ksixpack

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Sorry folks but I must confess that this thread has been a sham...just a thinking exercise for all of you sky-is-falling types out there. My point to all of you is this...wouldn't our leaders be doing the very things I posted on this thread if indeed we were in peril of losing our Big Sky membership? Of course they would! Wouldn't they be trying to secure support from the members of the league? Wouldn't they be looking at plan B instead of talking about failure as an independent? For heaven's sake, wouldn't the talk coming from them sound more like leadership rather than trying to persuade that the sky is falling and dooms day is near! I would sure hope so... Fact is we are not in eminent peril of being kicked out of the Big Sky and both Kelley and Faison know this. If the vote passes which is very likely are we going to face the NCAA sanctions...you bet, for sure we are. We can argue the depth of those ramifications but that is a totally separate argument. Kelley, Faison, and Fullerton are setting up a smoke screen to get this issue behind us. They want it gone and frankly can you blame them? Surely the Big Sky doesn't want us on NCAA sactions. Obviously it's not good for business but they still believe we are a viable member to bring in otherwise they would have kicked us out already after the original state law vote wouldn't they?...why is this latest petition drive any different than that? The nickname was gone both times and resurected both times...so why kick us out now and not then? Remember what Fullerton said in his interview with McFeeley...he said we are for sure in the Big Sky next year, are not in danger of being kicked out before we enter in August, but would could be considered for removal if we were no longer viable after a period of time with NCAA sanctions and that removal would take a unanimous vote from the 10 presidents. Listen to the audio if you don't believe it.

Let's ask the same of Mr. Faison...can he lead us through this (see gloom and doom dribble above). Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear this from Mr. Faison ..."While we feel the Big Sky would be a great fit for the University of North Dakota and we would love nothing better to be a proud member of their conference if there ever came the day where they would not accept our membership we are confident that there could possibly be other potential conferences out there that would love to have this great University as part of there membership. Although President Kelley and I are fully opposed to the yes vote on June 6th because of the NCAA sactions that will be levied against us, the passion and commitment to this University is overwhelming to the point that is amazing to a lot of folks across the country. We, as well as our passionate supporters in North Dakota, know this university has a lot going for it and I would hope that cooler heads prevail and we will continue to have the support of the Big Sky as we weave through this difficult process..." Instead we get his quotes above...you would think he must have taken a Public Relationship course at some point?

I would agree with your assessment of the people of North Dakota...this vote will pass with a resounding yes. It is going to happen so it is time for Mr. Kelley to lead. Those of you that think the Big Sky presidents will vote us out because of this it is time for Kelley to secure their support. Instead of spewing the same old sky is falling mantra how about heading off this train wreck so many of you speak of? You shouldn't rely on SBOHE. You shouldn't rely on a no vote. Both of those scenarios are very unlikely so we know what is going to happen on June 6th. President Kelley needs to step up to the plate and sell the virtues of this great university to spare us from expulsion from the Big Sky...can he do it? Will he do it? Will he go down without a fight?

I am sorry to inform you but there will be a vote on June 6th and you and I know it will pass. All 10 of the presidents have to vote us out for us to lose Big Sky membership. Can Kelley lead us to make sure at least one of the presidents has our back?

It was unanimous. The question is this...is Mr Kelley an effective leader if he can't get even one of the presidents to back us in the Big Sky? Put all of the other rehtoric on the back burner and take it as a simple question.

Guys, you are missing the point...in order to be booted from the Big Sky all 10 presidents have to vote us out...remember all 10 voted us in...so Mr. Kelley cannot count on any of the presidents to back him. He should be working behind the scenes to make sure this doesn't happen. Is he? Maybe he is, but you wouldn't know it from his comments. He should be forging relationships and partnerships with the Montana's like he said they wanted to when we were admitted to the conference. For academic reasons alone he should be building enough relationships and partnerships that he could count on these guys to have his back. In order to get voted out 0-10 after being voted in 10-0 would show me that he hasn't done his job and a lack of respect for him in the first place.

