Thursday, January 31, 2008

a loser attitude in Valley City

Losing creates a losing attitude and that spreads like a cancer untreated.

For about a decade Valley City has fostered a losing attitude. Their most recent of many crying requests for a 3rd class is the current exhibit. It follows a spell where the teams on the basketball court only schedule EDC once for 2 point games. And fill the schedule with area B teams (and still lose)

My point is their AD and administration have decided over the years rather than try to create better teams and systems. To find 'winnable' opponents. Basically telling the kids you are not good enough to beat Shanley, Wahpeton, Devils Lake, South etc. so we'll only schedule them once.

Don't for a minute think that doesn't make the kids feel inferior.

If you think you are beaten. You've already lost. In Valley City they will continue to not treat the cause. A losing attitude. Where losing is not only accepted. It's expected. Sad for the kids, coaches, parents, fans and the town.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

putting the screws to small town ND...the NDHSAA way

This a long post. So I apologize before. Reading NDpreps.com you constantly see chatter about moving the B boys bb tourney to Bismarck and the BEST place for xyz tourneys. But hidden in some recent NDHSAA mintues is where the NDHSAA and it's members are they ones putting the screws to small towns. Check out the bold type in #2. Moving the semi-finals out of small town ND. What a travesty. Take the revenue from the semi-finals and dump it into Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks.

And the decision makers wonder why we question the motives.

Football Advisory
November 20, 2007
Randy Vigen, Brad Sandy, Rick Philion & Bret Sorensen

9-Man
1. Reviewed the 2008 play-off brackets
2. Request that the semi-finals be played in the Alerus Center, Bismarck Bowl and the Fargo Dome

A Division

1. Request to play the first round of play-offs inter-region
1. This year there were four “back-to-back” match ups

1. Harvey versus New Rockford 40 – 0 & 10 – 0
2. North Prairie versus Velva 27 – 6 & 20 – 10
3. Langdon versus May-Port 38 -13 & 23 - 3

2. Recommend to retain four divisions of football

AA Division

1. Recommend that all AA football games have 5-person crews
2. Recommend that something beyond 7-10 male enrollments be utilized to determine placements in the football plan. Perhaps an appeal process to address:
1. Medium size schools that lose numbers to x-country
2. Schools that aren’t “traditional football schools” as they regularly have small roster numbers

AAA Division

1. Request the NDHSAA to stock some participation awards so schools can purchase and have in time for the year-end banquets.

All:

1. Delete the regulation that restricts the number of players dressed for the Dakota Bowl
1. The schools do not have to be paid for the extra players

Administrative:

1. Request an opportunity to recommend play-off officials
1. Recommend 5 Referees “white hats”
2. Send requests to the Coaches’ Advisory members for disbursement
2. Continue the head coaches’ and captains’ sportsmanship meeting and tossing coin at the 10-minute mark on the pre-game warm-up clock
1. Game administration shall set clocks to have introductions and the anthem at “zero” on the clock. *An example for a 7 PM start; at 6:30 put twenty-five minutes on the game clock and when the clock indicates 0:00 begin the anthem & introductions. If more than five minutes are required set the clock to run out at 6:52, or whatever time is necessary to have the game begin on time.
3. Officials; the coaches appreciated your renewed efforts to provide “Crew Cards” for each game and that the practice be continued.

Discussion items:

1. What can be done to improve stat information and reporting to the web? The technology department at the NDHSAA office will be consulted.
2. A two week black out period during the summer regarding out-of-season coaches’ contact with players.
3. The order of play for the Dakota Bowl and whether the games should be played on one day or two.
1. The order of played and times are affected by maximizing attendance, television and venue availability.
4. AAA weighed the possibility of playing the first round of play-off inter-region.
5. The “home field”; how is a schools’ home field determined for hosting play-offs?
6. Encourage fellow coaches to join the NDHSCA as there are many professional opportunities provided through said membership.
7. The Legion Baseball tournaments conflicting with the football season. The dates do not conflict next year.
8. There is a need for presenters at the NDHSCA Convention. If you are concerned about presenting by yourself for a full session, you can utilize your staff or other knowledgeable people. Please step forward and offer your or someone else’s, expertise by contacting Gelaine Orvik at gorvik@cableone.net.
9. The challenges involved in the upcoming football plan including; how many levels of competition (three or four), geography, the possibility of an appeal process so there is “something” in addition to the 7-10 male enrollment.

other ND HSAA issues

here's a few tidbits that flew under the radar, shielded by the 3 class basketball straw vote:

Amendments win approval

Two proposed bylaw amendments submitted by the board of directors garnered general assembly approval by sizeable margins.

