Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck Sports - UND: Expanding into the Great West

UND: Expanding into the Great West

Jul 11, 2008 - 04:06:07 CDT

GRAND FORKS (AP) - The Great West football conference is expanding to other sports, and the University of North Dakota is one of the new members.

Six schools nationwide are joining the expanded Great West Conference beginning this fall, officials announced at a news conference Thursday.

The other members are South Dakota, Utah Valley State, Texas-Pan American, Houston Baptist and New Jersey Institute of Technology.

UND is making the transition to NCAA Division I competition in all sports, starting in the fall. Fifteen of its sports programs will compete in the Great West, including football and basketball.

The UND men's and women's hockey teams will continue to compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Fighting Sioux hockey is already a Division I sport.

UND is still seeking conference affiliation for women's soccer, and men's and women's swimming and diving.

UND President Robert Kelley said the timing of the conference is right for UND athletes and fans. Athletic Director Brian Faison said it allows athletes to compete for conference honors much earlier during the transition.

UND announced in August 2007 that its football team would join the Great West Football Conference and compete for a conference football championship beginning this year. The other Great West Football Conference members are South Dakota, UC Davis, Cal Poly and Southern Utah.

A statement from the conference, based in Elmhurst, Ill., said the Great West wants to open opportunities for students. The expansion is a concept similar to the conference beginnings in football in 2004, Great West Commissioner Ed Grom said.

"There were several NCAA Division I-AA independent schools that were looking for a conference home, and this was an opportunity every school embraced," he said.

More schools may join the league in the next few months, the conference statement said.

"I'm excited for our players and our team to be able to play in a conference so soon," UND women's basketball coach Gene Roebuck said. "It will really shore up our schedule. We'll also have conference stat leaders and will be able to play for a conference championship. The fans will have something to sink their teeth into as far as meaningful games, and we'll be able to continue our conference rivalry with the University of South Dakota."

UND men's basketball coach Brian Jones said the conference affiliation will allow the school to recruit athletes that can help the Sioux compete at the Division I level.

"I think the Great West is going to be a big thing for independent programs, especially baseball, because we will be able to get a schedule and we won't have to play on the road as much," said UND head baseball coach Jeff Dodson.

News > Sports

Printer friendly version UND: Expanding into the Great West

Comments

Chad wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:45 AM:

" I know that Nashville and Atlanta are looking to move. If we had an arena with 30,000 seats they would come here. Bismarck has always had a great hockey following. If they get this building up soon enough the Seattle NBA team is leaving and would do well here also. "

JJ wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:41 AM:

" I do think bismarck will have an NHL team by 2012. Many markets are losing money. We need to build an arena with 40,000 seats or more to attract one.
If we build it they will come "

RodM wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:04 PM:

" Give me whatever you people are smoking. U of Mary competing with the Sioux in hockey??? Good lord...... "

FARGO wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:07 AM:

" Jim, can you get me tickets to that game? Maybe all us Jim's could sit together and wear matching t-shirts. I do have a job. I guard the dinosaurs at the West Acres Mall here in Fargo. "

Jim wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:09 AM:

" My goal in life is not to watch fantasy shows all day at home. Ill be in the front row at the Ohio St - Mary game laughing at you other "Jims" when they come next season. Im guessing I'm the only Jim commenting on this with a job "

harpua wrote on Jul 18, 2008 3:12 AM:

" I think some of you people are smoking Salvia...an NHL team in Bismarck??? What's the population in Bismarck these days? 60000? "

A James wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:25 PM:

" I'm also named Jim.

THE Jim misspelled "Trek".

STRIKE THREE!

Darn it! He's out . . . Jim. "

FARGO wrote on Jul 17, 2008 3:54 PM:

" My name is Jim and I am from Fargo. I wanted to use Jim but it was taken. Scotty if there is room beam me up also. Strike 2!!!!! "

Jim wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:56 PM:

" What does Fargo have to do with this deal?
Star treck also has nothing to do with NHL in Bismarck "

FARGO wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:24 PM:

" Jim, i think he mean't Scotty from the old Star Trek TV series. He blew that one past you. Strike one!!! "

Jim wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:48 PM:

" Old republic
I have not seen a Scotty write. Check to see who you are trying to take your poke at old man. "

Grumpy Old Republican wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:00 AM:

" Ummmm...isn't this story about UND? How did the yokels turn the discussion into some rant-fest about delusions of grandeur regarding the U of Mary???

