November 12, 2025 • 21 mins
UND Athletics Director, Bill Chaves drops in to give insight about being part of the NCAA FCS Selection Committee.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Believe.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
We've got Director of Athletics Bill Chaves joining us here
on this veteran's day.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good morning, Bill, Hey Paul, how are you today.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm doing great, doing great. It's a it's a good Tuesday.
It's a good week. We've got basketball tonight, We've got
men's basketball at home, women's basketball on the road. We've
got key volleyball matches coming up this week with you
and d and Omaha on Thursday, and and another one
coming up on Saturday, still with a chance to find
(00:27):
a way into the Summit League tournament. So a lots
going on, and this is the most busy season of all.
I call it crossover season in late October through November. You,
you and I are an agreement. We'd be okay if
they started college basketball like right around Thanksgiving or just
after that would be that would be fun.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah, well, you know, I would say you're one hundred
percent right. We were talking yesterday a little bit when
we when we saw each other in the hallway, Yeah,
in Alex and I did our by weekly pod and
we were talking about the crossover as well. And you're right.
I mean when this this month of basketball, it's just
(01:07):
there's so much going on. There could be a great
game like you mentioned yesterday, North Carolina Kansas, and it
just kind of gets lost in the shuffle a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, sure does I mean, And that's just again, I
know they got it. You know, the calendar as such,
we got to have them, you know, March Madness, but
you know I would never be you know, it does
end in April, So why not just started in April
or at the very last week in a March to
have March Madness and finish up in April. I still
(01:38):
think we can think outside the box, but I know
there's so many other things that are going through the
minds of college athletics and in this world. Maybe that's
way down the line, but it would be interesting to
propose that's that's for sure. You get to serve on
a committee now. Matt Larson from NDSU had served on
that committee for a while, and you now are serving
(02:00):
being on a committee where when it comes to FCS
football there is the naming of the field eventually here
and you know, let's be honest, people take this very seriously.
You watch games, not even that are your own. You're
trying to stay up to date on everything going up
along the way, have you enjoyed, you know, being a
(02:22):
part of this and being in this role, because now
the big day where you all sit in a room
and name the field, I guess and DI select the
field is not that far away now.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
No, you're right, So yeah, I have enjoyed it. So
if you go back, I guess even if I look
back on the different stops I've had along the way,
I've been at multiple FCS institutions, so I feel like
I've been around this tournament a long long time and
it's fascinating now to finally sit on the committee, and
you know, I feel like at least bring some experience
(02:57):
to it, even though I'm in year one. As you mentioned,
and I think earlier this morning, you're right. I replaced
Matt Larson, who had been in this role for four years.
So it's a four year appointment, and by the time
he got to his fourth year, he was the chair
of the committee and he also oversaw our regional committee.
So there's two things going on, Paul. So there's the
(03:17):
national Committee, then there's a regional committee. So I sat
on that last year, and normally what happens is the
person that's in the Valley and in this case, Nathan
Christiansen from Indiana State normally will be your successor. How
that works. So I sat on that regional committee last
year and kind of got an idea of how it worked.
(03:38):
There's four regions around the country and each region has
that they call it IRAQ, a Regional Advisory Committee, and
they meet each Monday and they go through their region
and they submit their regional rankings and then that goes
up to the National Committee and then the National Committee
can take it. That's one data point you have, and
(03:58):
then you have other data points as well. So long
story short, there's eleven automatic berths into the field. Yes,
so there's eleven committee members, one from each conference, and
then the committee will then have to figure out the
next thirteen best teams to fill out the twenty four
team bracket.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Unfortunately, Northcote was at the forefront a few years ago
about you know seeding and then also at the same
time bids, and we've now gone away to seeding the
from the bidding process. We now seed the field correct.
So the top eight we'll obviously have an open week
and that opening weekend of playoff football with the other
(04:44):
you know, the top seeds remaining from nine to sixteen,
hosting seventeen through twenty four, right, so or I guess
so I'm bad at math.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So but basically let me pause you there, let me
pauseure there. So we went from seeding eight to sixteen. Okay, okay,
So the first sixteen are seeded, so that first weekend,
Thanksgiving weekend, the top eight will receive buys, yes, and
they'll they'll wait to play winners of whomever's playing that weekend.
(05:16):
But we all we also know nine through sixteen will
be the host teams. Oh so that's that's the differential.
