fightingsioux4life

And what would REA do without our hockey programs? Bring in a Major Junior team? Not trying to be a wise guy, just asking the question. The arena was built to support the University of North Dakota in general and Division I hockey in paticular. It could not survive without those programs, no matter how many cheesy garage bands, tennis matches and curling tournaments they bring in. Most things are open to negotiation in business and in life. You just have to have the backbone and guts to get your fingernails dirty once in a while. But since REA and UND have such a symbiotic relationship, it shouldn't come to that. I will admit that the solution to the revenue problem is not easy to come by. I'm just concerned that we aren't getting the deal we were told we were getting when this arena was being designed and built. I want our athletic department to have the resources to make this D-I move a success. I want us to have successful programs at the next level, not just the D-I name. I hope that our leaders (Buning, Kupchella) have a game plan to make it happen.

PCM, And just how long are these contracts that are signed with REA? I know the lease is 30 years, but how long are the contracts for maintenance, revenue sharing, etc? I have always wondered that. Maybe someone on here knows? What REA doesn't seem to understand is that REA exists to serve UND, UND does not exist to serve REA. This arena was promoted as a big money-maker for UND athletics and the greatest thing since sliced bread when it was being built in 2000-2001. That hasn't happened. Ralph Engelstad built this arena to benefit his alma mater and to display his gratitude for what this institution did for him. He didn't build it so that a small group of corporate wanna-be suits could cash in on our #1 sport at our expense. I wonder what he would think about the current situation between UND and REA? I don't think he would approve of it. I think Roger Thomas allowed REA to dictate too many terms during the initial contract negotiations. That was one of his weaknesses; he was just too darn nice of a guy! Tom Buning seems more of a no-nonsense type of administrator. Let's hope this helps us get a better deal in the future. This is just my opinion and feelings on the matter. Some on here will disagree with it, but that is what I think. Fire Away!

I will be there! Hope the weather cooperates!

Sioux-cia, It's now official: Da Bears are for real! Even without Alexander, the Seahawks are a pretty good team. And the Bears made them look like the Lions. Da Bears should win 14 to 15 games in the regular season, but I would be a little concerned about peaking too early. You must be playing your best football at playoff time to make a run at the Super Bowl. If Da Bears can avoid this roadblock, we might have ourselves a rematch of Super Bowl 20 (Bears vs. Patriots). I think the Pats might have another run in them. As for my Vikings, I was nauseated at what I saw on television before I left for the tailgate party. Receivers left wide open. More bad passes from Johnson. The O line not earning its money (again). Aarrgghh!!! I'm surprised I was able to eat anything yesterday! If this keeps up, they'll probably earn a top 10 draft pick, which would help them upgrade the offense. They might want to draft another quarterback; get rid of Johnson, keep Bollinger and Jackson. If they lose to the Lions, it's curtains for the 2006-07 season.

Agree with you 110%. The 2001 National Championship team had a huge positive advantage in turnover margin. We have to start taking better care of the ball. And it's not just Belmore, either; the running backs and receivers have been too careless. And the defense isn't forcing the turnovers it has in the past. If we want to hang with the big boys, we will have to reverse this.

I want absolutely nothing to do with the BSCS (Bull S@#$ Championship Series). This whole concept of going D-IA in football is delusional at best, irresponsible at worst. We would never compete for a bowl game that anyone cared about. Maybe Gopher fans get all excited about going to the Music City Bowl (or worse) every year, but I wouldn't. I honestly don't think we would ever qualify for a BCS bowl. If in the future, there is a playoff in D-IA football, I don't think we could qualify for that either. Let's focus on getting into D-IAA football and building a championship-calibre program. We can make our money off of the D-I Men's Basketball Tournament, the NCAA Hockey Tournament and a few money games against D-IA teams. I want our football program to compete for championships. We can do that in IAA, we will never do it in I-A. I really wish Phil Harmeson would dump this idea.

President Kupchella has proposed banning smoking on campus grounds to promote good health and encourage people to stop smoking. Smoking is already banned in all university buildings. What does everyone think about this? I am all for banning smoking indoors, but I think this goes a little too far.

This team should be at or near the top of the NCC and NCAA again this year. Plenty of depth and talent all over the place. Roebuck will push the right buttons and this team should compete for a national championship again.