We can all agree that Mr. Fullerton said that it takes a unanamous vote from all 11 presidents of the Big Sky to kick us out. That is fact, so I propose one question for everyone both sides of the issue. Wouldn't you think our university president, Mr. Kelly, would be forging partnerships and relationships with these presidents to assure this would not happen? For God's sake he doesn't need all 10 in his favor, he just needs one! Is he so inept that he can't get one on his side? That is pretty piss poor if you ask me. He obviously doesn't have confidence he can because of his gloom and doom rehtoric. Mr. Kelley has said in the past that the Montana's look forward to the academic partnerships that they could persue. Well pursue them then...let's forge some relationships and partnerships. Our state and this University have a lot going for it so let's get together with these guys and make it happen. I ask you this...if Tom Clifford was at the helm would our stance with the Big Sky be in peril? He would have at least one if not many of the Big Sky presidents in his favor. It's time for Mr. Kelley to lead and not follow!

If we forge relationships and partnerships they would have a vested interest in the issue. We should be doing that already for academic reasons and not to save our Big Sky membership. No brainer...time for Mr. Kelley to lead and not follow...

We can all agree that Mr. Fullerton said that it takes a unanamous vote from all 11 presidents of the Big Sky to kick us out. That is fact, so I propose one question for everyone both sides of the issue. Wouldn't you think our university president, Mr. Kelly, would be forging partnerships and relationships with these presidents to assure this would not happen? For God's sake he doesn't need all 11 in his favor, he just needs one! Is he so inept that he can't get one on his side? That is pretty piss poor if you ask me. He obviously doesn't have confidence he can because of his gloom and doom rehtoric. Mr. Kelley has said in the past that the Montana's look forward to the academic partnerships that they could persue. Well pursue them then...let's forge some relationships and partnerships. Our state and this University have a lot going for it so let's get together with these guys and make it happen. I ask you this...if Tom Clifford was at the helm would our stance with the Big Sky be in peril? He would have at least one if not many of the Big Sky presidents in his favor. It's time for Mr. Kelley to lead and not follow!

Once again,the reason is simple...money. These programs make money for the league, scandal or no scandal. Same with UND...that is why they haven't kicked us out already...they think we will be good for the conference...if we are not viable after Fullertons "wait and see" they will consider it but I am willing to bet we will be viable sanctions or not.

That's it? That's the best you have? Of everything I have written that is all you can come up with? The fact that the ND economy is doing well is not a big reason to want UND but it helps contribute to the viability of UND. Greater population, increased alumni giving, increased advertising revenue, increased research grants for EERC partnering with Oil boom in the western part of the state, UND aerospace partnering with UAV's for research and technology, lots of good things happening financially in this state and who wouldn't want to be a part of that? Put your feet back up on the desk for awhile as I don't have time to get in a pissing match with a half-wit.

I did graduate from UND...I am a season ticket holder for sports other than hockey. I was at the volleyball game against NDSU. I was at Purpur arena to watch the Women's hockey team beat Bemidji in overtime of the WCHA playoffs last year. Don't put me in a box. Being ranked #23 is not my goal for the football team either but I think it is a pretty good start for a team going through D1 transition. I am very excited for all of UND sports as we go forward in D1. I just don't have the belief that the nickname or sanctions will harm us as we are hearing. I also think that there is the ultimate end game that will end off of this controversy once and for all and that is a vote from Standing Rock and I think we are one step closer to that now.

The last football poll I saw had UND ranked in the top 25 which is better than 100 schools in FSC football. UND beat Montana and NDSU in mens basketball. The other sports are all doing well. Not bad for teams in transition without any playoffs home or away! Now that we are playoff eligible and in the Big Sky I think we will be just fine thank you. So I guess if you look at the facts recruiting will not be an issue now will it?

