Most supporters of UNO Athletics felt let down by the Board of Regents meeting Friday. And it wasn't just because of the unanimous rubber stamp decision to go Division I and essentially drop football and wrestling. No, most people were disappointed because of all the questions left unanswered before the conclusion of the meeting.

I have reached out to the community to find the questions that need to be answered. All UNO Chancellor John Christensen and Athletic Director Trev Alberts need to do is read them, think about them and type up their responses. They don't even have to leave the office.

Let's find a solutions-oriented, civil way to discuss these issues as adults.

1) Why weren't the coaches contacted to see if there was a possibile way of retaining their programs? They are most in touch with their alumni donors. Chancellor, you know personally how Coach Denney and his family will fight through any adversity you give them. Wouldn't it make sense to give them a shot to make it work?

2)Chancellor Christiensen, if Trev Alberts did not realize he was being hired to run UNO Athletics as a business, what made him such an attractive candidate for the athletic director position? What qualified him for the job at this time, in this current situation? He had no background in business, nor any background in athletic administration. When you knew this was the most difficult and defining time in UNO sports history, why did you hire someone with zero experience or preparation for this position?

3) What are the true profit/loss statements for football and wrestling? You have said they operate at a major loss, but government reports show otherwise. Why is there such a discrepancy?

4) How did the Omaha World-Herald know about the Summit League invitation and the elimination of both the football and wrestling programs before the teams knew?

5) How come the Alden Report only showed the results of UNO going to Division I and dropping both football and wrestling? A legitimate comparison throughout did not paint the pictures of multiple scenarios. Given a year's worth of work, a more thorough and detailed report should have been made with multiple options explored. If UNO students are held to a much higher standard for their business reports, why was the Alden Report acceptable in your eyes?

6) In your PowerPoint presentation given at the Regent's meeting, you carried out the current trends to the year 2016. There's two glaring holes there.

First, the expenditures continued to skyrocket, showing uncontrollable spending continuing by the athletic department. Why was there a $2 million spike from 2007-2010 in expenditures, and why would you continue to spend an additional $2 million in 2016?

Second, the revenues did not reflect the same current trends that expenditures and University support showed. This appears that you are either fitting the chart to your needs or you have no business management skills. How would revenues not go up at all, and why would you continue to add another $2 million in expenditures?

7) If the Summit League has a lower average budget than UNO and is competing in a higher division, how does this fit into the "Culture of Excellence" that has been your agenda? How does spending less money against programs with a lot more money equate to "excellence"? Furthermore, Mr. Alberts, you said at the Regents meeting that a lot of revenue would come from guaranteed money games in basketball.

You said, "Other than a demoralizing loss, there would be no real injury to the team." How does accepting demoralizing losses (you projected four per year in your numbers) equate to your "Culture of Excellence?"

8) How come the only people who spoke on behalf of your plan were paid employees of the University? Was any sort of public relations firm consulted throughout this process?

9) By taking away the booster bases from football and wrestling, how do you expect to increase your donations to the campus? Why would someone donate to Creighton basketball and soccer andUNO basketball and soccer when they are competing against each other?

10) How do you justify the loss of athletic/academic opportunities for Nebraska students at UNO as you move to Division I?

11) What is the actual cost (scholarships, loss of alumni support, travel, other Division I expenses) of going Division I, and where is that balance sheet?

12) Why, knowing this decision was coming, would you sign off on the hiring of a new assistant football coach and allow him to move his family here and buy a house?

13) Alberts, you said you didn't realize you would be running an athletics program as a business when you first started. Why, at that point, did you not seek the advice of some of the top business people in the city who also just happen to be the biggest supporters of your program?

Had you said, "Here is what it takes to go Division I, keep football and wrestling, give the Summit League a reason to accept us, and fall in line with Title IX," you would have had a team of passionate business men working tirelessly to find a way to make it work. If they couldn't do it, then it couldn't be done. There wouldn't be the backlash you see now.

You still have the chance to do that. You can still answer the question, "Given a magic wand and Buffet/Gates money, what would it take to move to Division I in the Summit League, keep football and wrestling, align with the Summit League and become Title IX compliant?" Give us that number, and let us run with it. If you aren't willing to give these athletes a chance, why would anyone believe you would give the chance to future athletes?

Editor's note: The Gateway invites Chancellor Christensen and Trev Alberts to respond to Editor-in-Chief Jasmine Maharisi at jasmine.maharasi@unogateway.com