UND-FB-FAN

NDSU crossed the line, but ultimately, UND still needs to find more balance. NDSU’s issue still doesn’t proclaim pubic-private partnerships (like UND-REA, inc.) as being without concern. Saying UND should be like NDSU is an oversimplification of my thoughts. UND needs to have complete autonomy of their athletic department and better emphasize football and basketball, even if that means pulling back from hockey a bit. That’s all.

I’ll work on my emoji game. Admittedly, it’s not a strong suit.

NDSU and SDSU relatively speaking had declining attendance; but overall, they’ve done well. With that said, UND’s overall structure and sustainability is superior, but can it be improved for the long-run? Absolutely it can be, hence my previous comments. Are you implying by the second paragraph that I don’t think the UND alumni foundation has not done good things. Of course it has.

@The Sicatoka- this is exactly what I was referring to. Why would you paint the picture I’m not aware of this? Trying to fit your own narrative? I adjusted the wording of my comment to make it more clear. What do you think “look no further than their recent presidency change” means? I know a lot of people behind the scenes in regards to this - heard about the issues a year before Bresciani‘s contract wasn’t renewed. Interestingly, a lot of this is indirectly related to NDSU’s football funding structure. That’s all I can say about that.

Not surprising to anyone familiar with UND football in the context of regional powers (SDSU, NDSU). But thank you for providing the information here. Top third (budget) and mid-pack (salary) just within conference does not scream excellence. In fact, I’d argue it projects more average than anything else. Not surprisingly, those are the mean results of UND’s football success, also. Money talks in this day and age of college athletics. UND and REA, inc. push for it to talk for hockey, leaving other sports at a disadvantage, the degree of which can be further argued. Really, this comes down to philosophy. Do you think UND’s athletic success and regional popularity will be both sustainable and, more importantly, capable of growth by emphasizing college hockey and leaving other programs at average level funding?

Hard to argue with NDSU’s success, but there system is certainly still fraught with concerns and controversy. Look no further than their recent presidency change. All in all, I do think having the athletic department and AD (who yes, I have some concerns with) make the final decisions is what is best for all of UND athletics. REA, Inc. is not what is best for UND athletics as a whole; quite frankly, it’s a private venture heavily emphasized towards hockey and that hurts other sports - football and basketball - to a degree. Also, for example, if UND would like to place a Fighting Hawks logo on the ice or even just for the basketball/volleyball teams on center court in the Betty, what happens? It gets declined due to selfish private decisions. Lastly, hard to argue that some of the AD’s questionable decisions regarding budgeting and staffing have not been heavily influenced by the private ventures of REA.

The better way to do it would be to not have a separate entity from UND athletics receive over 50% of all ticket revenue and also be able to make independent decisions despite recommendation from UND athletics. The fact REA, inc. files as tax exempt is sort of irrelevant to the issue I initially highlighted. REA is primarily used for hockey, but the agreement allows REA to take over 50% of all UND athletics ticket revenue. The discordance there is propagating the ongoing imbalance with UND athletics. I get the national football versus basketball argument, but the niche hockey vs football argument is one that UND will continually find themselves losing. But UND for the past 20 years has had their hands tied; they now have no choice but to emphasize hockey at a rate that hurts football, basketball. Hell, it led to baseball being cut. Internally is this an issue? Maybe not, because there are several local traditionalists who are beyond fine with the status quo. But externally, UND athletics as a whole is a laughing stock. Has been since going DI in 2008. Especially compared to NDSU, regionally speaking. UND hockey is in tip top shape, sure, but since going DI, UND football has been overshadowed big-time by regional rival NDSU; UND M basketball has made it to one national tournament whereas NDSU has made it to several; and UND cut M baseball. UND women’s basketball and volleyball has had mixed success. In summary, I don’t think having a separate entity from UND athletics operating the REA is as advantageous as the tax exempt status alludes to. In fact, it further extends the disproportionate situation at UND. UND athletics has lost autonomy in its large scale decision making. To some, unfortunately, and sadly, that’s how they like it. Also, most athletic department hires are entirely complicit with the status quo. No attempt to buck the trend or right the ship, as they say.

“Parks ran for 93 yards and passed for 160 and had four total touchdowns in leading the Roughriders to a 40-7 win over Wahpeton in the North Dakota Class 11A quarterfinals at Cushman Field.” https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/prep/grand-forks-red-river-football-advances-to-state-semifinals-for-first-time-since-1991

You’re welcome. I gave you several!

