The Sicatoka

Back to the challenge of election results and the tribal judge's ruling, look at the fallout. Seems predictable namely because: - tribal politics at work (as I believe the tribal chair, yeah, the guy who barely made final ballot, has the power to fire this person) and - a particular non-UND friendly posts spewing his sewage in the comments.

Fargo's new coach is Steve Johnson. I think he has some sort of tie to UND ... I think the assistants may have heard of UND also given they both wore Sioux jerseys.

Two simple statements: 1. Recruiting 14-15 year olds is dicey at best: Their minds change faster than the weather in ND. 2. Verbal-schmerbal*: It ain't real until it's a signed national letter of intent. * That statement in no way advocates tampering with a kid after a verbal is given. Please refer to Statement 1 for clarification of my intent.

People, please, it takes two parties to carry on a conversation. One side has tried dialog; the other side not only rejects it but has shut it down. So, if you insist on fixing the blame please fix it where it belongs: Ron His Horse is Thunder and his ilk. Here's why: http://forum.siouxsports.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=402972

Honestly, no one knows right now. There are lots of new faces in new roles and that's unnerving for fans: We haven't seen this team play. On paper, sure it may not look as good. But are games played on paper? These guys have an opportunity to "overachieve" in the minds of many. I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised by it. Let's hope they do it.

I almost feel sorry for you WYO. Almost. The world of DI is filled with people who have moved around. The norm is to be extremely "pro" toward whomever is signing the check today; however, everyone in the DI game has an alma mater and that will nearly invariably show up when there's no other factor (direct game involvement) involved in hoping for an outcome of a game. If NDSU can't handle the fact that UND's head coach is a former ISU captain and said "Go Cyclones" I'd say they need to take a trip back down to DII because this won't be the last time something like this happens. Put another way, when Bemidji State was playing Notre Dame in last year's NCAA hockey playoffs (Mar 28, 2009) I'd imagine Minnesota coach Don Lucia probably said, "Go Irish" even if only in his own mind. It wasn't a slam on another Minnesota school or even a potential future conference rival. It was a former Notre Damer expressing the sentiment that every ... alumnus ... feels when he hears his team's playing. I suppose if NDSU ever plays Illinois in MBB, SDSU's Scott Nagy better not breathe a word. (Nagy got his masters degree from Illinois.) Or better, what would Craig Bohl (former Nebraska player) say in regard to a North Dakota at Nebraska matchup? I'm sure he'd be saying "Go Sioux" ... not.

Did I hear it correctly: NDSU played six true freshmen?

You need paint; however, I'd recommend putting on insulation and steel siding (and never paint again). Anyone can create a new Wiki page on this site. You just have to be brave enough to do it.

When's the last time you saw a hockey roster where the lowest jersey number on the team is ... a goalie (#31). What's up with that? I'm still itching that UND has a goalie wearing 32 this year and then I see this from the U17s. <traditionalist shakes head in disgust> Goalies should wear 1, 29, 30, 31, or 35. Everyone else should wear from 2-29 (except at UND where 12 and 23 are excluded). (Sorry JPL, I know you wore 34 for a season, but your redeemed yourself with a 1.)

If "ifs and buts were fruits and nuts" ... you'd move to West Fargo to get Midcontinent.

On a late October or November hockey weekend?

The evidence has been there all along that those opposed to the Fighting Sioux nickname are the minority of a minority attempting to dictate to the majority. Jacobs and other likeminded members of the news media simply pretended that it didn't exist. They didn't demonstrate any of the healthy skepticism that journalists are supposed to possess, despite numerous signs that the nickname opponents were lying through their teeth. For more than 30 years, the Jeanotte-heads have been trying to convince other Native Americans that they should be offended. But when you can't convince half of the alleged victims that they've been wronged -- even with most of the media steadfastly behind your cause for decades -- it's a pretty good indication that the "injustice" is really just a load of buffalo chips perpetuated by a small group of hypersensitive malcontents. A week or two ago, Jacobs wrote another editorial or column in which he blamed state leaders for being disinterested in negotiating with the tribes; however, it takes two sides to negotiate. On the day the settlement with the NCAA was announced, I think Wayne Stenhjem sincerely believed he could negotiate with the tribes. He listed a number of areas in which he had held successful negotiations with tribal governments in the past. However, within days of the settlement, Gipp, His Horse is Thunder and other tribal "leaders" held a news conference in Grand Forks and said there would be no negotiating. So who's to blame for the lack of dialogue? Even if Hoeven, Goetz and the entire congressional delegation said they would go to Standing Rock to discuss the issue, it would have done no good if none of the tribal leaders refused to participate. Personally, I would have at least liked to have seen Hoeven and Goetz call their bluff. They should have said that they would go to Ft. Yates on a certain date to meet with tribal leaders to discuss the Fighting Sioux nickname issue. They should have brought the media with them to show they were there and willing to talk, but all they could negotiate with was empty chairs. Of course, calling out the tribal leaders in that manner would have been considered insensitive, which is why it wasn't done. But I know who torpedoed any chance for meaningful negotiations, and it wasn't the guys in Bismarck and Grand Forks.

I predict Tropical Storm Jimena (currently in NW Mexico having just pummelled Baja California) will change course and decide it wants to see the new Texas Stadium at Dallas and will choose a route that goes through Lubbock on Saturday. Jimena will bring torential, dare I say Biblical, rains with her, and Coach Muss' coaches show wish of heavy rain will come true. Being from Grand Forks the UND team will be better able to sandbag their sidelines and will survive the deluge and escape with a soggy 16-13 victory. HEY! A guy has to have a dream, doesn't he? PS - If it doesn't rain, take the 46.5 points.

From the Herald editorial:

That's. The. Point. Get the first snap and the first contact and the first play done in a "bland" manner to get rid of the anticipation, and then get serious. PS - Look at UND's 1st down play selection over recent years. I didn't pick "over LG" at random.

I'll do you one better. I'll give your the first two plays for UND: For UND, it'll be something over left guard. That'll leave about 2nd and 7. <insert some sort of WR screen to the right here> 3rd down. Texas Tech expects UND to be afraid of the quick early long-bomb strike. TT's first play: Red Baron on a delay up the middle.

I wonder what looks better to Tate right now, #35 on the roster, or the player page.

It didn't mention that most of the offensive line is new too.

Wouldn't that make him like 12 feet, 14 inches, and 494 pounds?

No, we make jerseys out of badger fur, and then throw the leftover ones onto the ice.

Not to be completely disrespectful, but I don't think you understand the relative discrepancy between hockey programs. I'd expect to be able cherry-pick UND intramurals and still rip up on the Texas Tech hockey program. Why? The Texas Tech hockey program is a club program playing in the ACHA. Texas Tech hockey is not playing in the NCAA. Tech hockey is primarily guys who played in HS or maybe juniors who couldn't get into a Division I or Division III program (or catch on with a Canadian junior team). We have a lot of those here in the intramurals (guys who tried to walk on with the Sioux). The North Dakota hockey program is a seven time NCAA Division I National Champion made up of guys looking to get to the professional ranks. I'm not sure where Tech hockey guys go after college, but here's where UND hockey players end up, including a full alumni report. But to agree with you, yes, I'll still enjoy the football game between (FCS) North Dakota and (FBS) Texas Tech.

I'm going contrarian with my guess. C - Darcy Zajac A - VandeVelde A - Genoway A - Marto Long-shot A that wouldn't surprise me: LaPoint.

So, what became of this? What was the tribal judge's ruling?

It's not nice to "photoshop" the NDSU cheer (and tractor pull) team.