Someone stated that the reason U on MN will not play UND was because they wouldn't draw a good crowd.  I believe that the second largest crowd for a Gopher home football game came against UND's contemporary down I-29.  
Gopher home football games:
1) Iowa- 64,140
2) NDSU- 62,845
3) Michigan- 50,805
4) Temple- 45,612 (home opener)
5) Penn State- 45,227
6) Illinois- 44,610
 
UND will travel, maybe not as well as NDSU, but the UM is loosing a good non-conference gate not playing UND.  
 
Wisconsin and the University of Iowa have similar policies.  This does put a little financial cruch on UND move to Div 1 in all sports.  Smaller programs need at least one big payday per year to offset some costs.  For example U of MN paid NDSU $275,000 this year, Iowa paid U of Montana $500,000 and Texas A&M is reportedly paying Montana State $750,000 next year.  I'm sure UND can find some other dance partner, maybe FSU feels bad, but the regional big ten schools are nice for fans and allumni.
 
Random hockey content.  As a Sioux season ticket holder and a UMD grad, my hockey life can't get any worse.  My biggest highlight of the 2006-2007 season is a tie against SCSU.  UGH!!
 
Matt Sullivan
Group Insurance Specialist
The Sullivan Agency, LTD.
www.sullivanagency.com

University of Minnesota Duluth, 1998
BU-LL-DO-G-S GOOOOO Bulldogs!!!!

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