Shawn-O

You honestly think that this thing isn't orchestrated? You think Buning talked to the NCC and the regional media without once consulting his boss? An ex-military guy? C'mon.

So how will it play out: A. Everyone is in lock-step with the D-I move and an announcement is coming in June. B. Buning has effectively told Kupchella, "I'm no longer interested in this job if D-II is your direction" and Kupchella announces UND stays D-II. C. Something else I haven't thought of.

Kolpack has it right.

The article says that Buning has not "formally" made his recommendation to Kupchella, but you can bet everyone is "informally" on the same page for Buning to be this overt about the move. I'm now convinced that UND will announce a move up in the next 30 days. If Buning is being a loose cannon on this, I'd look for him to be gone by July of '07, if Kupchella says we're staying status quo. I don't think this is the case. Also, if and when UND declares D-I intentions, look for St.Cloud State to follow suit.

Billy Smith had this down to a tee during the Islander hay-days in the early 80's.

Closed circuit to aff, a couple of questions: 1. Why do you give a $h1t if UND goes DI or not? 2. What's it like to always be the smartest guy in the room?

Remember this when you're in the voting booth next fall.

Getting the ball rolling as a DI independent would be better than remaining DII.

Portland St. and Sac. St. are two wrenches in the works that can't be overcome in the near term for a Sky invite, IMO.

IMO, no conference invite is coming until intentions are declared. Even at that, I believe the D-I path for UND will look very similar to the 'DSU's.

Here's another reason the timing is right (someone on this board brought this up briefly and I thought it was a great point). By declaring now, you'd really take a lot of the teeth out of the NCAA ruling in regard to hosting playoff games. As a new DI school, you're out of the loop for the playoffs anyway, so the only sport that is affected is hockey. Whip up an alternate jersey for post-season play in hockey, and people will flock to buy that, amounting to a few more bucks in the coffers. The bigger issue: It's in the best interest of the University to make this move. Athletics is the collegiate equivalent to marketing spend in the corporate world. Inaction will result in falling behind the likes of the 'DSU's for prospective students and research investments. With the marketing analogy, it's basketball that is the real upside. From a standpoint of national visibility, the cost-benefit of DI-AA football versus DII football is minimal, at best. I hope you realize what is at stake, Mr. Kupchella.* *Yes I've contacted his office via e-mail...I'm not just talking to myself on a discussion forum. Incidently, that was almost two weeks ago and I haven't received so much as a standard e-mail reply from his office in acknowledgement.

It's up on the alumni website: Gift Thank you, Danley's!!

They were still around when we moved from GF in the fall of '91. Nobody was going there, but they were open. They probably were closed before the flood, then.

Frenchy's was a casualty of the '97 flood, if I recall correctly.

Anyone know what the funds will be dedicated to? Fantasic gift, regardless of the answer. Edit: I'm shooting for Ralph's record, so I'd better get back to work.

First time I've seen those numbers. Very impressive, nice work.

Umm...whatever you say, Poindexter.

Do you mean that your source came back and said he isn't leaving, or that you hope he isn't leaving?

While we're at it: University of North Dakota, 60.1 million hits, North Dakota State University 44.8 Million hits. We win again!!

Very interesting timing. Any chance that we'll be seeing an endowment as part of this to fund a move to D-I athletics? I'm getting my hopes up, again.

I've gotta believe that the powers that be know very well how ballistic the alunmi would go if they chose to lay down.

Window Stickers Here's some essentials for tailgating at the John. If you care to two-fist it, that will work, too.

Wait a second. Wasn't it everyone's understanding that this thing was to be delivered to Kupchella by the end of the semester? That would have provided a two+ week window to make the assessment. Why did the timeline slip? What in sam hell is going on up there??

I absolutely love this quote, I just wish it was coming from Kupchella. I agree with those that take Fullerton for a grain of salt, but this captures what most of the alumni base is feeling, in my opinion. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see Kupchella pulling the trigger.

The song was pretty big for me, it started out a little pitchy, but I worked it out.