Hockey at Augi makes sense if they want a taste of DI. Otherwise I don't see the fit. In fact I think it hurts the conference in the long term as this could push the XDSU's to look for another home.

Krabbenhoft knows politics. Gates and Microsoft surprisingly has personal influence in North Dakota. ND Gov Burgum was formerly a Microsoft Executive after his firm, a Fargo software company, was bought out by Microsoft. Burgum later ran outside the Republican Party with nonsupport from party bigwigs and won the primary, just like Trump did. Gates contributed slight $’s to his victory. Fargo still has one of the larger Microsoft campuses in the world and another former Microsoft executive sits on the state education board.

This amounts to a desperate tactic by Augustana, and shows they need ND votes.

(06-26-2018 06:07 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Krabbenhoft knows politics. Gates and Microsoft surprisingly has personal influence in North Dakota. ND Gov Burgum was formerly a Microsoft Executive after his firm, a Fargo software company, was bought out by Microsoft. Burgum later ran outside the Republican Party with nonsupport from party bigwigs and won the primary, just like Trump did. Gates contributed slight $’s to his victory. Fargo still has one of the larger Microsoft campuses in the world and another former Microsoft executive sits on the state education board.

This amounts to a desperate tactic by Augustana, and shows they need ND votes.

And Augie is in Sioux Falls, SD about 200 miles south of ND. Not sure what ND politics has to do with the decision to move up, unless someone is suggesting political pressure will be put on UND/NDSU to support conference admission. However, if that is the case, what does it have to do with the original premise that Gates might provide financial backing? I think this thread got caught in a twister.

(06-26-2018 06:04 PM)Shox Wrote:  Hockey at Augi makes sense if they want a taste of DI. Otherwise I don't see the fit. In fact I think it hurts the conference in the long term as this could push the XDSU's to look for another home.

Often said that hockey and Sioux Falls would go over big, as that city is a huge draw for their NCAA grooming U20 league. But just like the XDSU’s, they don’t like hockey because their former jocks and now some executives didn’t play it and don’t like it. UND has such a lead on them that they wouldn’t get in a decent hockey conference but a mainly DII school league in the WCHA. That’s not acceptable to any of them. NDSU had a chance to get into UND’s league in the 1999’s, but could raise enough money. The stakes are even higher now.

(06-26-2018 06:12 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(06-26-2018 06:07 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Krabbenhoft knows politics. Gates and Microsoft surprisingly has personal influence in North Dakota. ND Gov Burgum was formerly a Microsoft Executive after his firm, a Fargo software company, was bought out by Microsoft. Burgum later ran outside the Republican Party with nonsupport from party bigwigs and won the primary, just like Trump did. Gates contributed slight $’s to his victory. Fargo still has one of the larger Microsoft campuses in the world and another former Microsoft executive sits on the state education board.

This amounts to a desperate tactic by Augustana, and shows they need ND votes.

And Augie is in Sioux Falls, SD about 200 miles south of ND. Not sure what ND politics has to do with the decision to move up, unless someone is suggesting political pressure will be put on UND/NDSU to support conference admission. However, if that is the case, what does it have to do with the original premise that Gates might provide financial backing? I think this thread got caught in a twister.

It has everything to do with it. A DII school must have an invite from a conference. USD and SDSU have been given major facilities from Sanford and still depend on him for making budgets. Those two schools almost have to say they support Sanford’s endeavors, which now included Augie. At most, there are only two reluctant votes for a DI Augies bid. Dropping the name Gates maybe adds two more. Guess he will have to get Warren Buffett to be an Omaha Maverick/Augustana supporter too.

(06-26-2018 02:55 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(06-26-2018 02:27 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Latest News On Augustana


The article points out that Microsoft Founder Bill Gates could donate money for the school to move to D1.

UHM - That is a big jump in thinking. Possible, but not exactly what was written.

