gopherz

OK you win...just as I was writing a lengthy response...

Nothing better than the President with the lowest approval rating of all time at this point in his term.

If you read more carefully, I said that with a total disregard to hockey since Big 10 expansion was brought up. Those are 2 schools that would fit in geographically, academically, and athletically. Rutgers would be huge to adding the New York viewing market for television and conference exposure. Pitt is usually pretty strong in football and basketball, and is decent athletically. Obviously the best fit is ND, but that doesn't seem feasible. I find it highly unlikely that the BTHC, if created, would take a school not in the Big 10. I also find it highly unlikely that ND will want to be conference affiliated, when they get to play a cupcake schedule that should lead to an easy BCS game. Or the biggest road block...their NBC TV deal where they are sharing the money with NO ONE is way too lucrative to pass up just to be conference affiliated.

I would say my posts are much more factually/discussion based rather than confrontational, but you go ahead and be the judge, won't hurt my feelings. I don't believe we have a history of conversation, but you do have a history of responding to all my posts in this type of manner, if you can call that conversation. Look, if you have a problem with it, be a man and send me a PM instead of posting this garbage. Back to the BTHC discussion....

Here's a good article on the situation I was just about to post this. The Big 10 is expected to officially announce that the idea of expansion is moving to the front burners, and is a key issue. The Big 10 is interested in Missouri, and they are willing to listen. I think you are absolutely correct about the 2 conferences, it's huge for football so we can have a conference title game. One concern would be the academic level of Missouri, but that's yet to be discussed in full. I'd go with more of an East/West breakdown of the conferences, as it makes a little more fiscal sense in my mind: West: Minnesota Wisconsin Illinois Northwestern Iowa Missouri East: Ohio State Penn State Indiana Michigan Michigan State Purdue There's obviously some problems no matter how you'd break it up, but this way would definitely preserve the best rivalries in my opinion. (Would suck to be Indiana for football). Scheduling would be like many other conferences...play everyone in your East or West/North or South/whatever once, and then half of the other division, which flip flops each year. This will big time come down to academics. Is the Big 10 willing to significantly drop standards to accept a school like Mizzou? I am not sure, but it would be great for sports. Do they have hockey?

I don't feel like it's a B.S. answer at all. It's the sad truth. How long have the fans and coaches been clamoring for change? How many times has the league office said they were going to change, only to go back to their old ways? It's truly a lost cause until there are some serious changes at the top.

You have a point there, especially in this economy too. Lots of athletic departments in the red, I know the U was for the fiscal year, maybe even last year too. Only programs that made money were football, mens hockey, and mens basketball. That being said, you'd think the potential for another sport that'd actually be in the black would be intriguing. I'm not in the know of IU finances so I can't say for sure, but being associated with BTHC could mean positive cash flows for IU. Who knows. On the point of how terrible their football is, IU just spent a bunch of money to upgrade their stadium, and still got no fan support. That program will never be relevant at all. Almost as sad as Northwestern who has a great coach quietly putting together a great program, and they still draw like a D2 or D1AA team.

Or maybe everyone could just begin to accept it as what it is since there's no logical reason to think anything will change in the foreseeable future.

I agree with you, but they'll never know until they try. IU is basketball country. They sell that place out even when they suck (like last year) and get drilled by every big 10 team. The fan support is there if the program is right, I wouldn't discount them just because of their football stadium. UND football attendance is similar to a high school game. What does that have to do with their hockey program?

I doubt either side would have mutual interest in regards to the football/basketball segment that would come from it too though. I haven't heard the name thrown around at all, so there must be some reason for it. Obviously if the B10 is going to add a team for hockey, it's going to want to add that team for other sports as well. Notre Dame still seems like the best candidate to me, but that would obviously be a bit down the road. Disregarding the hockey status, Pitt and Rutgers are 2 of the most attractive options.

Someone is sure being confrontational for never adding anything with a hint of relevance to the discussion.... Suppose I should come to expect that from you.

Youre welcome. ;)

Well if we are in English class, you have a little mistake in your post too. ;) But on a non-grammatical Nazi point...MplsBison, you disgrace this city and I wish you would disappear. Anyone who honestly hopes that this nickname goes away is an IDIOT. Obviously I don't like the Sioux as a team since I am a Gopher fan, but I respect the nickname, the meaning of it to the fans and the university, and the history of it to everyone involved. Thinking from an unbiased point of view, I think it's best for the University of North Dakota to settle this one way or the other. Is it right for the Summit League to hold this over their head and threaten membership if they don't get it resolved in a timely matter? Absolutely not. But UND has no choice, they play by the Summit League's rules. If you're a fan of UND sports besides the hockey team (which I am not, but I understand the situation), it is of the utmost importance to be affiliated with a league, and there's no better league for you than the Summit. For the purpose of all other sports, if it takes the name being retired before the November deadline to gain entrance into the League, the name has to and will be retired. Like I said, I don't want this name to go, as I respect what it stands for...That being said, it needs to be retired and it will be if that's what it takes to join the Summit League. All the complaining on either side of the argument is definitely irrelevant, as no one really knows what's going on and what is going to ultimately happen, but I suppose that's the point of these boards is to discuss. Sorry for the rant, just thought I would throw my 2 cents out there. (And if I had to predict what happens, I'd say the SBoHE decides to prematurely retire the name and is met with some serious backlash) -gopherz

Want me to put in a few hundred votes? Hah

Sadly, UND is not academically on the level to be a big 10 school, especially in regards to being a research institution. If the Big 10 Hockey Conference does happen, I would hope that Minnesota would still play UND though, as it is a great rivalry.

Count me as still hoping this happens.

Which is why I would never do it in a million years haha

That's an embarrassing call for the WCHA officiating staff...wow

Maybe I should start following our women's team since our mens team sucks.

I might have a few standing available for much much cheaper than that, since I'm a student and anyone can use them, and I can keep on getting them.

I suppose I'll throw in a few votes since I can change my IP whenever I want. (Also added a nice comment on one of my votes )

HAHAHAHAHAHA I agree that he is a moron but I couldn't help but laugh at this ;) :lol:

God bless YaneA, never easy to lose a loved one. Stay strong, you'll be in my prayers.

Anyone have 4 tickets they want to sell for the Final 5? Let me know

BRIAN SCHACK JUST SCORED A GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!