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I didn't share Roger Thomas's D-1 philosophy. Roger is a good man. I know Roger Thomas. You are no Roger Thomas!

I agree! If you don't plan your work, you can't work your plan!

darell, I don't know if you are an administrator/moderator or what. But if you continue to change my posts and also then repost them out of context, I have only one comment for you. You are a SOB!

Points 2,3,4,and 5 all stand to have potential or in some cases almost a sure lock on increasing revenue. What would you rather do travel to San Jose State for one game or have the potential to schedule another 85 scholarship team like Wyoming on a home and home basis. That will never happen with a 63 vs 85 difference. If UND can't sell out the Alerus Center with a home game against Wyoming, as an example, then we don't deserve to have any type of D-1 football at all. You only get better by playing up not down. Sorry, I failed to attach this message to the one that had 7 points for 85 scholarship football. It is post #1117.

1. 85 scholarship football is the only way to go to open up scheduling to another level. 2. We would have the negotiating power to schedule any 63 scholarship team as a home game. 3. We would have the new possibility of home and home scheduling with other similar 85 scholarship programs. 4. The P5 might be willing to do a 2 for 1 as Wyoming did with Texas. 5. If the P5 teams will only do home games at their place, as an 85 scholarship program we could negotiate a far higher payday than 63 scholarships teams can. 6. As the playoffs expand there becomes a real chance to qualify if the playoffs go to 16 teams or more. 7. There will be huge pressure from the networks to see expansion so more games can be covered. Money, like it or not will drive the bus.

Sounds good to me! The NCAA has as much foresight as a groundhog so don't get your hopes up.

Sounds like Roger Thomas 2.0!

Wouldn't be that hard you only have to do it for one sport? The wheel doesn't have to be reinvented on this one. You must be in academia or work for the government directly. That's all the world needs is another study on something there is a blueprint for already.

FCS is the old D-II or more appropriately the old small college division as far as football is concerned. Roger Thomas is a good guy but your comments echo the same mentality that he used in holding UND and the entire NCC back at the worst possible time. At least NDSU and SDSU had some balls and vision to venture into the great unknown with a decision that should have happened at least 40 years ago.

FBS minus is an anecdotal term used to describe the rest of FBS after the P5 do their thing. I hope the Dakota schools get to FBS minus that will be a step up from the level of football they are at now. FBS minus or whatever it will be called, will take the place of FCS as it exists today. Scheduling along with the possibility of 2 for 1 deals with the P5 could be possible positive ramifications. The P5 conferences are still going to need games to fill their schedules and if all they do is schedule teams in the P5 they will become inbred, potentially start to lose some fan interest at least regionally and maybe nationally, and finally destroy the David vs Goliath storyline that is always a fan favorite. FBS minus playoffs could become the NIT of college football and IMO that would be a higher profile than the current FCS playoffs have and possibly set the stage for possible inclusion in the Big Dance for FBS college football.

If UND could assist the current relatively diminished hockey profile for the Big 10, by helping with fan interest, renewing old rivalries, and generating additional revenue, Why Not? It may be offered with some conditions, but it may be worth it in the long run for everyone involved. It's not like they would be talking about adding St. Cloud State or Michigan Tech. Those type of schools maybe as close to never as you can get.

Well stated, who knows what the future holds in store for college athletics. Something that is viewed as impossible today may turn into reality tomorrow. One thing we all should learn is never say never. Although I don't believe Denver's hockey chances would be anywhere close to what they might be for UND hockey.

Nothing in that previous post said anything about a Dakota school being in a P5 conference. Any conference move up to 85 scholarships was stated as becoming FBS minus. You must have failed reading for comprehension. You are a part of the Lunatic Fringe at both UND and NDSU, fortunately that number is relatively small in percentage terms. Your name should be Richard Noggin instead of darell.

I have said all along, with UND's rich tradition of hockey, that there has to be a way for UND to gain admission in the Big 10 for hockey. I am sure it won't arrive without some pain, but that's where the program deserves to be. With all the Title IX implications of adding D-1 hockey don't expect hockey expansion any time soon. If you would have been thorough and completely forthright you would have provided the whole articles instead of selected quotes or passages that fit your fancy.

Dream on darell! Outside of the P5 anything is going to be FBS minus anyway. UND doesn't belong in a conference made up of in large measure of former teacher's colleges that have somehow started to call themselves universities. Between the MVFC and BSC there are real exceptions like UC-Davis, Idaho, Idaho St, NDSU, SDSU, USD, Montana St. U of Montana, and maybe UNI along with Cal Poly. The rest will never measure up academic or commitment wise. Hey darell what an inspiration you are, the true makings of an 85 scholarship league. That 15,000 level has been a smokescreen for years, use Idaho as an example.

1. The Big Sky has no immediate plans for going FBS in football. 2. Idaho is joining in all sports in 2014 except football. 3. When did the NCHC outline any membership restrictions or announce any expansion plans? 4. NDSU has no immediate or even medium to long range plans to start mens/womens hockey. 5. What Big 12 or Pac 12 institutions have announced mens/womens hockey plans? 6. What announcements has Minot State made in regards to establishing mens/womens hockey?

Babich left NDSU on an opportunity to improve himself with the Chicago Bears. Had it not been for Bears HC Lovie Smith who knows where Babich would have ended up. Babich was as popular at NDSU as Mussman was at UND. In the year that UND last played and beat NDSU, NDSU also beat Montana in Missoula so NDSU had some relative success from the start. I feel that UND's hockey rivalries with Minnesota and Wisconsin are eventually going to suffer more than they have already, although Wisconsin is on the UND schedule for 2014-2015 but the game is in Madison. Will home and home hockey games be scheduled with Minnesota, Wisconsin, or other Big 10 hockey teams? Will hockey be relegated to playing those Big 10 schools only on the road? That would be a slap in the face for UND's historical success in hockey. As for Roger Thomas good guy, good coach, but terrible for D-1 aspirations at UND and for all the other Dakota Universities that were in the old NCC.

