nodak651

I like Lang, but I don't think he's a great fit because he doesn't have experience recruiting elite prospects and he's spent his entire career out east. AIC and Atlantic hockey are both just so different than UND and the NCHC... I think he would be a great fit at most of the ECAC schools. For example, RPI could be a nice fit and they currently have an opening. If he were to move west, I could perhaps see a fit with a school like Augi if their coach were to move on. IMO, Lang's situation is similar to Danny Freund's from a year or so ago - he needs to develop a broader range of experience, away from AIC.

If not Illinois, I think it could work at Illinois State. They have the name and the team wouldn't be overshadowed by an FBS FB program. Hockey would be a great way for them to grow their brand as they could easily become THE state's NCAA hockey program. They have a large student body and the arena they would use already exists downtown, and it's nearly perfect for college hockey. It may be a little big for their average game, but it isn't so large they'd never be able to sell it out...

Arent tickets 65 bucks on ticketmaster for todays session?

You're both wrong. Buy TVs that have Roku software and you're done.

Great find. That person wrote an interesting article... https://www.mwcconnection.com/2025/3/12/24381175/peak-perspective-q-a-with-kc-smurthwaite-on-consulting-and-college-football?utm_campaign=mwcconnection&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Tarleton has tons of support from the state. They have all new govt funded facilities and an ipf is being lined up to be built soon as well.

The Summit not being in control of FB really limits the leagues potential IMO. #1 choice for many are the WAC Texas schools. Beyond them, UCA could be a good travel partner for ORU. They are building a brand new arena soon that they have an RFQ out for. If they were to join the MVFC, I'd make green turf a requirement.

I'm so gosh damn sick of every single UND team emberrassing me every time I tell anyone to tune into a game.

None of the above. Except MN State, but they don't have the money or political support to make it happen.

Great interview! Thanks

The Texas schools.

It's being widely reported that the Big West is voting to add Utah Valley and Cal Baptist on Friday, which could bring the league down below 6. NIU to the Horizon is also official. Sounds like if the Summit want's the Texas schools they will need to beat out the A-Sun.

I'd kill to see some of the ratings numbers at cbssn.

I dont get that take when ESPN has shown absolutely zero interest in televising SL games when they actually did have the rights, and they typically want exclusive broadcast rights despite offering lowball $$$. With ESPN, the championship games wouldnt have been able to get moved to Sunday either.

Sources of funds for 2023: https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?method=rankingbysource&ds=herd

I think Chaves is capable of making a decision irrispective of NDSU's choice. Remember - he did get Alston started up before NDSU or anyone else in the MVFC was in a position to do so. I assume UND's choice will largly be dependent on hockey, given that they are expected to compete and win vs the Big Ten and Bo$ton Hockey East schools, and FCS programs dont really have THAT kind of money. It will be interesting to see how Big Ten programs allocate money as well - will schools like Ohio State or Notre Dame save anything at all for hockey? Maybe a percent or two? What about the rodents? Only 1% would still equate to about 220k. If UND ends up opting in, perhaps UND will be able to garner the necessary money by working with the REA to create a new revenue stream for it, or perhaps they tweak the usage agreement and distribute more income. Guessing they would be on board because that would be in their (REA's) best interest, if Chaves decides opting in is necessary.

I don't necessarily agree. Schools that choose to opt in but don't already offer FCOA and Alston money aren't going to fool any recruits when the money for NIL doesn't magically appear out of nowhere. Would love to know the NIL budget for some of the schools that claim they're opting in. In regard to NDSU, they have nearly 130 guys on their roster and they are known for developing talent, and walkons routinely become impact players. That has been one of UND's biggest issues during the Bubba tenure, IMO, because we normally only have about 105-110. That's a huge disadvantage for us when it comes to depth at the end of the season. NDSU would need to completely change how they run their program if they were forced to trim the roster down to 105, imo, and I'm not certain they would be guaranteed to benefit if they did decide to opt in, because they can still pay FCOA, Alston, and they still have the collective as well.

Yeah, it's actually really complicated - much more so than it needs to be. The word parking is used 116 times in the usage agreement.... For single game tickets, UND gets a percentage of net profit from parking based on scanned attendance. Based on the usage agreement, the Alerus Center must have needed UND's permission to raise the single game parking prices from $10 to $15.

That same year, Montana played in the championship while their coach was in the last year of his contract.

Bad karma... The state of the program is the fault of everyone who wanted Hak fired. I know thats impossible, but I'm still kinda serious anyway.

Talk to donors who would help pay the buyout or pay it directly if UND opts in. Different sport but Montana played in the championship a couple of years ago despite Hauck being a lame duck in the last year of his contract. Players know coaches leave or get bought out all the time. One or two years on a contract means nothing anymore.

With how often people transfer these days does that really matter anymore? Invest saved buyout money in nil...

City should put pickleball in there.

Link?

Perhaps the hockey team could benefit from a gm to help the program get a better handle on recruiting and nil. Huge player pool now with the CHL players becoming eligible.