The Sicatoka

Fumble ... 4th down NSU. Leans for the yard. 1st down NSU. 4:20 to play.

I believe Drake and Valparaiso are in the same FCS (but no scholarships) conference. Then again, Massey has Drake rated higher than Wagner (and to save some others from looking, Sioux Falls is above both of them).

Today's "why you need to pay attention in math class" moment: St. John's 31, Concordia (Moorhead) 12 with under 5 to play: Concordia pulls the pick 6 so 31-18. And Concordia's Horan calls to go for ... one. They hit to make it 31-19. But going for one was the wrong play. They're down 12 still. Going for two (and making) would have made it 11, and that's a TD (and two) and FG. That's doable in 5 minutes with the Concordia offense. Being down 12 is the same as being down 13, or 14, or 15, or 16 (two TDs). They should've gone for two: - If they make it's a TD and FG game. - If they miss it's still two TDs. Thus ends the math lesson. There will be a drop quiz at a later date.

Here's where the inequal treatment of North Dakota and Central Michigan comes into play: - In Michigan there are five Chippewa tribes and CMU only had to gain approval from the nearest (geographically) one. - North Dakota needs both Spirit Lake (check) and Standing Rock Yes, I know what the signed agreement says, but I also know that judges don't like it when members of an organization are treated unequally.

I think the fundamental issue is this: What was the $904k limit intended for: - strictly dwelling? - site plus dwelling? - site plus dwelling plus landscaping? - what about support infrastructure? Was that in the $904k? - how about furnishings? That's the question I haven't heard answered.

Read the article I linked to: If it's so, so, SO terrible, why'd he come back to get a second, ... and a THIRD, degree from UND.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/133793/

Dear both sides, ... http://forum.siouxsports.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=404435

I wonder what the conversation between Brand and Justice O.W. Holmes, Jr., (quote below) sounds like.

When you have regional 24-hour networks you need programming, and the cheaper the better. I'd guess FCS doesn't pay too much to rebroadcast that show as it's free publicity for UND. Not a bad deal for either side.

Dynamic ticket prices? Teams haven't been doing it large-scale yet. But ticket-scalpers outside of games have been for a while. Thirty minutes before an opening faceoff a ticket goes for 2x face; 45 minutes later the ticket goes for 1/2 of face. That's "real-time" dynamic pricing.

You'll end up being at least one-stop no matter how you fly to GF. Look for a cheap rate from Philly or Newark to Las Vegas or Phoenix and then jump onto Allegiant direct to GF. However, with Allegiant they only fly those flights on limited days, I think Sundays and Thurdays, but in on Thu and out on Sun would be perfect for you. Northwest will take you to MSP to get you to GF. Try to get Newark to MSP (Continental partners with NWA). Avoid two-stops (Detroit and MSP).

Why not fly into Grand Forks directly on Delta/Northwest or Allegiant? If you want to "do the double" (hockey and football) stay at the Canad Inn attached to Alerus Center.

To repeat what I said before, what of this: To make the claim that "public policy" in ND has changed and the tribes will be allowed to "weigh in on the issue" and then make deadlines where it's impossible for that to happen is disingenuous at best. If the folks on the reservations didn't think they could trust the rest of us before, what'll they think if that comes to pass.

Sure Spirit Lake spoke, and Standing Rock may still get their say, but is anyone listening or are they just putting together informal committees? http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/133466

Seems the Fargo Forum believes it's a "done deal" ...

Enjoy the read, and see if you can understand what it all means. http://www.areavoices.com/gfhcitybeat/?blog=59523 My favorite line: "It sounds like the university is a little terrified of this nickname beast: ... "

I have the solution: - The state board messed up and picked the wrong date. They didn't allow time for Standing Rock elections to occur. So, admitting that, move the October 1 date back a month. - Let Standing Rock know about the change and that the ball is completely in their court: It's all up to them. - Live with the Standing Rock decision and be done. I think the Attorney General is the only one in this who's seeing this clearly, with no agendas (pro- or anti-, conference affiliation pressures or whatever).

I'm hoping you're correct in that assessment. The other way to read it would be that some of the "enlightened" expect those terrible <slanderous word here> redneck "Sioux fans" to descend upon the campus with torches and pitchforks.

What the heck does this mean? Am I a "cow" that won't "sing" because I don't and won't believe "Go Sioux" is offensive? What about the 2/3 of Spirit Lake that won't "sing" that song either?

So, what did the provost tell the faculty?

I'm surprised more hasn't been made of this: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/133197/

Now, let's talk special teams. I like the approach the team takes on the PK. Rather than setting up the traditional box outside the zone and rolling it back in they've gone to a more 1-1-2 where outside the zone the furthest out man is designated to chase and skate and "influence" the puck carrier to a particular side. It's more of a defensive open-ice forecheck designed to force teams to make good plays and passes and to force the action. (I think it makes some teams show weakness in talent.) However, at other times it seems they almost go into a 1-3 and stack the blueline. I believe I can sum up those times pretty easily: That system seems to be employed when obstruction isn't being called by the officials. That makes sense because a blue line "fence" works best to force a dump and you'd use it when you know you (on defense) can win a race to the puck (because the attacker has been "slowed up"). Where I'd like to see improvement is on the power play. They seem to play too much "shooting gallery" (stand there, take pass, look, fake, fake, stand there, pass, next guy takes pass, fake, shoot wide, and puck rings and get out of the zone) and not enough motion and diagonal, intentional puck movement at times. That makes for "flat feet" and far too many miscues. And that "shooting gallery" approach lets the goalie get stacked up before the shot. Movement, especially quick planned moves or "diagonal" passes, doesn't allow the goalie to get over much less get set. (SCSU and Minnesota are masters of the diagonal pass for the easy tap-in backdoor goal.) If you are going to play shooting gallery (umbrella) you have to get the shot through the traffic and on net, the "on net" part being critical.

What I notice more than anything: Hak changes style based on situation; Blais played wide open all the time and when his teams tried to take a more defensive posture they tended to give up goals. They weren't used to playing a defensive style and it showed and they broke down. The Blais teams' best defense was their aggressive offense and puck possession. That Blais aggressive offense made life tough on goalies, the other and his, however. You expected to see the Sioux goalie face at least a couple clean breakaways and a couple +2 odd-man rushes (3-1 or 4-2) per game. Hak's teams don't seem to give up as many bad odd-man rushes and fewer clean breakaways. I attribute that to Hak's penchant to keep a forward at the dots or above in the offensive zone when it's even, or he's up a goal, late. He seems to go for a full forecheck (three men below the goal line) when it's even early and they are looking to establish the lead (or are down late and need one). He also seems more willing to go full forecheck when you can see a clear mismatch in team speed and they know they can get back. Alternatively, I've seen "Hak Trap" too, with one chaser and four men in the traditional "trap box" back outside the blue line (say they're up two with five to play and just dumped for a change). But that's a smart strategy if you're able to run it and are just looking to run out the clock. And Hak's teams with a lead in the third are predictable in going to three step hockey*. All this is the long way of saying what I said before: Hak changes style based on situation far more than Blais ever did. * Three step hockey (that's how it was described to me): Step One: get it out of your own zone by any means available. Step Two: get it across the red line by any means available. Step Three: get it down deep by any means available (skate or dump).

I said back when one committed to NDSU and the other committed to UND that I thought UND got the better of the deal. Data to date says I may be right, but all the data isn't in yet.