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Post by Coyote Fan on Oct 8, 2010 22:38:29 GMT -6
#1 CF where is your vision. I have always been 100% behind D1, always. For those that wanted D2, guess where USD would be right now if those people all had their way. They would be traveling to Moorehead Minnesota to play the Dragons. If USD was lucky maybe NDSU would have allowed them to practice at the Fargo Dome to get ready for the Dragons. Do we see where this is going.
USD always has to look forward. Sometimes looking forward is staying the same but if one doesn't peer into the future they might as well be going backwards. If USD didn't have Abbott at the University they seriously could be looking at being in a conference with Black Hills State or South Dakota Mines right now.
I may be accused of being an a-hole from time to time but I have lofty expectations for my alma matter and everyone else should as well. I don't accept substandard athletics anymore, others should do the same. Sometimes hard decisions need to be made, ones where not everyone is going to agree. I have to go back to the John Austin analogy again. He was a good guy and alot of people stood behind him. I took critisism for calling for his head but where would the USD program be today had USD not done a national search for Meierkort. I would rather say what I truely believe and make a few enemies in the process than be untrue to myself. I also see USD heading on the right track. I like the way USD conducts it's business in the athletic department. Just the way they hire has improved. It's not the good old boy system anymore.
USD needs to move forward by keeping their options open. They need to be flexible. If that means expanding the dome to 15,000 for the near future that is fine but I like what the poster said when he explained how the field could be lowered several feet, walls being torn down etc to be able to expand to over 20,000 if necessary. That is why I also believe an arena should at least have the capabilities to expand beyond a 5,000 seat facility but at the same time keeping an intimate feel.
I just want to say great job to the people on here posting. We have really been raising the interest level on this board since the new board took shape. Really good topics, really good discussions, really good ideas. We need to all make it a habbit to keep it up. I enjoy coming in here and reading worthwhile material.
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Post by Coyote Fan on Oct 8, 2010 22:45:15 GMT -6
More...
I think what gets posted here definately gets read, it has to. It was only a few short months ago, maybe weeks ago that USD looked upon a new arena as a mid to long term goal. It certainly seems like that goal has been moved up to mid to short term goal. Alot of that may have to do with Sayler coming but when fans post things on the board with opinions of needing an arena that just gives the administration all the more ammo to prioritize it a bit higher.
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Post by usdfbalum on Oct 8, 2010 22:49:20 GMT -6
Think lowering the dome floor would not work without major seating reconfiguration. The sight-lines to some areas of the field are already very bad - lowering the field would make it worse. I am all for a 20k+ seat Dome - just think lowering the floor would be bad. I think two balconies and end zone seats is more realistic.
USD can and should be a top FCS program. I think the right leadership is at the helm.
Go Yotes!
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Oct 9, 2010 1:11:12 GMT -6
You are correct usdalum, USD should be a top 20 program in a lot of its sports at the FCS level. I definitely hold true to that, and CoyoteFan, I am so glad USD went D-I. It was definitely right move at the time. The first time around, no, the right leadership was not in place, but now it is. But, I do like where USD is and I think this is where USD should stay. Sorry, I just think it would be way too difficult for USD to compete with Iowa State on a consistent level, and besides wrestling, their other programs aren't so great.
In fact, USD is going to find it tough to stick with UNI at this level, but a LOT of teams have trouble keeping up with UNI, so that's why I think USD should work to keep up with them.
It's not that I don't have vision, I am a realist. That's why I know hockey and baseball are basically a NEGATIVE 50 percent option.
Also, the plans for the arena were in the works FAR before we started talking about it. I am pretty sure Boots has been bringing it up since he got here. Sayler has basically said from day 1 this has to happen, and Nielsen had it high on his agenda. While I believe there are people in the department that read this, I don't think it took us discussing this for them to know this had to get done. Remember, this is coming from the person that created the board....
I think there is a good idea with the arena and Dome. Don't make it initially too big, but have room to add on if needed. Make the fans respond and force the add on, which was half planned for then. Hopefully that is a feasible plan.
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Post by usdfbalum on Oct 9, 2010 7:29:37 GMT -6
USD can build the FB program to compete with UNI on a consistent basis - I have no doubt (not a slam on UNI). I think UNI has a fb team that could compete consistently with any program sans the top 40 BCS teams. Obviously, as last season showed, UNI can compete with a top 25 team. (last second loss to the Hawkeyes)
If you are not of that opinion, I understand. USD's athletics were basically on life support under Jack Doyle. USD is a top regional Academic Institution that is now committed to excellence in athletics. The campus has been transformed with new buildings and the athletic facilities are next in line. Their completion, if done right will set the course. With those facilities USD can compete with UNI for recruits. UNI is in a bigger metro area, but Waterloo (I know UNI is in Cedar Falls) is pretty suspect IMO. Plus they are immediately in the Hawks shadow. UNI vs USD as a University? Come on!
I think USD at the skill positions is as talented as UNI. UNI just has a bigger and more physical team overall.
The frame of reference many have in evaluating and setting expectations for USD going forward is tainted by the old Coyote programs run on a shoe-string without much concern about results. USD with financial support and accountability from the leadership will be right there with UNI if not better. This is an exciting time!