Beam me up, Scotty...there's not intelligent life down here. "

Chad wrote on Jul 16, 2008 9:22 PM:

" I could see NHL in Bismarck. We could get Dean Blais. Everone liked him and they would support him. He would leave the small time team in Fargo for the NHL. Hes been there before. Fargo and Grand Forks have domes that seat 15,000. If we build the same with an ice arena it would be well supported. we may even have to look at a building that seats 20,000 to 30,000 for hockey. He could get Dane Litke for an assistant who everone in bismarck can relate to. "

oldguy wrote on Jul 16, 2008 7:36 PM:

" In this thread is mentioned that the Bismarck Bobcats will not have a team next year. I have not read that anywhere as of yet. Is it true? "

Ahem wrote on Jul 16, 2008 4:11 PM:

" Too bad UND can't host any NCAA post-season play. "

FuzzHezy wrote on Jul 16, 2008 1:48 PM:

" What in the world are ya all talking about? Nebraska and Ohio State playing in Bismarck? Are you on Shrooms? They will probably never even play NDSU in the next 10 years. Wow, they just are going to play the Cowboys from Wyoming. And building a a 15,000 capacity hockey center in Bismarck? What is wrong with you? You cant even fill the VFW for a Bobcats game. Geez! "

ms wrote on Jul 16, 2008 1:26 PM:

" Carol,

Sorry, but the chances of UNL coming here to play Mary are slim to none. The Huskers may be a borderline terrible team, I know, I go there, but there's still too much pride to come here and play a small school like UMary, no knock on UM.

Oh, and the population of Lincoln is around 230,000, which is a fair amount more than Fargo, not smaller. And it's not really cheap to drive from Lincoln to Bismarck. At all.

Best of luck to UND. "

Jim wrote on Jul 16, 2008 12:21 PM:

" Harv,
Steele is a better baseball town than bismarck. This is not about baseball its about football "

kyle wrote on Jul 16, 2008 12:16 PM:

" If Grand forks can fill Engelstad with 12500 people 30 times in the winter, we can fill the same for hockey here. We have nothing else to do here in the winter.
Bring it on and get it built "

Carol wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:49 AM:

" With the price of gas, it would be a lot cheaper for them to come here than for me and Charlie to go to Lincoln. I hope they get them scheduled soon "

Mark K wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:33 AM:

" Lets get someone from the media out to Mary follow up on this.
How about a call to the city for a cost on this arena by Medcenter one too
This is all going so fast with very little info "

sobe wrote on Jul 16, 2008 9:03 AM:

" it looks to me that Roger Thomas wanted a Division one job at a D1 school.
He ended up at mary and since they are small time now he wants to make them bigtime. That may explain all of this. I hope Mary has the money to pull this off next year "

Just Curious wrote on Jul 16, 2008 7:54 AM:

" Carol, the Huskers aren't coming here to play Mary. There's neither money or prestige in it for them.

How the heck did a story about UND going D1 across the board and finding a conference get so shanghai'd into a U of Mary is going D1? Especially D1 hockey. Hah hah hah.... funny stuff right there. Who is going to take them into a conference, much less take them seriously?

Heck, Fargo has been trying for years to drum up a path to D1 hockey. And after all the times they have been rebuked when they made overtures to the WCHA, they finally go D1 across the board so now if they ever do fire up a hockey program it has to be D1. It still will not likely be WCHA unless some other team drops out, they are all full up after adding MSU-Mankato, "

Peg wrote on Jul 15, 2008 10:28 PM:

" We have to many sports in town already. It seems every day there is a story in the paper about this team and that team. Leave the sports in Grand Forks and concentrate on the arts in Bismarck. "

Roland wrote on Jul 15, 2008 4:20 PM:

" Im tired of all of these teams going up in class.
What was wrong with NAIA
What was wrong with the FM BEEZs
What was wrong with the dakota Rattlers
Lets get back to basics here people
i cant take it any more
Who is paiing for all of these new venues the City?
They better not!!! "

Harv wrote on Jul 15, 2008 3:55 PM:

" Mary should build a first rate baseball park out by the Airport.
We could attract a Northern League team with that also. They need one once they have D1 Baseball. It works well in Fargo. This is the baseball Capitol of North Dakota "

Jim wrote on Jul 15, 2008 3:21 PM:

" Looks like UND is having some trouble adjusting to the change to D1
Mary should watch and learn for them for next year "

Carol wrote on Jul 15, 2008 1:35 PM:

" Why would'nt the huskers play here? Its an easy bus ride. All they have to do is add a few bleachers at the end of the bowl and start the game. "

JJ wrote on Jul 15, 2008 8:55 AM:

" How many can the Civic Center hold for hockey? They can put the minor league team in there if it holds 10,000 till the new one is done. Are the bobcats even playing this year in Bismarck? "

Dave in Langdon wrote on Jul 14, 2008 9:02 PM:

