jdub27

Can't imagine ISU would be in a hurry to trade the MVC for MAC basketball.

Illinois State is going to struggle to come up with $5 million for an NCAA, let alone whatever the MAC charges (though I could see them getting a healthy discount on what is being floated for Sac St.).

I think it is a possibility. I think that the top Big Sky/Summit(MVFC) teams are already in conversations on future landscape (see the new scheduling alliance for MBB that just came out). I don't know that what you're proposing would be well received under the current landscape (though I think it makes sense). The P4 needs everyone else to finish paying the share of the $2.8 billion NCAA lawsuit payments that they stuck them with before they are going to make their next move. However, once that happens, I think that is when you finally see the seismic shift that has been tossed around for quite a while and the P4 (or what's left of it) finally separate themselves. Can't remember exactly how that timeline would fit with the Grant of Rights for the MWC that would allow for the changes you mentioned. At that point, I could realistically see a separate second division and the top portion of the FCS combining with the G6. But that window is probably 6-8 years out. The P4 isn't dumb, they stuck all the lower level schools with a huge chunk of the settlement bill and are going to keep them around at least long enough to get that paid off.

Don't forget the PPP with the steam plant! Was a pretty big deal modernizing energy efficiency on campus. Not to mention Aerospace growth...

Love the grit this team has. Could do without falling behind and having a giant hole to have to dig out of....

Oil prices coming back up a bit helps out a little bit. Continental Resources saying they are stopping drilling (still TBD what that actually means) is a bad sign. As it relates to the funding model, I fully trust Armacost and his team have a good handle on having input in any changes to ensure UND remains in a strong spot.

And somehow UND can manage their budget and NDSU has to ask for 8 figure line-item relief from the state legislature. The next budget cycle is going to be interesting to watch...

The UND students voted to increase their fees to support it and have continued to support that decision. NDSU has tried to do the same thing twice and the athletic department fell on their face and showed up unprepared for their presentation to the Student Government because they thought they were going to get a rubber stamp. So don't frame it beyond what it is.

And the first head to head recruiting battle victory post Ndsu announcement goes to:

The language means nothing. They would be invited to apply for full membership with no promises of being accepted. UC-Davis has the exact same language when they joined for all sports outside of football. Their contract said if the league expanded football membership, they would be the first time invited to apply but had no guarantees. So either they weren't ready, the MWC didn't want them for football or they weren't willing to pay the ransom that NDST was. This doesn't mean that they wouldn't be accepted, however the language in the contract guarantees nothing.

Pretty sure UM and MSU are tied together unless they change something at the state legislative level to allow them to separate. More likely, Hauck got a big raise and a smaller headache (more coaching, less roster management/NIL).

UND is choosing to invest in the entire University instead of put all of it's eggs in one basket (non-P4 football). If you look at the continuing transformation on campus with facilities and buildings, student experience and what that has done with enrollment trends, UND is continuing to position itself correctly. Ndsu has went the route of showing that they are serious about non-P4 football and they can raise money for that. Obviously it got them to FBS faster but their academic side is still trending negatively, their budget has never totally been fixed and that's before likely upcoming budget cuts again this cycle. Their enrollment trended negatively during an unprecedented football run. Is joining a shell of the MWC really going to be the thing that fixes all that?

I don't, but my point was that he was absolutely dragging Sac St for what they were willing to do to get into a conference and then Ndsu turns around and pays an even higher price.

I'm not saying it won't pay off for them in the long run, but this is just an example of how big of a gamble this is when one of the biggest Ndsu homers out there ridicules Sac St's offer as being crazy and is still less than what Ndsu agreed to pay:

Seems like a whole lot of concern on what UND fans think about this. Makes it tough to buy the whole "we've moved on" charade... Half the comments are just trolling NDSU fans at this point and fishing is good. Some of the other ones sound like the outlandish things that have been tossed around by NDSU fans the last decade. But carry on and you do you.

