FSSD

That is why I used the word "target" and not "rival" - UND has to build new rivals in the Big Sky and it will take time.. But, until then the "target" for me is the Griz which typically means the top of the Big Sky. Not disrespect is meant toward other teams in the Big Sky and I am looking forward to games against all Big Sky teams.

Until, they schedule a game - I have moved on to a new target - the Griz. please feel free to continue the debate with the Buffalo fans we don't have enough of those going on..

In the future, please word this type of questions as: Buy or sell UND has a better final ranking/season than Montana within 2 years. They are our new target and it keeps the Fargo riff raff to a minium. thanks

Clordion Kennedy (Antioch, Calif.), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiShZ1ScXzY

He is a video for Will Lewis http://www.hudl.com/...hlights/7450384

The data is from 2010 so it is in the middle of the transition. I would think that you would see a nice increase as part of joining the Big Sky. As I looked at the data I was amazed at how little ticket revenue many programs had.. I am really excited about the Big Sky and today it is in a great position: 1) 4 - programs will be playing in a auto-bid football conference for the first time (Poly, UCD, SUU and UND). I expect all four of the schools to make major jumps. 2) While looking at the data - I noticed that all large ticket revenue schools not only had successful programs but a major rival. If you look at the schools added to the Big Sky it gave existing Big Sky schools potential rivals going forward - Sac/UCD/Poly, SUU/NAU/Weber St. 3) Big Sky is now the number three football conference in the Western US 4) Portland has a new stadium and EWU won a NC. I expect to see those schools making improvements. In general I am bullish on the future of the Big Sky - I can not wait... still waiting for my season tickets.

Actually, I think that I have the data for MV, Summit, MtnWest, Big West and Southland. I used it to create the norm data. But, I only took the time to chart the Big Sky. I guess that I am really looking forward to the Big Sky and I have kind of moved on with the xDSU/UNI/USD group... when I have some time (rainy day) in the near future I can chart the data it doesn't take much to do.. if I recall correctly, general thoughts as I cleaned data: UNI/NDSU/SIU/MSU very comparable - UNI/MSU/SIU slightly basketball heavy and NDSU slightly football heavy.. SDSU healthy but a step behind right at norm with ticket revenue. USD has some major work to do ... but I have a lot of good friends from USD and they are very excited about the future of the program and it sounds like dome upgrades and new arena are being pushed.. The Summit is just wow - Oakland had something like $100,000 in ticket revenue compared to the norm average of around a $1 m (yes, I get the no football side of it - but they have a great program and 100k is it? - I think that is why they want the Horizon so bad - more rivals ie more ticket sales). Overall conference is kind of lopsided... xDSU on one side and everyone else on the other side. IUPUI had something like 30,000/40,000 in tickets sales. MV very balanced and wow Wichita St. I think they have the money to start football..

I was listening to an interview with the Big Sky Commissioner the other day and he talked about how he looked at athletic programs and how many programs are being built on student fees, guarantee games and institutional support (sfgis) which is not sustainable in the long run. I thought that I would look at the Big Sky schools to see what the conference looked like in that context, plus I just wanted to learn a bit more about the Big Sky and what UND was getting itself into… As I looked at the data, I came up with the following chart – thought it would be useful to share with other just learning about the Big Sky. General description of the chart: X axis - % of athletic programs budget from sfgis Y axis - % of athletic budget attributed to football program Bubble Size – revenue from ticket sales – I choose this as an indicator of the following a program may have. General Quadrant descriptions: Top RHS – Football School with a healthy budget Top LHS – Football School dependant on sfgis Lower RHS – non Football dependant with a healthy budget Lower LHS – non Football dependant on sfgis NOTE:I added Idaho and New Mexico St just to see how they would fit in..Montana is impressive I can see why the WAC is talking to them.. Mods sorry if the image is too much.. I can delete it you like

So you are saying the NDSU and SDSU are a package deal versus SDSU and USD?

Buy - Sutton missing multiple games - physical runner who will get dinged up throughout the season. Sell - UND over .500 - I think .500 is about right. Think about the FCS QBs they play against this year. PSU - junior college transfer Collin Ramirez - a highly rated transfer. http://www.oregonliv...ly_establi.html Sacramento St. - Nevada Reno transfer Mason Magleby - he was the backup last year at Nevada - limited playing time. Cal Poly - Broadous - 3 year starter Eastern Washington - Kyle Padron - SMU transfer http://www.dallasnew...-washington.ece Northern Arizona - Gary Crossart - returning starter - 2700 yrds 16 td - 7 int Montana - Johnson - if he plays - very good. Montana St. - DeNarius McGhee Southern Utah - Brad Sorensen - BYU - transfer - 3 year starter Northern Colorado - Seth Lobato - returning starter- transfer from CU - big kid with a strong arm. UND will be playing some talented QBs with a young secondary.