The first, which passed 130-0, changed the wording in a provision dealing with all-star contests. Revised wording says an all-star team "includes, but is not limited to, the Shrine All-Star Football Team, the Lions All-Star BasketballTeams, and the Optimists All-Star Volleyball Teams.

Sylling said the new wording would not cause a conflict with the Chicago Showcase hockey tournament.

Also approved was an amendment to a provision that deals with penalties for the use of ineligible players. Primarily, the amendment was proposed to allow the board to deal with team sports and individual sports separately. Individual sports were not specifically addressed in the previous wording.

The amendment, approved 126-3, says the use of an ineligible participant "shall require the offending school to forfeit the matches won and/or the points earned by the ineligible participant or by a relay team of which he/she was a member."

Three elected to board

The election of RickJacobson, Steve Swiontek and Pete Moe to the board of directors was reported by the canvassing committee.

Jacobson, the superintendent at Wyndmere, will replace Brian Duchscherer as the southeast Class Brepresentative. Swiontek, the Devils Lake superintendent, will take the place of KimKnodle as the Class Aat-large representative . Moe, Washburn's athletic director, will represent the athletic administrators, replacing Jungling. The newly-elected board members begin their four-year terms on July 1.

Uniformity issues

NDHSAAexecutive secretary Sherm Sylling concluded the meeting with a warning to schools about illegal basketball uniforms.

With tournament time just ahead, Sylling said there are some potential problems looming that could require "some difficult calls to make."

Dave Carlsrud, NDHSAAassistant secretary, said the problem usually involves excessive trim on the uniforms.

Schools ordering uniforms from catalogs proceed under the assumption that the garments meet National Federation specifications. That's a dangerous assumption, according to Carlsrud.

"They told us at a rules meeting that about 30 percent of high school uniforms are illegal (nationwide),"Carlsrud said.

Noncompliance is more than just a housekeeping matter. It's addressed in the rulebook.

"The penalty for illegal uniforms is a technical foul for each player who enters the game," Carlsrud said.

Monday, January 28, 2008

NDHSAA straw vote shoots down the 3 class system

About all I can say is I hope this puts it to rest for 5 years. I heard callers on the radio say football has 4 classes. Which is right, but not an accurate comparison. You need 9 or 11 men to put a team on the field.

In BB 9 or 10 is the entire team.

Now Valley City can sit down and figure out how to put a winning system in, and not how to rework the class system.

BISMARCK, N.D.

Members of the North Dakota High School Activities Association have defeated a proposal for a three-class system for boys and girls basketball and volleyball.

Those sports now have Class A and Class B.

Association spokesman say Dave Carlsrud says 55 schools voted for the idea but 78 voted against it in a straw vote on Monday.

Valley City High School asked for a study of the idea.

Carlsrud says it's a dead issue for now.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

FM Liberty football: the next failed ND Minor League team

I've seen dozens of minor league teams fail across North Dakota. From the Jamestown XBL team that never played a game. The FM Fever basketball team lasted a little while.

Here's introducing the next failed venture The FM Liberty coming soon, and leaving soon after.

I'll admit they have a few names such as former Gophers QB Bryan Cupito on hte roster and former NFL player Craig Sauer as a coach. But also many of the roster photo's look like mug shots.



But Fargo doesn't take football in the spring or summer. They are at Redhawks games, the lakes, or golfing.

Enjoy the FM Liberty they won't last long.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

overloaded

I'm overloaded on basketball and it's not even February. I never thought moving girls to winter would end up burning me out but it has. In reverse order: I dont' follow NBA--havent for 10 years. Don't care about the gangsta/ghetto crap that takes place. I look at it as almost a modern day cock fight. All the white guy's sitting in the stands and placing bets on which team will win, and just sitting back watching millionaire gangsters fight it out on the court. But that's for another blog.

NCAA. I try to follow BCS big time basketball teams. But with around 300 DI programs it's difficult. NDSU is losing local/regional appeal with the fewer and fewer ND products on both womens and mens teams.