I think all the coaching changes in this program are finally catching up with us. Continuity is important in college athletic programs and that has not been present in the soccer program. That being said, I think the program has fantastic potential for the future. We just have to keep our head coach around longer than one or two years.

Sorry 7>4, but Belmore did not "win" this game, the team won "despite" him. I've been a Belmore backer for a long time, but today was the last straw. He has had confidence issues since the MSU-Mankato game last year. His first interception was returned for a touchdown, which changed the momentum. His second interception almost gave Augie a chance to win it in regulation. Thankfully for us, Chappell was solid on the ground and on returns, the special teams blocked two field goals and the defense did just enough when it needed to (still needs to work on pass coverage). Belmore has fantastic physical skills, but has trouble with the mental aspects of being quarterback. I just hope Manke can come back soon so we can get back to putting points on the board and building a big enough lead so we don't have to sweat it out every week.

If you are saying that we have high standards for our teams, you are right. And that is how I like it. I think it's better to have high standards and not always reach them instead of having low standards that are always reachable. Look at football, for example. Ten years ago, just winning the conference and making the playoffs was considered a successful season. Now, if we aren't competing for the national championship, it's not good enough. December 8th, 2001 changed everything. It set the standard for the program to the highest level possible. As a result, people (like myself) get all bent out of shape over our quarterback throwing interceptions and almost costing us one game. We have high standards, we want to compete at a national level. And what happened today can't happen if you are going to be #1 at the end of the season. Hockey is the same way, we are always looking for the next national championship. Ditto for Women's Basketball; that 34-1 record without a national championship just isn't the same. Do we lose perspective? Yes. Are our expectations a little out of whack sometimes? Yes. But I would rather have it that way then have an athletic department that was satisfied with barely winning seasons and the occasional playoff berth. I know I wouldn't get up for the sports season if that was the attitude of the A.D. and coaches.

redwing77, Wilf has committed to spending whatever it takes to put a winner on the field. He cares about winning football games, unlike McCombs, who was always scheming to move the franchise to San Antonio. Good riddance to bad rubbish! The media doesn't like Childress because he won't talk about every little thing the team is doing (like Tice did). But I like that; the media doesn't need to know everything. And he doesn't seem to have an out-of-control ego like Green did (it was always about Denny, not the team). Is it a sure thing? No. But I like the odds of Childress and Wilf taking the Vikes to the promised land better than Green and McCombs.

Isn't UCA a D-IAA program?

Smoggy, You are right, I am getting sick and tired of big pass completions against our defense on 3rd and long. It seems that if we don't get pressure on the quarterback, we give up 10, 15, 20 yards through the air. That has to stop. Central Washington did it, Western Washington did it and now Augie has done it. I shudder to think of what South Dakota will be able to accomplish.

Hey, thank you. That's 999,900% more than I thought I was going to get!

Smoggy, It's tough to replace the seniors we lost last year. I think the defense will get better as the season goes on. Bobby Stroup will be a monster linebacker for us as soon as he learns the value of discipline and self-control (more bad penalties today).

MSU-Mankato, Homecoming.

HockeyMom, If that is what it has come down to, then it's time to put in Danny Freund until Manke is 100% again. I don't care if he is a sophomore, let him learn from his mistakes on the job. Run the ball more and let the defense and special teams carry more of the load. Anything is better than the crap that went on today. If we go down to Omaha and do this, we'll lose by three touchdowns.

Two blocked Field Goals today!!! Chappell and the defense deserve a ton of credit as well! Belmore needs to sit down next week, whether Manke is ready or not.

Incomplete, far corner of the end zone!!! Augie forced to try FG. BLOCKED!!!!! SIOUX WIN!!!! SIOUX WIN!!!! SIOUX WIN!!! 24-21 IN OT!!!! YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Fumble by Augie ruled down by contact!!! (Are these NFL refs? )

QB just shy of the goal line. Ball inside the 1.

Augie to the 2 yard line. First and goal. 2 yards to a loss!!! We need a miracle here!!!

Augie to 20, tackle by Donovan Alexander. 2nd and 5.

Hellevang to attempt 25 yard field goal, left hash. FG good. North Dakota 24 Augustana 21 Augie takes over...If they get a TD, WE LOSE!