Gothmog

Huh? Isn't Gene Taylor turning down "20,000 in the house" by not scheduling UND in 2007? The economics of a game with UND will not be any different in 2009 and 2010. IF NDSU turned down the 2007 game, they can, and I think will, turn down the 2009 and 2010 games. This isn't about selling out the FargoDome.

That's hardly an NDSU "school song", certainly not one that school officials would have any control over, as was implied by Star2City. Anyway, there's plenty of hatred and animosity on both sides. Anyone who denies that just isn't being truthful.

Gee, I'd call your post proof that the hatred is not one-sided. BTW - refresh my memory, which NDSU "school song" is mockingly derogatory and obscene about UND? I honestly have no idea what you're talking about.

Apparently 50% of NDSU fans don't miss the rivalry and don't want to see it resumed. You'd think that a few of those fans are also from "around here." I'm also a native North Dakotan and I agree with NDSU Fan, both schools are better off without the hatred and animosity generated by this poisonous athletic rivalry.

Then it's nothing.

While I certainly do agree with your assessment of DaveK, I do not think that a renewal of the rivalry would be a good thing, not now anyway. There's just too much bitterness and hatred between the schools - DaveK is a prime example. Both schools need a cooling-off period. Let's just wait a few years then revisit the subject. NDSU's experience has shown that there is life after "The Rivalry." The Bison have prospered without UND. Does anyone doubt that the Sioux can do the same?

No, your comment can only be interpeted as an expression of interest in a playoff game between the two teams. Which is, of course, incompatible with your earlier statement that you wanted UND to be done with NDSU permanently.

Didn't you just say you didn't want UND to have any to do with NDSU.

Guys, this game is not going to happen. NDSU will schedule any FCS team before UND. Whether its anger is justified or not, NDSU officials are very unhappy with UND's behavior and will make absolutely certain UND gets the message.

Which brings us full circle. UND's hockey program can only be bad for its DI transition if: 1) It creates unrealistic expectations of what is possible in other sports. 2) It undermines internal support for, and funding of, other sports. Because those sports are seen as "unimportant" or "minor" in comparison with hockey. I see evidence of both in this thread.

All of it.

So, what did I say that wasn't true? And exactly what "role" are you referring to?

Only the most delusional of Bison fans believe that NDSU has, or is likely to ever have, a real rivalry with the Unversity of Minnesota. But don't kid yourself, ouside of the hockey rink, UND is not the University of Minnesota's rival, and is not likely to ever be.

If you're including sports in which NDSU does not compete, then, yes certainly. If not, there's not a chance.

Oh, I'm sure the game is there somewhere. It's just really hard to find. Much harder to find than golf, tennis, NASCAR and horse racing.

Regardless, NDSU has already proven its potential. You may think it reasonable to assume that UND would do the same, but that is still just your assumption. I would expect that most ADs would prefer proven results.

I have absolutely no doubt that, eventually, UND will be on on Big Ten schedules. That prospect does not worry me at all. By then, NDSU will already be a regular opponent of Big Ten and Big 12 schools. Some of whom could not care less about UND's hockey team.

I certainly would expect Wisconsin and Minnesota to be interested in scheduling UND. After all NDSU has had no difficulty scheduling the same schools. Minnesota, at least, pretty much begged NDSU for a football game. That said, the traditional rivalry angle certainly will play into UND's ability to schedule its WCHA rivals. However, NDSU's proven ability to deliver fans AND provide a competitive game seems, to me, to be more important. At least until UND shows that they can do the same. That may be difficult given the present uncertainty surrounding WI, MN and IA's policies regarding nicknames.

"Could" is the operative word. Maturi got shot down too!

I'm trying to find "Wisconsin WILL play UND" somewhere in that article. It's not there. Don't forget what happened to Maturi when he asked for official clarification of the policy.

Hmmm, I went to ESPN's web site..couldn't find a thing about last night's game. I did find some interesting stuff about horse racing, but nothing about the hockey game. You know, I often see lucky full court shots from high school basketball games on Sports Center. Should I draw any conclusions about the relative popularity of high school hoops?

Nonsense. The Twin Cities media just doesn't work that way. If there really was as much interest in this game as you claim, the TC media would be all over the story. There isn't, so they're not.

Funny, the Strib doesn't seem to have that attitude in any other sport. Such a loss in football or basketball would always be page one.

No, not negotiation. Just recognition that an accurate count is impossible, and that 15K still ain't bad.