IowaBison

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The Bison averaged over 14,000. A playoff game for the Bison would almost certainly sellout.

When does the basketball refurbishment start? It already has, they put in the $750,000 video boards over break. I believe that they have raised 8 of the 16 million dollar tag. When will NDSU's tuition waivers start? Not this year, the Teammakers raised their $1.4 million. How many tuition waivers will UND grant this year? 10? 20? What's the fine for the leaving the NCC? 30,000 if I recall correctly, not zero, but serious money for any team making the move (I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of a number of boosters wouldn't flip that bill specifically)

I really can't see an unofficial conference bid anywhere. I understand that the personal relationship between Harmeson and Fullerton and that Doug had an informal tour last year. I also believe that Doug is strongly interested in the Dakota schools as members. The problem is with NAU, Sac State, and PSU (at the least). Their presidents get to vote not Fullerton. At the last meeting discussing expansion that lasted more than 15 minutes, the entire premise was on unanimity (though the reasons for that may no longer govern future decisions). I hope to heck that isn't the 'real' purpose of the task force. As it might not be viable for UND to move to DI. I'm pretty sure their stated purpose is their true one, ie to collect and assemble information for a decision to be made by the President. That would be fantastic.

That's a pretty brash statement. The consultants gave NDSU information and advice, including the importance of conference affilitiation, NDSU felt that all things considered a move was in their best interest. I wasn't "in the room" when the decision was being made, but I doubt that NDSU ignored or glossed over the need for a conference, that's quite illogical.

Also, NDSU hired 3, yes 3, consultants before making their decision.

Cool (seriously), but you know what they saw about free advice.

Great, why don't they put those two guys on the committee.

Definitely not, I think UND should hire a consultant because it is in their best interest to do so. I have no idea what NDSU has to do with the decision to do so.

Definitely not, but they do this stuff for a living. How many members of the committee have experience formally studying reclassification?

let me reparaphrase your point: UND has nothing to gain from a consultant because it will only tell it what it already knows. -apparently UND doesn't know all that it needs to know because they are conducting this study! The decision is going to be highly scrutinized. Having a professional involved in the process will help defend against that scrutiny.

Hence my use of the definition qualification. If UND already knows everything, why study the issue at all!?! A consultant will make the process appear more formal, more professional, and more objective. IMO, UND needs to reach a definitive 'yes' or 'no' conclusion with regards to the move as soon as possible. In either case there are going to be some unhappy Sioux fans. My thought is do it right, do it once, hiring a consultant helps ensure that this occurs. It's also plausible that the committee lacks the expertise to conduct the study in house. There are a lot of things (and work) that go along with the study, omit one or mess one up and the results may change significantly Four months isn't that long to do a study of this kind. If you look at their timeline it's fantastically quick. The survey part alone should take six months to do, especially as they are doing this in house, let alone any analysis of the results.

I think it's quite quick, yes. Really, so the whole time UND was bashing NDSU, easily into the fall of '04, UND was studying the issue themselves. I guess it all depends on one's definition of 'study'. Well if the study's due in four months, they'd better hire somebody quick. Hiring a consultant brings an objective, professional, with experience in the field, to lead or conduct some portion of the study.

Is that why UND is rushing to get its study done in four months? (Start Jan 10-end before spring commencement) Is that why UND is not getting an outside perspective by not hiring a consultant?

First meeting held today. Next thirty days gathering information. Final report will not make recommendation, but include relevant decision-making information. Next meeting is 2-14. A survey will be conducted later. Forum Article

If need be.

I think in the same article it discusses (or I've read it somewhere else) a survey around March 1.

An exception doesn't prove the rule.

I really think that in light of the possible moratorium on reclassification to Division I that UND should SERIOUSLY consider hiring a consultant.

USA Today/ESPN 2004 Week 13 Poll The Bison weren't ranked until week 13. Which is what mid-November? The last game the Bison played in 2003 was November 15......is that about 12 months?

I love it when folks bring up spelling and usage. Your error completely changed the meaning of your message, mine was still completely understandable. (Notice how petty it is that I will also bring up your misuse of your, it should be you're, as I understand the meaning of your post where you are trying to critique me.) You just can't help yourself, can you?

Outstanding anecdotal evidence and I believe the number of months you omitted was 12 a full year, or about 13 months after the Bison took UND to overtime AFTER a 2-8 season. And of course, UND would have done as well, heck they would have gone 9-2-obviously, they had beaten the Bison the majority of the times in the last ten years. Also, I love it when individuals make a provocative statement and then tell you to leave!

I'm sure that's what you meant, but it doesn't fit the context. You should have omitted the term, instead of using it incorrectly.

To some up then: DIAA is better than DII-obviously. But only a little bit. well arbitrarily so. In fact our best teams are as good as your best teams. And of course, UND has had a better team than NDSU the past ten years and they're successful, so we'd be just as successful---nah, we'd be better.