A couple of years ago, when we made the field
and we ended up going out to Weaver, you know,
there was only eight seeds, so then there were unseeded
teams and there was more of a i'll call it
(05:37):
bid to bid and and did they really use the bids?
And one story shore it became, you know what, let's
see seed sixteen. That way, there's no debate on its
going to be the host team that first weekend.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
No, I agree with that, And of course we had
to live through it because you know, when little snippets
of news came out that North go to bid x
and then Lieber state bid X and then you're, oh, boy,
here we go. So obviously now we're at where we're at.
So you mentioned eleven people make up the National Committee,
and you guys will be getting in a room while
(06:14):
the last week is being concluded. Correct, So games will
be going on, probably many meaningful games. So you'll have
probably an area where you guys will meet where everybody
will be probably trying to see the final results of
the final week of the season come down.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Correct, that's correct. And if you recall, Paul, you've been
in this game long enough, remember there were well you
at that point in time, got a little hurt let's
just say, by playing a late game on that Saturday night. Yes,
the idea is to actually play the games all within
the same timeframe, not necessarily the way you know English
(06:54):
Premier Soccer does it per se on the last day,
but at least early enough in the day so that
you're all kind of, you know, getting a feel for
what's transpiring. And there's not one outlier where say cal
Poly's playing kickoff time eight o'clock eastern or something to
that effect, or even nine o'clock, who knows, right, So
at the end of the day. Yeah, we'll get in
(07:16):
on a Friday. And we've done a lot of work
throughout this year, like getting you know, the the mock
stuff done in a sense, so we have a feel
for kind of how this is gonna go. Now we
have seven new committee members, which is quite a bit sure,
and so so you know it's gonna be a first
(07:36):
time for many of us. But we meet every week virtually,
and so we you know, I've got another meeting today,
at another one tomorrow, and and so at the end,
I think we're pretty familiar with the process and what's
going to transpire. But you know, at the end of
the day, you're gonna need to get the automatics in.
Then you're going to try to figure out, you know,
(07:57):
the next thirteen best and then you start going down
you know, who needs to be seeds based on their
resume or body of work, the complete body work, and
then and then from there you know who's the next seats,
and then that will probably figure out you know, who
makes sense. If like say you're seventeen through twenty four,
you could probably go to any one of the nine
(08:20):
through sixteen based on bracketing principles.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Right, and you mentioned it basically kind of how it
unfolds there. So essentially there's an itinerary and agenda as
games conclude on the final day that you'll okay, oh
well we get let's get our top eight out there
and that we know though, okay, we got that, and
then you then you start getting the game of okay,
who's falling in the next you know, nine through twenty four,
(08:46):
and then who's you know, who's seated there, and and
so you basically have an agenda laid out of here's
what we attack, here's the next thing on the agenda,
and then you probably have to have at times real conversations.
And then there are times probably for you if it
included the University of North Dakota, that you would have
to remove yourself or whatever when when say your school
(09:09):
is being discussed, because that's just the way it will work,
but that would work for others in the room that
way as well.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I would assume, Yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Think that's right. And you know, interestingly, the way it's
playing out right now, you know, I think it's safe
to say so if we want to loop this back
to the University of North Dakota, I would say this
incredibly important to go down to Murray, Kentucky and win
a game this week and get seven Division one wins.
That always seems to be the marker in which you
(09:40):
certainly are a team in contention at that point for
an at large. Now, you know, depending on what transpires
the last game of the year. You know, obviously eight
wins is better than seven, obviously, and winning too straight
going out is incredibly important for us putting on my
(10:00):
und at right now, and that's important. But but I
still think even at seven and five and seven Division
one wins, each committee member has the opportunity to look
at what they think in FBS game either does or
doesn't do. Some folks might say, you know what, it's
not an FCS situation. It probably can only help you
(10:23):
if you do very well in that game. And I'm
not sure it necessarily hurts you as much. Now if
you win the game, it's obviously marvelous. Yeah, But you know,
I think that the demarcation line over the course of
time has always been seven Division one wins at least
gets you into the consideration category. And I think that's
(10:46):
why you know this week, and I know Coach Schmidt
has said it, he's right, it's incredibly important. I mean
this game, I know it was, you know, a game
that you know every year, you know, we set aside
three three and half hours in the state and it's
must watch TV. But I'll tell you what, it's must
watch at Murray this week too. Sure we've got to
(11:08):
go down there and take care of business.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Yeah, it's absolutely is And uh yeah, I mean there
This is a a weekend where coach Schmid has basically
said to us players, if you want to get to
your your next goal, which is to be a part
of the postseason, all your focus has to be on
Tuesday being one and oh and being one and o
on Wednesday, and then when you get to Saturday, you
(11:31):
got to be one and on Saturday as well, and
that will help, uh, you know, pave the path of
getting to where you want to go. So he says,
we don't hide from those conversations, we don't hide it
from our players. We tell them straight out exactly the pathway.
