The Sicatoka

http://www.grandforker.com/

I'm not saying number of penalties; I'm saying he needs to be smarter and not take silly ones at critical times of games. Case in point: the Saturday game versus Maine. It's a tight, one-goal game late and he decides to step up and destroy a Maine forward ... and takes an interference penalty in the process that leads to the goal for Maine to tie.

Well there's a glimpse into the Ninth Ring of Hell.

Is there a single website, simple, that shows all the conferences and their members as of this recent spate of changes?

One more notion: I heard too much "6th win" talk from the coaches and team this weekend. Yes, that's an important goal (winning season), but it almost felt like a pre-emptive strike against criticism in case the rest of the season doesn't go so well. This UND team has a shot at a share of a Great West title. UC-Davis is coming off an emotional win and will look at UND as a team that just barely squeeked out wins at UNC and against a transitional DII. UC-Davis can't win a title (already have two losses). Davis is primed for the picking the way I see it. Will Mussman see it the same way and have the team ready?

If you're playing "ifs and buts" why not throw in the names Gregoire and Hextall too?

If I were the coach ... - I'd get Grimaldi and O'Donnell healthy ASAP. Actually, look at the record and O'Donnell is a better success indicator when in the line-up than Grimaldi. This team is offensively-challenged right now and needs all hands on deck. - I'd have a chat with Rodwell. I'd tell him he's the shooter on that Lammy (getter) - Rowney (creater) - Rodwell (shooter) line and that he made a mistake in passing to Lammy on the 2-on-1 break over the weekend. Take a smart shot and Lammy will clean up the grease. - I'd have a chat with Pattyn and remind him that the safest place for the puck to be in your zone is on your stick behind your net. He made a freshman mistake leading Minnesota's goal to tie. - I'd have a chat with the entire defense. I'd let them know expectations of them are really high but that sometimes the best way to meet those expectations is to simplify what they're doing. - I'd also let MacWilliam know that he needs to dial down the penalties. - I'd tell the team that these are the months that end in "R". Those are the months that you learn and make some mistakes. Next come the months that end in "Y". Those are the months that you show what you've learned and make final adjustments. Then come the months that end in "H" and "L". That's where you apply what you've learned. Keep it R-Y-H-L.

I've wondered how certain members of Fargo media just seem to know the right day and time to call a recruit to see if they've committed somewhere.

Lennon would restore "buzz" to the program. I think Mussman's true test was handed to him by UC-Davis on Saturday when UCD beat Cal Poly: If Muss' team can win out they share a piece of the GW title and he has some real credibility going into the Big Sky. If they lose out, Muss is in trouble.

Normally I'd be afraid of this game. However, I've heard more than one UND player (via media) mention this game as one that they're looking forward to. Time to follow through and correct the previous error, lads.

Not really. I just know poor form when I see it and called it. For that matter, I really do expect better from you Scoob. Where's your "A game"?

Did all your fourth-grade friends around you giggle when you typed that?

Just a mos-cow. {ba-dump-bump ... ting!}

It's caving in around the Vandals.

Should he be more concerned with a football team or with a state budget bleeding red ink?

Gothberg? The goalie for the Fargo Force? Eidsness' Friday in Madison put Dell into the crease until Eidsness earns the job back in practice.

Let me get this straight: Boise State (#67 Regional West*) is complaining about Southern Utah (#71 Regional West**) and North Dakota (#164 NATIONAL***). And UND would be top three academically in the Big Sky. That's rich. * http://colleges.usne...university-1616 ** http://colleges.usne...university-3678 *** http://colleges.usne...rth-dakota-3005

And still only 3500 seats for basketball. That facility is "two sheets or one sheet and one 3500 basketball arena". UND has "two sheets and a 3500 basketball arena".

Minnesota 71, Bemidji State 58. That one, right? Linky-linky.

... 23, petey, at 5:56, ... that's petey, unassisted, at 5:56 ... </my best announcer-guy voice>

How is a transcript issue, a high school transcript issue, UND's fault or mistake. What a high schooler must do to play in the NCAA is pretty clearly set out here: http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp

That was answered already, here ... NDSU is #1 in the polls in their main sport, and yet they need affirmation from UND fans to feel whole.

Here's the key: Dealing with the NCAA and those under their control (read: conferences who need money from the NCAA) are not rational or logical. They are arbitrary and capricious. And they can be that way because they are private entities. Until they are deemed state actors they make the rules, as goofy as they may be.

The BSC will come up with a "we're happy at nine" answer and away they go. Just like Minnesota and Wisconsin will say "there's no open non-conference dates in our schedule". Either way, the outcome is the same: UND on the outside looking in.

Alumni, not alumni, I don't care. My criteria is this: Do you want the best for the program. The program. The program is everything, not just a word on a shirt. I'll say it again: This is Spirit Lake's fight now. They will or they won't. We have to do what is best (in bad circumstances) for the program.