jdub27

You might be closer to accurate on this than you think. But what's going to be the reaction when there is no Brien logo on any of the green banners?

I think before you can get a fair answer to why it's an issue, you need to answer the question of why did they need to go out of their way include it in the first place, to the point they had to customize the structure to put it there. When the project was announced, the overwhelming response from a subset of the fanbase was concern on what would happen to the logo. Why was that an issue?

It's been 7 years since the name was retired. The players on the team were in junior high or younger the last time UND was officially known as the Fighting Sioux. Do we need to wait another 10-15 years so that the players on the team weren't actually born before 2012 and maybe then the transition can be complete?

Serious question: Are those people who "had time to work hard and donate" going to give up their support of the hockey team because the logo changed? I mean, are they supporters of the team (and University) or the fancy picture on their jerseys? I would counter and say the bulk of alumni and donors are University of North Dakota fans. If what you said was true, there would have been a significant drop-off in donations when the FS nickname/logo was dropped and an even further drop when the FH nickname/logo was adopted. Yet donations continue to rise. There is just a vocal portion of the fanbase that seems to hold the FS logo as some sort of deity. I mean, it is literally the definition of pandering. They are consciously making decisions to minimize the FH name/logo and keep the FS logo to cater to a subset of the fanbase. They definitely aren't doing it on behalf of the Athletic Department, you know, the thing that is the sole entity that the REA's mission statement says it is supposed to support. You should watch from the other side sometime. You get to see a large group of people live in an alternate reality, supporting something that no longer actually exists and getting incredibly worked up when that is pointed out to them.

The video board will show the Hawk logo when a game is in progress, which they don't really have a choice because that is literally the only logo UND currently has. They went out of their way to have the structure custom built in order to permanently build in an unnecessary old logo. I guess I see a huge difference in the two, but let me know when the REA puts it's first permanent or even semi-permanent Hawks logo in place. Hell, even on the ice would be a start. It is not all that different from when they did some renovations in the lower portion a few years ago and spent extra time/money to work around some existing FS logos because they couldn't replace them if they were taken out. I'm speaking as someone who has dozens of FS logo's throughout my house. It isn't that they are being displayed/honored/recognized, it is that they are straight up pandering to a group who refuses to accept the reality that UND has a new name and logo. Things like this continue to give that thought process validation.

No one said it isn't part of the history, which is why there are banners in the rafters showing the logo (though there should technically be no green banners with the Brien logo, but that's a separate argument). However, I fail to see how having to build a custom structure for a multi-million dollar scoreboard to incorporate something unnecessary can be "important to continue the transition". In fact, seems counter-intuitive as it continues to give people false hope and a reason to hold on to something that is gone and not coming back. They went out of their way to keep it. The other hundreds of logos already displayed in the main arena aren't good enough?

The majority of the contract is finalized but for whatever reason, it hasn't been signed by the venue. Once that is done, they can "officially" work out the details with an opponent. Everything is out of UND's hands, they are awaiting the signature along with everyone else.

Not saying that there were "illegal drugs" involved in this instance but the statement that law enforcement would be be involved is absolutely false. Have any of the other players who have been dismissed or suspended for "violation of team rules" had law enforcement involved....? One college student? Or a trusted staff member? There is a long list of banned stimulants and all we know is BR tested positive for one of them. He gave his side of the story to the paper, because he wanted to clear his name, yet he specifically didn't say it was caffeine. And the supplement that has been referenced to be the culprit is actually a low caffeine supplement, so either he was told to take a double/triple dose plus all this supposed Mt Dew, or you're just making things up as you go.

Unless either of them can back it up, then I guess all we have is the certainty that it was a banned stimulant and the confusion on why BR wouldn't have just said it was caffeine when he was interviewed, right before NDSU threw him under the bus and claimed they didn't give it to him despite him stating it came from a trusted staff member.

Can you provide a source that confirms the illegal substance in the supplement was caffeine? The only confirmation given is that it was a stimulant, which could be a wide variety of things. Still haven't seen NDSU take responsibility for providing the supplement, instead basically calling their former player a liar.

