UND-FB-FAN

What other programs consistently perform within the Ralph Engelstad Arena? Maintenance and updating of the Ralph is indirect support of the UND hockey program; no other program is benefited. So, if 52% of UND football ticket revenue goes towards the Ralph, that is not benefiting UND football. It is, however, either directly or indirectly benefiting UND hockey.

Technically the Ralph receives 52% of what football makes in ticket revenue. How much of that makes it back to the football program? Likely less than the original 52%. So, all this talk regarding UND football making more with attendance and ticket prices is somewhat moot in that those improvements all just go to the Ralph to potentially pump into the hockey program. The Endgame is bleak.

Plenty of room for the football program to grow. That immense potential is partly why so many speak towards it (that being UND football). Yes, UND has 25% additional capacity in the Alerus Center to sell out; product on the field (i.e., wins) *AND* the Gameday experience both are crucial factors in getting 99% attendance to consistently happen. After that happens, then UND can look at raising the ticket prices. First, though, UND needs to reach capacity attendance and that requires more than just wins, although that does help. The Gameday committee that has been working on this issue is far more important than some may realize in all of this. There are plenty of examples from past and present that shows wins themselves won't convince North Dakotans to flock to the Alerus Center. *Positive steps were made in 2017 regarding the Gameday experience; unfortunately, the piss poor product on the field negated that and then some.

Wow, be careful! Some on here might accuse you of being ... dare I say it, logical ... but, but, but, it steps on the toes of the pretty little hockey program ...

"Fuzzy" math, huh? I gave my explanation and the calculations within my interpretation were correct. The approach could be argued. Petey or whoever can approach it however they want, but I didn't include overall attendance for the reasons I already mentioned. Lastly, UND hockey playing in a $100 M gift is a huge factor in all of this. UND football doesn't have such a venue to play in.

My math is correct. The approach to the problem is what differs. I didn't include all of the games because that is intrinsic to the sport's particular season format, not the popularity or potential.

Initial turnout has improved. Largely due to 2016 season when UND football went 9-3. Problem you're referencing is that the students leave halfway through the games. Happens all over the country, even with the football programs that attract over 100k per game (Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, etc.). Even UND hockey has problems with student attendance come the third period.

Last season UND football actually averaged over 10,500 in attendance, but those details aren't important.

What is with your scramble approach? REA manages the majority of ticket revenue (52%) and always sends the majority of that to the hockey program, either directly or indirectly. Don't act so clueless. 52% of ALL ticket revenue - *majority* Does hockey receive more support than all of UND's other programs? Yes Do most DI athletic programs around the country allow a building management group and/or the major donor to manage the majority of their (the university's) ticket revenue? Absolutely not. UND hockey average attendance is approximately 11,500 per game at the REA. UND football average attendance is approximately 10,000 per game at the Alerus. So, does UND football receive 87% of the financial support that UND hockey receives? Absolutely not. The total attendance is in UND hockey's favor, but anyone objectively looking at that knows it is purely a product of the building itself. Basketball would lead UND sports in attendance if it played in the REA and hockey played in the Betty instead. Thus, Engelstads essentially own UND athletics. The Engelstads' personal interests and biases are completely reflected on UND athletics. Not UND, not North Dakota, not Grand Forks, but rather a family in Nevada. Not to mention UND football has nothing to do with the REA yet the REA handles 52% of football's ticket revenue? This current arrangement is not sensible for a DI athletic program; maybe, just maybe, a DII program.

The deal has been made and the [sad] reality has set in. The Engelstads essentially own UND athletics which means UND hockey will always be the program disproportionately emphasized and supported. This was fine back in 2001 when UND was DII in all other sports. Now, with UND trying to play catch up within the DI environment, this agreement continues to boost UND hockey at the expense of UND football, basketball, volleyball, etc. because the REA manages the majority of ticket revenue (i.e., the REA always sends it to the hockey program). UND's "other sports" will always have a hard time with this horribly one-sided agreement in place. UND made a deal with the devil and now we all should understand how (unless you are a hockey #1 fan and we certainly know many are). Large summed donations typically always have strings attached; this one certainly did. For the sake of comparison, NDSU has thrived as a DI institution because the athletic program received an appropriate boost across the board. That can't happen now at UND because of this deal and the Engelstad family. If you're content with UND being "only hockey", then this deal won't bother you. I am not of that crowd and so this arrangement sickens me. I've never been one to understand the GF culture towards hockey and I refuse to blindly support it.