Besides Class B basketball if I had to pick I'd take DAC basketball, but living in Fargo area don't get enough opportunity. In my eyes these teams provide the best local level high end talent across the board. From Mayville to Minot, Valley City and Jamestown. I wish I could see more of their games.

Going down the line at UND and U Mary....my head almost hurts trying to think of all the story lines. And it's just the mens teams.

To bad HS girls teams are overshadowed by the many levels of quality boys/mens bb.

My point is there is to much quality basketball to fully enjoy and appreciate it. I guess it's a nice problem to have.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

redistrcting in ND Class B January 26

On the agenda for the January 26 NDHSAA meeting is re-districting for Class B. It doesnt' give much detail but I have to believe with some of the unbalanced districts and regions losing teams to co-ops and closure this will be ongoing. It's time for the NDHSAA to look into their crystal ball and realize how to deal with this.

I'm not saying I have the answer, but these people are paid to use some forward thinking. Scrap the districts and go to regions? More flexible scheduling outside the region but within the geography.

All these and more SHOULD be part of the planning process. My fear is that it's not and they'll just get out the pen and start drawing squares..and you know what...2 years later they'll have to do it again.

Here's the listing.

http://www.ndhsaa.com/board/minutes/0708/Agenda_01_26_08.html

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

in season ND HS basketball tournaments

As I type I'm listening to the Linton Tuesday HS basketball tournament on AM 600 KSJB. I'm wondering with the state of co-ops and towns having to split (or more) their alloted home games. Think of the ticket sales and concessions that are lost from the revenue.

Really.

Say you had 8 home games and now you co-op and your down to 4. Then why in the world do you opt into the Stutsman County tourney or some of the dozens of in-season tourneys across the state?

So your fans and their money can get dumped into Jamestown, Bismarck, Fargo, Minot even more than usual? On top of that you lose XY home games. Wow what a lose, lose lose that is.

Which brings me back to small town ND commiting suicide.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Lemnus quits NDSU womens team

Jenna Lemnus is not just any player to quit at NDSU. She's an Enderlin native that PLAYED at Lousivlle. She wasn't just recruited or walking on at Louisville. She played. Evidently something happened at NDSU and the spin from Coach Ruley smells that she wasnt happy with Lemnus.

Personally when three players quit a team during the season there are issues. Will NDSU address them or is Ruley just given a free pass with her history at NDSU? I hope note. I hope for the sake of ALL Bison players and alumni the truth comes out. I wish players could feel free about saying the system is broke or Ruley isn't the coach she used to be. But that probably won't happen and all we can do is guess as to what happened.

here's the story

North Dakota State women’s basketball player Jenna Lemnus left the team Friday – the third NDSU player to do so this season.

All were backups and all saw little playing time. Head coach Amy Ruley cited “Division I commitment” as a common theme for the defections, something she said other coaches told her would happen with the transition from NCAA Division II.

“They said then you’ll get to the point of having that Division I commitment and then you build from there,” Ruley said.

“They said you’re going to have kids defect. They said it’s going to happen.”

Lemnus’ departure comes on the heels of Summit League home games against Missouri-Kansas City today and Southern Utah on Monday. The 6-foot-3 senior from Enderlin, N.D., a transfer from the University of Louisville, was averaging 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds.

She missed the first five games of the season with an illness. She was the third center to see the floor in losses at Indiana Purdue-Indianapolis and Western Illinois last weekend and played just a combined six minutes.

“She said I didn’t give her a chance,” Ruley said. “It’s been a roller coaster. My point is you got to want to be here. You have to want to work. She was sick to start the year and she never seemed to get back on track.”

Sophomore forward Georgia Popovici left the team two weeks ago and freshman guard Tessa Wilka transferred to Augustana College (S.D.) over Christmas. Both rarely played.

“We’ve had some kids quit in the past on some really successful teams,” Ruley said. “When the going gets tough – all those things – the tough get going.”

Thursday, January 17, 2008

some of the best coaches in the land

We are lucky in North Dakota to have some of the best coaches you could ask for. Gene Manson comes to mind from Minot. Also one of the best is Steve Miller who tonight will look for win #400...good luck.

Sometimes it seems Steve Miller must have been born holding a basketball.

Miller coaches and referees the sport during the school year. During the off-season there are clinics and camps, both as a participant and a staffer.

It all adds up. Tonight Miller stands to win his 400th high school basketball game when he sends his Bismarck High Demons against Century at the Civic Center.

