http://www.ktva.com/uaa-and-uaf-on-the-s...maybe-757/

Along with SE Alaska, UA-Fairbanks president is looking to have all 3 schools merge into 1 accredited institution. Regents Board meeting will be held on June 2 to discuss proposition. Per the video, the could happen starting in the 2017 -2018 school year.


Seem reasonable considering the population of Alaska. Would be much like Wyoming.

Pardon my ignorance, but do any of them already play FB? If so, in what NCAA division and conference?

If not and if combined, could they likely build an indoor stadium, nearby airport and hotels, field a team, and be worthy of a G5 conference? If HI can do it, AK should be able to as well, IMHO, if the state pulls together to make it happen (see NE's NU model).

Then all sports should be at UAA. But you know that will never fly ...

(05-24-2016 01:45 PM)PlayBall! Wrote:  Pardon my ignorance, but do any of them already play FB? If so, in what NCAA division and conference?

If not and if combined, could they likely build an indoor stadium, nearby airport and hotels, field a team, and be worthy of a G5 conference? If HI can do it, AK should be able to as well, IMHO, if the state pulls together to make it happen (see NE's NU model).

There's no college football in Alaska.

Hawaii's barely doing it and it wouldn't surprise a lot of people if they abandon football at some point. Alaska has similar logistics problems without the allure of an attractive road trip. Can't imagine the Mountain West giving them a Hawaii-style deal for start-up football, and can't imagine any D-I conferences willing to add them for all sports (if they're so strapped for cash that they're merging in the first place, they're probably in no position to a) add scholarships and programs, and b) help defray travel costs for a mainland conference.

Or they could use Barrow High School's stadium:

Nothing like months of light (or darkness), polar bear attacks and walks on the Arctic Ocean.

It would HAVE to be at UAA, no one is going to want to have to deal with constant blizzards trying to get all of their teams to Fairbanks or the remoteness of Juneau, which has exactly zero roads that lead to out of town. Even UAA is certain to have to cancel some events due to the winter weather.

The only purpose to have so many four-year universities for a state of that population is to compensate for the state's enormous geographic area. Seems to me that they could still address that problem by converting Fairbanks and Juneau to regional two-year campuses with streamlined transfer processes.

That makes far too much sense to ever have a chance of happening. The outstate areas will cry bloody murder that the imperial urban center is stealing what little they have. Happens in many states.

(05-24-2016 12:00 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  http://www.ktva.com/uaa-and-uaf-on-the-s...maybe-757/

Along with SE Alaska, UA-Fairbanks president is looking to have all 3 schools merge into 1 accredited institution. Regents Board meeting will be held on June 2 to discuss proposition. Per the video, the could happen starting in the 2017 -2018 school year.


Seem reasonable considering the population of Alaska. Would be much like Wyoming.

All of the Alaska schools will remain 4 yr colleges. Wyoming only has JC's except for UWyo.

Heck, Wyoming has only cowpokes, dirt, trees and geysers except Casper the Friendly Ghost, Lar-Amy and Shy Ann.

UAA and UAF play in the DII GNAC and the DI WCHA. It's not like there aren't schools traveling to those locales. Fairbanks has reasonable air service, even some from the lower 48.

(05-24-2016 03:13 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  That makes far too much sense to ever have a chance of happening. The outstate areas will cry bloody murder that the imperial urban center is stealing what little they have. Happens in many states.

Fairbanks has almost all the serious programs. Guess you want it closed and vacated then?

Why would anyone want to live in such frost? At least we can jump into the water and AC when the heat gets too abrasive.

(05-24-2016 01:45 PM)PlayBall! Wrote:  Pardon my ignorance, but do any of them already play FB? If so, in what NCAA division and conference?

If not and if combined, could they likely build an indoor stadium, nearby airport and hotels, field a team, and be worthy of a G5 conference? If HI can do it, AK should be able to as well, IMHO, if the state pulls together to make it happen (see NE's NU model).

Both are in NCAA D2 GNAC. Neither play football.

What is curious is the UAF president made the suggestion, but have wonder if he would be serious about the location being in Anchorage. It would have to be in Anchorage. With a population of over 300k that really is the only option. Fairbanks and Juneau only have 32k each.

Hopefully we'll see some new of the meeting on June 2nd. This could really solve a political issue and that by having 1 athletic program, the WAC would be a good option. They may force UMKC and Chicago St to look elsewhere, but it would be a good add for the WAC especially have a host school for the Great Alaska Shootout.

(05-24-2016 01:49 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Then all sports should be at UAA. But you know that will never fly ...

UAA will get volleyball, m/w basketball, gymnastics, track and field

UAF will get hockey, skiing, rifle, swimming, x country

At least that was a breakdown that was reported earlier.

(05-24-2016 04:20 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-24-2016 01:45 PM)PlayBall! Wrote:  Pardon my ignorance, but do any of them already play FB? If so, in what NCAA division and conference?

If not and if combined, could they likely build an indoor stadium, nearby airport and hotels, field a team, and be worthy of a G5 conference? If HI can do it, AK should be able to as well, IMHO, if the state pulls together to make it happen (see NE's NU model).

Both are in NCAA D2 GNAC. Neither play football.

What is curious is the UAF president made the suggestion, but have wonder if he would be serious about the location being in Anchorage. It would have to be in Anchorage. With a population of over 300k that really is the only option. Fairbanks and Juneau only have 32k each.

Hopefully we'll see some new of the meeting on June 2nd. This could really solve a political issue and that by having 1 athletic program, the WAC would be a good option. They may force UMKC and Chicago St to look elsewhere, but it would be a good add for the WAC especially have a host school for the Great Alaska Shootout.

Fairbanks has 100k in its borough and it's buildings are not igloos.

(05-24-2016 04:42 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-24-2016 01:49 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Then all sports should be at UAA. But you know that will never fly ...

UAA will get volleyball, m/w basketball, gymnastics, track and field

UAF will get hockey, skiing, rifle, swimming, x country

At least that was a breakdown that was reported earlier.

That doesn't solve anything.

Besides, the UAF president was suggesting 1 institution which in essence will closed down the 2 schools.

UAF is the state flagship school in Alaska. They get the priority over the others.

(05-24-2016 05:39 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  UAF is the state flagship school in Alaska. They get the priority over the others.

Just like U of Idaho over Boise, right?

(05-24-2016 04:45 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-24-2016 04:42 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(05-24-2016 01:49 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Then all sports should be at UAA. But you know that will never fly ...

UAA will get volleyball, m/w basketball, gymnastics, track and field

UAF will get hockey, skiing, rifle, swimming, x country

At least that was a breakdown that was reported earlier.

That doesn't solve anything.

Besides, the UAF president was suggesting 1 institution which in essence will closed down the 2 schools.

The Alaska papers have had news stories on this higher ed predicament for a month.

Campuses wouldn't be closed but some majors consolidated. Presidents and some admin would lose their jobs, which would be a major saving. Sports would be cut, but the separate cities would still have athletic representation.

Alaska is in a major funk because oil production and prices have been going down for years.

The Obama admin and the EPA have shut down proposals that would have given Alaska thousands of mining and production jobs. Alaska right now is hurting financially.

Maybe they can consolidate and move up to FCS. Then they could play against Idaho and Montana.