I mean, the ratio of scholarships makes sense when your see their participation rate is 65.4% to 34.6%. Pretty much in line with the student enrollment of 55.3% to 44.7%, right?

Here is why using a single year as a data point to show whether a sport is "fully funded" or not isn't all that accurate as just because it is available, doesn't mean a coach is going to use it (which you alluded to in previous comment). Looking at NDSU, using your methodology, it would show that MBB (90%, 12.6 out of 14) and MG (81%, 3.6 out of 4.5) along with WBB (84%, 12.6 out of 14), VB (78%, 9.4 out of 12) and WS (92%, 12.8 out of 14) weren't "fully funded" in 2017-18. In fact NDSU reported only giving out 91.4% of maximum available scholarships to females. Now I'm not saying those sports aren't fully funded, but just pointing out the hole in how you presented UND's numbers. NDSU left somewhere around 10.4 scholarships on the table for 2017-18. Total scholarships given out in 2017-18 for NDSU was $4.7 million scholarships with $2.9 million to males and $1.8 million to females. The only sports that wouldn't be considered "fully funded" at UND right now (90%+ of possible scholarships given out) are MGolf (32.4%, 1.5 out of 4.5) and MTrack (63%, 7.8 out of 12.6) and technically MT (84%, 3.8 scholarships out of 4.5 possible) because its less than 90%, but they are 3/4's of a scholarships from being at 100%. All UND women's sports gave out over 90% of available scholarships. Also fair to note that UND is still paying some scholarships for athletes who had their sports cut, funds that will be able to be diverted once those obligations are completed. Given that and considering UND is around 8-9 scholarships from being "fully funded" out of around 200 maximum available scholarships, I think the talking point that UND isn't funding its sports is a pretty weak argument and nothing but an old talking point (and clearly the original poster who brought it up is absolutely clueless in the details, but I'm sure he heard it in the tailgate lot or something so it must have been true). For comparison purposes, overall UND paid out $5.2 million in scholarship for the 2017-18 school year, with $2.9 million to males and $2.3 million to females with the total being $559K more than NDSU. -source for these numbers are the 2017-18 NCAA financial reports, prepared and submitted by each school

6) Athletics had a giant hole in their budget and WIH was responsible for $2 million/year of it at a net cost of $70-80K/student athlete.

You got me, no clue at all. Though to be honest, it was pretty obvious it was coming if you look at reality instead of an FBS pipe-dream that doesn't exist. I guess I'm only halfway there on the last one, just need UNC to flip its baseball program over, which it applied to do years ago but Douple ignored it (might have to take their women's swimming program as well, but easy enough). I don't think that move is imminent as the autobid isn't in danger at this point and they are at an even number currently. You on the other hand, have absolutely nailed it....

Because "they pulled them off the ice" or because the coach was so clueless that he didn't prepare his team for the possibility despite it being the biggest hole in the athletic department's budget?

His midrange shot is fine, his 3 point shot is where he needs a little work. He's got a handful of videos out there that show him shooting. At this point, I don't think there is a concern. His name was getting out there after passing his entrance exam, Sather did a great job on this one.

Cortez Seales heir apparent? Hard-nosed lefty playing the 2/3 with a solid mid-range game, can handle the basketball when needed and plays good defense. Looks like he was looking at JuCo until he got some entrance exam stuff cleaned up and he is now a full qualifier. Looks like he had an offer from Milwaukee and possibly one other D1 school. Had interest from multiple schools but the school stuff slowed things up on his recruiting.

LOL. Yep, I don't have a clue what is going. Can't believe how much I missed the mark when I told you UND had been in consistent contact with the Summit/MVFC over a few year period and the move was imminent because FBS is not even close to UND's radar right now. Really swung and missed on that one. Should have listened to your consistent message of the Dakota's moving to a split Big Sky instead. I'm also well aware of the rules and have been in agreement with you on the danger the Summit autobid is on. I can't help that you have more faith in Tom Douple than I do and think he's masterminding something when he isn't. I also understand the public perception optics of the NCAA announcing they are taking away a basketball autobid because of soccer and baseball, which is why waivers will be the band-aid in the case one is needed. Only 12 more days until your self-imposed ban on the topic. I'm almost disappointed because I actually enjoy some of the insight, it is the presentation that is lacking.