Wins by the hundred (399). Likewise, losses (197). Lots of state tournaments (17) and four state titles thrown in for good measure.

Yet it's the hundreds of athletes he's coached, not the victories, that keep Miller going. This is his 18th year as BHShead coach and his 25th season as a head high school coach. In retrospect, Miller sees it as a huge accumulation of debts owed.

"No one person runs a program. You've got to have good assistants and good players around you," Miller said. "And I've had my share of good players. .. I've had several all-staters."

WhenMiller begins to reminisce about 31 seasons as a head and assistant coach, the conversation is devoid of scores and statistics.

"My first year we went to state," he said, recalling Napoleon's trip to the 1977 state Class B tournament. "We got stuck in a snow storm in Minot. Ithink we were stuck in Minot for five days. Idon't know if we won a game, but I do know we ate at the Rollin'Pin (cafe) for three straight days."

Then there was that star-crossed trip to Strasburg during the 1977-78 boys season.

"We spent two nights inLinton coming back from Strasburg in a snowstorm," Miller said. "The second night we spent in the courthouse on cots."

During head coaching stints at Napoleon,Richardton-Taylor and BHSMiller has probably endured more bus trips than he wants to think about. Yet it's what he's wanted to do as far back as he can remember.

"Iwent to college (at Dickinson State) with the idea I wanted to be a teacher and coach," he said.

He still believes it was the right decision. The non-tangible benefits surround him daily.

"The older you get the more you realize that young people keep you young," he said. "That's the biggest thing for me as far as teaching and coaching."

Miller said trophies pale in significance next to the thrill of having former players and students drop by his BHSoffice.

"The big thing for me is establishing relationships with kids you've taught and coached," he said. "I'm much more into that than anything."

It's the people factor that makes Miller's first year as Demons head coach stand out in retrospect. If he could have one game to play over again, it would be the 1991 state championship game with West Fargo. BHScame up just short in that one, falling 67-64 in overtime at the Civic Center.

"We were up by one point with no time left on the clock, and we got beat in overtime," Miller said, revisiting the scene as though it were yesterday. "At that time Idon't think Bismarck had won a state championship since 1959, and to come so close was really disheartening for those kids. ...It's one of those things in coaching you never get over. You move on, but you never get over it.

"We started the season 3-7, and that team bonded from the beginning of the year to the end of the year really, really well. They became a very, very close team. We'd won 14 straight into the state championship game."

The names returned readily to Miller. "Rusty Gillette had a phenomenal (championship) game, and Iremember Tommy Leifur hitting one of the last shots to put us up. ... Travis Kuntz was unbelievably competitive. He wouldn't let you score on him. Jeff Kanwischer was a competitive fighter, and Shad Kusler played that game with a bad knee. ... And the reserves. The reserves were a very big part of that team, too."

That team, Miller said, made basketball a big deal again at BHS.

"I'll always feel grateful to that team. ... They jump-started our program and really set the bar for the teams that followed. Ijust really loved the way that team played."

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

15 year old commitment to UND?

I saw this story in the GFH recently. I know it's part of the way the recruiting game is played. But good golly, a 15 year old hockey player verbally commits to UND. How many times will a 15 year old change their mind about what movie they want to see? Or where they want to go for lunch? I say coaches should NOT recruit them...who wins?

MEN'S HOCKEY: Clarke commits to UND
By Brad Schlossman
Herald Staff Writer - 01/15/2008

Jason Herter brought his hockey team to his old college campus over the weekend to compete in the Little Caesars North American Showcase.

One of his players, 15-year-old defenseman Garrett Clarke, says he will be back.

Clarke became the youngest player ever to give a verbal commitment to UND this weekend when he told Sioux coaches that he will play for them beginning in 2010.

The New Brunswick native had been a projected top-three pick in June's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft, but after visiting campus, he and his family decided college was the best route.

“There's been a lot of pressure on him and there have been a lot of distractions in the last few months,” said Tim Clarke, Garrett's father. “We did the right thing for him long-term. People will always second guess it, but we believe we made the right choice.

“We had a chance to visit campus, sit down with academic people, see a couple of games, meet a couple of former UND players who went to the NHL. . . . they had a great package put together for him.”

Clarke, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound sophomore who just turned 15 in November, is an offensive defenseman on the Russell Stover team, based in Overland Park, Kan.