And I think that's a that's awesome. I think that's
great if it's just honest and forthright, and I think
players respond to that. So I I you know, I
(11:51):
expect them to be ready for Saturday.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
When I hear stuff like that, I I like that stuff.
I get into it.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
But you know, one other thing here, Bill, let's focus
really quick if we can, just really quick. We really
haven't had a chance to talk too much about it,
but congratulations as being in the athletics director. I know
you're along for the ride or the run that is
for U and D women's cross country, the first team
in the University of North Dakota history since joining the
(12:18):
Summit League to win a Summit League team championship as
the Summit League postseason champions or the cross country champions
and uh and then Jaden Keeler an individual champion and
of course the men with the podium finish as well.
So talk about that program and kind of they're they're
things that they've earned here in recent weeks. Pretty awesome stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Yeah, it was. It was great, and you know we've
been close in other sports as well, and it's you know,
just uh, the multi sport league has you know, has
its uh, each team I would say program has its history,
its own history, if you will. And you know, knowing
that Denver has been incredibly good in the let's say
(13:01):
tennis and golf scene, you know, it's it's been a
tough climb there. You know, we've made a championship game
in men's basketball. I mean, there's some things that have happened,
but we've just never broken the seal. And I think
this one was huge for that particular reason. And you know,
it's interesting, Paul, when I was when I was the
a d at Eastern, it took a few years and uh,
(13:23):
and I think the first one we won was men's
tennis there and that led the way to all of
a sudden start going Okay, yeah, here we are. We're
ready to roll. And I think that's something that the
rest of our sports. I think they're taking it to heart.
And I think we're going to, you know, get to
a place where we're consistently, you know, a threat across
(13:45):
the board, and that's what you want to be going
into each season. But but Jayden and the ladies, and
for that matter, the guys, they weren't too far off
either on the cross country side. And but they've had
a marvelous season for sure, and they're down in regionals
still Water, Oklahoma this weekend, and so we're going to
be all eyes and see how they do in the region.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah, no doubt about it. I mean again, I go
back to you and D's brief time in the Big Sky.
You know, once a team broke through and cracked open
a championship, it seemed like a handful of teams that
then we're getting in on the party, and so you
just kind of hope it becomes contagious. And I firmly
believe that that's very possible, having seen that happen before.
(14:27):
But it just takes that first one to get through,
and they happened to be the ones to do it.
So good luck to them at the regional instilled water
here in Oklahoma running down there, and of course great
opportunity for them as they've carved out some great headlines
for a sport that doesn't always get them and that
was great.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
To see.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Over the fall. Now, Okay, what am I missing? What
else am I missing here? Well, we got you Indie
hockey coming at home this weekend as well, So.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
I will mention if we loop back to ye myself,
my service on the committee is yeah, you're right though,
when when the when they talk of the University of
North Dakota and and myself and uh for sure le
On Costello at Montana State, who's on the committee as
well in his first year. Yeah, we would be out
of the room when that happened. So they they will
(15:19):
they will evaluate, you know, teams or schools and so
there's not a conflict of interest. I will not be
in that conversation. Now, I broadly can be in the
conversation to say, hey, this is how our region voted
and where you know, teams are schools, uh, you know fault.
But at the end of the day, when they're literally
(15:39):
talking about U n D, I won't be in the room.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Okay, Well, but again that's not just for you and D.
Although we sometimes take that personally, I think it would
be only asked. That would be for anybody else in there,
anybody in that situation.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
That's right, Yeah, if anybody's in contention. Now I will
say this, Teams two through seven ye in the alley
South Dakota State, U n D, S I, U USD, IS,
SU and YU. They will all be you know, looked
upon on their merits, not necessarily in a sense against
each other per se. They so so you you could
(16:15):
have all of them make it if they are the
best one of the best thirteen at large teams, so
their resumes. Even though we're kind of knocking each other off,
and there's eleven games left in eight of them are
against each other and so so there's going to be
wins and losses here the rest of the year. But
it's going to come down to the body of work.
