(04-04-2018 07:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  SdSU and USD and even NDSU should be against this, as Sioux Falls is an important media market for them that they wouldn't want split further. But if Sanford is offering a big endowment, those Dakota's have also drunk from that tank as most of their facility improvements have been paid for by Sanford`s money, and Sanford may be PO'ed if those Dakota's come out against Augustana membershp. Only UND has resisted his gifts, which have naming stipuations. Sanford, who is a billionaire thanks to his getting SD to change their credit card laws, has stated he wants to give his fortune away before he dies. The hospital organization which he stipulated take his name after he helped fund it is now the largest by far in the Dakotas is taking over many of the largest hospitals in the two states. UND is on the opposite side of that near monopoly as Sanford wanted his name on UND's Med School too. Minnesota has gotten donations from him too.

Augustana is a mbb school, and they can draw better than the Sd's, which are in tiny towns. Hockey would be an immediate success as Sioux Falls has record breaking attendance for their U20 USHL squad, but Augie would not go for that as it is unfamiliar ice.

There is nothing that SDSU, SD, ND or NDSU can do to stop a private school to go D1.