The Sicatoka

LIke I've said before, who most hopes UND shows up in St. Paul this weekend and gets caught with an accidental word or logo? Western Michigan. Minnesota. Boston University.

I wonder how long until the next university tells UND that it won't schedule UND because of the moniker (the NCAA best-practices scheduling policy).

And it's not a beef so much as Carlson looking to consolidate even more micromanaging power into the Legislature and more specifically into his grubby (House majority leader) hands.

I'd say captain Mario Lamoureux and his teammates were done a great disservice if it was an intentional sabotage. The last four and a half periods from this team tell me they could win wearing even Minnesota's ugly jerseys (not that I'd punish Mario and the boys with something that horrific).

We haven't lost a home playoff game (and the associated revenue and advantage), ... yet. I wonder what Rob would say if someone makes an honest mistake and the NCAA forfeits our hockey team on Saturday (or Sunday ).

Replace "Sioux" with "Dakota". Put my avatar on the shoulders. Swap green for white, white for green for home. Done.

Unless any of those have the forbidden word or logo on them. I believe the gloves have "North Dakota" stitched on the cuff. That's OK. The black hockey pants have the logo on the front of the left leg. That's a fail. The helmets have both the word and logo (but those are stickers I've been told). That's a "fix" to use. Somehow Dell and Eids didn't include anything "forbidden" on their masks this year. Coincidence? I think not.

Looking at the copy of the NCAA rule book I have (a couple years old), it only says the team must be dressed "uniformly" (all the same) with the visiting team wearing dark jerseys and dark stockings. The jersey has to have 10" numbers on the back and 4" numbers on both sleeves or on the front.

No, more of a detailed inspection and compliance officer. If I were the other I'd probably work for a fascist organization (like the NCAA).

Back to jerseys: Anything but the block letter "North Dakota" from the Pres. Baker era. Where are Schlossman and Haga? GF is normally "leaky". Where are their grainy, leaked photos (taken with a Nintendo DSi by someone claiming to just be playing "Backyard Hockey") of the new sweaters?

I didn't mean to derail this thread so let's stop here. There's a whole forum answering this question. Please go there. Thanks.

You could put a lot of "thought bubbles" above the various folks in that picture. It's ripe for epic "caption this photo" usage.

I'm just the idea man.

Want to make a simple, clear statement? Bring a big poster with a Florida State logo on it with the words: This is acceptable; UND's is not.

The media will make this as big of an issue as they think they can (to sell advertising, it's what they do). Putting it out there early takes the steam away. Otherwise, the post-game (heck, if it's Kevin Gorg ... in-game) questions will come about "distraction".

Like I said,

Weigh that against the game-day distraction. I'd rather get ahead of it and have it be secondary on game-day.

Put me in the "I think that's a mistake" column.

The ones I've seen always just say "University of North Dakota". If that's an issue: charter.

I'm public service minded.

I hereby volunteer my time to see the cheerleaders through this (below) process that I've defined. You can do the same with the band and with Jayson Hajdu and the athletics admins.

Hotel? I'd have the equipment manager pack a "racially cleansed NCAA approved" bag for each guy and have them walk from the REA locker room onto the bus to St. Paul naked. (Thank goodness the bus can pull into REA and they don't have to step outside. ) They can dress from their "racially cleansed NCAA approved" bag on the bus on I-29. And someone make sure Hak takes the lapel pin off.

It'd be foolish to bet against that.

I think Coach Hakstol would be wise to call a press conference today or tomorrow and simply have a mannequin with the helmet, jersey, pants, and socks they'll be wearing this weekend. Being the 1-seed it's easy because they only have to show the white jersey. Show them, then point blank say, "We, the team, will not be taking questions about this uniform. All questions may be directed to Bernard Franklin and Walter Harrison at the NCAA. Thank you." And then walk out. Let the media buzz but get the distraction out of the way well before Saturday.

You know who most wants UND to show up with the logo and the word "Sioux" this weekend? Western Michigan, Boston University, and Minnesota. Why? Because if we show up with it it is immediate game forfeiture and we're put onto a bus home.