nodak651

how did jal look?

Wasn't part of Muss's problems not enough local recruits, though? Our top three running backs are some of the best in the entire country - hometowns are Fargo, Winnipeg, and Andover MN. Top receiver is from ND, Izzy from Illinois, Toivonen and Maag from MN. We can get solid talent from our area. But if we can't convince elite local talent to come to UND over other MVFC schools, how are we going to beat out southern schools and convince kids to stay the winter in ND? Recruiting out of state is also hell of a lot more expensive, especially with a tight recruiting budget. I think it's great that we are working on our recruiting pipelines in North Dakota, because we need to start beating NDSU on some local recruits if we really want to be successful. Obviously, if there is talent available across the country, we should recruit it if the kids are interested in coming here, like Lenny Nelson's brother, for instance. But recruiting locally is more important, and I think it helps with retaining student athletes through graduation. There should be roughly about the same number of kids recruited outside of the midwest and canada as there are Juco transfers, IMO. Often necessary to have some, when the shoe fits, but the team shouldn't be built on it.

Look at NDSU's two deep.

Got an email reply - looks like they will try to do what they can with the football game. "Thanks for the question. We are going to try and show the UND football game on the large video board at the pre-game party. We don’t have all of the technical issues resolved yet, but we are trying to do that. With the 2:00 pm game time in Grand Forks, the game will occur from 12 noon to 3 pm in Las Vegas. With a 2:00 pm opening time for the tailgate party, we hope to catch the latter parts of the second half of the football game in Vegas. We’ll miss the 12 noon to 2 pm portion, but we hope to have the latter parts of the game on the video board. We’ll update www.Vegas18.com if we get that squared away."

http://theralph-2014.production.carbonhouse.com/assets/doc/Fan-Guide-U.S.-Hockey-Hall-of-Fame-Game-Las-Vegas-1590af843e.pdf?camefrom=EMCL_2524960_114594834

haha... I want them to be forced to watch it

I emailed the ralph to ask about the football game. Would be a great idea to have a football watch party in Vegas. Potential missed opportunity if they do not do anything.

General admission here. Younger people who are recent grads may like to be near the student section and drink, and not have to worry about where everyone is buying their seats.

I think they could start by just opening the top section of 214 to non students. take that section away, and the students that do come can still get decent seats near the 50. If they need to take more seats away, do the same with the top section of 213. The upper sections are about 300 seats each, if I remember correctly. Typically the students who stay the longest get to the game earlier and choose the seats towards the front, anyway. So these students wouldn't really be the ones that are penalized. UND could sell good seats near the 50, and students could still be near the away bench. I don't think students standing would be a problem for sight lines, because that upper section is elevated, and the field isn't that close to the seating.

Idaho State is getting shafted more than anyone, and that is really hurting us right now. The best poll has consistently been the Anygivensaturday poll, put together be the folks on the message board. The commentary after their polls are published has some of the best FCS reading anywhere on the internet. Many Bison fans disagree with us being unranked, by the way.

I'd guess closer to 1,500. But that doesn't include 210/211. I doubt that is sold out. I think the unsold tickets will reappear tomorrow.

Just a side note, but Idaho State is hosting Idaho this weekend. The game is likely to sell out for the first time in 30 years. Should be a great atmosphere in their, and their fans deserve it after watching years of !@#$ football. I'll be watching and hope they put the hurt on Idaho... took a few minutes to read their message board, and their fans are even more nauseating than Bison fans. Good for Idaho State. The game will also have direct implications on UND's strength of schedule. We need Idaho State to do well this year, after that loss.

Agree to disagree. I just would rather look at a packed house of rabid fans, rather than a scoreboard. Can watch TV at home and don't want that thing blocking my view of the amazing facility that is the Ralph.

I'm worried too big of a scoreboard will hurt the atmosphere of the arena. Please not something like this:

Anyone with knowledge of the airline business understand why a company like allegiant doesn't do this, when they already have direct flights from grand forks to Orlando, Vegas, and Phoenix? I feel like Denver would serve more people than all of those three combined.

Right. I'm trying to figure out how or if the operating agreement dictates, in any way, the necessary reserve balance for the REA - how is the target balance calculated? For instance, is there a formula, or are there any rules and guidelines, and what are they?

From the Herald link I posted.. "At the end of each year, REA funds a capital reserve fund for extraordinary repairs, maintenance, and building enhancements as well as an operating reserve fund to cover unanticipated operating expenses, and then allocates the balance of its annual net income to UND athletics. The entities aim to make an annual minimum deposit of $500,000, which is also consistent with previous usage agreements." Are the current of prior usage agreements publicly available? I'd be curious if there is verbiage on what the expected/acceptable reserve fund balance is, and how that number is determined. Is there a formula? Is there a cap on the reserve fund balance? Or are there no rules, and the Ralph can hold as much money as they see fit? Does the Ralph discuss potential building enhancements with UND, and do they even have to (this is related to the Betty floor design, but I'm talking about the budgeting decisions)? I find it hard to believe that some of these factors wouldn't be expressed in the contract. Does anyone have insight into this?

If only Bubba had enough money to recruit a better offensive coordinator than a losing coach at D2 Minot State.

New usage agreement through 2020... the minimum is still 500K. Not surprising that REA returned more money to UND this year after rocky negotiations were front page news this summer. "At the end of each year, REA funds a capital reserve fund for extraordinary repairs, maintenance, and building enhancements as well as an operating reserve fund to cover unanticipated operating expenses, and then allocates the balance of its annual net income to UND athletics. The entities aim to make an annual minimum deposit of $500,000, which is also consistent with previous usage agreements." http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/education/4462768-und-ralph-engelstad-arena-reach-new-multiyear-usage-agreement Looks like the REA tends to return the bare minimum to UND, if possible. I hope you enjoy the new scoreboard while all non hockey sports starve for cash.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. 12 - 500k 13 - 500k 14 - 1.1M 15 - 500k 16 - 500k

Sure. But not last year and I don't think the year before.

Would assume that is the purpose for the video.

I think that was in jest, but hopefully they are just upgrading the display screens and keeping the frame. Not sure what that stuff typically costs, but most of the new scoreboards around the country are ugly as !@#$.

It's just funny that the REA can somehow justify giving und only 500K a year when they have this much cash on hand. The current scoreboard is beautiful. Edit: "giving" is probably the wrong word.