Some Thoughts on UND's FB Program

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, iramurphy said:

My concern for FB right now is recruiting. We can’t afford an off year if we are to move forward. 

Agreed, but recruiting is connected to, and made easier with, more support for UND football. We all are arguing for the same thing as UND football supporters, which is good, but we just all have a different opinions on how to go about it. We should be thankful complete and utter apathy has not sunken in … yet.

As such, I’m just quite adamant that complacency and continuing to bolster hockey is not a solution anyway you spin it. 

[nodak651]

17 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

I agree with you. President Kennedy tried to address this but was ousted when the self-righteous Vegas hockey mogul cried to the press to allow for conviction by the court of public opinion.

Now that Kennedy is no longer employed by any university, it would be interesting to listen to an interview with him about this.  Would be interesting to hear more specifics about those negotiations... 

[UND-FB-FAN]

9 minutes ago, nodak651 said:

Now that Kennedy is no longer employed by any university, it would be interesting to listen to an interview with him about this.  Would be interesting to hear more specifics about those negotiations... 

agreed, but I think we all know how it went and what he would say …

… money talks, and gf and the und community still think the Engelstads walk on water 

[jdub27]

1 hour ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

President Kennedy tried to address this but was ousted when the self-righteous Vegas hockey mogul cried to the press to allow for conviction by the court of public opinion.

Last I checked, he took a much higher paying gig in Colorado on his own free will. Just a year after he applied for a job at Central Florida. But whatever narrative fits I guess.
Tough to take commentary seriously when simple facts are blatantly misrepresented.

[siouxfan512]

1 hour ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

agreed, but I think we all know how it went and what he would say …

… money talks, and gf and the und community still think the Engelstads walk on water 

 The amount of hate you have for the Engelstads is hilarious. I'm not saying they should call all the shots with UND or UND athletics, but how can anyone fault a family that is going to give UND such a generous gift and such a boost to a program.

Had they given that to UND football you wouldn't shut up about how amazing they are. Lets just call it was it is, you're not happy because someone gave their money somewhere that they want, rather than somewhere you want. Feel free to pony up $100M to the football program. C'mon, have a filthy rich casino owner donate an arena to the caliber of the REA is unusual anywhere in the college sports world, but its pretty awesome to have a facility like that on campus. In a perfect world we would get an on campus football stadium to match it, but it just isn't realistic.

 

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, jdub27 said:

Last I checked, he took a much higher paying gig in Colorado on his own free will. Just a year after he applied for a job at Central Florida. But whatever narrative fits I guess.
Tough to take commentary seriously when simple facts are blatantly misrepresented.

 

21 minutes ago, siouxfan512 said:

 The amount of hate you have for the Engelstads is hilarious. I'm not saying they should call all the shots with UND or UND athletics, but how can anyone fault a family that is going to give UND such a generous gift and such a boost to a program.

Had they given that to UND football you wouldn't shut up about how amazing they are. Lets just call it was it is, you're not happy because someone gave their money somewhere that they want, rather than somewhere you want. Feel free to pony up $100M to the football program. C'mon, have a filthy rich casino owner donate an arena to the caliber of the REA is unusual anywhere in the college sports world, but its pretty awesome to have a facility like that on campus. In a perfect world we would get an on campus football stadium to match it, but it just isn't realistic.

 

“Ralph Engelstad Arena, a $110 million gift from her father to the university, was completed in 2001 as the new home to UND hockey. The arena, contracted to be turned over to UND in 2030, was just one topic of many discussed in a wide-ranging interview between McGarry and Forum News Service. McGarry requested the meeting.”

“According to her, Kennedy characterized the arrangement made between the university and her father, Ralph, as written to the benefit of the donor at the expense of UND.”

“(He said) my dad made a bad deal when he first gave them this gift,” she said, a comment Kennedy said he doesn’t recall saying.

The school eventually retired the Sioux name and logo at the behest of the NCAA and now officially uses the Fighting Hawks nickname for its athletic teams. But the Sioux logo still remains in the Ralph, embedded in marble floors, and on seats and other fixtures.

Because of that, McGarry said, Kennedy has accused the family of “creating brand confusion” for the school, a charge she views as unfair.

source: https://bismarcktribune.com/i-want-to-see-him-do-his-job-kris-engelstad-mcgarry-describes-hostile-relationship-with/article_35608880-d9e5-5293-b78c-231b98677ae8.html

 

In 2018 and 2019, Engelstad spoke publicly about her strained relationship with Mark Kennedy, who at the time was UND's president. The Herald reported in 2019 that Engelstad said the foundation wouldn’t give direct funds to the university until Kennedy was no longer president, though it continued to support student scholarships and the hockey program. Kennedy left UND in May 2019.
 

