Matt

The lack of consistency in Taylor's answers to these scheduling questions tells me he is just saying whatever he needs to in order to placate the media at that moment, until another day, and another question. That's the behavior of a man who believes he is playing from a position of strength. The answers don't seem as important as moving beyond the questions. Chapman obviously has his back on this as well. Are they right? Do they need a TV game? They have some already. Trouble selling tickets? Nope. Public support for not playing UND? That may be the only card UND has left to play here. Obviously the general public wants to see them play, but the early returns on legislative intervention is pretty one sided. Turning public opinion against NDSU may be the only option to make this happen, but how to do that? And by the way, how did we get from the "we don't need NDSU" approach (you know who you are), to hoping public pressure changes their mind? Ultimately, I'd like to see the games played, but I'm getting to the point where my pride is telling me I want to see UND get through the transition and into a conference and then schedule NDSU on even ground.

And here I've been thinking, and opining, and writing, and articulating, and reading quotes and opinions from the people involved...and all any of us really needed...was your proclamation. Thank you, sire. I've been wasting my time.

I believe in limiting the scope of government. IMHO, athletic scheduling of state universities should be left in the hands of the people hired to do that task-the athletic directors. If they are not doing that task to the satisfaction of their superiors, there is a process to replace that person with someone else. None of that goes as high up the chain of command as the legislature. Beyond that, you and I will agree to disagree.

You know that's not true. State employees have specific job descriptions that, for the most part, limit power. However, in the case of the legislature, they do have far reaching tentacles that can have significant influence over a lot of different areas. I don't disagree that the legislature can do this thing. I am confident it would not pass should it even come up for a vote. However, if NDSU can show it doesn't have an opening until 2012, what then? Will this come up every year? Will NDSU's desire for a big road payday like UND's game at TTU, be a valid reason for not playing at UND? Therefore, could the legislature force NDSU to accept an economic penalty by passing on a FBS road game in order to play at UND? An interesting irony don't you think, when part of this argument is the economic penalty UND is getting for being denied the home NDSU game? I want to see these teams play, even if it is on an irregular basis, but I won't sell out my principles for it. The legislature needs to stay away from this.

How can you possibly post that statement and still believe in "empower the taxpayer"? If athletic scheduling is now under legislative power, then what exactly is not within their power? How about hiring and firing? Should Potter et al then have approval on who gets the athletic director job in the first place if they are now directing individual tasks within that job? What about other duties of the AD like athletic dept staff? Coaches? Setting affordable ticket pricing? Concession stands? Pardon me for yelling at my computer but...LEGISLATORS HAVE A JOB OF THEIR OWN TO DO! THEIR LOCUS OF CONTROL ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE DUTIES OF THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS OF ANY OF THE UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH DAKOTA!!!

. Are we now ready to concede this point, or will the money come in one way or another (some other UND home game)? There's so many new people from all over the country living in Fargo, that label is meaningless to many, and those who are born and raised here wear it with as a badge of honor. Attempting to shame Cass residents into putting pressure on NDSU is a non-starter.

If the NCAA tournament were the only opportunity for these teams to play each other, that would an infinitely better situation than politicians micromanaging athletic scheduling. It gives me no comfort to know the same thing was done in Alabama.

My God, the bafoonery. It never ceases to amaze me how otherwise normal citizens absolutely lose their minds when they attain political power.

Taylor has plenty of excuses to use, but he couldn't hide behind the nickname. The MVFC has made no public policy announcement that I've heard of regarding UND's nickname. I'm sure we'd have heard of it last week if they had some policy in place.

That would be a surprise considering Muss is on record saying he doesn't want a one year only deal.

Dan Funk, Eden Prairie, Minn.:

Not to mention most of those 5 players are on the court right now. And considering the Summit standings, it seems they have no problem with focus. I hope UND is learning something.

Apparently, conference membership isn't the carrot many thought it would be to the board. Not enough to change the timetable anyway.

I agree with you, but Dave's example shows just how strong a loss some people will feel if that name is gone. To some the name=the team.

I don't know that UND had the leverage to demand more of them and still get the game scheduled.

Here's a reason to speed up the timeline on the nickname issue.

Here's a reason to speed up the nickname issue.

I'm concerned with the level of animosity toward Douple here. We all agree it would be extraordinarily difficult to gain admission to the Summit witout his recommendation to the conference presidents? Where is any base level of self evaluation (by that I mean evaluation of UND and fans) of what needs to be done to be granted a site visit by the Summit along with USD? UND CANNOT afford to be passed by on this.

What if the conference wants to award membership prior to that timeline between UND and the NCAA? They choose USD or someone else.

I would think any conference has a very broad range of reasons why they could accept or deny a potential member from membership. The thinking here is backward. UND is the entity hoping that a conferece will accept the school, not the other way around. Is it really surprising that this is a hang up to conference membership?

There wasn't anything in that post that even addressed what is in the best interest of the state of ND. That aside, I can say that it is absolutely not in the best interest of the state of ND to have anyone but the athletic directors of UND and NDSU, with approval of their hiring managers, the respective college presidents, setting the schedules and corresponding opponents for their schools' athletic teams. Faison should be making decisions based on what is in the best interest of UND. Worrying about what is in the best interest of the state of ND is a job for the governor.

Since when does it require any political capital for UND or NDSU to control their scheduling decisions? My company just laid off 1500 people nationwide. It affected about 20 people in ND and NW MN. They don't care right now if UND and NDSU play each other, or what the Summit league policy about the Sioux nickname is. Politicians rightfully have other concerns right now. We care a lot more about this than most people do.

To your credit, you admit that charge is opinion rather that fact.

Finding a permanent conference home is UND's responsibility alone. Doesn't NDSU really only matter if the Sioux come up for a vote by the conference presidents? When and if that time comes, Chapman will have to go on the record with his vote. Until that time, is it new information that NDSU won't be on the schedule? I don't like the negative press either, but the nickname issue is for UND to solve, and the fact it affects NDSU's potential to shedule UND, to me is irrelevant because they weren't gonna schedule it anyway, so what is the difference? The really irritating thing about this story to me is it reminds everyone that if UND would have moved up when Chapman brought it up, life would be different today. It makes Chapman look like the visionary all over again, and, to be sure because by their refusal to make the transition easier for UND in ANY way, they really are rubbing noses in it.

Is there a link or a bibliography to this? It is well documented neither he nor Chapman want to schedule UND, and I want to see the programs playing again, but I've yet to see evidence he or Chapman attempted to get the conference policy changed to not schedule UND.