UND-FB-FAN

so you’re aware, I’m not the president, athletic director, nor am I on the AA&F board. So unless you’re one of those folks, or you want to make a Ralph-sized donation, we’re stuck pending the masses voicing their desires collectively. Right now, there’s a ton of complacency so I don’t see that happening without stirring the fire a bit.

If that gift went to football in the late 90s, the entire dynamics of UND athletics (and honestly the entire university) would be completely different, and likely better. It’s not about hearing from me, it’s about moving the overall program and university forward. If all you’re gleaning from this is my dedication and principle belief in this, then you’re not carefully considering the concepts, rather just arguing.

I agree it’s our job. Glad you clarified that. Now, will positive change happen and will leaders lead or will the same ol’, same ‘ol continue as is.

That’s not the entirety of the staff. Not even close. From purely athletics standpoint, UND President and AD are starting points, with trickle down effect from there. From AA&F standpoint, a lot of influences beyond the mere 6 staff members you conveniently listed to fit your agenda.

So now it’s my job?? You apologists are laughable. Your heads must hurt from all the deflecting you do.

So the distribution of UNDAA&F development staff signifies all? That’s a random metric that falsely projects, or at the least doesn’t prove anything, and it certainly does not answer my questions. The athletic director would be where to start, since philosophy is just as important as number of work-hours put in, but I guarantee you’ll get a canned non-candid response. Hockey pays the bills, due to a Vegas gift, and therefore all other sports are second fiddle with a signifiant drop off.

Relatively speaking, a few golf outings is not enough. Not nearly enough.

I know little about Erick Paye, but he definitely was at UND FB camp with GFC, and thus staff decided to offer. He is raw for sure, but he has the measurables you can’t teach and he’s a local kid. An absolute must in terms of offering given the potential and the fact he’s a local student-athlete. Hope he commits to UND, and hope other programs don’t go sniffing around.

Start by asking what are the discrepancies in staff size when you consider staff dedicated to hockey vs FB? What are the hours per week dedicated to each? How many hours are spent organizing football alumni / CC member functions and events around the states of ND and MN? Are CC members even attempted to be contacted to inquire on interest in donating to specific football projects? These are basic questions I’ve already posted. Compare and contrast budgets of hockey and football; any potential change to either upcoming? Any potential changes to leadership for CC, AA, or other staff positions? You’ll quickly find out the administration either doesn’t want to answer those questions (perceived interrogation), or, they simply will reveal to you how little they care about football. Both likely replies are beyond disappointing and are futile within the overall landscape of collegiate athletics. There’s plenty of time to be proactive this time of the year, hence the assumption of laziness. But again, philosophy also plays a role.

What a bunch of misdirection malarkey. None of what you said acknowledged the real issues I discerned with UND athletics and UND FB. I can provide my credentials, but on this forum, there is absolutely no requirement for me to do so. UND football and the UND athletic administration are failing. Something needs to be done. I’ve outlined several potential solutions over the past couple days on here. I obviously could waste more of my time trying to change the current administration’s mind, but they’re set in their ineffective ways, so it seems. And may not all be due to laziness, because the overall philosophy (as outlined previously) is something I don’t agree with. You could do something about it, as well, since you’re apparently so well connected with- presumably- pristine credentials. I, however, will have the decency to abstain from probing on such meaningless information within this medium.

Already stated numerous times within the past couple days.

Did you not just say that we need to take action into our own hands? But now this is a waste of time? Apparently both you and the University of North Dakota athletic administration thinks this is a waste of time, and the lack of results shows. At least your vision is consistent with that of the universities, but they’re both inferior.

1. Ignoring NDSU is a foolish approach, in my opinion. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer. Not to mention NDSU is the gold standard for all of FCS football right now, never mind the regional implications for UND. 2. Much of the staff is lazy, clueless, disinterested, when it comes to UND football. They do just enough to get by, not enough to ascend the program. That is not the case with hockey. Hockey is given more time, above and beyond. There are several champion club members (some of 10+ years) that are never contacted or communicated with. If they were appreciated, they would potentially donate more. Why aren’t they contacted? Laziness and/or lack of departmental philosophy/vision; hence those descriptors being used. These “small fish” are ignored just so administrators can make the same phone calls again and again to large donors only to be said no to on numerous occasions. You should be able to visualize the issue now, I hope. Recognize the FB supporters and search for more. 3. Hockey is indirectly the problem. Sure, hockey “is where it should be”, but it is over-allocated on resources and time. There is only a finite amount of time and resources, which I’m sure you know, and football gets slighted due to the degree of emphasis on hockey. It’s just the reality. Good luck raising UND football to the next level with the current degree of hockey emphasis - it just won’t happen. What are the discrepancies in staff size when you consider staff dedicated to hockey vs FB? What are the hours per week dedicated to each? We all know they aren’t equal or even close to equal. That is a part of the issue. 4. Want names? Get a copy of current champions club members. Look at the members that have season tickets for FB. Some of these folks may not have current investment in UND’s beloved over-hyped sport of hockey; are they thus being purposely overlooked when it comes to outreach? There are several FB only donors that are not reached out to. It’s apart of the failure of the Champions Club and Alumni Association, as well as the exemplification of the failed philosophy of Chaves’ department. Bottomline, all non-hockey sports are and have been treated like a red-headed step-child and it shows on the field and courts. But, but, but … there’s always ice ….