Source: https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/north-dakota/engelstad-foundation-crosses-500-million-in-giving-kris-engelstad-hopes-to-strengthen-relationship-with-und

 

Kennedy was right. He knew what needed to be done to right the ship and help out football, and quite frankly make funding fair, but he was ousted due to public outcry, stirred up by Engelstad. When called out, though, they would still fund hockey, just nothing else, which is basically the current arrangement now that all is good again for the hockey moguls. You think the Engelstads walk on water too, I see. You’re easily convinced, but that’s no surprise. And I don’t find my desire to improve UND football hilarious, but thanks for posting your opinion, @siouxfan512. And as for numb comments by @jdub27, you think it’s a coincidence Kennedy left for Colorado in 2019? That’s the real hilarious piece in all of this. Ha! Ha! Ha! Why don’t you read up on some facts and get back to us. Thanks. Easily manipulated like the majority of GF was back in 2018-19 … shame, shame, shame. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

16 minutes ago, siouxfan512 said:

 The amount of hate you have for the Engelstads is hilarious. I'm not saying they should call all the shots with UND or UND athletics, but how can anyone fault a family that is going to give UND such a generous gift and such a boost to a program.

Had they given that to UND football you wouldn't shut up about how amazing they are. Lets just call it was it is, you're not happy because someone gave their money somewhere that they want, rather than somewhere you want. Feel free to pony up $100M to the football program. C'mon, have a filthy rich casino owner donate an arena to the caliber of the REA is unusual anywhere in the college sports world, but its pretty awesome to have a facility like that on campus. In a perfect world we would get an on campus football stadium to match it, but it just isn't realistic.

 

The deal unequally benefits hockey, and UND is behind other regional universities because of it. UND athletics is basically a hockey club at this point - sad. But you’re right, they give lots of money, so they must be saints. Case closed … Ha ! Ha ! Ha!

 

As for facts and figures, it’s not just me, so stop pointing the finger. quite obvious which sport is more popular in this country, and thus, the more obvious investment. Hockey vs football?  Basketball vs hockey? Pretty easy answers when looking at the numbers.
 

At least keep hockey on equal grounds with football, not unfairly advantaged year after year. 

[Teeder11]

15 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

 

“Ralph Engelstad Arena, a $110 million gift from her father to the university, was completed in 2001 as the new home to UND hockey. The arena, contracted to be turned over to UND in 2030, was just one topic of many discussed in a wide-ranging interview between McGarry and Forum News Service. McGarry requested the meeting.”

“According to her, Kennedy characterized the arrangement made between the university and her father, Ralph, as written to the benefit of the donor at the expense of UND.”

“(He said) my dad made a bad deal when he first gave them this gift,” she said, a comment Kennedy said he doesn’t recall saying.

The school eventually retired the Sioux name and logo at the behest of the NCAA and now officially uses the Fighting Hawks nickname for its athletic teams. But the Sioux logo still remains in the Ralph, embedded in marble floors, and on seats and other fixtures.

Because of that, McGarry said, Kennedy has accused the family of “creating brand confusion” for the school, a charge she views as unfair.

source: https://bismarcktribune.com/i-want-to-see-him-do-his-job-kris-engelstad-mcgarry-describes-hostile-relationship-with/article_35608880-d9e5-5293-b78c-231b98677ae8.html

 

In 2018 and 2019, Engelstad spoke publicly about her strained relationship with Mark Kennedy, who at the time was UND's president. The Herald reported in 2019 that Engelstad said the foundation wouldn’t give direct funds to the university until Kennedy was no longer president, though it continued to support student scholarships and the hockey program. Kennedy left UND in May 2019.
 

Source: https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/north-dakota/engelstad-foundation-crosses-500-million-in-giving-kris-engelstad-hopes-to-strengthen-relationship-with-und

 

Kennedy was right. He knew what needed to be done to right the ship and help out football, and quite frankly make funding fair, but he was ousted due to public outcry, stirred up by Engelstad. When called out, though, they would still fund hockey, just nothing else, which is basically the current arrangement now that all is good again for the hockey moguls. You think the Engelstads walk on water too, I see. You’re easily convinced, but that’s no surprise. And I don’t find my desire to improve UND football hilarious, but thanks for posting your opinion, @siouxfan512. And as for numb comments by @jdub27, you think it’s a coincidence Kennedy left for Colorado in 2019? That’s the real hilarious piece in all of this. Ha! Ha! Ha! Why don’t you read up on some facts and get back to us. Thanks. Easily manipulated like the majority of GF was back in 2018-19 … shame, shame, shame. 

Ha! Ha! You funny... Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story... as they say. You've got a great yarn going!