He racked up scholarship offers from 13 college programs but ultimately chose UND over Wisconsin.

“He's a very skilled defenseman,” said Herter, who played at UND from 1988-91 and is UND's highest-drafted defenseman ever. “Some of the stuff he can do with the puck. . . . I thought I was pretty darn good at that. Then I look at him and say to myself, ‘I couldn't do that.' He has a fake shot move - I've never seen one better. And that includes college and the pros.

“But he's a young kid with a lot to learn. He has a long way to go to get to being a Fighting Sioux and he knows that.”

Clarke grew up in New Brunswick but moved to Green Bay, Wis., two years ago and played for the Shattuck-St. Mary's bantam team. Last year, his family moved to Kansas City and Clarke joined the nearby Russell Stover squad.

He likely will play next year for the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League under former Sioux coach Dean Blais and then arrive on campus as a 17-year-old freshman in 2010.

Herter said he had hoped that Clarke would wind up with his alma mater.

“I love all of my hockey players, but I've only had one in my four years here who I saw play and immediately called the Sioux coaches to say, ‘You've got to watch him play,' And it was (Clarke),” Herter said. “He's an offensive player, but he plays with grit and he plays pissed off. He's the most talented '92 (born) defenseman that I've seen offensively.”

Clarke is not the youngest player to give a verbal commitment to a college. Michigan, Colorado College and Notre Dame have received verbals from 14-year-olds.

Reach Schlossman at 780-1129, (800) 477-6572 ext. 129 or bschlossman@gfherald.com.

Monday, January 14, 2008

going north for football and basketball

I'm not sure how soon the impact of allowing Canadian teams into US NCAA conferences will take place. But living in ND, I'm sure DAC and other conferences could really benefit. One question is what does Canada think about the American-ification of more sports?

NASHVILLE — The NCAA is about to follow pro baseball and basketball across the Canadian border.

Schools in Division II are expected Monday to formally open their doors — and the NCAA's — to Canadian members, expanding the association's boundaries beyond the USA for the first time.

The division would be the first to take advantage of clearance granted by the NCAA's top-level Executive Committee a year ago. Monday's vote would set up a pilot program that could attract its first Canadian application, from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, as early as June.

UBC, a school of 35,000 undergraduates that now competes in the NAIA in baseball and six more of its 28 varsity sports, could become a full-time NCAA member after three years. Athletics director Bob Philip attended the NCAA's annual convention here, meeting over the weekend with representatives of four prospective conferences.

Four other Canadian schools have expressed interest in NCAA affiliation.

UBC is seeking a break from Canadian scholarship restrictions that permit schools to cover only athletes' tuition. The NCAA allows room, board, books and tuition. "There should be an alternative for Canadian student-athletes to play sports and get an education and not have to go to the U.S. to get some financial assistance," Philip said.

The move requires a change in rules that limit NCAA membership to institutions "in the United States, its territories or possessions."

Scholarship protection

The NCAA is moving closer to new scholarship safeguards for pregnant college athletes. Its Division I Management Council endorsed a measure Sunday that would bar schools from cutting or canceling financial aid to athletes "because of any injury, illness or medical condition" regardless of whether the injury or condition affects their ability to compete.

Scholarships are awarded on a year-to-year basis, and protection would be limited to the year in which an athlete is receiving the aid. Schools would retain latitude to reduce or rescind the scholarships in subsequent years.

The new rule would extend to pregnant athletes — whose treatment by schools has been at issue for the past year — mental illness and eating disorders. Final approval is expected today from the Division I Board of Directors.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

co-ops

There's been some chatter on Osts Posts and NDpreps on the pending petition for Edgeley and Kulm to begin a co-op for basketball in the fall/winter of 2008.

I say it's inevitable and fighting it can only hurt the kids in the end. Really, if you want to look at Wishek and Ashely or any of other co-0ps that 10 years ago seemed ludicrious you don't have to look far.

The demographics of North Dakota will continue to change and schools in rural areas will close. Few such as Berthold Our Redeemers will be new rural schools opening. But you never know.

My point, is that Edgeley and Kulm maybe okay for a couple years...but this co-op was inevitable. To delay it and wait until schools are forced isnt fair to the kids.

my view...from the crow's nest

Beginnng a nwe sports blog. It will be heavy on North Dakota and regional issues, with a little bit on the bigger picture.