You are correct, I thought that they moved him to a third down out of the backfield role - I spelled Jer Garman wrong also.

He was talking about basketball and the Summit League not sure why you jumped over to football ahhh ButFootball got it.

Sell - the greatest needs are in the secondary and only two scholarship recruits. I like the recruiting class, but four JUCO/FBS transfers were brought in with this class to fill the needs (DL, LB, QB, S). Miller - 1,000 - Sell - Backfield is deep, they are going with a committee this year. Miller, Sutton and Jar all had injuries last year with a lighter schedule. You will see those three plus - Bridges and Sparks this year. Buy or sell - avg attendance over 10,000

Hey what are the viewing options for UND this year: I know of ROOT for Big Sky games (UND has 1 game vs Montana St.), anyone know about the other games (football/b-ball and hockey) are they still FoxSports/Midco for other home games.

Thanks for the update - I really like your coach - he has a lot of energy and it appears that he relates well to his team. I am sure we will hear more from you as the season approaches post anytime. I am not sure what to think of the UND team this year. Football always starts in the trenches and I really like the O-line and def front 7. The defensive secondary is unproven which can be troubling given the reputation of the Sky. Thanks for the warm welcome to the Sky - man I cannot believe we are in this conference. I got my season tickets and I am ready to go... If you head east for the game make sure to stop by the tailgating area. You will receive a warm welcome.

The Vikings game should be fun. I am getting up to speed on the Sky teams. It appears that PSU is starting to rebuild the football program - nice stadium upgrade, plus third largest football budget in the Sky. Great weekly football TV program - it really looks like thing are starting pick up. How do you feel about the QB position PSU lost a great dual threat QB from last years team? Has PSU played well on the road historically? Is the FBS transfer running back the real deal?

as we say in the cities you just got Common'd

Football season ended? - I am always ready for football..

I am thankful for the Big Sky. I am not sure MVFC/Summit is ever going to be an option. Scheduling the other Dakota schools nonconference is the best that we can do right now.

Let me get this straight the NCAA works with various NA groups/tribes/councils for several years developing the original policy - which was to eliminate all NA names used by NCAA schools. Then in less than a month, the NCAA caves and turns itself into a clearing house for perpetuating and validating the continued use of NA names. They have done nothing to minimize the national media exposure of NA names because the names most associated with the NCAA NA names are still in use. To the general public nothing has changed and things are actually worse because the names have been rationalized. Your minor adjustment and sense of accomplishment sounds like a mess to me and on a national scale it accomplished nothing.

Yep, they followed through for all of 20 days with the original policy - no NA names. Is that proof enough?

Here is the information that was provided in the original lawsuit by UND.. In its January 18, 2006 response to UND, the NCAA Staff Committee did not even mention, let alone address, these facts. The Staff Committee nonetheless described the resolution of the Spirit Lake Tribal Council as one “of questionable continuing efficacy” and admitted that “NCAA efforts to speak with representatives of the Spirit Lake Nation have been unsuccessful.” Ex. T, Jan. 18, 2006 Staff Comm. Memo at 13. Apparently, the NCAA has tried, but failed, to persuade the Spirit Lake Tribal Council to formally rescind its prior approval of UND’s use of the “Fighting Sioux” nickname and logo. Unable to secure a formal withdrawal of the Spirit Lake Tribal Council’s approval, the NCAA has instead attempted to cast doubt on the viability of an unambiguous resolution of the legitimate governing body of the Spirit Lake Nation. In the same breath, the NCAA insists that the essence of the Namesake Exception is a respect for tribal sovereignty. Such duplicity is inherently arbitrary and indicative of bad faith. http://www.ag.state....n-state-crt.pdf

If Spirit Lake did not give permission to use the name why did the NCAA contact the tribe several times asking them to changes its position. I believe that this was reported in the GFH ealier this spring.

As I read the following link http://www.ag.nd.gov...r. Franklin.pdf which is the formal letter from the NCAA on why UND's appeal was denied. It is clear that a single namesake exemption was not applied to UND. Page 26 "One intention of the Executive Committee policy is to listen to local Native Americans. Here, opposition by Sioux tribes near North Dakota is well documented, barring North Dakota's argument that it enjoys namesake approval." Page 25 - lists the tribal resolutions: Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Rosebud Sioux Tribe Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Sisstan - Wahpeton Sioux Tribe Yaukton Sioux Tribe Board of Directors of the United Tribes of North Dakota - which include Spirit Lake Tribe