zonadub

Yes. and in case you didn't, here it is again, and I took the liberty of highlighting a few of the high points. 82 is spot on. If anyone thinks that the Big Sky needs UND more than UND needs the Big Sky probably forgot that the Great West is folding and the Summit won't accept the Fighting Sioux either. FCS/Small-Mid Major DI independence is not the way to go. The Big Sky is a destination FCS/Mid Major conference. It is not a transitional conference like the Great West or a 'we hope we get invited to the Missouri Valley Conference' conference like the Summit. UND is very fortunate to have the opportunity to move to the Big Sky (not vice-versa), and despite the fact that the NCAA policy sucks, they are driving the bus. Yes, at this point, the complaints from the Big Sky Conference seem to be coming from the fans & press of schools like Sacramento, but what would it take for the people who are in charge of those schools to decide its best to have an even number of schools in the conference. 10 and 12 are easier scheduling than 11 and 13. If you dispute that fact, I really wonder what your foundation for that rationale could possibly be. Also, please remember that the people who run those schools are cut from the same mold as the people who (1) run the NCAA, (2) voted for the Hostile & Abusive policy (even if it was Myles Brand's idea, they did endorse it), and (3) have considerable influence over who they schedule in future athletic events. Personally, I think the Montana's and probably Northern Colorado would block UND's expulsion from the Big Sky, but can we be sure? What if the Montana's leave for the WAC, MWC or something else? (I think the Big East would welcome them with open arms if the Griz & Cats were so inclined. Again, don't think it will happen, but would have said the same thing about Boise & San Diego six months ago.) By the way, DaveK, would you continue to follow and be a fan of the University of North Dakota Penguins?

what would lakes do? thought NDSU was supposed to be headed to the Big 12

Isn't this what Big Sky TV does? Won't UND have the ability to put their hockey games on the net like the Big Sky games will be. I don't think the Root deal is going to shut down Big Sky TV, so all the UND (non-hockey) games will be available there. I would think that UND will have to address this angle. I know someone said earlier that the Big Sky webcast is not top quality, but with streaming services becoming more commonplace, the technology will improve on both the broadcast and the receiving ends. My son has Roku/Netflix and the quality is as good as cable or satellite is. My cable company is also my internet provider, so maybe Midco (or Comcast or Cox, or whoever is your cable provider) will provide an answer that has not even been mentioned on this board. Its all about competition, and this type of service will give someone (cable/internet providers?) a service advantage that they may be already looking at in more than one form. I don't know what options will be available, but I know that there are more now than there were 18 months ago...

since you're into fixin', I fixed your post but then, that's ag schoolin' for ya...

This is probably a big part of the reason that Notre Dame turned down the National Conference. They have a tv deal that's better than CBS Sports and brought that with them to Hockey East. Maybe Mr Faison should have brought Fox College Sports with UND to the NCHC, escpecially since he seemed to be the ringleader in the press until the new commissioner was named.

I know it is not a popular choice, but Blazers, as in Trailblazers, gives a nod to the Lewis & Clark history of the state. There are several better nicknames, but I am willing to wager that Trailblazers is better that whatever PC color* or weather phenomena the Kelly committee comes up with. * like Stanford Cardinal and Harvard Crimson, cough cough, North Dakota Kelly (as in kelly green): gag!

sorry, thought the football team being competitive was step #2 (great conference is #1) to filling existing facilities so they actually need to move to a larger one

fixed it for you

No matter what you think about his skills on the football field, America would be a better place if more of the ultra-rich athletes were like Tebow. Rick Reilly article on espn.go.com http://espn.go.com/e...eving-tim-tebow

Must have all been behind the camera, huh?

I am impressed that Weber can get over 5,000 people in the building to watch MAYVILLE!

already preparing the excuse that it didn't matter to NDSU? UND is tough at home, on the road, not so much. looking for the team formerly known as the Sioux to pull this one out. this game should mean plenty to both teams.

no worries, my wife often says I have a warped sense of humor

oh, never mind, Johnboy, it was a joke. sorry you didn't get it.

The WAC may still be desperate enough to take a team that is on the H&A list. Do they still have only 7 FB teams? Bowls are not under the NCAA, so the Fighting Sioux could get bowl invites.

then by all means, Mr Faison should be talking to someone... and if he can't figure out how to get them on the schedule, just make a friendly call to Gene Taylor. He seems to have the process figured out. Get some wins, build some confidence. Seems like a darn effective practice.

how many of them already have 11 games scheduled?

Yow!

give up the SD Mines games. if its money UND needs, take on some BCS schools that will pay UND to travel there. Some of them might even be games UND could win. Maybe not with the 2010 team, but who knows about the 2012, 2013 teams and on? Minnesota, Iowa State, Washington State and Kansas are all really big name schools that UND could maybe be competitive with... not sayin' just sayin'. And if UND can't be competitive with these teams, at least there would be a good payday. The 2011 team learned from the Fresno game, they turned the season around afterwards.

thank you for the post. i feel bad for Lance that it didn't didn't work out. UND is a great school.

iirc, If you take the way way back machine to the mid 70s, the Red Pepper East was Bruce Tellman's first satellite restaurant, inside the old Spud Bar. Food was no good then either.

on a long sub-type bun, but wa-a-ay better than any subway, quizno, domino, etc sub. really, though, its the garbage plate - before I ever heard of taco salad

it's not the food. it's the ambiance of the original place on University. it's historic when you go there. tens, probably hundreds, of thousands of UND athletes, students and Sioux fans have stood at that same counter, walked on those same, creaky floors and eaten there.

agreed on the winning/losing point... but to a recruit, looking cool may sway the decision.

yes, there are lots of 'old school' uniforms, but... you are talking about some pretty storied programs. North Dakota is a newcomer, relatively speaking, in D-I to the Oklahoma's, Michigan's, Notre Dame's and the others you mentioned. Oregon's uniforms are edgy and differentiate their program. It is, or at least can be, a selling point when players are deciding between USC and Oregon, or say NDSU and UND. And yeah, I'm an old guy, but I like the Oregon Rose Bowl uni's. The Chrome helmets were not tacky and the feathers were pretty subdued. Now, on the other hand, from what I have seen and heard concerning Coach Mussman, those uniforms don't quite seem to fit his 'public' style, so it may be a moot point anyway.