[Teeder11]

18 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

 

“Ralph Engelstad Arena, a $110 million gift from her father to the university, was completed in 2001 as the new home to UND hockey. The arena, contracted to be turned over to UND in 2030, was just one topic of many discussed in a wide-ranging interview between McGarry and Forum News Service. McGarry requested the meeting.”

“According to her, Kennedy characterized the arrangement made between the university and her father, Ralph, as written to the benefit of the donor at the expense of UND.”

“(He said) my dad made a bad deal when he first gave them this gift,” she said, a comment Kennedy said he doesn’t recall saying.

The school eventually retired the Sioux name and logo at the behest of the NCAA and now officially uses the Fighting Hawks nickname for its athletic teams. But the Sioux logo still remains in the Ralph, embedded in marble floors, and on seats and other fixtures.

Because of that, McGarry said, Kennedy has accused the family of “creating brand confusion” for the school, a charge she views as unfair.

source: https://bismarcktribune.com/i-want-to-see-him-do-his-job-kris-engelstad-mcgarry-describes-hostile-relationship-with/article_35608880-d9e5-5293-b78c-231b98677ae8.html

 

In 2018 and 2019, Engelstad spoke publicly about her strained relationship with Mark Kennedy, who at the time was UND's president. The Herald reported in 2019 that Engelstad said the foundation wouldn’t give direct funds to the university until Kennedy was no longer president, though it continued to support student scholarships and the hockey program. Kennedy left UND in May 2019.
 

Source: https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/north-dakota/engelstad-foundation-crosses-500-million-in-giving-kris-engelstad-hopes-to-strengthen-relationship-with-und

 

Kennedy was right. He knew what needed to be done to right the ship and help out football, and quite frankly make funding fair, but he was ousted due to public outcry, stirred up by Engelstad. When called out, though, they would still fund hockey, just nothing else, which is basically the current arrangement now that all is good again for the hockey moguls. You think the Engelstads walk on water too, I see. You’re easily convinced, but that’s no surprise. And I don’t find my desire to improve UND football hilarious, but thanks for posting your opinion, @siouxfan512. And as for numb comments by @jdub27, you think it’s a coincidence Kennedy left for Colorado in 2019? That’s the real hilarious piece in all of this. Ha! Ha! Ha! Why don’t you read up on some facts and get back to us. Thanks. Easily manipulated like the majority of GF was back in 2018-19 … shame, shame, shame. 

Facts? Facts? Maybe use some in your next diatribe.

[jdub27]

1 hour ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

you think it’s a coincidence Kennedy left for Colorado in 2019? That’s the real hilarious piece in all of this. 

Must also be a coincidence that he applied for the Central Florida job the end of 2017, less than 2 years after he started. Hilarious that he was "forced out".

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, Teeder11 said:

Facts? Facts? Maybe use some in your next diatribe.

Okay, Mr. Elaborate Defense. I’d venture to guess you preferred the ruling issued by the court of public opinion in this case …

 

[UND-FB-FAN]

18 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

Must also be a coincidence that he applied for the Central Florida job the end of 2017, less than 2 years after he started. Hilarious that he was "forced out".

You can believe what YOU want to believe, to fit your narrative. Sound familiar?

[Sioux>Bison]

On 6/21/2023 at 9:39 AM, UND-FB-FAN said:

No “just”, still a very important donor category. Back to task at hand, hoping to produce better results for football, with better backing, funding and prioritization, and in turn, produce more following for UND by actually competing with NDSU (not letting them walk all over UND). Focusing on hockey is the “easy button” - NDSU doesn’t even sponsor that.  

All you have been blabbing about are things you are just speculating on. You keep complaining on this board about things that should be done but have very little first hand knowledge of what you are talking about. You keep talking about what UND needs to do to get better but ZERO things about what YOU are actually going to do except for B@;&($; anonymously on a public forum 

[Sioux>Bison]

10 hours ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

More personal critique, while skipping over the concerns that have been spelled out several times over.

The philosophy - whether implicit or explicit - is to devote majority of time to hockey, conversely limiting the time spent on football. This is obvious in more signifiant scenarios like fundraising, football specific events like watch parties for away games, communication with alumni and Champions Club members to update on goals and inquire on more specific support, package deals for away game tickets or home game tickets, etc. to more smaller yet relevant items like subpar gameday experiences, misprinted/errors within gameday programs or delayed roster update, or lack of media coverage of UND football. Again, these issues are largely confronted as a byproduct of “UND is a hockey school”, but if that is the case, then don’t expect UND football to take the next step. We will be supporting (and donating) to a capped program that will forever live in mediocrity. There are ways - starting with philosophy, vision and effort, and ending with more funding, however - to elevate the program. Sitting on our collective asses and “giving it more time” is the last god damn thing that needs to be done. 
 