(16:36):
It's going to come down to strength the schedule. It's
going to come down to a lot of a lot
of pieces. So you might see a Valley that gets
X amount or y amount. It'll just be depending upon
who else they're competing with in the country.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Is there an IVY League participant?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
There is there is? First time this year? Wow, today today,
I think Harvard is the team that's on top. But
I think they still have a I think they still
play Penn at the end of the year, which is
going to be a tough game. And I think they
still have the game against Yale as well, so that's
always an interesting one. So but yes, that will be fascinating, Paul.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Right, Yeah, I just you know, when I looked and
saw the IVY League and Harvard the Crimson, you know,
one of the times that we've played Harvard in postseason
and has been in hockey, and I go back to
nineteen eighty seven we played them in the semi finals,
I believe, of the Frozen four for the right to
(17:37):
get to the national championship with which North Dakota won.
And yeah so, but Harvard, the IVY League has not
typically been a part of the FCS conversation, and so
they will have a team participant, whether it's Harvard, Yale,
maybe Penn or even Cornell still I think with the
shot in there as well, So lots to sort through,
but they will get a bid into this and that
(17:59):
is one less at large bid because of the Ivy
League as well. So really interesting stuff. I appreciate you
kind of walking us through because I don't think everybody
always has a sense of how it all kind of
comes together.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And you know, they thought maybe it was just like
a committee.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Of three and they already had it picked before they
arrived or anything. But everybody takes us pretty seriously. There's
weekly meetings, there's regional meetings, all that stuff leading up
to a selection day at the conclusion, and then of
course it's all released on that Sunday, I believe to
follow correct, that's when they announced the entire field.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
That's right there is and then we've got, you know,
support from NCAA's staff. So Ty Helpon is ironically the
same one that works with hockey, so we know Ty
very well, so he works with this committee. But I
think the other thing, last thing I'll mention is, you know,
although polls are nice and the coach's poll and the
stats I I guess perform, Yeah, you know, those you
(19:00):
can use as somewhat of a guide post to some degree,
but we just have so much more data to work with.
And I think that, you know, just because you see
those polls right now, they're nice for conversation, but it's
no different than I think the hockey poll where there's
more data in hockey. And I know we've gone to
this NPI, not the pair wise anymore. But you know,
(19:22):
so it really poles are fine, Paul, at the end
of the day, I'm not sure that that's going to
be one hundred percent just because say we're thirteen and
eighteen this week, I'm not sure I would read too
much into that because there's there's way more data that
the committee has.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Oh okay, so just polls are one thing, but data
is where the heft and the weight lies. Where the
committee dives into is beyond just polling, so to speak.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
So okay, well, it's no different than the hockey, right,
I think the you know, if you're on that committee,
the one thing you're doing is bracketing team. Sure, because
the day already spits out which teams are going to
be the at large teams. So interesting at the end
of the day, there's just not enough teams in FCS
football to do like an NPI, so we kind of
(20:12):
do quasi like NPIs if you will.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Oh wow, interesting.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
So well again, it's been a little glimpse behind the
curtain to you know, pull from the Wizard of Oz,
I guess of what happens and how a selection will go.
You will be in at firsthand, and this is year
one of a four year term of service on that
committee for you, and we well will a safe travels
(20:37):
we know from the North Dakota side and the team
that you and the athletic department that you sit at
top of. Basically, it's just go out there and win
this week and we'll figure it out from there.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
So I mean.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Certainly there's no substitute for winning games.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
That's exactly right. So Bill, thanks so much for joining us.
Here and we'll talk to you. Probably we'll see you
around later today and in the days to come. If
I'm anywhere in the lower forty eight, I guess we'll
talk to you then.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Yeah. And if I can just say thank you to
everyone that has served obviously on this Veterans Day.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Oh absolutely, thank you very much. Bill, have a great
rest of your day.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Okay, take care.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
All right, There goes.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Bill Chaves, director of Athletics, University of North Dakota. He's
sitting on the postseason selection committee for FCS football and
one of eleven in that room that day, and then
they'll dive into the details. But as you heard it
from there, there's things that go into it, and that,
as he basically hinted, he's like, hey, just go win
(21:38):
against Murray State, get to that seven wins, and then
you know feel like, you know, that's a good first step,
and then we'll worry about the other things from there,
including the game against South Dakota State the week to follow.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
It's seven thirty
Believe.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
We've got Director of Athletics Bill Chaves joining us here
on this veteran's day.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good morning, Bill, Hey Paul, how are you today.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm doing great, doing great. It's a it's a good Tuesday.