Well pick it apart then. Enlighten the rest of us with your wisdom. Easy to sit there with your feet up casting stones. Very sad.

Might be the dumbest comment I have read so far...they did just fine recruiting during the transition didn't they when they were guarenteed no playoffs for 5 years home or away! You realize there is no home playoffs in D1 for basketball and hockey right? There is not a UND recruit for football that would ever say that I am not coming because I can't play a home football playoff game in front of my friends...come on you have to be kidding me? Furthermore it was not clear that UND was dropping the name when the Big Sky accepted them, as a matter of fact the SIoux logo took up about half of the Big Sky home page when they welcomed them to the league on their web site.

We are in the 10% of the mid-majors that do not lose money. Funny, based on your logic they would have voted us out after South Dakota left, or maybe after the constitutional amendment to keed the name, or yesterday. Well they haven't have they? Fullerton is on record as saying they are taking a wait and see aproach and we are in the Big Sky as long as we are a viable member...I say we will be a viable member for a long time...you obviously say we won't. Time will tell my friend...

See my original post...revenue less expenses = profit...our revenues far exceed travel costs...take a look at the map of the Big Sky teams, this isn't the old NCC. Nobody is just down the road (Vermillian is even 350 miles away)...those states in the West are large!

1. UND is not a member yet, duh, but will contribute when they are starting this Fall. 2. Entry fee is do in July and will be paid then 3. NCAA sanctions are well known and on the table...no further "counselling" will exist. We will be a viable member for the Big Sky with or without NCAA santions. Obviously more viable without the santions but still vialble with them.

Every president would have to vote us out, that is a fact stated by Fullerton yesterday. Why would they vote us out if we are making the conference money and contributing to their schools bottom line? They voted us in when we were the Fighting SIoux didn't they? Your argument doesn't make much sense.

What? Get a clue! The Big Sky conference like all other conferences are a for profit organization. They pay Fullerton's salary. The more money BSC makes more money Fullerton makes. Fullerton could care less about the nickname and has said so publically. He just wants it resolved. Why? Because he sees UND as an asset to his company. If we are under NCAA sanctions we would stand to make less money for the conference (i.e. road football playoff games). To him less money is not good. He is protecting his asset and wants to be able to get as much money out of it as he can. As long as we make money for the conference (and we will with or without NCAA sanctions) we are good but more is better and that is why he wants this resolved. Always follow the money and you will see the answer!

