jdub27

I see they say CCM this year instead of Reebok as well.

I don't think that is a new rule, it is just a matter of finally enforcing it. But at least it is already out there.

I agree with this decision but I hope they do continue to look into ways to make sure spots are used for tailgating and just being used in general. I do think closing the reserved lots to traffic at 1 1/2 - 2 hours before kick-off would be helpful.

He lost a full year of eligibility and won't play this season. Made a dumb mistake, though from what I understand of what happened, I think the penalty is overly harsh, but my opinion doesn't matter nor is it an exuse and he has to live with the consequences. 4th string, non-scholarship running back, wouldn't be a blip on the radar let alone make the newspaper other places. I'll give him credit for sticking it out instead of quitting or transferring, it is going to be a tough year for him. The staff wasn't hiding anything, they are limited on what they can say to begin with.

I'm glad you don't think it's an issue and you are able to show up with every person you tailgate with. However we have a large group and not everyone shows up at once and I know of very few groups where everyone gets there at the same time. Some families have other commitments they need to take care of first. Not everyone wants to be out there with their kids for 5-6 hours or even that long themselves. We also invite tons of people to join us and not every one of them makes it every week, nor do I want to spend my time figuring out which people are or aren't going to make it and trying to direct them to where we are. We have a large flag pole, however there are only so many different UND and Hawks flags available to differentiate yourself. Like I stated, these are "first world problem" and I am equally frustrated with some of the issues the come with completely reserved tailgating and am fully on-board with coming up with some solutions to improve it. A couple years ago, for a late season game, there wasn't anyone within 50 yards of us and it was ridiculous. I'm just stating that going to a complete unreserved system isn't going to be a magic bullet and there will be quite a few people who will have their issues with it. Discussing some of them now, while they are looking at changes, seems to be a good way for the committee to take them into consideration and help shape a solution that people can live with. However completely revising the system and doing something like telling a group of large donors who have been tailgating for 15+ years that they are going to lose their spot they have been in since the Alerus opened if they show up at 8:30 instead of 8:00 doesn't seem like a great solution (note that this is just an example, I would love to be in the front of the lot). If that's the route they take, we'll almost always end up with better spots than we currently have and will benefit overall, however I have my reservations of making such a drastic change.

Our group is almost always one of the first ones there, so I wouldn't have that big of a problem with it. That doesn't mean I don't recognize some challenges and complaints it would cause. The biggest annoyance would be the hassle that comes up when you end up in a different spot each week and having spending time letting various people know where you happen to be parked for that particular game (which is why I thought that a reserved "zone" vs. spot could be a sort of middle ground). Also, there are groups that have been in the same spot for years and have customized their setup their particular area (for example 6 spots along the berm vs. 2x3 square in the middle, etc). As people start cherry picking their spots and how to set up, it starts causing a jigsaw effect and as you get to the back, there are still technically enough spots left, but they are spread out across the lot. Obviously "first world problems" but no one way will be perfect and there are always issues with any sort of change.

I agree with the overall resolution, it's just going to take a while to get there. My proposal was more that you'd have a reserved "zone" instead of spot. Split the front lot into one or two zones and do the same with the back lot. You come into your zone and take the next available number of spots you have. The problem is that it becomes a jigsaw of sorts and you're trusting people not to take more spots than they have, which is the same challenge non-reserved spots would have. I witnessed first hand down in Fargo what happens when it is basically a free-for-all for people to park and tailgate wherever they wanted.

What if it was more of a quasi-reserved tailgating? Set up 4-6 "zones" so that people are still in the same general area but people are at least closer together in each zone instead of spread out. Still might have some space at the back of a zone but I think it is at least a semi-compromise between first-come-first-serve and fully reserved.

Basically the commissioners thought it'd be a way to promote the two conferences by using the work the athletic directors already did scheduling the games. The only benefit that might come from this (outside possibly a bit more exposure) is if the commissioners start pushing for more home/home games between the conferences. Otherwise, I'd have to agree, at this point it is just a bunch of fluff to helpfully drive a little extra awareness.

I would be really excited if they allowed vehicles to be picked up Sunday morning....

Got in at the end and was in on at least one tackle. Believe he also played some special teams.

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification.

Yes, KVLY has exclusive rights to NDSU football. The language from the renewal agreement release states that UND Sports Extra along with the North Dakota hockey show would continue, along with the addition of a weekly football show in 2018, so let's maybe pump the brakes until we know exactly what is going on. You're right though, no one forced them to sign a contract nor were they forced to pay UND over $1.4 million for the rights, but I think we should all be pretty happy they did. Remember, they are paying to provide coverage, they aren't going to do something they think will significantly hurt the brand since they are kind of relying on the success of it to make money.

Probably makes sense to wait and see what the plan and or/reasoning is before jumping all over the company that pays UND to air their games. KVLY holds NDSU's football rights so no.

The School packages will be available later. Right now it's just the early bird pricing for the Annual Pass.

I've already shown that this isn't true. There is no distinction between exit periods for Olympic sports and football in the by-laws. UND is fully leaving the conference in all sports at the same time, however they are keeping a "scheduling alliance" for football in the interim until they move into the MVFC. Lack of vision for starters.

I mean, the weekend before, tickets will be $25/seat. Same with Thanksgiving weekend. I guess I see nothing wrong with a dynamic pricing model for games that are going to have a huge demand as long as they are offsetting it by lowering the price for games with less demand. I mean, for the right price, I'd sell my wife and kids tickets.

I know that they paid more than bus fare and he left out that UND also played at Kansas State that season. A B1G team, a B12 team and a MVC team. Also played at Bowling Green in 2013/2014. Looks to me that 2016-2017 was the outlier. Guessing they would have scheduled another money game but they instead were trying to get a home game that fell through.

It's what low/mid-majors do. Nothing new or out of the ordinary compared to the past or what peers do.

Not exactly sure what Kennedy does or doesn't know, but in terms of costs, the move made a ton of sense, especially with the huge budget slashes coming down from the state. I'd argue UND's only true peers in the Big Sky are UM, MSU and Idaho. Tough to count Cal-Poly and UC-Davis when they are affiliate members for football only. UND has just as many, if not more, like-minded schools in the Summit with NDSU, SDSU, USD and Denver. This isn't an argument that the Big Sky doesn't have some advantages over the Summit **coughstabilitycough** but there are definite reasons for both. Since the decision has been made, hopefully UND can help be part of the solution that stops the revolving door in and out of the Summit.

Secondary prices will still easily exceed that and to counter balance it, there are a handful of games for only $25. I don't see a huge issue with the athletic department trying to get their cut of what a ticket is actually worth.

Suggestions have been taken into account. There was another thread somewhere with a bunch and I feel pretty confident that at least one person on the committee saw them, if not more. Doesn't hurt to put them in a specific place though.

3-5 in conference last season, would be melt-down city if they do worse than that.

Well yeah, it's because UND has an easy schedule and doesn't play EWU or UM this year......oh wait, needs to be a different excuse for this year..... Well UND misses Cal Poly, NAU and Weber this year. And they are all super-duper extra tough, way more than last season, especially now that they aren't on UND's schedule!

Yes. Then 2024 and 2025 if they stick with current policy. Expect an FBS game and a home game.