It's a good week. We've got basketball tonight, We've got
men's basketball at home, women's basketball on the road. We've
got key volleyball matches coming up this week with you
and d and Omaha on Thursday, and and another one
coming up on Saturday, still with a chance to find
(00:27):
a way into the Summit League tournament. So a lots
going on, and this is the most busy season of all.
I call it crossover season in late October through November. You,
you and I are an agreement. We'd be okay if
they started college basketball like right around Thanksgiving or just
after that would be that would be fun.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah, well, you know, I would say you're one hundred
percent right. We were talking yesterday a little bit when
we when we saw each other in the hallway, Yeah,
in Alex and I did our by weekly pod and
we were talking about the crossover as well. And you're right.
I mean when this this month of basketball, it's just
(01:07):
there's so much going on. There could be a great
game like you mentioned yesterday, North Carolina Kansas, and it
just kind of gets lost in the shuffle a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, sure does I mean, And that's just again, I
know they got it. You know, the calendar as such,
we got to have them, you know, March Madness, but
you know I would never be you know, it does
end in April, So why not just started in April
or at the very last week in a March to
have March Madness and finish up in April. I still
(01:38):
think we can think outside the box, but I know
there's so many other things that are going through the
minds of college athletics and in this world. Maybe that's
way down the line, but it would be interesting to
propose that's that's for sure. You get to serve on
a committee now. Matt Larson from NDSU had served on
that committee for a while, and you now are serving
(02:00):
being on a committee where when it comes to FCS
football there is the naming of the field eventually here
and you know, let's be honest, people take this very seriously.
You watch games, not even that are your own. You're
trying to stay up to date on everything going up
along the way, have you enjoyed, you know, being a
(02:22):
part of this and being in this role, because now
the big day where you all sit in a room
and name the field, I guess and DI select the
field is not that far away now.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
No, you're right, So yeah, I have enjoyed it. So
if you go back, I guess even if I look
back on the different stops I've had along the way,
I've been at multiple FCS institutions, so I feel like
I've been around this tournament a long long time and
it's fascinating now to finally sit on the committee, and
you know, I feel like at least bring some experience
(02:57):
to it, even though I'm in year one. As you mentioned,
and I think earlier this morning, you're right. I replaced
Matt Larson, who had been in this role for four years.
So it's a four year appointment, and by the time
he got to his fourth year, he was the chair
of the committee and he also oversaw our regional committee.
So there's two things going on, Paul. So there's the
(03:17):
national Committee, then there's a regional committee. So I sat
on that last year, and normally what happens is the
person that's in the Valley and in this case, Nathan
Christiansen from Indiana State normally will be your successor. How
that works. So I sat on that regional committee last
year and kind of got an idea of how it worked.
(03:38):
There's four regions around the country and each region has
that they call it IRAQ, a Regional Advisory Committee, and
they meet each Monday and they go through their region
and they submit their regional rankings and then that goes
up to the National Committee and then the National Committee
can take it. That's one data point you have, and
(03:58):
then you have other data points as well. So long
story short, there's eleven automatic berths into the field. Yes,
so there's eleven committee members, one from each conference, and
then the committee will then have to figure out the
next thirteen best teams to fill out the twenty four
team bracket.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Unfortunately, Northcote was at the forefront a few years ago
about you know seeding and then also at the same
time bids, and we've now gone away to seeding the
from the bidding process. We now seed the field correct.
So the top eight we'll obviously have an open week
and that opening weekend of playoff football with the other
(04:44):
you know, the top seeds remaining from nine to sixteen,
hosting seventeen through twenty four, right, so or I guess
so I'm bad at math.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So but basically let me pause you there, let me
pauseure there. So we went from seeding eight to sixteen. Okay, okay,
So the first sixteen are seeded, so that first weekend,
Thanksgiving weekend, the top eight will receive buys, yes, and
they'll they'll wait to play winners of whomever's playing that weekend.
(05:16):
But we all we also know nine through sixteen will
be the host teams. Oh so that's that's the differential.
A couple of years ago, when we made the field
and we ended up going out to Weaver, you know,
there was only eight seeds, so then there were unseeded
teams and there was more of a i'll call it
(05:37):
bid to bid and and did they really use the bids?