Folks, remember the Big Sky is a business. Plain and simple they, like all businesses, are out to make a profit. Fullerton said that UND will compete in the Big Sky next year but if they become a non-viable member of the BIg Sky at some point they could be voted out. We will be in the Big Sky. He said so on tape yesterday. Look at it like this...if you owned a business and had an employee that led a life style away from the office that you didn't care for but he was one of your top producers and made the company big money and minded his P's and Q's while at work would you fire him? Of course not. He would probably only be fired if his sales eroded to the point where he was not an asset to the company. Fullerton basically said the same thing yesterday. I highly doubt UND would ever become a non-viable member of the Big Sky. Fullerton runs a business, the Big Sky, and UND is coming on board as a recruited member. Fullerton said they are taking a wait and see approach. They brought UND in because they believed UND could be a viable member of the Big Sky and make the conference money. It's all about the money. It always has been and always will be! UND is very attractive to the Big Sky for many reasons, but first and foremost is the money it could generate the conference. Does the Big Sky need UND more than UND need the Big Sky? Hell no, but they see the potential for making money from UND being a member. UND will be a very competitive member. Even though we just went through the tough D1 transition we are already better than 80% of the FSC football programs and both men’s and women’s basketball are ready for the Big Sky with the future looking very bright as is all of our sports programs. Our facilities would probably be the best in the Big Sky. Our fan base is large and full of passion. Sure Fullerton is tired of the nickname issue but at the same time he has to be intrigued by the fact that the whole state is weighing in on the issue and there is so much passion behind it. Ask any sports franchise and they will tell you that apathy will lead to demise...well we certainly don't have apathy for our sports programs here at UND! We have our own sports network that has games picked up nationally which is a huge asset for UND and Fullerton and the rest of the Big Sky see that. No other current teams in the Big Sky have the exposer that UND does on the national stage. That is a fact and NCAA sanctions will not interrupt this exposer. In addition, academically our school is also very attractive to the Big Sky. We have a medical school, law school, and the top aerospace school in the nation. UND's research programs and alumni foundation are raking in the money. The Big Sky presidents love what we have to offer as an academic partner. In addition, North Dakota, the state is on a big time roll. The oil boom and economic vitality of the state is best in the nation right now. Yes we are 600 miles east from the rest of the conference but that is uncharted territory for the Big Sky. UND's footprint reaches all the way to the Twin Cities. That new exposer for the Big Sky is a good thing. Example, UND is talked about daily on KFAN and written about daily in the Twin Cities newspapers. Is the Big Sky? I don't remember the last time anyone on KFAN broke down the competition in the Big Sky Conference. Fullerton and his members see this as new exposer. As a business you like that new exposer. You like the fact that UND's hockey team is a national power and gets lots of publicity. Exposer equals money. Bottom line is economics. As long as UND makes the Big Sky money UND will be a member. The sanctions from the NCAA are not enough to cripple UND where it is not an asset to the Big Sky. They will have no trouble filling out the rest of the minimal non-conference schedules, fans will continue to support UND and probably more so now that the will of the people is being heard, and I believe that the will of the people will prevail and the NCAA will at some point hear the state of North Dakota loud and clear and will give in...and if they don't...well f#ck 'em!

Wow could McFeeley be any more obvious in his bias against UND...what a blow hard...that is the worst journalism I have every heard. He sounds like a giddy 5th grade girl that just talked to Justin Beiber! Nice leading questions that makes it sound like everyone who supports UND thinks that the Big Sky needs us more than we need them...a couple of petition gatherers say this and he presents it as gospel from everyone that supports UND to Mr. Fullerton. Way to sensationalize and put all 17,000 petitioners in the same box! As one who signed the petition I would love to be in the Big Sky and do not want to lose that opportunity and I don't think we will because Mr Fullerton said that it is not imminent now that we will be thrown out but if we are marginalized as a D1 school because of NCAA sanctions in the future to the point we are no longer viable or the protests at the athletic events are too big of a distraction than at that point discussion could be brought up to eliminate us. He was clearly talking about a future chain of events clearly after we are in the Big Sky. One, we are definately a viable institution now and will remain so for as far as I can see, we have been before and during all of this nickname debate and will be long after it. Two, there have never been protests big enough to label us a big enough distraction mandate us out of a league.

They didn't even quote Gene correctly in the Herald story. His comments were a tongue-in-cheek reference to the "Sioux suck" chant by NDSU...since we are no longer named Sioux they must be talking about the Native Americans which would make them racist. It was a harmless comment at Sioux Boosters which is basically a pep rally and did not warrent a written apology to the president of NDSU. For God's sake Faison wasn't even there and nobody cared or was even talking about it but this administration used it as fodder to once again make their anti-nickname case and show everyone 'see here is just another reason why this nickname is destructive'. They use Gene as a pawn and create negative PR for the very University they represent to further their agenda to do away with the Sioux name and every tradition that came with it. How pathetic! Just falls in line with all the other half truths this administration is pushing to the media. Ever since Gene made the comment that he would chose the Sioux name over Summit League membership this administration has been on his back. Gene has done a lot for this university in his 25 years and doesn't deserve the kind of treatment he is getting from this administration. Gene is not retiring any time in the near future unless he is force out by our administrators who are in the process of trying to eliminate everything that has to do with the Sioux name and its traditions!