Yote 53

USD already has 75% of the money pledged for its projects (word on the street), all private money. The issue is the BOR cutting funding for higher ed and then approving the building of athletic projects. Doesn't look good to do that in the same meeting to John Q Public. Expect us to get our approval at the next meeting and breaking ground by 2013 on the arena. You are correct in that SDSU's project is much larger in scale, the price tag is $100 million and probably rising with time, whereas USD's is more like $45-50 million. I don't know what their money situation is, whether money has been pledged, or what. I think the difference between the schools is that SDSU wants permission to start planning and fundraising for this long term project (its a 2025 master plan) whereas people expect USD to have our's done inside of a couple years.

We "bought" Eastern Washington this season. We were supposed to get a return home game from Lamar this season but they backed out on us. They got to chip off a $100,000 check for their refusal to play from what I heard. I am not complaining about having to schedule non-D1's in transition. Everyone has to realize the when NDSU and SDSU transitioned there were more FCS teams available for scheduling and the costs of "buying" games has shot up. That said, I don't see anyone here or at USD really complaining about non-D1's now, it's something we've come to accept with transition. It'd be nice to see an all D1 schedule but I know it's not always feasible, it's the non-D1 games on schedule in future years after we've both secured conference affiliation and are playoff eligible that people complain about. It does no good to play a non-D1 when you are playoff eligible. FWIW, I thought the NAIA NW Oklahoma St team we brought in last year (and this year to replace Lamar) was easily better than FCS Drake and better than UNC. I think you would agree that USF was better than other "higher level" teams you've seen at the Al. That still doesn't "move the needle" as perception is those teams are inferior.

I honestly don't know if it was USD that put the kabosh on this or if it was UND. I do know that we have on FCS home game already, can't imagine we would need another one. I'll ask around.

Non-conference in 2012 USD plays: 09/08/12 Colgate 09/22/12 @Northwestern That leaves 09/01/12 and 09/15/12 as the probable open dates. I would guess the MVFC schedule starts up on 09/29/12. Who does UND have scheduled on either 09/01 or 09/15? Keep in mind USD comes to UND in 2011 so I would guess the game would need to be in Verm in 2012. Although, I seem to remember UND coming to Verm in back-to-back years when we transitioned from the NCC schedule to the GWFC schedule. So it would not be out of the question for USD to come to GF in back-to-back years in the interests of preserving this historic rivalry.

As a fan would you be happy with 5 home games a year? Year A: 8 BSC (4 home/4 away), USD (home), away at FCS (part of home and home), FBS (away) Year B: 8 BSC (4 home/4 away), USD (away), FCS (home), FBS (away) Repeat Cycle The USD game, FBS game, and home/home FCS game would need to take place the first 3 weeks of the season then move into the conference schedule. The reality is that if you want an FBS game it is going to be on the road and if you want an FBS game and 6 home games then that sixth home game is going to be against subpar competition. I would be happy to forego the sixth game and go with the above arrangement for USD (8 MVFC games, UND, FCS, FBS) if that means we get to keep the Sioux on the schedule.

I will check (and press) my sources at USD as to why the USD/UND series is not continuing. IMO, if we continue to play each other it would solve most, if not all, of our scheduling problems. 8 conference games, 4 home & 4 away, FBS game (away), USD (alternating), and an FCS game. In the years you play in Vermillion, schedule a home FCS game, in years you play USD in GF, schedule a road FCS game. That would be 5 home, 5 road, and one FBS game every season. Maybe, you could buy an FCS home game and make it 6 home games in some years. The same type of scheduling idea applies to USD as well and is very acceptable to the people I have talked with. Scheduling should not be this hard. Heck, if you had the USD and NDSU series annually (alternate the home games for each) your AD would only have to schedule an FBS game every year and it would be an all D1 schedule every single season. Sure, not flexible, but it would be a fun schedule. Bottom line there is no reason to schedule D2 or NAIA school and not play the other Dakota U and I will be upset if USD is scheduling D2's when UND is available.