Hey the Lunatic Fringe at NDSU said the same thing about Minnesota and basically NDSU won 3 games on the field, but only two on the scoreboard. NDSU was 0-5 prior to the last 3 games and it didn't seem to slow them down. NDSU has a 7-3 record against FBS teams over the last 10 games so it can be done. If UND stays in FCS football I hope they are willing to play regional FBS teams, although I can't fault their scheduling of the likes of San Jose State, Wyoming, Utah, Washington and Bowling Green. It just would be nice to have games that more people could drive to. In 2012 UNI lost 26-21 to the badgers on a last minute touchdown. If you have the attitude you can't win you won't. I fully understand the 63 vs 85 argument, but for one game a year anything is possible. As for hockey I am afraid that losing the conference affiliation is going to work against UND hockey when it comes to the great rivalry we have had with the goofers and the badgers in the past. We shall see.

Good Discussion! Now for a few comments on my part. I will attempt to address them by paragraph. 1. I believe you are confusing my support for interstate vs intrastate rivalries. I stated that interstate rivalries are the best and on that we apparently have some agreement. I do not agree with Don Lucia and in fact I don't agree with anything a goofer coach might say. If it wasn't for the attitude of especially Mpls/St, Paul goofer fans maybe I would not be so polarized. I personally don't mind the polarization prior to the contest, but I do believe in sportsmanship after it's over. The rivalry should continue but we all know the reason for that. It starts with the arrogance of people like Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delany. I see no reason why some type of consideration for UND hockey as an affiliate to the Big 10 couldn't have been made or at least discussed. If it was I never heard about it. 2. Efficiency and productivity are staples to any successful operation and academics along with athletics are no exception. I agree the Lunatic Fringe at both UND and NDSU will likely never give an inch, but IMO that only makes up 10-15% for each school. That leaves IMO 70-80% of the State proud of the accomplishments of various sports at both schools. If all you do is talk to the Lunatic Fringe at either school it's easy to feel like you do, but as I travel the State I sense a different perspective. North Dakota has things going for it that make us stand out from MT, SD, or ID, similar States in size and scope. And at least in the 1880's we both would have been on the same page. Some of our most influential leaders back then thought the State Penitentiary was the most important institution to be located in your respective community. I do not feel our politicians in this State will do anything but screw things up worse if they get more involved. 3. I see support across the State for UND hockey and I am thankful that NDSU does not have hockey. It would only divide the base of fan support. You are correct in Minnesota's attitude towards NDSU athletics in general and even though UND hockey has been quite different over the years I see that changing if they are not in the same league. Outside of the Lunatic Fringe I personally experienced a great deal of Statewide support for NDSU football when they played Minnesota so I guess it's who you talk to and spend time with that determines perspective. I could care less if UND and NDSU ever play each other in football. I would rather see games against Minnesota, Montana , and the like but that's just personal preference. I would rather defeat gophers, grizzlies, badgers, and bunnies than get into a fight with my bother/sister as the case might be.

No apology necessary, as the Duke would say never say you're sorry it's a sign of weakness. First all of Minnesota and Wisconsin, I wish our State was more like them. If we were, hockey would likely have a chance for it's rightful home playing them as conference rivals instead of having to step sideways or IMO down as members of the NCHC. Nobody can tell me that the best rivalries in WCHA hockey weren't the UND/goofers and UND/badgers. Now for Louisiana and Ohio State they both have intrastate rivals, but essentially choose to ignore that they exist. Now for Alabama/Auburn, Oregon/Oregon State, and Oklahoma/Oklahoma State I will concede they are rivals but they are from States that have 5-7 times the population base and that takes me back to this concept of "inefficiency" and wise use of what you have available. Finally on Texas/Texas A&M that essentially ended with TAM's move to the SEC. Besides Texans don't feel they ever have to do anything that somebody else does, well that's Texas. Efficiency, prudent use of resources, and eliminating duplication are all hallmarks of the our German, Scandinavian, Bohemian, Polish, UK and yes our historically Native American cultures. Well I hope I've given you enough to chew on Ol' Gus!

If it's lakesbison his enthusiasm is boundless. He's like chasin' a jackrabbit across a plowed field on foot. You may be able to see him, but you'll never catch him.

Gotta love that show me State logic. It must be rubbin' off! Or am I wrong and you were a Missourian that attended UND!

Ol' Gus I love your avatar, but I'm afraid your argument is flip flopin' a bit. I think you are a bit confused on what the definition of intrastate and interstate is. Inefficiency by my definition is a waste of finite and valuable resources. I have some other comments on some of your other thoughts, but I will reserve those until we clarify that interstate vs. intrastate part of our discussion.

Good point, but if you look at just the four States you mentioned you will find volumes of dysfunctional history between their respective twin schools as well. That's why intrastate rivalries are much more inefficient than interstate rivalries. Intrastate rivalries are very polarizing and counterproductive, while interstate rivalries are unifying and IMO a lot more fun. Texas/Oklahoma, Michigan/Ohio State, Alabama/LSU, and Minnesota/Wisconsin to provide you with four examples to consider. The 30,000 or more fans that packed the Metrodome especially in 2007 when NDSU played the goofers in football weren't all Bison fans, I know I was right next to a former Sioux football player at the game. How about all the fans that pack the Ralph? Nobody can tell me there aren't Bison fans that have season tickets to UND hockey because I have been in their suite.

Now are you my UND brother darell or my other NDSU brother darell? Actually you have no idea how close you are on several fronts.