Is Nebraska-Omaha Doing The Right Thing...???

Or is their move to the Summit League being done in an illogical and scattershot manner...???

That's the question raised by the four-letter as two very successful Division II programs- three-time national champ wrestling and football- are being blown up by Nebraska-Omaha AD Trev Alberts as part of their "money-saving" progression...

The HQ has long trumpeted UNO and the Mavs, but being told your sport is being wiped off the map three hours after you win another title is, about, four thousand rounds of not cool...

Paula Lavigne examines the ideas and all their faults...
Allegedly...

BREAKING: UNO Moves To Summit League, Eliminates Football And Wrestling

And, no the HQ is not talking about the University of New Orleans...

After trying to move to Division III and not being able to find a conference dance partner, it looks like they're heading to D2 and the newly-tweaked Gulf South Conference.

We're actually talking about the University of Nebraska-Omaha...

The school says it received an offer to join the Summit, but since neither football nor wrestling are in Summit's plans, the Mavericks eliminated the sports. UNO currently competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's Division II.

School officials say the decision was forced by a NCAA ban on division jumps that begins June 1. But the fact UNO's football and wrestling programs lose money was another element in the change.

University regents still have to approve the idea...

Here's something the school may not have to worry about much longer...
Regrettably...
This was Competition Day- just ten days ago...
((HT: unomavfootball))


And the HQ will do that one better...
The wrestling team won their third straight D2 title LAST NIGHT!!!

What have you done for me lately...???
Here's a documentary on the wrestling program that will not exist after, well, now.
((HT: bajjaliproductions))


Here's UNO AD Trev Alberts and Chancellor John Christensen on the decision...
((HT: WOWT-TV Omaha))

Hot Hand In The Frozen Tundra

Let me tell you the story of Ben Woodside, a sharp shooting guard from North Dakota State. You've never heard of Woodside. Take a trip to Fargo and check out his game because Bison games are rarely on TV. Woodside is putting up numbers this season that remind you of "Pistol" Pete Maravich 40 years ago.

Last Friday in a 112-111 triple overtime loss to Stephen F. Austin, Woodside put up 60 points against the Lumberjacks becaming the 25th player in NCAA Division one men's basketball history to score 60 points or more against a D-1 opponant. 49 of those points were scored in the final 8:51 of regulation and the overtimes.

The legend of Ben Woodside doesn't stop there. Against Stephen F. Austin he equalled "Pistol" Pete's NCAA record for free throws made in a game with 30.

The next night Woodside "cooled" off with 31 points and 10 rebounds in a 98-77 win over Georgia Southern. Over 2 days Woodside averaged a staggering 45.5 points.

Woodside is 2nd in the NCAA in scoring averaging 26.9 points per game but don't call him a ball hog. He's also 3rd in the nation in assists with 7.6 per game.

The Albert Lea, Minnesota native set school records in scoring at Albert Lea high school and was "Mr. Basketball" in Minnesota in 2004. He choose to play in Fargo for North Dakota State and has thrived. Woodside led the Bison in scoring, assists and steals last season and was in the top 5 in those 3 categories in the Summit League

Woodside is no secret to those who cover the Summit League, which North Dakota State is a member. He was voted the leagues pre-season player of the year.

The only big time school North Dakota State has faced this year so far is Minnesota. Tubby Smith, whose has seen a few big time players in his years coaching in the SEC and Big 10, and his Gopher team limited Woodside to 16 points but he did dish out 7 assists. The Bison lost that game but their current record in 7-3.

The Bison face Valley City State (an NAIA school) Thursday night then the legend of Ben Woodside takes his act to Hollywood. North Dakota State faces Southern California Saturday in Los Angeles. We will see how Woodside's act plays in L.A., perhaps the legend will continue.

Photo Courtesy: Bob Nelson, North Dakota State