And one story shore it became, you know what, let's
see seed sixteen. That way, there's no debate on its
going to be the host team that first weekend.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
No, I agree with that, And of course we had
to live through it because you know, when little snippets
of news came out that North go to bid x
and then Lieber state bid X and then you're, oh, boy,
here we go. So obviously now we're at where we're at.
So you mentioned eleven people make up the National Committee,
and you guys will be getting in a room while
(06:14):
the last week is being concluded. Correct, So games will
be going on, probably many meaningful games. So you'll have
probably an area where you guys will meet where everybody
will be probably trying to see the final results of
the final week of the season come down.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Correct, that's correct. And if you recall, Paul, you've been
in this game long enough, remember there were well you
at that point in time, got a little hurt let's
just say, by playing a late game on that Saturday night. Yes,
the idea is to actually play the games all within
the same timeframe, not necessarily the way you know English
(06:54):
Premier Soccer does it per se on the last day,
but at least early enough in the day so that
you're all kind of, you know, getting a feel for
what's transpiring. And there's not one outlier where say cal
Poly's playing kickoff time eight o'clock eastern or something to
that effect, or even nine o'clock, who knows, right, So
at the end of the day. Yeah, we'll get in
(07:16):
on a Friday. And we've done a lot of work
throughout this year, like getting you know, the the mock
stuff done in a sense, so we have a feel
for kind of how this is gonna go. Now we
have seven new committee members, which is quite a bit sure,
and so so you know it's gonna be a first
(07:36):
time for many of us. But we meet every week virtually,
and so we you know, I've got another meeting today,
at another one tomorrow, and and so at the end,
I think we're pretty familiar with the process and what's
going to transpire. But you know, at the end of
the day, you're gonna need to get the automatics in.
Then you're going to try to figure out, you know,
(07:57):
the next thirteen best and then you start going down
you know, who needs to be seeds based on their
resume or body of work, the complete body work, and
then and then from there you know who's the next seats,
and then that will probably figure out you know, who
makes sense. If like say you're seventeen through twenty four,
you could probably go to any one of the nine
(08:20):
through sixteen based on bracketing principles.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Right, and you mentioned it basically kind of how it
unfolds there. So essentially there's an itinerary and agenda as
games conclude on the final day that you'll okay, oh
well we get let's get our top eight out there
and that we know though, okay, we got that, and
then you then you start getting the game of okay,
who's falling in the next you know, nine through twenty four,
(08:46):
and then who's you know, who's seated there, and and
so you basically have an agenda laid out of here's
what we attack, here's the next thing on the agenda,
and then you probably have to have at times real conversations.
And then there are times probably for you if it
included the University of North Dakota, that you would have
to remove yourself or whatever when when say your school
(09:09):
is being discussed, because that's just the way it will work,
but that would work for others in the room that
way as well.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I would assume, Yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Think that's right. And you know, interestingly, the way it's
playing out right now, you know, I think it's safe
to say so if we want to loop this back
to the University of North Dakota, I would say this
incredibly important to go down to Murray, Kentucky and win
a game this week and get seven Division one wins.
That always seems to be the marker in which you
(09:40):
certainly are a team in contention at that point for
an at large. Now, you know, depending on what transpires
the last game of the year. You know, obviously eight
wins is better than seven, obviously, and winning too straight
going out is incredibly important for us putting on my
(10:00):
und at right now, and that's important. But but I
still think even at seven and five and seven Division
one wins, each committee member has the opportunity to look
at what they think in FBS game either does or
doesn't do. Some folks might say, you know what, it's
not an FCS situation. It probably can only help you
(10:23):
if you do very well in that game. And I'm
not sure it necessarily hurts you as much. Now if
you win the game, it's obviously marvelous. Yeah, But you know,
I think that the demarcation line over the course of
time has always been seven Division one wins at least
gets you into the consideration category. And I think that's
(10:46):
why you know this week, and I know Coach Schmidt
has said it, he's right, it's incredibly important. I mean
this game, I know it was, you know, a game
that you know every year, you know, we set aside
three three and half hours in the state and it's
must watch TV. But I'll tell you what, it's must
watch at Murray this week too. Sure we've got to
(11:08):
go down there and take care of business.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Yeah, it's absolutely is And uh yeah, I mean there
This is a a weekend where coach Schmid has basically
said to us players, if you want to get to
your your next goal, which is to be a part
of the postseason, all your focus has to be on
Tuesday being one and oh and being one and o
on Wednesday, and then when you get to Saturday, you
(11:31):
got to be one and on Saturday as well, and
that will help, uh, you know, pave the path of
getting to where you want to go. So he says,
we don't hide from those conversations, we don't hide it
from our players. We tell them straight out exactly the pathway.
