The Sicatoka

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.

Nominated for understatement of the day. Baker had some questionable accounting under his watch and he made some serious gaffes regarding Bismarck politics.

What are the tax and potential "employee" (workman's comp anyone?) impacts of this?

Riddle me this: If hockey isn't going to change, why'd Coach Hakstol tell the Wisconsin TV broadcast guy that North Dakota could play its fast, hard-nosed style with any moniker? And better: Have you taken a close, close look at goalie masks worn by Dell, Eidsness, and Maris yet this year? Tell me what you do see. Tell me what you don't see. I will be a North Dakota Hockey fan until I'm gone (and probably beyond). North Dakota has seven national title. North Dakota will get more.

Alcorn is pathetic. NCAA playoffs are never in their sights. The BSC could decide to not expand tomorrow because they are having a bad hair day. And is Chuck Haga really a friend of UND athletics. I question his motivations.

Really? Explain why please.

"Mothers were often Cree, Ojibway, Algonquin, Saulteaux, Menominee, Mi'kmaq or Maliseet. At one time there was an important distinction between French Métis born of francophone voyageur fathers, ... " (Source: http://en.wikipedia...._people_(Canada) ) I suspect, given his Turtle Mountain ties, Mr. Brien is French Metis: French and Ojibway/Chippewa. (I know others of similar heritage.) But why does this matter? His wife is of Spirit Lake Nation, or so I'm told.

Yes, and more are adding. I had a ND HSAA board member tell me that lax is the next most likely boys sport add. And hockey and lax are the co-official sports of Canada. With that, can we move the lax talk to the (resurrected) lacrosse thread and keep this on conference realignments? Thanks.

Seems like time to resurrect this thread ...

Thin roster --> thinner.

Schlossman had Hak quoted as Grimaldi is doubtful earlier this week. That's not very hush-hush.

I'm not sure everyone's identity on the team (in my getter-setter-shooter theory) has been established yet, beyond a couple obvious ... Knight's a setter. Kristo ... uh, yeah, he's a shooter. Until that's figured out the lines won't be settled and the team won't start rolling.

A wise man (don't tell him I said it) told me once: Anybody can say anything.

This game is a must win for UND. This is the first toe-hold for the long climb to the top of the Big Sky.

Check the date on the linked post. Glad to see you finally show up.

I've heard that somewhere ... http://forum.siouxsports.com/topic/5832-lacrosse-at-a-di-und/page__view__findpost__p__129490

(Assuming you're male ... ) Are you married? Did your wife take your last name after marrying you? Did you love her less after she {gasp!} changed her name? Or, were the fundamentals that initially attracted you still there, just renamed.

Except there will continue to be UND presence in Minnesota and Wisconsin through North Dakota hockey. Always key is "get the name out there" and hockey will continue to do it for UND to the east.

For 50+ years UND was "on its own" (compared to the other Dakota schools) with hockey. It did kinda-OK by itself there (7 NCAA National Championship). I think UND will be just fine on its own again in the Big Sky.

The legally binding contracts would disagree with you.

I think Mr. Engelstad was a savvy business man who liked the old ways but accepted that times change, and not always for the better. My proof: There was an article during construction of REA where Mr. E pointed out that when he started in construction everything was done with a handshake and that today everything required battalions of lawyers and piles of contracts. He said he wished he could do the handshake but had the lawyers on retainer. He changed as the times did.

Per the settlement agreement, UND must retain it's claim over the name and logo or transfer them to a namesake tribe. Those are the option or UND is in violation of a legal settlement Settlement Agreement: http://www.ag.nd.gov/NCAA/SettlementAgreement.pdf , see 2.j "Intellectual Property".