like to see Minot have something to focus on in the same way, but nothing comes to mind. Maybe languages? (proximity to Canada/Peace Garden) In my perfect world, I'd like to see two existing colleges turned into true junior colleges. By that, I mean two-year schools with the same academic standards and rigor as the four-year programs. Schools who's purpose it is to feed students to the four-year schools. They would take students from the local area who want to save money on housing, but they would specialize in students that still need the small-class, small-school environment. The type of thing schools like Mayville are pushing. I agree there's a need for that type of environment, I just don't see the need for four years of it. By the third year in any program, class sizes are small and contact with the faculty is at a high level(even at UND & NDSU). I'd like to see these two schools be at Valley City and Bismarck. Worst case(IMO), Bismarck becomes the fourth four-year and Dickinson becomes the second junior. As for Williston, it's the perfect place for the state's second trade school(along with Wahp). Have Williston focus on heavy equipment, energy and natural resources, while Wahp focuses on agriculture and technology. Both would have the full stable of the regular trade programs. As for the rest(Bott, LR, & May), shut down Mayville and turn the other two into little outposts. Bott could become just a research/application station for the NDSU & Williston forestry programs(assuming Will has a two-year forestry program as part of its natural resources suite). LR could be left with a set of classrooms that are used by visiting instructors for intensive four- or six-week classes. For many classes, they could be set up for telepresence classes and the teachers stay at their regular schools. Just about every campus would also have the regular community college type offerings, but those should be handled by a separate statewide system. The biggest problem I see in the NDUS is a loss of mission. Just about every campus is trying to do too much and failing at what should be it's core mission. We should also break up the NDUS and create between two to four separate systems. The four year schools(and maybe the prep schools) should form one system. The trade schools(and maybe the community college system) should form the second. You could also split one or both of those two systems up to create a third or fourth system. Obviously I've thought about this from time to time. I don't really have a life.

They only have one size patty* and you can get a single or double. It's just a damn good regular burger. I haven't tried Smash Burger, but JL is way better than 5 Guys. Prices are also very good. Range from $3.19 to $5.19(double w/ cheese & grilled onions). http://jlbeers.com/grandforks/menu/ *5oz pre-cooked, I think

Damn, lost my post. Take 2: just the facts: http://www.varsityedge.com/nei/varsity.nsf/main/national+letter+of+intent Once I sign a National Letter of Intent may I be recruited by other institutions? Once you sign a National Letter of Intent, all other participating conferences and institutions are obligated to cease recruiting you. Accordingly, you have an obligation to notify any recruiter from a National Letter of Intent institution of the fact you have signed a National Letter of Intent. If I am going to walk-on to the team, may I sign a National Letter of Intent? No. Under the terms of the National Letter of Intent Program, an institution is strictly prohibited from allowing you to sign a National Letter of Intent if you are a walk-on. In order for a National Letter of Intent it be consider valid, the National Letter of Intent must be accompanied by an athletic award letter which lists the terms and conditions of the award, including the amount and duration of the financial aid. Simply put, there has to be an award including athletics aid for there to be a valid National Letter of Intent.

Yes and no; in the past no, in the future yes. ForumComm lost the NDSU contract to Hoak for basically the same reasons they lost the UND contract to Midco; they're spendthrifts. It didn't hurt them that badly in the past because there were two major universities(for our area) and two significant media companies. Even if they lost one they could get the other. With Midco entering the fray, ForumComm can't be as complacent and still get one of the big-two contracts. Going forward, they either need to step up their game in a big way, or be content with MSUM and high school sports. I think the NDSU TV contract will be up next year, so we should know what ForumComm's plans for the future are before then.

Okay, that's just a silly argument. Number of conferences UND will be in after Big Sky: 5 (NCHC, Big Sky, swimming & diving, baseball, men's golf) Number of conferences UND would be in after Summit: 3 (NCHC, Summit, football) From a commonality perspective, the Summit is a much better fit than the Big Sky. Go ahead and use other arguments to support Big Sky over Summit, but not that one. Personally, I think UND would be better off in the Summit in the long-term, but you guys are now locked into the Big Sky so it's a moot point and not worth rehashing all the pros and cons.

I don't think so. I went back to the link to the Alerus Center calender and the press conference has disappeared. Nothing rescheduled yet.

The announcement of a major donation is possible, but the odds of a construction announcement is near zero. If the money was there, the university wouldn't be requesting a re-authorization of the project from the legislature since the current authorization is good for another 12 months. I doubt that a Sanford donation is coming because I'm nearly certain they would require UND to switch sports medicine providers to them and Altru would have made a fuss that would've gone public by now. I doubt Altru is ready to give a large chunk of money considering the expansion plans they've been forced to accelerate. I suppose a logo announcement is the most likely reason for Wednesday's press conference, but it's also true that Midco Sports is hiring personnel in GF and that implies additional coverage of UND athletics. There will eventually have to be some kind of announcement over exactly what that entails, and this would be a good time for it. That's what prompted my comment.