As for specifics on athletic department dynamics, those are questions to be asked to the athletic department leadership. I’m not the AD, I don’t know the specific structure and assignments because I do not work in the department, I just have observed some details and the subpar results for several years. 
 

Ultimately, don’t forget, the devil is in the details. 

UND should just demolish the Ralph when it takes over and end the hockey program. Then it will be out of the way for the football program to take its rightful place at the top of the athletic department! Hell even build a new football stadium over the ruins! 
 

we all know there is not enough room in grand forks for both programs! Just take a looks at NDSU, football at the top, all other programs very far behind dragging the whole department down like a gimp leg.

[Sioux>Bison]

1 hour ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Okay, Mr. Elaborate Defense. I’d venture to guess you preferred the ruling issued by the court of public opinion in this case …

 

Still wondering why you keep complaining on this forum instead of actually doing something productive? 
 

coming on here will never fix the problem. Donate your time, money , ideas to people who actually have a say. Otherwise you are being just as complacent as the rest of us on this forum!

[NDRA]

1 hour ago, Sioux>Bison said:

All you have been blabbing about are things you are just speculating on. You keep complaining on this board about things that should be done but have very little first hand knowledge of what you are talking about. You keep talking about what UND needs to do to get better but ZERO things about what YOU are actually going to do except for B@;&($; anonymously on a public forum 

He did mention recruiting and it seems like the school to the south is getting the commits they want, so he has that going for his arguement. Also,  according to the Fargo Forum most of those recruits have bigger offers.

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, Sioux>Bison said:

All you have been blabbing about are things you are just speculating on. You keep complaining on this board about things that should be done but have very little first hand knowledge of what you are talking about. You keep talking about what UND needs to do to get better but ZERO things about what YOU are actually going to do except for B@;&($; anonymously on a public forum 

And you know that how? It’s terribly ironic you respond with that considering your “contributions” are neither ground-breaking or promotional. So, in effect, what are YOU going to do to bolster UND athletics? Now that is where the ZERO things comes into play. I’ll sit back and read your non-sense, but absolutely no reason to respond to your garbage anymore. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, Sioux>Bison said:

UND should just demolish the Ralph when it takes over and end the hockey program.

Yeah, okay, and you think there will be credibility to follow this response … ?

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, Sioux>Bison said:

Still wondering why you keep complaining on this forum instead of actually doing something productive? 
 

coming on here will never fix the problem. Donate your time, money , ideas to people who actually have a say. Otherwise you are being just as complacent as the rest of us on this forum!

This demonstrates you’re too short-sighted for your own good. Visibility of the issue never hurts, and trust me, my efforts certainly don’t stop here at “SiouxSports” - never have, never will. Thanks, but really no thanks, for the concern, though. 

[Sioux>Bison]

30 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

This demonstrates you’re too short-sighted for your own good. Visibility of the issue never hurts, and trust me, my efforts certainly don’t stop here at “SiouxSports” - never have, never will. Thanks, but really no thanks, for the concern, though. 

No one cares about all this talk, do something about it and quit tainting this forum!

[Sioux>Bison]

34 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Yeah, okay, and you think there will be credibility to follow this response … ?

I am surprised you don’t agree with this solution…

[Sioux>Bison]

1 hour ago, NDRA said:

He did mention recruiting and it seems like the school to the south is getting the commits they want, so he has that going for his arguement. Also,  according to the Fargo Forum most of those recruits have bigger offers.

How is his blabbering on this forum supposed to get UND better recruits?

[NDRA]

2 minutes ago, Sioux>Bison said:

How is his blabbering on this forum supposed to get UND better recruits?

My point was that he says UND has to better at many things.  Recruiting being a key area.  He has a valid point if you ask me.  As far as everything else.. I'm Switzerland.

[Sioux>Bison]

38 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

And you know that how? It’s terribly ironic you respond with that considering your “contributions” are neither ground-breaking or promotional. So, in effect, what are YOU going to do to bolster UND athletics? Now that is where the ZERO things comes into play. I’ll sit back and read your non-sense, but absolutely no reason to respond to your garbage anymore. 

I sure as hell not going to blabber on this forum how UND football needs to be better and expect it to actually happen. If you have such good ideas make it happen. Seriously how many time do you have to post the same thing on this forum before you get it?

if it was that easy then my idea is to do everything exactly the same way as NDSU, copy everything, done ….. solved 

[Sioux>Bison]

2 minutes ago, NDRA said:

My point was that he says UND has to better at many things.  Recruiting being a key area.  He has a valid point if you ask me.  As far as everything else.. I'm Switzerland.

I don’t disagree that UND has to be better at many things. UND is behind and maybe falling even further behind. My point is pitching on this forum what needs to be changed DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!