Stating to the IRS that REA, inc. exists for the “benefit of UND athletics” doesn’t obligate REA, inc. to do anything specific. What “benefits” UND athletics is completely open to interpretation. Would you like to explain what IRS Form 990 legally obligates REA, inc. to do? I appreciate your comments on being able to “war chest monies”, make swift staffing adjustments, and be tax exempt. Certainly doesn’t require REA, inc. to give UND athletics the majority of ticket revenue, or require REA, inc. to use the current logo of said UND athletics. In other words, IRS form 990 filed by REA, inc. sounds like it contains a bunch of superficial nonsense. I do not hate the UND Alumni Association or UND Aerospace Foundation because I do not limit by opinion of organizations to whether or not they’ve filed using a 990.

Yes, it allows another entity (not solely UND athletics) to manage UND ticket revenue along with how a major facility (REA) functions (or fails to function) for the purpose of UND athletics.

Look at his record and scores/matchups over the past 9 seasons a bit more closely. Philosophy and style may have something to do with it.

I can appreciate its complicated. But if sustained success is truthfully the goal, I’m definitely in the camp that emphasizing hockey and belittling all other clubs is not the correct strategy. The Ralph Engelstad Arena agreement complicates the picture, unfortunately. Additionally, there’s definitely a huge camp that is traditional and not forward thinking: “UND is a hockey school” crowd does not believe there can be nor should there be a different alignment for UND athletics. UND’s regional competitors have been ascending to new heights while UND stays behind the times.

Understood. Positive change can come with a positive new hire at head coach, though, which could actuate a positive culture shift for UND football. Just so happens that you have to terminate the head coach, though, before you can move forward with that positive change. Extending the head coach after losing seasons prevents such positive change, however. I get you’re trying to be constructive and comprehensive without considering folks having to lose their job, but sometimes, realistically, position-change is by far the most efficient way to actuate large scale positive change. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but at some point, whether after 3 years or 30 years, the job turns over. Last time UND made a change to football leadership, in 2013, it just didn’t represent firing and hiring, but it also represented an increased emphasis on UND football spending and expectations. The UND coaching salary pool increased with that move in 2013. In some ways, hoping for another move towards new leadership is not a strike against Bubba, but rather a hope that UND will again up the ante for football.

Not sure I sense that. Most are familiar with how UND under Bubba inflates opponents to make them look better than they are … I’m sure Saturday’s game will be a nail-bitter, just like how Bubba likes it …

There’s still a lot to play for at this point, so the team, coaches and fan base should still be really engaged. Win the next three games, including another road win @ Indiana State, plus a win against rival South Dakota, and then UND @ NDSU would get very very intriguing. Might just have to attend that game, although the Ag U fans are beyond obnoxious to deal with there.

Would be nice to see an easy win for a change … but I get what you’re saying. Expectations with Bubba ball: toe-to-toe.

UND not competitive on and off football field … the attitude of “aww shucks, we’ll just go play them on the road” will be the cheap strategy that crushes UND. UND was awful at Washington-Griz Stadium under Bubba. Would be another blowout loss, most likely. Of course, this is all hypothetical. But UND needs to be aggressive with their bids, and really all things financially related to UND football.

Why would NDSU funding buy out Bubba’s contract? And UND does have money, just heavily situated in hockey. And Bubba has been extended twice now despite losing seasons; the notion that “it’s happened now so we have to deal with it” is certainly not a solution, but rather an excuse. You’re right in that UND definitely does need to raise more money for football, however.

UND needs to recruit him. He’s an athlete, like @geaux_sioux said, and his brother will be on the team. He needs to end up at UND. Good coaches will be able to figure it out from there. Of course, I hope it works out for him to be a dual threat QB for UND. He’s got loads of potential.

Thanks for the updates!

They do bring money to the table, that’s the point. Perhaps too much, which is a point of contemporary controversy. Do some research.

No degree of help in the world could have ultimately helped Mussman. What’s he doing nowadays? Horrible in-bred promotion hire when Lennon left. Sound familiar?

Well, sure, UND is not Bama or Texas, but nothing says UND football has to extend their coach after a losing season, either. Nothing at all. Unless you want to extend the status quo of mediocrity. So there’s that. Also, even if UND is not ‘bama or Texas, they don’t have to pay their football coaches like elementary school janitors*. *I apologize in advance if any of you are elementary school janitors.

Spot on. What do you know? Fans and their expectations do matter, but who would’ve thought?