Well, I have a problem with it as that pretty much means the USD/UND series is over.

Yes, too many letters. MVFC schedule is what I meant. I have not heard anything about continuing USD/UND.

We HAD D1 Lamar on the schedule but they backed out on their end of the deal. Timing was bad because by the time we found out most other schools had their schedules set. I'd guess if something shakes free at the alst minute we could replace one of the sub D1"s, but as of right now we're screwed. It will be nice to be in a conference and not have to deal with this. Don't know if you heard but we have a deal with Colgate coming to the Dome in 2012 and signed a contrac to play at Kansas St in 2015. So in 2012 we have Colgate and Northwestern along with the GWFC schedule, that's 10 games. Sure would be great if the 11th game was against the Sioux.

I hope it got you thinking, "You know, I know it's just a crappy game against some NAIA school, but the football program, and its players, could use the support, and it is an awful good time just going to tailgate and hang out with other Sioux fans. I think I'll go to the game and just have a good time." I know that's what I'm doing when USD plays NW Oklahoma State or Missouri S&T or some other non-D1. It's an event, there are only 5-6 Gamedays a year. I don't care who the opponent is, I'm going to be there. Sadly, that's not how they felt in Omaha and their lack of support cost them the program.

Well, now I am completely opposed to UNO dropping football. The3y have screwed everything up. No, I actually am upset, it would have been perfect, but UNO needs to make their own decisions about what they think is best for them. Serious? You got a link for that tweet?

It was no secret the UNO AD was at the Summit tourney in Sioux Falls. It's also no secret they made a site visit to UNO. The word was leeking out on the street, heck, I read it online on friday this was going down. Either the coach gets a Saturday phone call or reads about it the World Herald Sunday edition. Now, could have the offer from the Summit been held off for a couple weeks? Maybe, but we don't know what other forces were at work that caused it to happen as fast as it did.

The only reason any of us are mentioning UND still being on the Summit's radar is because Tom Douple came out recently and said he'd still like to see UND in the Summit someday. Obviously for that to happen there would have to be a shift in the MVFC and UND football would need to get an offer to that conference or the Big Sky could allow UND to be a football only member. Without that happening most outsiders believe UND will stay in the BSC for all sports. I say all this assuming UND would even entertain a Summit offer.

C'mon guys. I feel for UNO football having played against them on several occasions down on their campus but the reality is that their athletic dept was bleeding out cash and was eventually going to die. UNO football was unsustainable in D2 the way it was and the UNO administration had a tough choice to make, D3 for all sports or D1. They had the opportunity and chose to elivate all their sports to D1 with their hockey program. The collateral damage that ensued was inevitible. If the UNO community is so outraged how come they didn't support football and wrestling. Football has been good there for many, many years yet they are only pulling 2500 or so for attendance? That is horrible. They all seem to be proud of their wrestling yet attendance didn't reflect the actual interest. Bottom line, if you would have put your money where your mouth is and financially supported the teams you wouldn't have lost them. Let that be a lesson to the rest of us that we need to support our athletic teams, even in the down years. Easy for Dennis Dodd to sit in his tower from far away and write a critical hatchet job, he doesn't have to deal with the reality of the situation. The guy is a puke known for writing such pieces.

From what I have read and heard UNO's football program was an unsustainable money pit, even at D2. They could not keep going on the present course. I think football was doomed, move or not, so now UNO looses football but gains D1 status. An easier sell?

Well they are really going to be peeved when Sioux Falls becomes the home court for another team, USD. If the other schools are so upset then maybe they should work with the cities close to them to host the tourney and to actually have fans show up. It can be done. Sioux City, IA annually hosts the NAIA D2 Women's National Tournament and packs the Tyson Center with fans even when Morningside or some other local GPAC school isn't playing (I know, women's basketball). Some schools that regularly make the tournament have been "adopted" by Sioux City fans and they show up to cheer for them, kinda like Omahans (sp???) have adopted certain schools that are College World Series regulars. Funny thing is that I've heard Sioux City is putting together a package to bid on the Summit League Tourney, and I think they'd do a great job hosting. People would definitely show up and care more than if the Summit were to go to Omaha. Sioux City would be an easy trip for USD fans, SDSU is just a little farther away, and NDSU and UMKC are about the same distance. Nice facility, I think it would work. Anyplace would be better than Orem, UT. God, what pathetic support. We have a running bet over on the USD board, which will be higher, the attendance or points scored in the game. Hope to meet the Sioux there in what could possibly be our last basketball game ever (Doubtful, but the possiblity exists), at least the last conference game we ever play against each other, unless...