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Oct 9, 2010 9:17:30 GMT -6
I agree that USD can compete with Northern Iowa, but to say UNI can compete with top 40 FBS teams just because they played Iowa close is a joke. Northern Iowa lost 27-0 to Iowa State this year, a team that isn't a top 40 opponent. UNI was manhandled in that game by Iowa State's defense, which isn't that strong. So let's not go overboard because of how Northern Iowa did last year. Plus the Panthers had a major second half downswing last year. They wouldn't compete in the top 40 FBS. Please watch FBS football before you say that.
Also, in comparing UNI to USD as a university, that's not the only thing students look at. Northern Iowa, despite having to compete with Iowa and Iowa State, still draws in 13,000 students a year. USD in state competes with SDSU, who doesn't draw as many students as Northern Iowa. USD just crossed the 10,000 student threshold this year.
Also, Vermillion has a population of 10,000, with Sioux Falls an hour away, and Sioux City 30 minutes away. Cedar Falls has a population of 38,000, with Waterloo 10 minutes away with a population of 66,000. So UNI is still pretty appealing as well.
In terms of a university, Northern Iowa has some pretty good rankings in terms of the quality of the university. Let's not just through UNI under the bus.
Yes, USD is catching up with all the new facilities, but they still have a bit to go before catching up with Northern Iowa.
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Post by usdfbalum on Oct 9, 2010 9:23:49 GMT -6
I said they can compete with any football program except the top 40 consistently. And they have the chance to comete with a top 25 team occassionally as they did against Iowa.
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Post by Yote 53 on Oct 9, 2010 9:36:34 GMT -6
At least we're talking about this.
Good discussion.
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Post by usdfbalum on Oct 9, 2010 9:42:38 GMT -6
Also USD is the best University in the Dakotas - #1. UNI is perhaps third in Iowa. Not throwing them under the bus - USD is the flagship University for South Dakota. Time to act like it in all phases. Think that is starting. Look to where we are going, not where we were (unless that is a motivator to never let apathy creep into the University again.)
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Oct 9, 2010 10:42:33 GMT -6
First off, UNI has a lot tougher competition in Iowa than USD does in two states. So that is a horrible argument. Iowa can support 3 D-I colleges for the last 30 years. The Dakotas have supports 4 D-I colleges for the last 7 years between two states.
UNI being third in Iowa is nothing to be ashamed off, especially when they are getting kids from the border high schools next to South Dakota even though the tuition is higher at Northern Iowa.
UNI is a pretty good university in the midwest as well. Stop selling them short, because USD is trying to be like them, so selling UNI short is like selling USD short I feel.
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Post by usdfbalum on Oct 9, 2010 12:29:42 GMT -6
First off, UNI has a lot tougher competition in Iowa than USD does in two states. So that is a horrible argument. Iowa can support 3 D-I colleges for the last 30 years. The Dakotas have supports 4 D-I colleges for the last 7 years between two states. UNI being third in Iowa is nothing to be ashamed off, especially when they are getting kids from the border high schools next to South Dakota even though the tuition is higher at Northern Iowa. UNI is a pretty good university in the midwest as well. Stop selling them short, because USD is trying to be like them, so selling UNI short is like selling USD short I feel. I am happy you are working on this board as the administrator and appreciate your work getting this website up and running. I disagree with you - understand your argument, but disagree. Also, ask the President of USD what Universities he considers his academic peers currently and what Universities he views as a model as to what USD is aspiring. Would UNI be the answer? Ask professors at USD what institutions they consider their peers. What would they say? UNI is a model for USD Athletics - we need to aim where UNI is going, not where they currently are. UNI is not the model USD as an academic institution is looking to as its benchmark.
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Oct 9, 2010 15:03:47 GMT -6
In terms of coming with two big universities, and still be able to pull in 13,000, maybe USD needs to look at how UNI recruits its students because UNI, in my experience, has a much better presence in the Iowa towns that are just past the S.D. border than South Dakota, even though it's cheaper to go to USD than UNI in the state of Iowa. USD could see it's numbers increase if it recruited Iowa better. That's what they should model it after. They need to market their academics the same way UNI does, that's the model I am talking about. In terms of peer institutions, I think it would be Wyoming and in some cases Iowa for academics.
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Post by usdfbalum on Oct 9, 2010 16:29:51 GMT -6
Totally agree with that - I think the U is doing that now after lackluster general student recruiting for years. It will take time to build momentum and grow the undergraduate numbers. USD is way behind where it should be in undergrads. I was talking with the Dean of the Medical school this Summer and he was telling me the projections of undergraduate growth looks good at all SD Universities, but especially promising for USD.
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Post by yotemeal on Oct 13, 2010 8:34:12 GMT -6
USD and SDSU are meeting with the Board of Regents today to seek permission to move forward with the planning stages on big-ticket facilities. I'm excited for both universities. It's amazing to think that the not-too-distant future might hold a 22,000-seat football stadium in Brookings and, FINALLY, a DakotaDome with permanent seats on both sides (and capacity of 15,000) and a separate, brand new basketball arena. Exciting times in South Dakota collegiate athletics! www.argusleader.com/article/20101013/SPORTS0202/10130315/1002/sports
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Oct 14, 2010 4:06:45 GMT -6
So the BOR decided to table all of the facility projects, including USD's plans for a new basketball arena and the expansion to the DakotaDome. The BOR will look into it more and get back to a decision in 3-6 months.
This definitely sucks and puts a serious delay in the project. Hopefully USD can keep raising money for the project to show the BOR that it can fiance it. This is a serious setback for USD.
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