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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Times New Roman','serif';FONT-SIZE:12pt">Donovan,</span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Times New Roman','serif';FONT-SIZE:12pt">If Idaho were to go back to the Big Sky, UI would have to cut women's programs plain and simple. Whether you like it or not, football revenue and Title IX compliance are why women's programs are doing so well at UI. I suspect soccer would go first, followed by women's golf. Men's and women's swimming would be cut next and probably some track scholarships are lost. Heck, I wish the Vandals have had better success at WAC football, but at least the pain on the gridiron (with a couple of great years in the midst) has allowed hundreds of athletes to attend the UI who would not have had a chance if the UI was still in the Big Sky. Those scholarships have helped with diversity, have added to the richness of the university, and have introduced 100's of fine people to Moscow that would have not been there. I love winning like anyone else, but I know that in the end having these opportunities for these fine students outweigh the win/loss record of any football team.</span></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0in 0in 12pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Times New Roman','serif';FONT-SIZE:12pt">Thanks<br>Chris</span></p></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, May 2, 2012 at 1:15 PM, Donovan Arnold <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" target="_blank">donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div><span>Leaving the Big Sky was a big mistake, and we need to put money into women's programs. Lady Vandals KICK ASS! Have always been a league above the rest. They were 3rd in the nation in Rodeo when I was there. Not many know that. </span></div>
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<div><span>Donovan J. Arnold</span></div>
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</div><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">From:</span></b> Tom Hansen <<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>><br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">To:</span></b> Carl Westberg <<a href="mailto:idahovandal1@live.com" target="_blank">idahovandal1@live.com</a>> <br>
<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Cc:</span></b> "<<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a>>" <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a>> <br>
<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, May 2, 2012 12:35 PM
<div class="im"><br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Vision2020] Vandal sports<br></div></font></div>
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<div class="h5"><br>As much of a die-hard Vandal as I am and as much of what remaining in Division 1A may mean to the <span>UI</span> Athletic Program, the boys of Bozo State, coupled with the loss of <span>UI's</span> "Flagship" moniker, have taught me one valuable lesson . . .<br>
<br>It simply is NOT that important!<br><br>Boise State is a prime example of what can happen if your priorities are messed up. Boise State has been a four-year college since the 60s. Although their football program has become a national Division 1A contender, their academic program remains at tier 3 along with a majority of northwest community colleges . . . not one PhD program and very few masters programs, while the University of Idaho has evolved into a nationally competitive tier 1 source of higher education and possesses a wide variety of many graduate programs.<br>
<br><span>Seeya</span> round town, Moscow.<br><br>Tom Hansen<br>Moscow, Idaho <br>(<span>UI</span> '96, Information Systems)<br><br>"If not us, who?<br>If not now, when?"<br><br>- Unknown<br><br><br><br>On May 2, 2012, at 11:08, Carl Westberg <<a href="mailto:idahovandal1@live.com" target="_blank">idahovandal1@live.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>> I've brought this subject up before, but recent conference shuffling events really seem to have put U of Idaho athletics in a very hard place. No Division 1 conference seems to want the Vandals. I just saw a <span>Facebook</span> poll asking which of three options respondents would prefer given the circumstances. 1. Try playing as a D-1 independent, which would probably mean about three home games a year while hoping for an eventual conference invitation. 2. Play, again, in the Sun Belt (teams in Louisiana, Tennessee...) to stay D-1. If the Sun Belt wanted Idaho. 3. Swallow pride and return to 1-AA and the Big Sky. So far in the <span>Facebook</span> poll, the Big Sky leads comfortably. Any thoughts? Or is it even a concern outside of the hard core fans?<br>
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