Shawn-O

Wow. I guess there just isn't any middle ground is there? Either stay in the NCC, or have a realistic opportunity to square off with Texas in January for the whole bag of marbles. What is the upside to beating up on tomato cans in Division II? Yes, I know we're getting beat up by the said cans in hoops, but with the resources available, that will get fixed. By the way, where's that UND student-athlete mission statement?

True or False: Increased short-term investment in athletics is in the long-term best interest of the University of North Dakota. Don't think about it too hard, after all you don't have a dog in this fight......

This just in. Mid-major D-I athletics is not profitable. It's a breakeven enterprise at best, and that's after getting established. If you want to make a business case out of it, I challenge anyone to look at the finances of NDSU, SDSU, Northern Colorado, the list goes on and on, and find where the financials made any business sense for the first three to five years. It's about MARKETING AND P.R! Athletics is a cost center....the question is how to best spend those dollars in the best interest of the university.

I'll ask again, what parts of the Carr Report findings did NDSU have "it's house in order" before making the move. I'm not trying to put anyone in a box, I'm genuinely curious. My understanding is the recommendations of this "unbiased, professional group" fell on deaf ears, or the implementation was deferred until later.

Then I guess US News and World Report is off their rocker. UND, 3rd Tier. NDSU, 4th Tier. Princeton Review must be cracked, too. And yes, they are both fine schools.

Where is this mission statement? This is all I could find. I would not call this a mission statement for UND athletics.

Buning, not Kupchella. It sounds like you have dealt with Kupchella more than I have. My take from being at a few of the same events as him is that he is standoffish and introverted.

That's a good bingo. Sicatoka, do you have anyone's ear at UND about this? I've thought it was a good idea from the get-go.

How many of the Carr Report recommendations did NDSU implement before announcing their move?

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.