And I think that's a that's awesome. I think that's
great if it's just honest and forthright, and I think
players respond to that. So I I you know, I
(11:51):
expect them to be ready for Saturday.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
When I hear stuff like that, I I like that stuff.
I get into it.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
But you know, one other thing here, Bill, let's focus
really quick if we can, just really quick. We really
haven't had a chance to talk too much about it,
but congratulations as being in the athletics director. I know
you're along for the ride or the run that is
for U and D women's cross country, the first team
in the University of North Dakota history since joining the
(12:18):
Summit League to win a Summit League team championship as
the Summit League postseason champions or the cross country champions
and uh and then Jaden Keeler an individual champion and
of course the men with the podium finish as well.
So talk about that program and kind of they're they're
things that they've earned here in recent weeks. Pretty awesome stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Yeah, it was. It was great, and you know we've
been close in other sports as well, and it's you know,
just uh, the multi sport league has you know, has
its uh, each team I would say program has its history,
its own history, if you will. And you know, knowing
that Denver has been incredibly good in the let's say
(13:01):
tennis and golf scene, you know, it's it's been a
tough climb there. You know, we've made a championship game
in men's basketball. I mean, there's some things that have happened,
but we've just never broken the seal. And I think
this one was huge for that particular reason. And you know,
it's interesting, Paul, when I was when I was the
a d at Eastern, it took a few years and uh,
(13:23):
and I think the first one we won was men's
tennis there and that led the way to all of
a sudden start going Okay, yeah, here we are. We're
ready to roll. And I think that's something that the
rest of our sports. I think they're taking it to heart.
And I think we're going to, you know, get to
a place where we're consistently, you know, a threat across
(13:45):
the board, and that's what you want to be going
into each season. But but Jayden and the ladies, and
for that matter, the guys, they weren't too far off
either on the cross country side. And but they've had
a marvelous season for sure, and they're down in regionals
still Water, Oklahoma this weekend, and so we're going to
be all eyes and see how they do in the region.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah, no doubt about it. I mean again, I go
back to you and D's brief time in the Big Sky.
You know, once a team broke through and cracked open
a championship, it seemed like a handful of teams that
then we're getting in on the party, and so you
just kind of hope it becomes contagious. And I firmly
believe that that's very possible, having seen that happen before.
(14:27):
But it just takes that first one to get through,
and they happened to be the ones to do it.
So good luck to them at the regional instilled water
here in Oklahoma running down there, and of course great
opportunity for them as they've carved out some great headlines
for a sport that doesn't always get them and that
was great.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
To see.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Over the fall. Now, Okay, what am I missing? What
else am I missing here? Well, we got you Indie
hockey coming at home this weekend as well, So.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
I will mention if we loop back to ye myself,
my service on the committee is yeah, you're right though,
when when the when they talk of the University of
North Dakota and and myself and uh for sure le
On Costello at Montana State, who's on the committee as
well in his first year. Yeah, we would be out
of the room when that happened. So they they will
(15:19):
they will evaluate, you know, teams or schools and so
there's not a conflict of interest. I will not be
in that conversation. Now, I broadly can be in the
conversation to say, hey, this is how our region voted
and where you know, teams are schools, uh, you know fault.
But at the end of the day, when they're literally
(15:39):
talking about U n D, I won't be in the room.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Okay, Well, but again that's not just for you and D.
Although we sometimes take that personally, I think it would
be only asked. That would be for anybody else in there,
anybody in that situation.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
That's right, Yeah, if anybody's in contention. Now I will
say this, Teams two through seven ye in the alley
South Dakota State, U n D, S I, U USD, IS,
SU and YU. They will all be you know, looked
upon on their merits, not necessarily in a sense against
each other per se. They so so you you could
(16:15):
have all of them make it if they are the
best one of the best thirteen at large teams, so
their resumes. Even though we're kind of knocking each other off,
and there's eleven games left in eight of them are
against each other and so so there's going to be
wins and losses here the rest of the year. But
it's going to come down to the body of work.