That could be true. UND may have seperated itself from the other Dakota schools and opened itself to a western presence. Or UND's participation in a western based conference may disillusion the midwest based sports mentality of its North Dakota supporters, a majority of which reside in the eastern part of the state. Only time will tell the end story. FWIW, I was for USD heading west to the Big Sky as well but do see both sides to this coin.

The MVFC would be the NCC on 'roids. I would say, legitimately, better than the BSC. The Summit, ehh, not so much, but the conference offers auto berths to the tournament and easier travel than the Big Sky. You could easily argue this expanded Summit or BSC either way and I couldn't disagree with you. The talk is premature right now. UNO has not made any announcement or received any offer. Also, UND hasn't been through BSC season yet. Maybe the travel and such will work out, maybe you'll decide you want to go another route, if the opportunity presents itself. I would like to add that many Sioux fans are not happy with Tom Douple. I understand that. Remember though the conference is bigger than any one person and Mr. Douple will not be there forever. Heck, he might be gone tomorrow. Conference decisions like this should be made with the best long term interest of the University in mind and not be based on personal grievences.

Actually, with 63 football scholarships in FCS, the "NCC" would just be going back to the days when we could offer over 50 scholarships before the "have-nots" started gutting D2. That 12 team, two division MVFC would be one heck of a football conference, that's for sure. Is UNO a peer institution to state schools such as the U's and SU's, I don't think so. I do know we had a long relationship with UNO in the old NCC and I don't see how we can hold up our nose to them now. Especially given they are starting to shed that "commuter school" status somewhat, from what I've heard. Plus there are schools similar to, or with a worse profile, than UNO in both the BSC and Summit.

That would be a travesty. I will make it a point whenever I talk to people inside the USD athletic dept to stress that it is important to keep the USD/UND series going. I would hope you all do the same up north.

The bitterness of that pill depends on who we get to replace that game. With the $100,000 Lamar is sending us we should be able to add a few $$ to that and buy something decent. I had also heard that Lamar was supposed to pay for a replacement as well, so it may be more that $100,000. Still, it does suck. They are instead playing D2 Incarnate Word. So it's not like Auburn came calling with a big pay day. They wanted to buy themselves a win.

Drake is a dog. You will find out that next season. I'd say Lindenwood (I know they are NAIA) would beat Drake pretty handily. Yes, we have two sub D1s on the schedule but it is worth it to have 6 home games. Last year in transition, nothing to play for but the GWFC, might as well have some fun. EWU will be fun and it will be cool to see the Yotes take on the Badgers. I'm not calling for the upset in that one but...but Wiscy is known to start out the season slow. A few years back Poly had them on the ropes. You never know. We might not beat the Badgers but I'll put the USD drinking team up against the Wisconsin drunks any day of the week.

EWU is a very recent add, like the last month or so. We had a game with Western Illinois, which we dropped, and then had something going with Sac St and ended up with EWU. Lindenwood, while a transitioning NAIA, is much better than BHSU. Still, I will admit there are two sub D1's on the schedule, but at least we get 6 home games, one being the FCS champs.

We don't have Sac St at home. That was the original rumor. We got EWU instead. Not a bad schedule. Actually, that's pretty nice to have 6 home games with one of them being the defending FCS Champs. Ohh, and we're not little ol' USD.

It would have been the first Sioux hockey game on tv at Leo's Lounge in Vermillion but the dang game Is blacked out. Got them to put on the Wild.