jdub27

That is at least a fair assumption instead of just saying UND would probably be on the road. Last year, WIU either didn't bid or got outbid by non-scholarship Dayton, to play in front of 997 fans (not a typo). Hard to say about SDSU. They've been outbid by Montana, Montana State and NAU the last three years for first round games. They did host EIU in 2012, but I'm not sure that says much.

Based on what?

Assuming those losses are quality of course... Because 7-4 with an FBS win and a win over a seeded team on the road would seem better than 6-5, but I guess that's just one person's opinion. And that's not even getting into other 7-4 teams resume... Hope the team wins out and is not a concern. The narrative about UND's schedule is already being thrown around.

Disagree on your first point, there have been way more empty seats than that at multiple games this year already if not every one (not sure about the homecoming one). Fully agree on your second point, hoping it comes to fruition.

I get your point but when talking about attendance, completely different. Season ticket holder numbers are counted whether the people show up or not. At this point, UND is counting on single game tickets to drive attendance, which need to be sold to be counted. That being said, they pass 10,000 with no problem. Homecoming and the team is on a roll. Weather should be a little chilly right away but decent within a few hours of kickoff.

I enjoy Coach Stevens quite a bit but anything less than 8-0 would have been disappointing considering the opponents were Crookston, Mayville, Minot State, Valley City, Jamestown and Mary. Hopefully it gives the team some confidence heading into the winter and carries over against D-1 competition in the spring.

This is the kind of QB running that we've been waiting for. Keaton had the ability but they hadn't shown it. It's absolutely killing Sacramento.

And UND would face immediate sanctions if they used any of it, so there is that. Releasing throwback merchandise to general public to keep trademarks active is nowhere in the same neighborhood as the athletic department issuing only gear with the current name and logo.

What else would it have on it? It seems pretty logical that all be apparel would have the new logo and use the new wordmarks. The interlocking ND is being retired, the Sioux logo is long gone. You don't release a complete new full brand package and then continue to use old ones. And equally not surprised there are people who don't like change. It is what it is.

How? Was cheering for the Sioux disrespectful to the Flickertail nickname? Was wearing the geometric logo disrespectful to the Blackhawks logo? Was the Brien logo disrespectful to the geometric? Is it Sioux or Fighting Sioux it's disrespectful to since it has been both? Just curious where your arbitrary line in the sand is drawn this time because only you would think that one can't respect and remember the past without being stuck there.

Austin Dussold would like a word with you.

I counter with "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

I have no issue guaranteeing that with what is on the table right now, the Summit has at least a 1,000x better chance of happening than any sort of WAC conference. UND has openly stated that it has had conversations with the Summit. There is absolutely zero tying UND to any sort of WAC conference and the only thing that exists out there is Idaho's last ditch efforts to remain FBS and no one having any desire to join them.

UND can cut S&D and softball regardless of whether they are in the Summit or Big Sky and still meet all eligibility requirements. A fourth team, such as men's tennis, can easily be cut with very little issues if UND moved to the Summit since the Big Sky doesn't require it. Women's soccer could be cut if they stay in the Big Sky, though those participation numbers will likely keep it around. Pretty easy process of elimination to see what is on the chopping block and can be done before any conference affiliation is finalized.

That makes zero sense. The athletic department has a budget deficit and has to make further cuts along with the rest of the school. UND has too many sports and is spread to thin. Regardless of what they do, sports were going to be cut because of the budget issue (and it should have been done probably a decade ago). A self-respecting president, regardless of division, will give his school the best chance to succeed, which is what Kennedy's stated goal is and why sports are being cut. There are plenty of schools at the FCS level and below that have more status than a ton of FBS schools. Being in makeshift WAC conference with a bunch of schools no one has heard of doesn't automatically earn you more prestige than being in the Big Sky.

Are you suggesting they don't do the upgrades? Then you are in a scenario where either UND has to pay for them now or in the future when they take over the building and it is in a run-down shape. Like I said, I believe it is set up to be very beneficial to UND in the long-run at the expense of some short-term pain.

They already pull over 53% of their athletic budget from school/student subsidies. I'd be willing to wager it is not.

Guessing it is that the schedule is finalized they got another (hopefully) home game. Think he purposely didn't say it was a big announcement?

Those lots are already privately owned.

Locker room renovations were paid for with private donations. Things like the new boards in the hockey arena and the new video boards in the Betty are paid for with excess operating funds. Curious which of the entities you are using to come up with your retained earnings numbers. Retained earnings doesn't necessarily mean cash available to do with as you please. And though I'm not sure where it is coming from, having a replacement reserve fund of at least that size is probably accurate if not a bit low due to the possible costs of replacing certain elements of the building. Roughly $2.5 million remaining. Guessing it will be paid off in around 5 more years.

If you would have read my next sentence, I addressed that exact point, there needs to be a balance. There are 5+ empty lots within a block of that location. There is a need for more office space downtown. They are offering incentives to grow the tax base and will likely see a higher value building in the long run because of it. I don't always agree with the policies but I understand the theory behind them.

There were three other proposals, this was the one chosen though it has not been approved. Guessing the incentives are in line with previous ones given out downtown/in the renaissance zone. And the city is currently seeing zero revenue and probably paying for upkeep. Obviously there needs to be a balance with some green space, but there is a need for office space downtown.

I think there are a lot of reasons for it, the main on being that our budget now is a lot bigger than it was 15 years ago. I believe that in the long run it will very much payoff for UND once they have full ownership. Until then, they will indirectly continue to contribute towards its upkeep/upgrades. Not saying there aren't some things that can't be improved with the relationship and how some things are handled and my thought was the IAC committee would come across some of those. We will see.

DuPont Court at the Scheels Center inside the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. I feel like they forgot to put another sponsor logo on the court to complete the NASCAR look. Not logistically possible for the Betty to have a center-hung scoreboard due to multi-use, but that is pretty nice looking despite that it looks to be a bit too low in the picture.

You're assuming that those are hard costs/real money. I would bet that isn't necessarily the case, however they are still "costs" that need to be appropriated somewhere. On top of that, money UND does pay is indirectly helping funding the Betty and some of the improvements to the REA. It is also doesn't take into account the money that flows back to UND from the REA Foundation. It is a strange and complex relationship with a lot of moving parts, though I believe set up to be in the best interest of UND in the long run. UND should see a lot of benefit from some things that may look a little off now in about 14 years or so.