jdub27

What's the Forum's excuse for running an article on it? Needed to make MSU-Moorhead and Concordia feel better?

I would say its far from ideal geography. UND is fairly isolated in the Big Sky and the MWC skews even further southwest. I have no clue why the MWC would even consider adding a Dakota school. I also threw in a picture of the MAC just to show you how isolated the Dakota schools really are. Mountain West Big Sky MAC

Truly believe that or throwing something at the wall so you can claim you used reverse psychology to get Hak to win the big one?

Not even sure who Bernie Bergrath is. But I'm sure being on the Dean's List and getting an academic all-conference award is just a front for Grimaldi.

Meh. Didn't think it was necessary, but the Forum ran an article on it too. More surprised that Time magazine actually published it to begin with.

This. Be polite, go during the afternoon when its a little slower, make sure you let them know its on ESPNU (simple channel to find that they will have) and in your case probably doesn't hurt to let them know you have a large group that is interested in betting on some other events, but want to make sure you are at a place that will also allow you to watch the hockey game.

Posted just hours before Pittsburgh went on to lose Game 1 en route to getting swept.

That's interesting since only two weeks ago Baukol had him listed as having a top 5 40 time.

Since it is on ESPNU and there shouldn't be a lot of other sporting events going on Friday night, I would just go up to one of the managers at a sports book and ask if they can put the game on a TV or two for you. I've had good luck doing it in the past. Might want to do it a little ahead of time just to make sure you can find somewhere that will do it, but most places are happy to help as long as there isn't something that has heavy betting going on. Also Torrey Pines Pub (6374 West Lake Mead, Las Vegas, NV 89108) is listed as the "official" watch party place during the season, though it appears to be about a 10-20 minute drive from the strip. Oddly enough, they also host Montana football game watch parties.

I think its a trade-off. Easier for the coaches to recruit when they can tell the player and the family how they'll fit into their system and they can see that the coach will be there for the foreseeable future in theory, better for the school if they need to cut ties, but you are likely paying more up front because of the lack of a multiple years. I think the South Dakota schools are at a disadvantage in that sense being that they can't show what appears to be greater stability but I also think they can play it off as there is nothing they can do about it and I think both schools have a pretty decent history of keeping coaches around for the long-haul and not having a quick trigger on firing them. Don't think their fan base has as much fondness to continually put every coach on the hot seat either. If UND looked to do something similar, I could see how it could be flipped around as a negative by schools recruiting against UND, since they would be willfully only offering one year contracts as opposed to USD/SDSU who have no choice but to do that. One other interesting thing from Yankton's Press & Dakota's comments: I think they got a great guy in Smith, but I think that his ties to the region helped lower what he was willing to take, especially now knowing that he was making $200K at Nebraska. Had he not been an option, its very possible the Yotes would have ended up with a lesser quality guy or spent even more money. Regardless, will be interesting to see what he does at USD, thinking he will do some good things there.

I believe the Alumni Association usually has a list of watch parties that will come out later in the week. Guessing you're looking at something a little less formal, but for others across the country it should be linked to once its up.

On my original post I forgot Ben Johnson went to coach at Minnesota and Smith moved up a rung on Miles' staff this season. His salary in the 2012-13 season was $160K, that is what I was going off of. I think Smith wanted to be a head coach and I think he wanted to do it for one of the Dakota schools, both reasons he'd take a slight pay cut or leave for similar money. My point was more that if USD really wanted him, they were going to have to give him close to what he was making, which they did, he wasn't going to leave for what they were paying the previous coaches: Boots made $126K his last season and Joey James got $90K last year as the interim. He wasn't going to leave for a number near either of those. Of note, I think that Smith is also now making more than the AD at USD is making. One other important thing is how the state of South Dakota handles contracts: They are on a year to year basis, so if Smith is a flop (don't see it happening), they aren't on the hook for any sort of buyout, they can just choose not to renew his contract. That makes a huge difference when giving out salaries like that.

Parks

Interesting spin, was curious how you'd try to defend something that is pretty clear cut. This isn't another player or fan base whining about behavior, it is a former NHL referee who has no skin in the game. He's calling it like he sees it. If Pittsburgh needs to develop an "us against the world" mentality because one of their players is being called out on his behavior, they have some pretty poor locker room leadership. Some interesting quotes from Stewart's full articles:

Do you hang out with a bunch of other people that don't donate or just you? All hat, no cattle. Faison has shown he is willing to pay what is necessary when hiring new coaches, I don't see why he would change that if there was a candidate that fit the bill. If USD wanted Smith, that is what they were going to have to pay. At this point in his career, I don't think he was going to take much of a pay cut even if it was to get head coaching experience.

How so? Is Neal going to read what a former ref said and start "getting it"? That would really show everyone.

Interesting viewpoint: James Neal is everything that’s wrong with NHL, according to former ref .

I think Rumpel's getting underrated a little bit here. Hobey Baker Top 10, Mike Richter finalist, 2.03 GAA and 93.0% save percentage this year (2.14 and 92.6% for his career). Part of that is the defense his has in front of him, but he's definitely not a weak link for Wisconsin.

Nice showing by the ladies. Stuck with it even after A&M went on a run. Very impressive season for them, Coach Brew and his staff. Need to keep it up, have a lot returning next year. League won't get any easier with Idaho back in the mix and UND will likely have a target on their back as the preseason favorite.

Just a reminder, ESPN2 at 7pm. Almost game time for the ladies. A&M is favored by 21.5 on their home court. Going to be a tough one, need to slow down the game, keep it close and watch A&M start tightening up. Been a great season so far, would love to see it extended another game. Also saw that UConn is a favored by 57.5 points against Prairie View. Yikes.

I guess I missed a couple keyboard warriors which includes some NDSU fans. My mistake. I would take Fullerton over the Douple/Viverito combo every time.

I have not seen a single instance of this being remotely true.

Glad you need to come here to feel validated.

Athletic budget is $17 million and annual giving to the NDSU foundation is $16 million? Maybe but it is either wrong or misleading. Maybe that is what the school gets total for year but it is not what is designated for athletics. Last I saw, it is at least 4x what team Teammakers brings in.

Blais isn't busy right now. Nor is Sandelin.