"Sanford CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft,

who has raised hundreds of millions of dollars and schmoozed with billionaires T.
Denny Sanford, the hospital namesake, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, (That part talks about Krabbenhoft's connections)

would be a key player in helping Augustana University find the money to move from Division II to Division I athletics."

It only explicitly states that Krabbenhoft would be a big player. Whether Gates would donate or not is questionable, he is not known for supporting athletic programs.

Poor reading comprehension leads to another rumor.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been using $$$ for various global causes such as health promotion and eradication of poverty.

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-A...-Factsheet

Why on God's green earth would Gates use his money to fund a small South Dakota liberal arts school so they could play Division I athletics? Patently absurd for even suggesting the notion.

(06-27-2018 01:59 PM)PDNJ Wrote:  The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been using $$$ for various global causes such as health promotion and eradication of poverty.

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-A...-Factsheet

Why on God's green earth would Gates use his money to fund a small South Dakota liberal arts school so they could play Division I athletics? Patently absurd for even suggesting the notion.

Another DavidSt gem!!!!

Has Bill Gates ever heard of Augustana University (SD)?

(06-28-2018 04:22 PM)AZcats Wrote:  Has Bill Gates ever heard of Augustana University (SD)?

I believe Religious identities to charity work. Look at BYU? Their students do require to go over seas to do charity works. It is called their Missions. If the other schools do that including local charities? The Gates may have donated to their causes.

(06-28-2018 05:25 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 04:22 PM)AZcats Wrote:  Has Bill Gates ever heard of Augustana University (SD)?

I believe Religious identities to charity work. Look at BYU? Their students do require to go over seas to do charity works. It is called their Missions. If the other schools do that including local charities? The Gates may have donated to their causes.

Oh, I get it. If it happens at BYU then it must happen at Augustana University (SD) also.

(06-26-2018 06:07 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Krabbenhoft knows politics. Gates and Microsoft surprisingly has personal influence in North Dakota. ND Gov Burgum was formerly a Microsoft Executive after his firm, a Fargo software company, was bought out by Microsoft. Burgum later ran outside the Republican Party with nonsupport from party bigwigs and won the primary, just like Trump did. Gates contributed slight $’s to his victory. Fargo still has one of the larger Microsoft campuses in the world and another former Microsoft executive sits on the state education board.

This amounts to a desperate tactic by Augustana, and shows they need ND votes.

Did you even read the article? Do you really think Bill Gate's gives a rats butt about the state of North Dakota? UND? NDSU? Augustana? The Summit League? STOP IT!!! You to DavidSt. No where in the article did it mention Bill Gate's might contribute to Augustana?

(06-28-2018 05:50 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  

(06-26-2018 06:07 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Krabbenhoft knows politics. Gates and Microsoft surprisingly has personal influence in North Dakota. ND Gov Burgum was formerly a Microsoft Executive after his firm, a Fargo software company, was bought out by Microsoft. Burgum later ran outside the Republican Party with nonsupport from party bigwigs and won the primary, just like Trump did. Gates contributed slight $’s to his victory. Fargo still has one of the larger Microsoft campuses in the world and another former Microsoft executive sits on the state education board.

This amounts to a desperate tactic by Augustana, and shows they need ND votes.

Did you even read the article? Do you really think Bill Gate's gives a rats butt about the state of North Dakota? UND? NDSU? Augustana? The Summit League? STOP IT!!! You to DavidSt. No where in the article did it mention Bill Gate's might contribute to Augustana?

You have to be the biggest snowflake around. Any body but you on this board says anything about Augie and you fly off the handle.

Gates knows and gives money to ND politicians. Never ever said Gates was going to give money to Augie. In fact, said it’s a desperate tactic by Krabbenhoft to get votes.

Gates actually bought a ND company for billions and kept the people and executives. You don’t know what you are talking about, yet again.

The Summit League runs one of the more lucrative mid-major tournaments where they monopolize sponsorships across the Dakota’s. I wouldn’t discount a billionaire bankrolling Augustana to dip their toes into the Sioux Falls tournament. David might be onto something.