Something had to lead to the disaster that was Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls wasn’t the turning point, look 2-3 years before that (2007-2009) to find your answer.

NDSU could attract more than 20k/gameday (probably 30-40k based on Fargo growth trajectory and move to FBS) but UND can’t right now, unless changes are made. This is why the Fargo media seems to pump out an article daily on the necessity of NDSU capitalizing on their current situation. It would produce more revenue for NDSU and Fargo, and leave UND further behind in the dust. It is something UND needs to heed. And something needs to be done right now, not with an approach of “it will just take more time” for UND football to catch up to NDSU football and UND hockey. So, what are the changes needed for UND? Besides obviously bigger and nicer facilities (that’s a major rate limiting step here), it’s also a culture shift; more focus and marketing toward football, bigger named opponents (go FBS), and most importantly, more wins, which will - simply put - require better coaching and recruiting. Two fold solution, as has been talked about ad nauseam: increase efforts towards football via administration hours, and increase funding (likely combination of donor dollars and reallocation). Right now, University of North Dakota athletics is taking the path of least resistance. It’s securing donor dollars purely for hockey, as there’s no significant regional resistance (competition) for hockey because NDSU doesn’t sponsor it. UND athletic dept. philosophy is basically not even attempting to compete with NDSU. It focuses on hockey and continually presses the ”easy” button. When will the approach change? Ever?

No way in hell the current athletic department philosophy would let go of a non-hockey coach with this record. This isn’t the entire problem, but it is part of the problem. What is the major problem? The culture towards non-hockey sports at UND is a major problem. It’s not just money, but also time devoted towards non-hockey sports; it’s not nearly adequate. Complacency has set in. The current administration (and coaches) know their seat won’t get hot if they are at least just average with non-hockey sports. Alumni and fans need to demand better, but they don’t; they cheer for hockey and sit in a $100M hockey arena, and all other sport support (football, basketball, baseball) is largely funneled down to NDSU and Fargo. The few remaining that support UND football and basketball are clinging to the hope that the UND athletic department and administration change their ways before there’s nothing left to salvage. UND athletics is not solely a hockey club.

NDSU didn’t accidentally become good at football like some UND fans like to think. There’s a method to the madness, and UND (and really the entire country) need to take notes and actuate to a certain degree.

Ira, NDSU and Team Makers are doing a better job on both sides of the river. We all can (again) email Tim, Steve and others, but when will the functions actually improve? When will efforts to recognize numerous “small fish” actually happen so we can collectively move football forward. I guarantee there’s a lot hidden dollars out there, but it’s not just the $; there’s also the effort piece. Despite getting the majority of funding, UND hockey also gets the majority of the work hours. It’s just too much emphasis on one sport and it shows.

Before the Ralph crazies really got ahold of everything.

I completely agree with everything you mentioned. Great post.

It’s all a matter of culture. UND students know hockey is the centerpiece and this that is where their attendance efforts lie. $100M facilities appeal to students as much as alumni/fans. UND athletic administration half-assing football is the issue for this particular problem (student attendance) as well as all other bigger problems (wins-losses, overall attendance, coaching salaries, facility deficits, alumni/booster outreach, etc.).

Simplistic approach. Salaries need to improve, yes, but you need to actually pay someone what they’re worth. Has the current staff earned an increase?

Already mentioned - catch up

“Takes time” “Tearing down a UND athletic program” Hilarious that you worship Ralph in such a way. Also, the ridiculous hyperbole shows you have no grasp on any realistic solutions. Plus, doing nothing and just waiting - since it “takes time” - is such a typical nonsensical approach to this issue. It’s wrong, by the way. Reallocation is hardly tearing something down that is already over-inflated.

Ha, that’s a good one. You proposing the REA has significantly depreciated? Certainly not to any degree where it would significantly change the underlying concept. So maybe from 100 years to break even to perhaps 50-70 years?