The Sicatoka

HEY! Be nice to Team Kaz. They struggled through that qualifying tournament but earned the bid fair and square by getting past Ecuador (and their balanced attack) in the quarters, squeeking by a scrappy Hispanola (Haiti and Dominican Republic) team in the semis, and surviving a slugfest with Barbados in the qualifier game. And don't forget Barbados was coming off that big win over pre-tournament favorite Cambodia, so Team Borat had no easy path. The Kaz just ran into hot Canadian and US goaltending. That explains their offensive (or is it offensive) production. You should know that.

You're a Puce fan! Fuchsia! (clap-clap) Fuchsia! (clap-clap) Fuchsia! (clap-clap) ... Oh, wait, fuchsia is too close to red. Sorry. Laugh now: How far away is it really.

Ah-ha! So Stanford (Cardinal, as in red) and Harvard (Crimson, as in red) and Cornell (Big Red, as in, er..., red) are all in the wrong! More proof that ... Green >> All shades of Red, including cardinal, crimson, and especially maroon.

What happened to "you won't see a change in style of play"? Who to replace Hak with? Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 (Close circuit to Cary Eades: You are perceived as part of the problem, not part of the solution, right now. Sorry, you are.)

DU going to the "bitten into jelly donut" or "coffee stain" (I guess it's supposed to be a red-tailed hawk) logo was the precursor to this. Some DU fans were stating as much at the time. But no one listened to them either. One more note: I had to search hard to find that logo. DU's website has more of the just "DENVER" or an interlocked DU logo than anything. We'll soon all be Stanford, Harvard, North Texas, Dartmouth (oops), and Cornell: Just colors.

Did someone say ... "ugly sweater contest"?

Let's take a little ride in The Sicatoka's "Way Back Machine" and go wa-a-a-ay back to February 20, 2008: On February 20, 2008, the 2008 UND Football schedule was not yet announced. And now zapped back to the present: I won't be worried until at least March.

What's it say in the endzones again? Seems Alerus Center would be on the hook for a new playing surface.

Ah, and hence comes another opportunity to use my four favorite words. http://www.ndsuspectrum.com/joomla/index.p...0&Itemid=42 Someone has been warning about things like this coming next for years: First "people", then "sacred images". No one listened; let's try again. PS - I. Told. You. So.

Yesterday, the pastor of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (in Bismarck) asked parishoners to pray for the family of a UND student and member of the parish who'd taken her own life. If you are troubled, this may seem like the answer. It is not. It's never as bad as it seems. Talk to someone, anyone. Please. Now, out of good taste, and deference to that family, I think this subject is now closed.

The Best Little Monopoly in America.

Before y'all start chalking up pleasant exhibitions victories you may want to take note of a recent college/U-18 matchup.

If you had Mayville State and 83.5 points ... you lost!

Let's see ... - No Sioux game on Saturday the 20th - Des Moines Bucs at Fargo on Saturday the 20th - Bruneteau, Gleason, and White all play for Des Moines Hmmm ...

2005: UND lost to DU in Columbus in the championship game (after defeating Minnesota in the semis). 2006: Lose to BC in Milwaukee in semis 2007: Lose to BC in St. Louis in semis 2008: Lose to BC in Denver in semis Geez I hate teams that wear maroon and gold (tip of cap to UMD today).

I'm probably going to regret this later (as he'll probably "Lasch" out at UND for it), but didn't SCSU have a Hobey 10 guy last year who returned this year? Is he on a milk carton now?

How much was not having to play UND and USD and UNO worth to UMD this year? Those three games normally cause nagging injuries at a minimum. I wondered if the old NSIC power, now with NCC experience, and back into the NSIC, wouldn't be able to do big things.

Braegelmann and Troen!

For some reason I read that and could just envision you in a Jim Mora-esque rant. Four? Playoffs?

Blais seemed to make his roster on the philosophy of "if two guys are playing equally well I skate the younger one in hopes to get him to develop for later". Evidence: How many times did (a junior or senior) Tom Philion* sit while a high-potential freshman played (and admittedly made some mistakes along the way)? That's one Blais-ism that Hak is apparently using. I like it. Hak used "skate or sit" recently with Kozek and Trupp. I like it. Now I just wish Hak would go with Blais' offensive approach, especially since obstruction and clutching are being called: When those horses are allowed to run, they can run. Just ask Cornell. * Picked a Minot, ND, guy to make the point.

Geez, talk about reverting (as 'sprig' says) to the ugly "DU v. Maine" officiating style. Which would you rather watch for style of play: Friday* or Saturday? I sure hope the head of officials Greg Shepherd reviews this tape and sanctions those officials for not calling according to the NCAA strict enforcement of obstruction standards. Oh, ... yeah, ... one of the officials was Greg's son: Brad. Nepotism. Gotta love it. * Before DaveK chimes in about "defensive hockey" UND only gave up 3 on Friday in a fast skating game. That's just fine defense by me. I don't like "golden goals" and soccer.

UND Medical School Dean Leaving Nov 25, 2008 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) The dean of the University of North Dakota medical school is stepping down at the end of the academic year. H. David Wilson says he's not ready to retire. He says he's looking at several national administrative posts. Wilson has been at UND for 13 years. He also serves as the school's vice president for health affairs. UND says Wilson is the fifth-longest tenured dean among the nation's 130 accredited medical schools. The university plans a national search for his successor.

I have the solution: WWCND.

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I second.