(16:36):
It's going to come down to strength the schedule. It's
going to come down to a lot of a lot
of pieces. So you might see a Valley that gets
X amount or y amount. It'll just be depending upon
who else they're competing with in the country.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Is there an IVY League participant?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
There is there is? First time this year? Wow, today today,
I think Harvard is the team that's on top. But
I think they still have a I think they still
play Penn at the end of the year, which is
going to be a tough game. And I think they
still have the game against Yale as well, so that's
always an interesting one. So but yes, that will be fascinating, Paul.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Right, Yeah, I just you know, when I looked and
saw the IVY League and Harvard the Crimson, you know,
one of the times that we've played Harvard in postseason
and has been in hockey, and I go back to
nineteen eighty seven we played them in the semi finals,
I believe, of the Frozen four for the right to
(17:37):
get to the national championship with which North Dakota won.
And yeah so, but Harvard, the IVY League has not
typically been a part of the FCS conversation, and so
they will have a team participant, whether it's Harvard, Yale,
maybe Penn or even Cornell still I think with the
shot in there as well, So lots to sort through,
but they will get a bid into this and that
(17:59):
is one less at large bid because of the Ivy
League as well. So really interesting stuff. I appreciate you
kind of walking us through because I don't think everybody
always has a sense of how it all kind of
comes together.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And you know, they thought maybe it was just like
a committee.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Of three and they already had it picked before they
arrived or anything. But everybody takes us pretty seriously. There's
weekly meetings, there's regional meetings, all that stuff leading up
to a selection day at the conclusion, and then of
course it's all released on that Sunday, I believe to
follow correct, that's when they announced the entire field.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
That's right there is and then we've got, you know,
support from NCAA's staff. So Ty Helpon is ironically the
same one that works with hockey, so we know Ty
very well, so he works with this committee. But I
think the other thing, last thing I'll mention is, you know,
although polls are nice and the coach's poll and the
stats I I guess perform, Yeah, you know, those you
(19:00):
can use as somewhat of a guide post to some degree,
but we just have so much more data to work with.
And I think that, you know, just because you see
those polls right now, they're nice for conversation, but it's
no different than I think the hockey poll where there's
more data in hockey. And I know we've gone to
this NPI, not the pair wise anymore. But you know,
(19:22):
so it really poles are fine, Paul, at the end
of the day, I'm not sure that that's going to
be one hundred percent just because say we're thirteen and
eighteen this week, I'm not sure I would read too
much into that because there's there's way more data that
the committee has.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Oh okay, so just polls are one thing, but data
is where the heft and the weight lies. Where the
committee dives into is beyond just polling, so to speak.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
So okay, well, it's no different than the hockey, right,
I think the you know, if you're on that committee,
the one thing you're doing is bracketing team. Sure, because
the day already spits out which teams are going to
be the at large teams. So interesting at the end
of the day, there's just not enough teams in FCS
football to do like an NPI, so we kind of
(20:12):
do quasi like NPIs if you will.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Oh wow, interesting.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
So well again, it's been a little glimpse behind the
curtain to you know, pull from the Wizard of Oz,
I guess of what happens and how a selection will go.
You will be in at firsthand, and this is year
one of a four year term of service on that
committee for you, and we well will a safe travels
(20:37):
we know from the North Dakota side and the team
that you and the athletic department that you sit at
top of. Basically, it's just go out there and win
this week and we'll figure it out from there.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
So I mean.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Certainly there's no substitute for winning games.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
That's exactly right. So Bill, thanks so much for joining us.
Here and we'll talk to you. Probably we'll see you
around later today and in the days to come. If
I'm anywhere in the lower forty eight, I guess we'll
talk to you then.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Yeah. And if I can just say thank you to
everyone that has served obviously on this Veterans Day.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Oh absolutely, thank you very much. Bill, have a great
rest of your day.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Okay, take care.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
All right, There goes.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Bill Chaves, director of Athletics, University of North Dakota. He's
sitting on the postseason selection committee for FCS football and
one of eleven in that room that day, and then
they'll dive into the details. But as you heard it
from there, there's things that go into it, and that,
as he basically hinted, he's like, hey, just go win
(21:38):
against Murray State, get to that seven wins, and then
you know feel like, you know, that's a good first step,
and then we'll worry about the other things from there,
including the game against South Dakota State the week to follow.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
It's seven thirty
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