" to Carol - Do you have your tongue firmly planted in your cheek? There's a better chance the Pope will celebrate Mass at the Burning Hills Ampitheater than the Nebraska Cornhuskers coming to Bismarck to play the University of Mary. There's a slight chance that the Marauders could get on the Husker's schedule by going to Lincoln.
to Ruben - You're nuts if you think Bismarck/Mandan has enough population to support a 15 thousand seat hockey arena and a top level minor league hockey program. I don't know why the Bobcats are leaving, but if the support isn't in town for a Junior program, how is there going to be enough to support a much more expensive minor league operation??? "

soBe wrote on Jul 14, 2008 5:37 PM:

" Does this mean thatMary also goes to the Great west in 2010?
That way they play the sioux and South Dakota.
Who cares about the bison anyway "

Carol wrote on Jul 14, 2008 2:39 PM:

" I was looking at the husker website and dont see much for open slots for football games in the next few years. If Mary is planning on playing them someone over there better get on the phone "

Ruben wrote on Jul 14, 2008 2:02 PM:

" There is no chance of an NHL team coming to Bismarck.
I could see a minor team like Manitoba has. IF this new arena has at least 15,000 seats it might be enough to attract a team "

Kyle wrote on Jul 14, 2008 1:04 PM:

" i just spoke with someone at Mary and they say they know nothing about D1 football but said that there has been talk about hockey in the past.
Iguess that the hockey thing is what the focus now is.
What year will the new arena be complete Mark K? "

Casey wrote on Jul 14, 2008 8:54 AM:

" Im making some calls this morning. I can't see Bismarck building a rink for an NHL team. The cost for Mary to add all those other D1 sports is going to be costly just upgrading all of the current teams. Lets just look forward to bigtime 1A football coming to town. "

Jim wrote on Jul 13, 2008 10:28 AM:

" No one said anything about hockey. The only forsure thing is the cats shutting down. I doubt that Mary will add hockey. Hockey will be dead in Bismarck by 2009
Trust me. "

Kim wrote on Jul 13, 2008 10:18 AM:

" They should knock down the hall that they never use connected to the Civic Center and put a hockey arena there. That way they could have pro basketball and NHL in the same complex. I have never heard of an NHL team in such a small city but if Ohio State is on the Schedule wit Mary already i guess we are becoming a sports mecca. "

Phil L wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:17 PM:

" If we can build a 15000 seat arena downtown for hockey, lets try to get a Pro NHL or AHL team. I dont believe that Mary will have a hockey proram that fast. The bobcats have never had a draw and won't be missed much when they leave this year. NHL would work in Bismarck "

Carol wrote on Jul 11, 2008 11:26 PM:

" im a huge nebraska fan. We go to BW3 evert husker game. nebraska is a very similar sate to Nd and would come here in an instant if Mary went to play there a couple of times first. We have bigger cities than Nebraska other than Omaha. Lincoln has the huskers which is the same size as Fargo -lincoln may be smaller.
We could support a D1 football program bt may need to build an on campus field.
Bismarck and the local area would fill 40- 50 seats easy. Lincoln fills 80,000.
We just need the money. Between Mary and the state im sure it can be done by 2012 "

Kim wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:57 PM:

" With all the talk around town about the bobcats leaving, I hope Roger adds Divisoin One hockey right away. When the cats are gone, there will be a huge hockey void. If they put heat in the new arena, they will fill it up. Are you sure that Nebraska and Michigan will come here for a football game? "

Jim wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:53 PM:

" Harv, are you nuts.
This town is a football town. Go to a St. Marys game sometime and look at the turnout. When Ohio State comes to town for the first time you will see what I mean.
Once the hockey team is going, everyone in town will be there to see Mary beat the Sioux. By the way, where is a D1 baseball field in town anyway? "

Harv wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:46 PM:

" I could also see a D1 baseball team being very good here. Biamarck has always been known as a baseball town if they are known for anything "

Jim wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:44 PM:

" It soounds like the Hockey program will be DIII for 2 or three years and play in a new downtown arena by Medcenter One. I hope they build it big enough to expand from 5000 to 10-15 thousand once the program goes to D1. "

Mark K wrote on Jul 11, 2008 5:15 PM:

" Since there is all of this talk of D1 at Mary they should also add a hockey Program.
A new on campus arena holing about 10,000 would do the trick. Roger is well versed in Divison 1 hockey. He virtually ran the program for the Sioux. They should add hockey next year and play in the Civic center till thier arena is ready and add all the other sports in three years instead of two years as planned "

jim wrote on Jul 11, 2008 3:03 PM:

" Since ND and Nd Ag college are D1 it may be time for Mary to expand to D1 also
We have the civic to play in and the Community bowl for Football.
People would come from miles around for football games if we had a draw like Michican, Nebraska, Minnesota etc. With a bigtime AD in Roger Thomas, it would be easy and we could win right away if he helped with the FB program "

Post Your Own Comment

All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.