Matt

It's what has set this tournament apart. It's as difficult, in many cases, to simply win your section for the right to go to St Paul, as it is in other states to win the state title. Thats what I do miss about the one class system. As tough as it is even now, it was tougher then. The ability to move back and forth between classes so freely needs to be closed.

I haven't even heard Mussman make reference to preferred walk-ons. Anyone else?

This statement is quite true, but UND won it's national title before the defection, not after.

We tend to get caught up in the Sioux-Bison debate, but the best two programs in the region may be the Jacks and Coyotes. I've only seen the Jacks play. Any thoughts on how those teams may stack up next year (assuming they play)?

I got that from the playoff comittee.

Except the Warriors were considered a playoff caliber team by the folks in D-2. I would have hoped the hockey connections would have pulled through when they were needed this year.

I'm not sure I'm ready to concede that is the best way to operate. NDSU has been very aggressive in their use of media for a long time-long before they took it in house. Yes NDSU had a lot of televised games last year, but is that due to taking things in house, or is it due to the effectiveness of their ad campaign ever since they moved up to D-1? They've been positioning themselves as THE D-1 university in this state for what, at least 4 years? Are they just now reaping the rewards of that newly built demand for a slick marketed product? I'm not necessarily against moving things in house, but I don't want to just because that's what NDSU did.

I haven't thought about this too much, so maybe there isn't a better way, but should any team have to play a team for a fourth time to win a state title? Three times is understandable, you have to do that to become a section champion in MN. What about eliminating the conference tourney and direct seeding every team in the state? Hold early round games at big rinks around the state. Instead of an eight team state tourney, maybe hold a frozen four at the Ralph. I don't know, but four matchups is just a lot.

Do you think your qualifier "I have nothing against ARC", makes your statement less insulting to either the officials or those folks in ARC? Think about that at church this Sunday.

I've worked with Erv Inninger over the years on some fundraising projects, and he's commented on many occasions just how many folks approach the Fargo business community (or corporate Fargo) for money. Bison, Sioux, Dragons, Cobbers, high schools, park districts, the arts, charities, library fund, on and on and on. It's understandable that a business would take a bit of a wait and see attitude toward this new project. Also makes you realize just how much corporate money there is in this town.

I like Jim Tressel's take when he was recruiting Laurinaitis. His mom said Tressel told him, "If you come to Ohio State, we will compete for a national championship. If you don't come to Ohio State, we will compete for a national championship."

Your version makes sense. Of course, isn't everything better with a bit of reason in it?

It's amusing that SDSU can put together schedules for '08 (iowa state, cal poly, mcneese) and '09 (georgia southern, cal poly, Minnesota in the new stadium) that are clearly better than what NDSU has on the books in '08 (austin pee, central conn) and '09 (iowa state) yet somehow UND won't manage.

By 'worry' do you mean comment on a SiouxSports.com discussion thread about the 2008 Sioux FB schedule? Gee, thanks!

Mary signed 29 players. How many of these could be a preferred walk on?

I kind of miss the old days when The Forum left UND coverage to The Herald.

Lennon show is the top rated college television program in the region.

It was well known, and surprised no one in MN when Bielema at Wisconsin continued recruiting David Gilreath although he had already verballed to the U of M. He was a star kick returner for the badgers this year. There are no sacred cows.

Who were his players from Chicago?

Actually, by 1992 they had already been busted for...uh...shall we say "estimating" attendance, and were then using more traditional methods.

It's amazing advertisers are willing to pay for manipulated viewership numbers. The fools!

Grand Forks population:49321 Fargo population:90599 Amazing how your approximate attendance figures are approximately the ratio of the populations of those two fine cities.

Wake up at 10:55! Church at 9, kids' Sunday school at 10, brunch at 11, Vikings at noon. I used to watch both shows on Sunday night. Now there's only one, and I scan the highlights of Bohl's show whenver. The time change was a poor decision.