SooToo

Thanks for the update. And how about Justin Belotti, the d-back from Wisconsin transferring from Mankato? I don't see him on the roster. Is he around? Nothing official until school starts?

Anyone have any info on Chris Anderson. He was supposed to be somewhat of a sleeper in his recruiting class, as I recall, because he was injured much of his senior season in HS. I think Mussman referred to him last spring as potentially "that speed guy" (pre-Bamba) in the receiving corps and said last week that they were counting on him and Dressler to contribute. Is he still injured? Anybody know how he's looked when healthy?

Jeez, Dan, which is it? Will we get into a conference or won't we? Make up your mind and let us know. We're all anxiously awaiting your further insight.

I don't think things are "getting out of hand" when SS contributors conclude there's malicious intent on the part of trolls posting gossip and innuendo about individual student athletes and decide to jump on them for it. Of course, as a rational and civil participant here, you're certainly entitled to your own opinion. Yes, lets look at what SirHinn actually said in his post -- and his point wasn't that ND newspapers get their stories from message boards. He contended news outlets cover up negative stories about UND athletes but, of course, offers no evidence. He singles out an 18-year-old college freshman-to-be and claims it's old "news" that he's academically ineligible. Again, nothing to back up his assertion. Perhaps it's more galling because this was gleefully posted earlier at Bisonville. Even there, where the burden of proof seems exceedingly low when it comes to post on UND, this was branded as gossip and the thread was locked, but SirHinn posts it as fact here anyway. Not too difficult to conclude -- justifiably, I would add -- that the intent was malicious. Go back to Bisonville, where one poster routinely and without rebuke compares UND to Nazi Germany, and read the multiple threads filled with irrational bitterness. Unfortunately, it spills into this board, too. And when a young student is exploited to take shots at the institution, the comments have gone way out of bounds. In retrospect, you may be right in this instance about Bison Dan's contribution, but I guess he just gets extra credit based on past performance. Rant over.

Tell what, Dan? Whether you are bitter and obsessed? The jury came in on that one a long time ago. The point isn't whether a player has academic issues; hell, that happens everywhere. (See Bisonville for hourly updates - but, of course, the NCAA is to blame). The issue is with trolls so consumed by a (former?) rivalry that they gleefully go after individual student athletes. Criticize coaches if you feel you must; they at least get paid. Ridicule fans like me -- I'm all for taking a shot at the AC and I'm stupid enough to post on a board, too. Athletes are 18- and 19-year-old kids. When they are the focus of your hate, it's obvious you've lost all perspective. Amazingly common among Bison trolls and Bisonville posters. It's pathetic. It should stop.

Don't you get embarassed posting this kind of stuff? I mean I recognize the terminal bitterness and endless obsession on the part of some Bison fans when it comes to UND (See Bison Dan, others), but do you not feel even a little bit petty or small-minded when you come here and attempt to smear or embarass young athletes simply based on their choice of schools? Even when you have NO facts? Awhile back we had a Bison troll trying to smear another athlete (again from Fargo -- or does that make it worse for you?) because apparently she wouldn't give him a date. Where does it end? Where are your limits? Are you really an adult or still a 15-year-old? Get some perspective. Get some respect. Get a life. Move on.

Well that makes things easy. Disagreeable fans and, now, lousy seats -- skip the AC and head straight for the Alerus. Better viewing, better tailgaiting and a more congenial brand of people all around.

Thank you for steering this trainwreck back onto the main line.

Oh Lord. Is it football season yet? LaCrosse? Anything?

If I recall correctly, the AD said he expected the league's administrative staff would be a valuable resource to UND's coaching/administrative types on a variety of transition-related topics from compliance to rules clinics, etc., so that may be among the benefits of a league structure that wouldn't be realized by a cheaper "scheduling alliance." In regards to the three-year commitment, I can't imagine even the most incurable optimist woud expect UND to be ready to begin play in another league in anything under 3 years, what with the current moratorium on division changes and the usual lead time for scheduling, etc. FWII, I've always appreciated your calm, rational input here, despite suffering the occasional slings and arrows.

Amen

Your missing the point. The object during this transition should be to grow the base of Sioux fans, not just to excite the current supporters; Sioux football has remained "a winner" in recent years, competing for championships with established rivals, going what ? 20-5 the last two seasons? The result: Regular-season attendance was up about 5 percent last year. Bison football has done OK, too. Their record the last 2 years was 20-2. The result: Attendance has risen roughly 50% over the last 4-5 years. If you think that increase is all about "winning," give 'em a call down at the AC because they seem bent on wasting a ton of money on advertising.

