Brookings Register Article - SDSU

[The Sicatoka]

Ralph's "funny money"?

He's the owner of the Imperial Palace Hotels and Casinos in Las Vegas and Biloxi. He was (is?) one of the largest building contractors in Las Vegas and the US. He has real estate investments beyond what most of us could imagine.

He started with a loan for a truck to haul materials to build houses in Grand Forks. I guess I'm missing the humor in all that.

[PCM]

Ah, SDSUFAN, so much misinformation and so little time. Where to begin?

First, it's interesting that you claim Wanless as an SDSU grad because he doesn't list a degree from the school among his academic credentials. However, because his family grew up next to my mother

[SDSUFAN]

PCM:

I thought Wanless had a masters from SDSU but I guess I was wrong. He was one of the finalists for the AD in 1990 when Fred Oien was selected. Yes I know he is a South Dakota native and also a memeber of the Rosebud tribe. So maybe he might feel some sensitivity about the use Fighting Sioux.

THANKS FOR THE LECTURE.

[PCM]

THANKS FOR THE LECTURE.

Any time.

[PCM]

I thought Wanless had a masters from SDSU but I guess I was wrong. He was one of the finalists for the AD in 1990 when Fred Oien was selected. Yes I know he is a South Dakota native and also a memeber of the Rosebud tribe. So maybe he might feel some sensitivity about the use Fighting Sioux.

I'm curious, SDSUFAN: How do you know that Wanless is a member of the Rosebud tribe? I'm not saying that he isn't because I don't know. But I find it interesting that in all the debate I've heard about the Sioux name, this never came up.

[SDSUFAN]

PCM:

When I read articles about the Fighting Sioux Logo and how Wanless was trying to work out a solution, I vaguely recall the mention of his native american hertiage. Your UND Football program dated Sept 21, 1991 says the following:

"He graduated from High School at Todd County High School in Mission S.D." I believe that is where the kids from Rosebud attend. I know you said he was from Highmore, and what I find in locking at the UND programs where Lee Bohnet has changed the details about Wanless background from year to year and maybe Lee had his reasons.

From his facial features it always appear that Terry was at a half or a quarter Native America, but I could be wrong again. You tell me since your folks know the Wanlesses from Highmore. What do I know I am just a moron from Nebraska that claims to be a SDSU graduate.

[PCM]

I guess I wouldn't assume that Wanless was Native American just because he graduated from Todd County High School. We used to play them in football and basketball. As I recall, the percentage of white students was quite high. (Maybe 50 percent or better?)

If I remember correctly, it would have been his grandmother who lived next to my mother in Highmore. He wouldn't have been born yet.

Plus, I think Wanless looks a lot like Dick Cheney.

[SDSUFAN]

PCM:

Once again you are probably right and I will no longer embarrass you on this board. Apparently you are held in high esteem in Grand Forks. As an uninformed moron, you have put me in my place. Good night.

[Northern Iowa]

Before you do it, think first:

NI

[PCM]

Once again you are probably right and I will no longer embarrass you on this board.

I don't know that I'm right about Wanless. What I'm saying is that I wouldn't assume that he is all or part Native American because of where he graduated from high school. I also find it curious that if he has Native American background, it apparently was never mentioned by him or anyone else during the debate over the Sioux name.

[The Sicatoka]

If I had graduated from Minneapolis North HS would people assume I'm part African-American?

[SDSUFAN]

YES OF COURSE IT WOULD, BUT I AM JUST A MORON FROM SDSU SO DONT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, CHECK IT OR HAVE PCM CHECK IT OUT.

[The Sicatoka]

No need to shout.

You've had your recollections come into question by your own admission. Forgive us for asking for a source.

[SDSUFAN]

How do I know you are not hard of hearing?

[The Sicatoka]

I just told you there's no need to shout.

[SDSUFAN]

Thanks dad.

[The Sicatoka]

Is this where I smile and say,

"Who's your daddy!"

or is that later?

[SDSUFAN]

I guess we need some new developments in order to liven up this thread. I do know Fred Oien was in Rapid City monday and Tuesday and will be in Yankton tomorrow (October 30). When speaking to the Yankton Quarterback Club, you are talking to more USD alums then SDSU alums. I doubt that they will pass the hat for Fred.

[jimdahl]

I don't believe we've yet debated to death the 10/24 article from the Brookings Register covering last weeks meetings:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=112...4&PAG=461&rfi=9

JBB probably has something to say about:

In the search for a conference, SDSU has done mostly fact-finding, looking for a conference that will work and the right conference.

"We will not go forward and negotiate until we have approval," said Oien. "It would be not fruitful activity if we were to decide not to go, but we should deal with this issue as soon as possible."

But I believe Sicatoka and I have already beat to death:

Crunching the numbers finds that SDSU's athletic budget is more than $600,000 less than the low D-I school ($4,109,000 to $4,780,000).

and

From the analysis of demographic and socioeconomic factors, CSL found that SDSU's student enrollment and alumni base are at the mid-to-low range of D-I schools. SDSU's corporate base and the population of the primary market rank above only one other D-I school.

