Hawkster

Shouldn't that Big Sky disadvantage be favorable to NDSU? We like it here, why do you care where we are?

I've been a Jones "tolerater" up til now. I will be the first to say that he'd better come through in spades next year or it's out the door. The fact that NDSU can get to the NCAA tourney with a new team and coach says a lot. I think we need to start setting minimum goals for all our major sports with the expectations that they make them. In Jones's case, finish in the top have of the Sky and make a very respectable run in the BSC tourney. If not, well it was nice knowing you.

Any score on the Montana-Weber State game?

That's for sure.

My guess is a little fall out from the Clives Georges thing. I sure hope it isn't anything deeper than that.

Not sure how to interpret that. If he plays, he probably won't be 100%, or trying to give CC false hope that he's not up to par?

I am so sick of the Bison already. Win this, win that, blah, blah, blah. I'd really, really like to know how they do it. I swear they have to be the luckiest sob's on the planet. I would say they are a #14 seed, and with their luck, they'll win their first game in the tournament too. And of course, this is all you will hear for the 2 or 3 weeks. It's to the point I'm glad they didn't start a hockey team last fall, they'd probably win a title in that too. Just sick of this bs, just fed up.

Hell, he needs to just get rid of that thing and go with a natural look. Who does he think he's kidding?

I really had been leaning towards giving another year, but even I'm having second thoughts.

Might as well be down by 20, cause we know what's going to happen

Anyone got any updates?

The big thing is, if you replace Jones and don't up the salary substantially, you still get the same quality guy IMO. I'm not convinced we are ready to take the big step and get the salary in line with where it needs to be and can we afford to increase the $$$ and pay Jones for the next 2 years? I'm still leaning towards giving Jones one more year and the understanding things need to be a whole lot better next year. Remember, we need to start paying stipends next year, so money is going to be flowing out much faster than in the past.

Any chance you can translate that into English?

As a Poly Sci major who's smoked his share, I've got mixed feelings here. I was no Jerry Garcia at UND, but hey, I still did it. I feel Bubba has to suspend him for a couple games, just to keep other stuff from happening. Really, a 2 or 3 game suspension is about right, with a stern word that next time it's way more serious, maybe permanent. First offense, no big deal, just a violation of team rules.

Actually it was on the Herald site already on Saturday. No one is hiding anything. Article says he's still on the team. http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-football/3689948-und-football-player-arrested-marijuana-possession

Stuff like this just makes a guy want to throw your hands in the air and walk away. Un Freaking Believable. Why would you rip on what we play?

Anyone got a score?

Seems to be a pattern here.

We might be high end with academics, but when it comes to athletics most people think of the big 3, UM, MSU, and EWU, then lump the rest in a lower tier. I realize some of this is only a perception problem, but it still exists. It's still the big 3 and then everyone else when it comes to Big Sky sports.

A bigger question is, are we a "high-end Big Sky school"? Not trying to bash my alma matter, but we haven't even had a winning Big Sky record in either basketball or football. I've got a feeling he wasn't talking about us. It's hard to be considered high end when we can't even get over 500.

I agree fully on womens hockey. It beats me why people just keep insisting that it can or will be cut. It can't and it won't be.

I don't see how we can keep putting these major facilities projects on the backs of wealthy alums. There are only so many Ralphs to go around. I really see this as being more of a pipe dream than anything else. Add to this that we aren't even doing all that well in FCS and aren't ready for the next step. I'm usually pretty supportive of whatever UND is willing to try, but I have no doubt that we are a long, long way from testing the FBS waters.

But how do we fund it? Those 22 schollies added to the 85 stipends will probably put the financial picture over the tipping point. Plus, we are going to be looking at having to pump more money into mens basketball soon as well. And no, we aren't defunding womens hockey, that's pretty much a sacred cow due to Title IX. I'm not saying we won't ever move up, but the money has to come from somewhere, and right now it's not there.

BSC has football, the Summit doesn't. That trumps anything else. Would we get into the Mo Valley? Who knows.

Well, I would say there is about zero interest in leaving the Sky for the Summit. Ain't gonna happen and the only advantage would be travel costs. Every other advantage is with the BSC.