lets drop baseball and add hockey

[DjKyRo]

We have to explore the idea.

No, we don't. Something tells me the university isn't about to spend the money necessary to research it unless they're certain it's going to work. Exploring it is a waste of time if one is unsure and committing to spend the $40 million + is something they'd better be damn sure of. If that certainty isn't there, it doesn't make sense to do anything. We've gotten along for the past 110+ years without a hockey program, why is the need so dire now?

[TheBisonator]

If we're not going to be playing at least 3-4 series (9-12 games) a year against some of the Big Ten schools and Notre Dame, I personally don't think it's worth it. I'm honestly not interested in a season schedule loaded with Denver, Colorado College, Bemidji, UND, St. Cloud, Mankato, UND, Anchorage, UND, Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State, UND, Clarkson, Union, UND and UND.

And if anyone thinks it's going to be easy for UND to continue getting games with Minnesota/Wisconsin once BT hockey starts, and therefore it would be easier for us to, you're truly mistaken. UND will be light years ahead of us to begin with, and they may be extremely light on the BCS hockey schools in their hockey schedule once the Big Ten starts up play. I can see UND still travelling to the Goofs or Badgers once a year, but I honestly don't see UND hosting a game against Minn. or Wisc. ever again once BT hockey starts up. What's NDSU's schedule gonna look like when we're not even close to the same established level at UND?? If you're reading this thread thinking the Goofs or Badgers are gonna come to Scheels Arena (or the Ralph, for that matter - Yeah, I said it, Sioux fans, deal with it) 5-10 years from now, you're sorely mistaken.

I'm sorry, but if we're not playing a BT school or Notre Dame or BC at least once a month in our schedule, I say it's not worth it.

I would rather have football move to FBS 1,000 times out of 1,000.

[onbison09]

If we're not going to be playing at least 3-4 series (9-12 games) a year against some of the Big Ten schools and Notre Dame, I personally don't think it's worth it. I'm honestly not interested in a season schedule loaded with Denver, Colorado College, Bemidji, UND, St. Cloud, Mankato, UND, Anchorage, UND, Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State, UND, Clarkson, Union, UND and UND.

And if anyone thinks it's going to be easy for UND to continue getting games with Minnesota/Wisconsin once BT hockey starts, and therefore it would be easier for us to, you're truly mistaken. UND will be light years ahead of us to begin with, and they may be extremely light on the BCS hockey schools in their hockey schedule once the Big Ten starts up play. I can see UND still travelling to the Goofs or Badgers once a year, but I honestly don't see UND hosting a game against Minn. or Wisc. ever again once BT hockey starts up. What's NDSU's schedule gonna look like when we're not even close to the same established level at UND?? If you're reading this thread thinking the Goofs or Badgers are gonna come to Scheels Arena (or the Ralph, for that matter - Yeah, I said it, Sioux fans, deal with it) 5-10 years from now, you're sorely mistaken.

I'm sorry, but if we're not playing a BT school or Notre Dame or BC at least once a month in our schedule, I say it's not worth it.

I would rather have football move to FBS 1,000 times out of 1,000.

Meh. I wouldn't agree with the ever statement.

[HerdBot]

No, we don't. Something tells me the university isn't about to spend the money necessary to research it unless they're certain it's going to work. Exploring it is a waste of time if one is unsure and committing to spend the $40 million + is something they'd better be damn sure of. If that certainty isn't there, it doesn't make sense to do anything. We've gotten along for the past 110+ years without a hockey program, why is the need so dire now?

We also went 100 years without D1 athletics. Why go D1? They did explore the D1 transition while others were unsure it would work. You have to check and see if the support is there first.

[lakesbison]

Oh God Shut Up. This Isn't Happening. Espn Hockey Overnight Rating. .8

[344Johnson]

Meh. I wouldn't agree with the ever statement.

Yeah, from what I read anyways, it sounded like Big Ten hockey doesn't have enough teams to stay away from UND and such. It sounded like the WCHA and BT were going to let rivals cross-conference each other and have series twice a year.

[ndsubison1]

but on SS.com they said we could add women's equestrian and that would off set the title IX compliance

let's add a sport that is going to cost us way too much and could be dead in the next 15 years.

things to be completed before even considering adding hockey (no particular order):
1. basketball facility
2. indoor practice facility for baseball/softball/football/soccer
3. increase funding to baseball program
4. HD camera capabilities in the Fargodome
5. better media coverage for entire athletic program

6. Build a Sonic on campus

[gobison.gsb]

This is a quote I found on ss.com regarding Williston State adding club hockey.

"As far as NDSU hockey, their fans and administration will never go for it because they know they could never get to UND's level. That's fine by me. But what they fail to see is that hockey gives UND major inroads to the Fargo-Moorhead market, even among non-UND alumni. The school-age kids there instantly recognize that UND hockey is really the only top level program around, and want to be part of that. By converting the kids to being Sioux hockey fans, it also opens the door for them to be Sioux fans in everything else. NDSU wouldn't even need to start women's hockey to compensate for Title IX, as they can just move their women's equestrian program to varsity status. With Scheel's Arena, the business potential is better than NDSU admins ever admit, but they have too many problems raising money for basic DI facility needs."

Is this true? I now that NDSU needs to work on their presence in the FM area, but I can't help but wonder if the success of their hockey translates to an increase in their 'supposed' fans for other sports. Don't tell me that anyone who has been out and around Fargo or been to a Force game doesn't see more UND stuff around then we all would like.

Maybe I am just being paranoid, and I am not in favor of adding hockey any time soon, but I just don't want to see Fargo-Moorhead being invaded and claiming more UND 'fans' who have choose all Sioux sports (whatever else they play up there...summer hockey? fall hockey? women's hockey?) over possibly becoming Bison fans.

Sidenote: Minot state has begun listing their hockey team on their main page of their athletics. Moving up once D2?

[344Johnson]

As for hockey giving inroads into FM, sure, yeah, but does football and basketball give us inroads in North Dakota? Yeah. Lets keep things the way they are. With us being happy how we are, and UND following us around saying, "We sure have a great hockey team, eh?"

[Tatanka]

There is some merit to the "teh hockies as a gateway drug to UND all-sports fandom" although smart fans of the non-teh-hockies sports know the difference. And those that don't, well, they fit the profile.