(06-28-2018 08:15 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 05:50 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  

(06-26-2018 06:07 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Krabbenhoft knows politics. Gates and Microsoft surprisingly has personal influence in North Dakota. ND Gov Burgum was formerly a Microsoft Executive after his firm, a Fargo software company, was bought out by Microsoft. Burgum later ran outside the Republican Party with nonsupport from party bigwigs and won the primary, just like Trump did. Gates contributed slight $’s to his victory. Fargo still has one of the larger Microsoft campuses in the world and another former Microsoft executive sits on the state education board.

This amounts to a desperate tactic by Augustana, and shows they need ND votes.

Did you even read the article? Do you really think Bill Gate's gives a rats butt about the state of North Dakota? UND? NDSU? Augustana? The Summit League? STOP IT!!! You to DavidSt. No where in the article did it mention Bill Gate's might contribute to Augustana?

You have to be the biggest snowflake around. Any body but you on this board says anything about Augie and you fly off the handle.

Gates knows and gives money to ND politicians. Never ever said Gates was going to give money to Augie. In fact, said it’s a desperate tactic by Krabbenhoft to get votes.

Gates actually bought a ND company for billions and kept the people and executives. You don’t know what you are talking about, yet again.

Go back to Post number 58 in this thread. David St. says that the cited article points out that Gates might give money for Augie to move up. The article does not do that. Gates is referred to as someone that Krabbenhoft has associated with, no more than that. It is these kinds of misreading of things that leads to ludicrous statements, and some posters are frequent offenders of such misattribution.

Just in: Bill Gates will donate huge sums of cash to Augustana, so much so it will be renamed Bill Gates University. Upon which, they will be accepted into the Summit, whereby they will commence the ultimate culture war rivalry with Oral Roberts: Science vs Religion!!! Who will win? Who will lose? Will they split their home and home? It will be the greatest battle since the Scopes Trial.

[Dang, looks like my link is not working at the moment, but I promise to have it up by Sunday.]

Never say never about these things. The West Virginia to the Big 12 was a shocker. Strange things can happen like Liberty gets a waiver to become an FBS team.

(06-29-2018 12:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Never say never about these things. The West Virginia to the Big 12 was a shocker. Strange things can happen like Liberty gets a waiver to become an FBS team.

Wow, 2 strange things. Bill Gates will NEVER give money to Augie for D1 athletics. You claimed it was a possibility, based on poor reading comprehension. Augie might end up in D1, but it won’t be because of Bill Gates.

(06-28-2018 08:15 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 05:50 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  

(06-26-2018 06:07 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Krabbenhoft knows politics. Gates and Microsoft surprisingly has personal influence in North Dakota. ND Gov Burgum was formerly a Microsoft Executive after his firm, a Fargo software company, was bought out by Microsoft. Burgum later ran outside the Republican Party with nonsupport from party bigwigs and won the primary, just like Trump did. Gates contributed slight $’s to his victory. Fargo still has one of the larger Microsoft campuses in the world and another former Microsoft executive sits on the state education board.

This amounts to a desperate tactic by Augustana, and shows they need ND votes.

Did you even read the article? Do you really think Bill Gate's gives a rats butt about the state of North Dakota? UND? NDSU? Augustana? The Summit League? STOP IT!!! You to DavidSt. No where in the article did it mention Bill Gate's might contribute to Augustana?

You have to be the biggest snowflake around. Any body but you on this board says anything about Augie and you fly off the handle.

Gates knows and gives money to ND politicians. Never ever said Gates was going to give money to Augie. In fact, said it’s a desperate tactic by Krabbenhoft to get votes.

Gates actually bought a ND company for billions and kept the people and executives. You don’t know what you are talking about, yet again.

Gate's likely knows a lot of people. When your a billionaire with his type of connections it happens. My problem is you, and DavidSt can't read. I suggest you go back, read the article, look at your post, and ask yourself if it made any sense.

NDSU’s biggest and shortest cheerleader is all aboard the Augustana DI express now.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/b...mit-league