jdub27

Don't disagree with any of that. However I'd guess some of the spaces currently being occupied aren't ideal and unfortunately I doubt the usage ratio that is used isn't likely going to differentiate on how "usable" a space is, just whether or not it is being used. If that is the case, makes sense to move whatever you can into the old med school and take the buildings you can offline.

You definitely planned that right, the dues for the seats right below you is $2,750/seat (!!). That's quite the jump in price to go up one less step. No argument on any of that, but at what donation level are those would-be season ticket holders interested in joining? Will be interesting to see. UND has had a similar situation in the REA for quite a few years. People are interested in season tickets until they see what donation level they need to be at to get how many tickets or the location they want. You repeated the excuse the athletic department came up with after the students called them out on the carpet. It may be part of it but it is nowhere near the whole story. That's not just my opinion, that is what I've been told by people with a vested interest in NDSU and their athletic programs. I work with a lot of different businesses, if costs of any kind (travel) jump unexpectedly by 2-3x (only 2 years into a 5 year agreement) with no material reason (changes in opponents/conferences/etc), than whoever is planning the travel or doing the budgeting should be fired.

Did the travel costs increase or did the money they got from the school that was "allocated" for travel costs decrease so they went to the students to help make it up? Because travel costs don't almost triple in just 2 years... Are they going to use all that extra money to finally pay off the last $1.4 million for locker/office renovations from a decade ago the NDSU Foundation has been carrying? How about that big shortfall in SHAC fundraising or did they cut out enough stuff and recycle enough bleachers to get that taken care of?

There was a $5 million projected budget shortfall due to the legislature capping the tuition increases, causing the revenue side of the model to be shorter than projected, not an actual deficit. Big difference, but I wouldn't expect you to understand. UND already addressed that and is now taking actual steps to address the mandated cuts plus some instead of delaying the inevitable (all without playing PR games in the media with child care facilities). Schafer is doing what should be done at every school within NDUS, UND being no exception.

Yes, unfortunately. Not sure how he typed it with a straight face. On a semi-related note, the GFH had a really good Q&A with Schafer on the budget issues, going a little more in-depth on some of the decisions and why they were made.

Remember, you're talking to someone who went to a school were budgets and projections obviously aren't taught. When are the final proposals due for the mandated cuts? UND has been very open and upfront about what they are planning on doing, not so much for other NDUS schools outside of delaying funding, hiring freezes and kicking the can down the road. Very curious to see where the NDSU athletic department is trimming their budget since, as you noted, the students obviously foiled plan A.

Some of those buildings should have been knocked down years ago. The space that will be available in the old med school is really going to screw with usage ratios.

But it is just easier to ask.... For 2014-2015, UND had 104.3 men's scholarships (including 0.5 of exhausted/medical/other) valued at $2.1 million and 104.3 women's scholarships (including 3.5 of exhausted/medical/other) valued at $2.2 million for a total of 208.6 scholarships distributed to 313 athletes worth $4,272,018. Dropping baseball and golf removes 5.6 scholarships and $118K from those totals. For comparison, in 2013-2014, UND had 105 men's scholarships (including 0.75 of exhausted/medical/other) valued at $2.0 million and 104.6 women's scholarships (including 6.9 of exhausted/medical/other) valued at $1.9 million for a total of 209.6 scholarships distributed to 326 athletes worth $3,883.398.

The Summit was in an even worse position and at 5 teams when UND was looking for a baseball home. UND applied at that time and the Summit ignored it. Again, I'm not sure what happened between then and now but the Summit was getting waivers to keep their autobid when UND was sending in applications and they didn't care and even though they are at 6 currently, it is still a better position than they were in 2013.

My understanding is that strictly on the baseball in the Summit, it was a Summit leadership issue, not a UND one. Maybe that has changed in the last year or two, but UND was openly working on that instead of the WAC but TD wanted no part of it, despite support for UND from a few of his member schools.

I know you hedged it by saying that they may not have been more talented than a lot of previous UND teams but it is a pretty big stretch to say they weren't uber talented. Were they the most talented team UND has fielded since they won their last championship? Maybe, maybe not, not way to prove it one way or another. Either way, the credentials are pretty impressive. A first team All-American and three second team All-Americans. A first line composed of the top college free agent and two 1st round picks. A second line with two mid-round NHL draft picks with a third guy who is likely to be drafted this year. 5 out of 6 defenseman were NHL picks and the 6th one left college early to sign a pro contract. Arguably the best blue line UND has ever fielded. Goaltending may have been a question mark going into the season, but the starter (with the help of the excellent blue line) broke UND records not to mention was good enough to keep a redshirt on an NHL draft pick once he was healthy. 12 total NHL draft picks with another guy or two that will likely add to that total before all is said and done. This team was one different bounce of the puck against Denver from having the same fate as a the other UND teams they may or may not have been more talented. After 16 years, a handful of which UND was the better or best team, I'm glad the puck finally bounced they way it did.

Wentz is 6.53 at the bottom of "Good NFL Starter with Pro Bowl Potential". Surprisingly, his LT Haeg is at 5.29, at the top of "Developmental prospect or special teams potential". Since you asked

For what its worth, his "rating" of 5.45 puts him as "Backup or eventual starter".

Point to someone who didn't. However you were much more critical of Hak than that. You may not have specifically said the words "he should be replaced" (or maybe you did, I don't know) but at minimum you're definitely on record insinuating it by saying things like his clock is ticking and that you didn't think he had the ability to win a championship.

But UND never had a down year under Hak or a "Mussman-style disaster", yet you wanted him replaced, correct?

Guessing Anaheim wanted him to develop with them instead of UND. He didn't seem to progress much from last year to this year. UND obviously has a history of developing players but maybe it wasn't working for KT.

Funny how excited and giddy some of their fans were to see this game back on the schedule. Oops.

Numbers are hard. People would be in shock with how bad they actually are. Ignorance is bliss. Take your pick?

Straight from the NCAA report. Again, includes direct costs only, no idea how the unallocated numbers work out for women's hockey or any sport. Not doubting that the number is higher, that's just what is directly attributed.

I don't disagree and I'm sure their are unallocated costs that would obviously go down if it were cut, similar to all sports, whatever that amount may be. Just putting out the concrete numbers.

NDSU tried to solve part of their shortfall by raising student fees for athletics but were rejected. The narrative that their athletic department won't be seeing any cuts is pretty amusing because a)they receive a good portion of funding directly from the school which is required to trim their budget and b) it would play pretty poorly if they were somehow exempt for university-wide cuts and academic departments had to shoulder extra burden due to it.

Total all-in direct operating expenses for women's hockey were $1.3 million for 2013-2014, which included $400K in scholarships (higher than normal due to foreign students). Haven't seen any more recent numbers but I don't believe there were any drastic changed.

The athletic department had revenue that was above projections and were able to make some small adjustments to help with the initial shortfall. The program cuts were to help with the permanent cuts.

On to of that, it's possible Anaheim isn't excited with how he didn't really make much of a jump (or even regressed a little) this year and wants to get him in their system. College isn't going to be the one size fits all for development, even with UND's excellent track record.

As unfortunate as it is, I'm glad the athletic department made an official announcement at a press conference and explained the reasoning not to mention doing it ahead when other budget cuts will be announced. Will be interesting to see what the other state school will do to address their required cuts, especially after their first solution of raising student fees failed and they have no extra sports to cut.