Year four happened because there was no depth; poor recruiting and developing by Bubba and staff during year 1, 2, and 3. Many of Bubba's best players have been "Muss's players": Will Ratelle, Cole Reyes, Deion Harris, Brandon Anderson, AJ Stockwell, Sean Meehan, etc. Let's wait and see on year 5; I'm not expecting any bounce back miracles, unfortunately.

This would be the very optimistic way of looking at it. We'll see come August.

True statement

When reality sinks in ... ouch

Darrell, don't act so oblivious. How could UND be further along? Obviously recruit better players in years 1, 2, and 3 and not lose so many of them to attrition. Why don't you take a look at what Jay Hill has been doing down at Weber State (he took over a team that went 2-10 in the same conference as UND). Handicapping UND by continually proclaiming "Muss put them in a hole, blah, blah, blah" only feeds into the hysteria that NDSU will always be way ahead of UND. NDSU doesn't ask for excuses like that, so neither should UND and Bubba.

Well then I don't think UND is going to start winning quite yet.

Offering the right kids, just need to see some of them commit. Have to steal a couple from FBS programs like the top FCS programs usually do it.

I will say, is it Jones or is it Divison 1 (as far as why UND basketball has dropped so much in winning)? Probably a combination of both. UND football also hasn't been close to matching its division II winning percentage (0.625 in DII) since going division I (55-56; 0.495 in DI). Division I is just a different animal that requires more emphasis and support than what UND football and basketball is currently getting. During DII, UND was at the top of the funding scale; in DI, they've struggled to just be average.

Do you know how long Brian Jones has been the head men's basketball coach at UND (hint: it hasn't been only within the "immediate" past)? Do you know Brian Jones record as head men's basketball coach at UND? Do you know if UND won their conference this most recent season? Do you know how many conference titles UND has had with Brian Jones as UND's head mens's basketball coach? The answer to all of those questions are not up to my standards. I am not going to apologize just because some who support UND are subconsciously immune to mediocrity. Jones has a track record at UND that is not overly competitive save one season where UND made the NCAA tournament. I look at the big picture; it sounds like you do not follow UND basketball closely and are not familiar with the big picture.

Need a new coaching staff with a new leader (head coach) before UND can expect consistent top-end basketball within the Summit. Good news is new AD Chaves expects UND to compete for conference titles in every sport. When (not if, but when) UND fails to be competitive in the Summit, Chaves will be forced to get rid of the aloof Jones.

Possibly the worst game in UND DI history. Worse than even 2009 Sioux Falls game considering UND's top 10 expectations of 2017 (certainly not top 10 after that ass kicking in Vermillion). Damn it pisses me off just thinking about that embarrassment of a game for UND football.

I hope UND plays to win against Washington. If UND goes into that game tentative, it will linger on vs Sam Houston State the following week. UND will stand no chance in subsequent games; can't just turn it on. Have to promote an atmoshphere of confidence and expectations; or else, another losing season for Bubba and UND.

One can always use that excuse because UND has rarely ever won as a DI program. The one season of late they did win (2016), the highly hyped home playoff game wasn't even the best attended game of the season ... oh yeah, and there was a fricken neutral site away hockey game on that date also, God damn.

That damn Davison! How dare he? In all honesty though, Faison was bad. Chaves should be better with the future schedules because it won't take much.

Have to recruit players that are happy to be at UND and have pride in UND. Geno required a lot of guidance (above average) while at UND and now he leaves UND after the staff's investment. This makes it difficult to thank him for his time at UND. If only I had faith that Jones could replace him and build a better team ... (hint: I do not)