McFeely's Tip Sheet: MSUM has big plans for Nemzek renovation when time comes

McFeely's Tip Sheet is a compilation of notes, quotes, rumors, gossip and commentary by Forum columnist Mike McFeely. If you have a tip, a note or a hot rumor feel free to send it along to mmcfeely@forumcomm.com. Not all will be printed because of, you know, legal reasons. But they might lead to something. All tip sources will remain anonymous.

Minnesota State University Moorhead has big plans for its athletics building. It's just that the Dragons are going to have to wait awhile for those plans to happen.

MSUM has preliminary designs to renovate Alex Nemzek Hall and has made a budget request of $43.4 million to the state of Minnesota to fund the project.

MSUM Athletics

It's MSUM's No. 1 capital project priority now that the long-awaited Weld Hall renovation is funded and underway.

Unfortunately, the Nemzek Hall project was not included on the Minnesota State university system's capital project priority list for the 2024 legislative session. So the earliest the project could get OK'd for funding is 2026.

And even then, that would only be design funding. MSUM would then need to secure funding for actual construction.

In other words, any kind of invigorated Nemzek Hall — including an arena-style setup for basketball, volleyball and wrestling in addition to new classrooms and a general sprucing up of the 1960s-era building — is years down the road.

MSUM made Weld Hall's improvement a priority in 2014 and construction finally began in 2023. It's expected to be completed in 2026.

Nonetheless, the preliminary plans for Nemzek look sharp.

"The hope of the project is to really update our facilities and create a good viewing environment for our fans," MSUM athletic director Chad Markuson said. "It will provide top-notch facilities for our athletes and will enhance our academic offerings."

The Dragons basketball programs continue to rank among the top in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference despite having some of the worst facilities in the league. MSUM's men are ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II ahead of a key road swing to Winona State and Minnesota State Mankato this weekend.

Something that likely won't happen, but if it does I'll look like a genius:

— How about back to the future for NDSU football? Courtney Messingham, who was the Bison's offensive coordinator from 2017-2018, will return in that capacity after Tyler Roehl left to take a job at Tennessee State. Messingham went with Chris Klieman to be his offensive coordinator at Kansas State but was let go after a couple of seasons.

The offensive line is rarely a question mark for North Dakota State's football team. But with spring ball two months away, the Bison head into 2024 with some holes to fill up front. It will be a position group to watch through the spring into fall camp.

Having fifth-year tackle Grey Zabel return despite being courted by Power Five FBS programs was a huge win for the Bison. Fifth-year guard Mason Miller also returns. Beyond that, NDSU has some things to figure out after the departure of graduates Jalen Sundell, Brandon Westberg and Jake Kubas.

The Bison appear to have plenty of candidates and good depth, but figuring out who will start and who will play where is the intrigue.

Zabel played right tackle last season after being moved from guard, but he could be moved to left tackle this year. Miller was the left guard last season, so it's possible he and Zabel will man the left side of the line. Marshall transfer Trent Fraley is a candidate to play center, with seniors Jake Rock and Hunter Poncius in the mix to start on the right side of the line.

Senior Hayden Johnston was No. 2 on the depth chart at center for last season's playoff semifinal at Montana. Sophomore Devin Lockerby backed up Miller at left guard against the Grizzlies. Senior Bryce Friday was the backup at right guard.

After that, the Bison get young. Redshirt freshmen Griffin Empey (center), Beau Johnson (tackle) and Jack Liwienski (guard) — all of whom Bison coaches raved about as true freshmen in 2023 — will get good looks in the spring, too. Redshirt freshman Nate Schneckloth (tackle) is also an option.

NDSU had some good offensive line prospects leave the last couple of years. Seth Anderson of Moorhead, who would've been in the discussion to be a starter this season, transferred to North Dakota. Two players Bison coaches believed had big potential, Max Rader and Braden Rucker, left the program. Rader transferred to Wisconsin.

That's left the Bison with a gap that might have to be filled by redshirt freshmen in 2024. They already have one transfer in Fraley and might look for another if they can't sort things out in spring practice.

Minot State was 1-10 in 2023, but that doesn't mean the Beavers didn't have an NFL prospect. Defensive back Knylen Miller-Levi is drawing attention from many NFL and Canadian Football League scouts, according to head coach Ian Shields.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Las Vegas product was an NCAA Division II All-America second team selection as a junior and a first team all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference as a sophomore and senior. He was second-team all-NSIC as a junior.

"Has all the measureables people are looking for at cornerback — speed, length, ball skills, physicality, fluid athlete, instincts," Shields said. "He's a dynamic player that also adds value as a kick returner."

Miller-Levi averaged 24 yards on 19 kickoff returns as a senior.

Peyton Hoffman, the Fisher-Climax eighth-grader who recently surpassed 1,000 career points, is the daughter of former NDSU women's basketball player Brenda Slyt, who is an assistant girls basketball coach and head volleyball coach for the high school. Brenda played for the Bison from 2004-2008, playing in 106 games and starting 53 over her final two seasons, when she averaged 13 points. ... Mayville, N.D.'s Ben Jacobson, head men's basketball coach at Northern Iowa, won his 188th game against Missouri Valley Conference opponents last weekend, becoming the league's all-time wins leader in men's basketball. Jacobson broke a 68-year-old record held by legendary Hank Iba of Oklahoma State. The Cowboys left the conference in 1956. Jacobson played at North Dakota and served as an assistant coach at UND and NDSU before following Greg McDermott to UNI. ... Youngstown State's football program added 14 mid-year transfers after losing 16 players to the portal earlier. All 14 are currently enrolled at YSU and are participating in offseason actvities with the program, according to the school. YSU picked up 10 FBS transfers, two FCS and two Division II transfers. ... Fargo's Tom Hoge had his best outing on this year's PGA Tour last week, shooting 65-65 on the weekend to finish 21-under-par and tied for 17th at the American Express in La Quinta, Calif. Hoge made $132,300 for the week and sits 41st on the year-long money list at $228,300. ... MSUM will host a free public screening of "The Loyola Project," a 2022 documentary film about the 1963 Loyola University (Chicago) Ramblers men’s basketball team on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts Hansen Theatre. The film details how the Ramblers, led by coach George Ireland, broke down racial barriers in college basketball on their path to becoming NCAA champions. Loyola- Chicago alum and basketball player Lucas Williamson is narrator and co-writer of the documentary.