Again, so much projection, assumptions and wild guesses presented as facts. Here are my various thoughts on your "facts", some coming from conversations from people connected with the actual decision making process. I understand the geography, but you seem to continue to ignore the Montana's have no desire to move their footprint out of the west. Idaho was so sore about those teams leaving, they left and then came back. The 1970's were almost 50 years ago, none of that is relevant, the landscape has changed just a little bit since then. Exactly what TV source and money was the Big Sky going to lose? The Altitude contract? Or the free streaming they offer for the rest of their sports? Based on recent decisions, Idaho isn't going to go back to FBS without a massive shift. Weber St. doesn't have the support to go up, they are an after-though in the SLC metro and always will be with Utah 45 miles away and BYU 80 miles away. They averaged a whopping 8,300 as the #3 team in the country over 8 games this year, half of which were top 25 match-ups. Omaha will do what's best for them. They won't be tied to the Summit because of their hockey relationship with UND. If the MVC called, they would take it in a heartbeat. Denver is just going to go to wherever will let them be and keep their eclectic sports mix. Their decision on that is the exact reason why they are in the Summit, they don't want to change their offerings. Again, Douple's plan seems to be to let everything play out and then ask for waivers in the interim if needed. If the Summit ends up short a team and came up with a plan that involved getting back to the right-sized number that included a D2 move-up, the NCAA would grant a waiver. They've done it in the past and aren't going to pull an auto-bid that quickly. Not a fan of the plan, but it seems that is what it is right now. My personal opinion is you are over blowing this significantly, especially at the low-major level. Yes, people want to be associated with peers, but it is a lot more complicated than that. You've made that claim about the last UM president, who didn't make a move. You made the claim about Kennedy, who threw you a curveball and moved UND to the Summit/MVFC (because of cost and rivalries, not "prestige") and the MSU president doesn't strike me as someone who is all that concerned about the "prestige" they would get from collaborating with the Dakota's in athletics.

I apologize for not submitting a formal proposal, however I am fine with not throwing completely random scenarios against the wall, stating matter-of-factly that it is exactly what is going to happen and then try to run down anyone who offers any realistic criticism to those pie-in-the-sky scenarios. If you presented your ideas in a different way, the criticism you got would be completely different. Instead you choose to state your opinions (at best) secret, behind the scenes things going on and claim others aren't able to see these things only you can and then are somehow surprised when they don't happen. There are plenty of people who are actually at least somewhat plugged into what is going on, at least with UND directly, yet you continue to brush those aside. Even when you were told UND to the Summit/MVFC was a done deal by multiple people, you refused to believe it. I'm not sure where you get the thought that I'm somehow against a merger of the top Summit and Big Sky teams. I think it would be a fantastic conference. I also realize, at this point in time, it isn't going to happen. Full stop. The interest isn't there from either side and the Montana's have no desire to leave the Big Sky. None. I also have no argument about the Summit having stability issues. I've always been less than impressed with Douple's reactionary MO. Not stating I have all the answers on what he should be doing differently (nor am I going to pretend by concocting unrealistic scenarios), but getting waivers from the NCAA doesn't seem to be the most ideal route to keep autobids and my guess is that is the current plan if the baseball or soccer numbers fell below the requirement. It seems they keep waiting for a seismic change that I'm not so sure is going to happen.

Well....it didn't happen last year.... But for sure it was going to happen this year..... But now, I guess not. So on to 7/1/20 then? I guess with only 2 weeks left until a self-imposed deadline, time to start hedging.

If you get a chance, take a few minutes to talk with Coach Pawlak. You'll be ready to run through a wall for the guy and not in the PJ Fleck way (not that there is anything wrong with that). Between him and Danny, there will be a different attitude with the offense this year and I think everyone will be happy with the results.

I mean, I didn't think he looked the part but that Werner kid seemed to turn out OK....

https://www.inforum.com/sports/2708960-Meidinger-ends-his-playing-career-for-NDSU-mens-basketball Meidinger hangs them up before ever getting a chance to play minute for NDSU. Not a huge surprise given his injury history but tough break for a ND kid.