Even a Bison troll, like a blind squirrel, stumbles on to an acorn once in a while. As BD infers, sometimes your schedule is not your strongest asset when transioning to FCS/Div. 1. But the inconvenience of an opponent with no scholarship players didn't deter the AC from packing in the local rubes for its "first division one game" in football, a predictable pasting of Valparaiso (sp?). Marketing was the key. Love 'em or hate 'em, there's no denying the Bision have done it the right way through the transition, and aggressive marketing has played no small part in their success. In the Fargo area, billboards are everywhere and radio and TV advertising runs nearly year-round. They've purchased airtime and taken over their own production to get coverage to as many areas as possible. Some here have said its all about winning; put a successful team on the floor/field and the fans will keep coming. Winning is a given; nobody thrives without winning except maybe the Chicago Cubs -- and Fighting Irish football. But as UND moves into the transition, aggressive marketing is crucial to sell our teams to an expanding potential audience. We need an aggressive advertising campaign for football now. We need STATEWIDE radio coverage for multiple teams. We need expanded TV coverage for football and basketball on FSSN, as well as a campaign -- again with advertising -- to let fans know when and where those games are available. The cost may be considerable, but this is an investment in long-term success, not just a short-term expense. I'm with you. UND'er; it's time to get rolling.

Amen. Marketing for football and basketball has been practically nonexistent, especially last year and especially outside of Grand Forks. A beefed-up advertising campaign -- and better utilization of FSSN -- will be crucial to success in the transition, IMO. And we need STATEWIDE coverage!

Help me out on this one ... Where in gjw's response do find the declaration that Joe C. is "supposed to cooperate with UND..."? Unless my English is failing me, it seems he clearly states that "Chapman should be outspoken for NDSU." (And I'll pass on the pettiness and give the AC all caps.) I think everyone would hope and expect the president of a university to be a strong advocate for that institution. It's not the campus advocacy but the extra-curricular stuff -- the well-documented, duplicitous effort to torpedo the former chancellor, for example -- that rubs UND (and apparently many neutral parties from elsewhere in the state) the wrong way. You seem to be turning the situation on its head; I don't hear anyone at UND complaining about the lack of support from NDSU. But NDSU fanatics continue in a five-year snit because UND "didn't support" NDSU when it bolted the NCC for Division 1.

Sadly, John Q. Paulsen has been passed over by a nominating committee for a second term on the ND Board of Higher Education. Apparently, the word "fiasco" came up in the discussion of his bid for a second term. Now who's going to spoon with Joe Chapman when the board overnights out of town? More importantly, who takes his place? Options include Michael Haugen, Fargo, former adjutant general of the ND Guard; Robert Harms, former Hoeven legal counsel; or Duane Pool, Bismarck, Nature Conservancy scientist. Most favorable choice?

Perhaps, as has been pointed out, we should keep our eyes on the big picture; this is a young man -- a young man -- who now faces some serious legal problems and some very difficult life issues. Hopefully, he can pull out of what appears to be a downward spiral. All the Sioux-Bison and who's-your-daddy crap pales in comparison. As to why these incidents weren't public knowledge previously, it's hard to say. The '05 issue appears to have become a non-issue. Can't tell where the '07 issue occurred, based on the info here, but it may have been out of the area given that it was summer. Beyond that, it looks like a good question for the Grand Forks media, where ambition and enterprise often appear to be in short supply.

Not that it matters, but if you consider regular season only -- drop the lousy play off -- we averaged something like 10,700. Not that anybody's counting ...

No knock on Dragosavich (sp?), Dan. No dishonor in not getting a call from the NFL. Just the musings of one of the thousands of Sioux fans stuck with sports coverage from Bisonville.

I believe, at least with the television folks, it was a time thing; only a few, precious minutes for a sports broadcast and just not enough time remaining after the exhaustive coverage of Bison football seniors who didn't get drafted or obtain a free-agent contract. Stay tuned; series could go on all week.

Thanks for the insight

I assumed Travis Mertens would be another addition for next year. I'm no longer clear where we are in regards to scholarships, given some of the discussion that has developed around the May signing. Anyone?

Now THAT is the kind of commitment to sports communication I was expecting!

What? No one's been to practice and can give a first-person update on who's looking good (and maybe who's not)?

OK, hockey's done. Any spring football updates out there? Anything? Anyone?