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Post by kiyoat on Jan 9, 2019 20:08:56 GMT -6
Very disappointed we didn't pursue GCU's interest. Great program to add, might please Denver, opens the door to pursuing NMSU. But maybe travel wasn't the sticking point, since we aren't getting anyone worth adding that isn't a flight. I don't like the idea of USD associating with a for-profit institution but that's what this league needs to do in order to advance. They are no longer for-profit. They switched back in order to be able to do research, and other issues with legitimacy.
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Post by Yotes on Jan 9, 2019 21:58:19 GMT -6
Very disappointed we didn't pursue GCU's interest. Great program to add, might please Denver, opens the door to pursuing NMSU. But maybe travel wasn't the sticking point, since we aren't getting anyone worth adding that isn't a flight. I don't like the idea of USD associating with a for-profit institution but that's what this league needs to do in order to advance. They are no longer for-profit. They switched back in order to be able to do research, and other issues with legitimacy. I was not aware of that, but obviously the legitimacy concern stands if they are bouncing back and forth.
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Post by aldewitt on Jan 10, 2019 5:37:07 GMT -6
It’s all about growth. Dixie State is now moving up and MSU Denver is on the verge. These schools are on timelines similar to Augies. Dixie will be in the new FCS WAC playing football. MSU D might be as well. That might be an option for Augie too, maybe all sports. The travel would be expensive and maybe break them like the Big Sky broke UND, but it is a vacuum that needs to be filled. A lot of Summit/MVFC fans seem opposed to any changes or growth involving regional schools that are reaching the threshold of D1. That’s a mistake and might cost everyone opportunities.
We never joined D1 to “get away from them”, we joined because our growth made the proposition attractive. It wasn’t a split like the Big 10 leaving the WCHA to get away from them, this is an accretive change representing growth. They are joining us as peers. The pie is getting bigger.
A lot of smaller schools are growing. There will be more move-ups in the future. I hope the Summit especially and MVFC are prepared to accept this and not get left behind waiting for something better. From this expansion will come opportunities for everyone. The schools that led the way back then should be the leaders now assuring these schools every opportunity to grow and contribute to the greater good.
NDSU/SDSU experienced this growth first. USD/UND followed then Omaha. The other schools in our leagues let us in. Let’s not lose these opportunities including Augie.
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Post by kiyoat on Jan 10, 2019 5:54:12 GMT -6
I’m surprised nobody pressed Herbster to see who we are actually targeting or interested in. A basketball league with 9 members isn’t ideal. 8, 10 or 12 would be better.
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Post by Yote 53 on Jan 11, 2019 20:57:26 GMT -6
Heard an interview with the Augie wrestling coach on KWSN yesterday. They asked him more about the D1 move than they did about the current wrestling season. My takeaway was that he said Augie intends on keeping all sports as they move to D1. My first thought was that's alot, I believe they offer 19 sports. My second thought was that I felt bad because I think wrestling will get cut, eventually. I know Augie has a proud wrestling history, but so did UNO. Heck, UNO wrestling got cut as they were winning a D2 national championship, literally simultaneously.
It takes money to compete in D1 and Augie saying their going to keep everything and make the move, I just don't know about that. Heck, North Dakota had to cut sports because they were bleeding money. I'd take UND's resources over Augustana's.
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Post by Yotes on Jan 11, 2019 23:21:56 GMT -6
Heard an interview with the Augie wrestling coach on KWSN yesterday. They asked him more about the D1 move than they did about the current wrestling season. My takeaway was that he said Augie intends on keeping all sports as they move to D1. My first thought was that's alot, I believe they offer 19 sports. My second thought was that I felt bad because I think wrestling will get cut, eventually. I know Augie has a proud wrestling history, but so did UNO. Heck, UNO wrestling got cut as they were winning a D2 national championship, literally simultaneously. It takes money to compete in D1 and Augie saying their going to keep everything and make the move, I just don't know about that. Heck, North Dakota had to cut sports because they were bleeding money. I'd take UND's resources over Augustana's. Who would even take that program? The Big 12 or MAC seem like the only options, as the Big 10 won't take them and every other conference is coastal. It's such a dying sport that one of those two might jump at the opportunity for another member. Prestige really takes a backseat when survival is a question on the table.