Really does seem like if SDSU can make it work, UND could.

BTW -- Northern Iowa, regarding your posted image, please try to keep it family friendly.

[PCM]

SDSUFAN, contrary to what you might think, I do appreciate your reports and perspective on the DIAA situation at SDSU. We don't get much news or insight on that topic up here.

[SDSUFAN]

Yes money and demographics are very much a question mark, and that where the risk in this move lies. I think no one will disagree with me on that one.

I think the best thing SDSU has going for itself is Frost Arena and good programs in men's and women's basketball. SDSU also set an attendence record for Volleyball against the NDSU bison Saturday night. Attendence was about 1200 which is better than some non-conference basketball games.

I had heard rumors of more permanent back chair seating was planned and I dont know what the status is. Both our basketball coaches Scott Nagy and Aaron Johnston have publicly supported the move to D1. Nagy applied for the head job at Bradley and was one of the 11 finalists. If you visit the Peoria Newspaper website, you find out how wild that town is about basketball, and Scott never got an interview so if nothing else by going D1, we keep a great basketball coach.

Even though its 13 years before you can compete for the big dance, I dont think it excludes members from the revenue sharing for all D1 memberships. NE Illinois who dropped their basketball program drew only 500 people for most games. Two former Jack players transferred from there. Wallace and Mike Schott. Mike Schott is an assistant to Morganthaler at Mankato. Obviously NE Illionis was in it for the money and got enough to fund the other minimum required sports. But having lived in surburban Chicago, DePaul is the only school that has been able to draw a crowd and even lately they have had their problems. So I think SDSU would average a little better than 500 per game going D1.

With a competitive program, Frost could be filled more than twice like we are now, USD and Augie. With the Nodaks we probably have our next best crowds, but they have been no more than 5000. With the Big 10 and Big 12 and the right promotion, I think we could fill frost more than once. The road games with Big 10 and 12 would immediately put money in the coffers, since they would get a very reasonable guarentee.

Our football program needs a major transfusion in terms of financial resources and facility. Any Sioux fan who has made the trip to Brookings can see that. The Wellness Center has been planned since about 1994 but a host of other Campus projects such as additions to the Journalism and Engineering buildings, repairing the Campanile, the new performing Arts Center and student scholarships. The SDSU foundation raised in excess of 50 million between 1993-1998 for these projects. No one has dared breach the thought of doing something like this for our football program. Some of the old alums are still walking around with a bad taste from the Staduim for State program that took place in the late 1950's and explains why there is only one side of permanent seating at Coughlin Alumni. So raising money for athletics has not been a popular idea for old farts my age.

I personally like Coach Stiegelimeier, he is a real personable coach and the kids by in large like him. He once had Dale Lennon working for him when Dale was at Northern so both are very good friends, from what I understand. Stieg seems to have found a few good recruits, and even though we are only 4-3 this year, he does have a bunch coming back. Stieg's assistants are getting better in coaching, Etter, Eidness and Stienbach, plus the most recent Karl Ballard, has improved the defense this year and so the program is going in the right direction.

The bottom line in football we need resources financially for additional scholarships, facilities and salaries. Our assistants are working very cheap and its amazing they have hung in there this long. When they get something like 25 to 35 grand and got kids going in and coming out of the oven, they often have to look for more finanical rewarding jobs.

After examining the Carr Report in full, all 400 pages, I find that maybe the big difference between SDSU and the Big Sky budgets is that SDSU and all state employes are underpaid. If the salaries of coaches and faculty at SDSU were on the same scale as Montana and Idaho, they would have a budget of 5.1 million. This was one of the eye openers that Carr found. They could not believe that SDSU had 20 sports and had fielded that many sports with a 3.8 million dollar budget.

[SDSUFAN]

SDSUFAN, contrary to what you might think, I do appreciate your reports and perspective on the DIAA situation at SDSU. We don't get much news or insight on that topic up here.

[SDSUFAN]

PCM:

No hard feelings, maybe I was properly handled when I brought up preceptions and appearences about UND that are not correct atleast from your prespective. Since you live there and I don't who would know more?

I have made a number of trips to Grand Forks for football and basketball since 1986. UND is a class university. Despite the controversy over the use of Fighting Sioux, leads the upper midwest in Indian Studies

Since UND has Norwegian Studies, uffda its not all that bad.

I appreciate how Sicakota and you have set me straight on a number of things including the ethnicity of Terry Wanless. I read on another thread, that he was not too close to the hockey program, and that may have been his poison pill at UND.

That being said, I dont like to be at odds with another SDSU alum and to have Mike Rounds as a high classmate, you could end up moving back to Pierre in January.

[The Sicatoka]

Hey, we all have misconceptions about "that other" school.

The key is, I think, the willingness to learn about the situation the other side finds itself in so we can better understand their actions.

[UND Fan]

SDSUFAN -- I appreciate your insight into the DI debate. I agree with you that you folks will likely be able to compete and draw well in BB (much more so than NDSU). Obviously, despite a tough year for the Bison, they will likely be able to compete and excel in I-AA quite soon.

My concern is for all the other sports: expensive, difficult to recruit and impossible to compete.