Accurate. Difference is NDSU currently has the donors who are willing to funnel fistfuls of money directly into FBS football/athletics. Not sure the appetite quite there for UND for that right now. And honestly, if things break right, they may not need to be. NDSU did what they felt was necessary, which is outbidding the biggest loudmouth in the room (Sac St). Don't blame them for doing it given the position they were in, but again, the facts are that they will shortly have a new president, the previous president made their financial situation better but it is nowhere near fixed and the state is eyeing around 10% budget reductions next year. Not a lot of room for error. There is likely a scenario in the future where the landscape changes drastically and UND (plus other peer schools) end up where they need to be without paying 8 figures.

Seems like the exact message everyone except Sac St has been putting out for the last few years. The President and AD are having the correct conversations and they don't happen in public. I would expect nothing is imminent until it is, that's why you have the conversations. UND has an absolute top notch President. They also have no reason to get into an unnecessary bidding war in public. They are in a fine spot where they are for the immediate future. Focus on continued improvements, building up the University as a whole, building enrollment and making sure the financial house is in order for when the right opportunity arises. No need to completely get get taken to the cleaners and have the people who robbed you saying you've always been their top mark choice.

Not discounting what you're saying but some additional clarity is that over 7 figures of that is coming from their gaming, not donors. Still room to make up on UND's part though.

Not sure I buy this, but as with anything, the landscape changes quickly. NIU paid $2 million a year ago, which is not nothing, but it is also peanuts compared to $12.5 million. The NCAA fee has already been moved to a point where it is somewhat cost prohibitive unless someone is pretty serious about it, I don't think they will move that again but never say never with the NCAA. NDSU was basically bidding against Sac St, who openly offered $10 million plus waiving the right to media fees for an extended period. So the MWC was operating from a position of strength. That (and other G6 conferences) may not be operating from the same position of strength in the future if/when further realignment happens. MWC fell into a perfect storm where you had one school publicly stating they were willing to do anything to get in and another who felt they needed to make a move and got donors on board to write a giant check. They also aren't in a great financial position, having to subsidize the difference in what schools were getting in the old media contract vs. what they are getting with the new deal. $12.5 million goes a way to help cover that subsidy for as they work through lawsuits with the PAC.

If the students vote to pay for it, then I'm fine with it. UND's students were fine increasing their fees a long time ago and have not changed from that stance. NDSU students have rejected a request from the athletic department a handful of times (partially because the athletic department showed up and thought they were going to get a rubber stamp approval and weren't prepared). Bigger question is going to be overall budget with the state looking at 10% cuts across the board due to significant drops in oil production and costs. Even if the athletic increase comes from private money, the optics are going have negative blowback given the numbers that are being thrown out. Success is going to be required or some of those deep pockets start to close up. Very interested to see additional numbers on the finance side of it. On top of that, the president got this taken care on his last days. Not his problem anymore. That hire is going to be an interesting role to step into.

It's north of a 7 figure addition to their bottom line.

I'm not so certain the top P4 schools are going to still be clamoring to play NDSU any more than they previously were. On top of that, teams schedule so far out now, there isn't going to be a ton of options the next few years. Pretty level-headed take though and agree with most of it. You'd have to expect ticket prices to go up. And after people realize the new conference isn't significantly better and you're losing regional rivalries, which have always pushed attendance up, how much does it move the needle. Obviously the die-hards are all-in, but they were already showing up regardless and giving the largest donations. Why would UND give NDSU a discount for a home game? Is NDSU a charity case where they get to pay below market rates for FCS games now? Did NDSU take a significantly below market rate to play UM since it was only a bus trip?

Why would the city of Fargo, who's citizens have already made it clear a couple times at the ballot box the dint support the idea, pay for a new venue when they have one that currently suits their needs?

Some things will never change. I'm sure they have to report back on what fans from a team they've moved on from multiple times have to say. They "don't care" so much that it's amusing.

From people who are tied to NDSU. I'm not disagreeing with you, pointing out to the other guy who can't stay off of UND's board that it doesn't matter how much those guys are making in the NFL, very few of them are significantly giving back to Ndsu. And I don't blame them for the exact reasons you stated.