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Post by aldewitt on Jan 21, 2019 6:52:11 GMT -6
Sounds like Herbster has been more candid than our comissioner on expansion. Note to media: ask Dave, not Tom. Grand Canyon was interested, and they decided not to go in that direction? I thought they were a pretty strong candidate, geography aside. NMSU might come with them, too. Who knows? Tough to go that far in that direction if the eastern members are chafing at traveling this far. It’s likely they expressed this to league management hence no interest. Maybe the right school would interest them but GCU isn’t it. I was suprised they haven’t talked to Augie so they haven’t turned them down yet. Augie might just be fishing and the league might be encouraging them. Its tough to say what the Summit is up to.
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Post by aldewitt on Mar 4, 2019 4:14:50 GMT -6
Any one else hearing the rumor Augie will announce their decision Friday of the Summit League tournament? BV reports that news came from a USD announcement.
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Post by Yote 53 on Mar 4, 2019 9:14:27 GMT -6
Sounded like that was just some speculation by the USD PxP guy, completely unfounded speculation.
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Post by Yotes on Mar 4, 2019 18:41:03 GMT -6
It would be peak visibility for Augustana. Would the conference care to take any of the spotlight/discussion away from the actual tournament though?
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Post by gorabbits on Mar 4, 2019 23:26:43 GMT -6
It would be peak visibility for Augustana. Would the conference care to take any of the spotlight/discussion away from the actual tournament though? The annual meeting of the Summit League presidents and ADs is always during the tournament. I believe it is usually on Sunday morning but not sure of that detail. Announcements of new members are sometimes tied to that meeting but not always. The press conference to make any announcements is usually a day or so later. When UNO was invited you may remember the decision was made to invite them at the annual meeting at the tournament subject to a site visit which if I remember correctly was conducted the next week and the invite announced a few days later. Douple is speaking at Staters for State luncheon on Friday as he has for several years. You can bet we will try to get a hint from him but he will chose his words carefully to avoid showing his hand. In any case an announcement if one occurs will not detract from the tournament in any way. The players will not be concerned, the fans might talk about it between games to fill time and the media might add a story. But the big story will not be the announcement, it will be the action on the floor and who is going to the dance. (hoping for a fourpete on the men's side and two dancers on the women's side when all is said and done.)
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Post by Yote 53 on Mar 5, 2019 8:33:25 GMT -6
But the big story will not be the announcement, it will be the action on the floor and who is going to the dance. (hoping for a fourpete on the men's side and two dancers on the women's side when all is said and done.) With the Sioux Falls media, I highly doubt that. The news will be Augie and it will overshadow anything else. Like a turd in the punchbowl at the big party.
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Post by yotefan on Mar 5, 2019 9:05:55 GMT -6
But the big story will not be the announcement, it will be the action on the floor and who is going to the dance. (hoping for a fourpete on the men's side and two dancers on the women's side when all is said and done.) With the Sioux Falls media, I highly doubt that. The news will be Augie and it will overshadow anything else. Like a turd in the punchbowl at the big party. Douple is also speaking at Lunch With The U at Pizza Ranch on 41st Street this Thursday, as he has for several years. You can bet we will also try and find out whatever we can about any announcement. Jacks fans are welcome to attend. Just let them know at the door you are there for Lunch With The U as 10% of your bill goes to support the Howling Pack.
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Post by easmus on Mar 5, 2019 10:09:30 GMT -6
Actually 25% this year, up from previous 10%.
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Post by kiyoat on Mar 7, 2019 6:33:13 GMT -6
Augustana now moving home games to Sanford Pentagon. I think this is actually a smart move, but obviously the Sanford connection is interesting, given the speculation about them driving the D-1 move:
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