The Sicatoka

Let's try this one last time: If you really were trying to put together a case against Buning you would: - cite firing a womens hockey coach mid-season - not dealing head-on with Glas when he was dangling UND's MBB future over an job at UNI - allowing two open positions to occur (base/softball) when just heading into transition and conference hunting Then you would bring in all of the wonderful rumor and inuendo that you're fond of calling "inside" knowledge, things like the hiring of Glas' replacement and how that went, or the same for womens hockey, or Dale looking at leaving (in 2007, as in 2002), or Hakstol's contract not being reworked (with 10 months to go). There's enough out there that if you really wanted to make a case you could. You could sew a few facts in with some good, juicy "I was told" and have quite a tale of intrigue. UND Athletics is an enterprise headed by the AD. To look at it from only hockey or football is a mistake in reviewing what the AD is doing at any time. You're going about it by thinking one-dimensionally, and acting that way. That pattern of action doesn't tend to bring folks to your point of view.

A 14 year head coach leaves. You should be trying to use that as an indictment against Buning, but instead it's no big deal. I don't get you man. It's like you have one thing and don't see the bigger picture that you could've used in your favor of making your case. Heck, UND is looking for both baseball and softball coaches while looking for a conference. Common sense says you should be all over Buning for not getting things stable (fill openings ASAP) while looking for a DI conference. Instead you're locked onto something that isn't as immediatly pressing to an AD searching for an all-sports home and being able to tell them names of head coaches of teams, not to mention heading into the first of five DI transition seasons. (There're a couple months until Hak's team hits the ice; if no deal is done then, then I start to wonder.) No charge for helping you with your side.

A long-time UND coach leaves and you don't know or care? It would have worked perfectly for your cause; I figured you to use it as "more proof" and have pinned it on Buning.

Of course those too, but then again all this does is pad the post count.

Sure he would. He'd be a fool not to. But is that enough to keep him if the next level comes a calling? My opinion: Nope. Just like Toews signed when he was ready, Hak would do the same and who could blame him. I knew that Ziegler was going to REA days before it was announced (ask Walrus or UND92,96 or PCM or jimdahl). But I also learned that he didn't want it talked about publicly until he told his team so I waited to start that thread until it was officially announced. That's having a source and being responsible with it. 6300 posts don't give me credibility. The information, and how it was used responsibly, does.

Mr. Shepherd's public mistreatment of officials, even if of a different sport, and even though he apologized, should disqualify him from continuing in his role as head of officials of the WCHA.

Yes, and that 2005 group had the benefits of Parise/Lamoureux behind them. Lee leaving now serves to level out that recruits bubble. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see a "late add" four-year type defenseman show up in camp this fall.

Does "under contract" really mean squat? Blais was "under contract" when he left for NHL Columbus. If Hak were to go to a fourth straight Frozen Four I'd be more shocked if he stayed. Hak's not 40. I struggle to believe this is the final stop on his coaching path. And if Hak were to go, Brad Berry is up in Winnipeg, Steve Johnson is back in Grand Forks, and Cary Eades has an office down the hall.

Go Cavalry.

I think you meant FBS (aka the BCS) above in each case that you said FCS. (Get it right or people will jump all over you. )

Why's the phrase "race based preferences" rattling around in my head ....

Poor Brian, he trades one "hostile and abusive" jersey for another.

If there is a blessing in this it's that it forces playing time onto the freshmen defensemen. A year from now it could be Genoway, Jones, LaPoint, and Marto as the only returners.

If it'd sell papers, heck yes. Don't believe me? See your favorite "Robbie Bina" thread and the hatred toward WDAZ right now. There's my GF media will report on UND datapoint. The better question might be: Would other town's media report anything negative toward their local favorite? MSP media did the Blarney's thing. WDAZ did the Judy's incident. Everyone else must be pure as the driven snow.

Yes, OU Law, '68.

Tank Johnson providing 'security'?

Shoot-out: When no one can win the first game you play a new game, with all new rules, and the winner wins both that new game and the original game. Let's go to 3 balls for a walk and 2 strikes for a strikeout in the tenth and beyond.

These guys named Woodward and Bernstein had a first-person source they called "deep throat" for decades (without revealing an identity) and they pretty much brought down someone far more important than an athletic director. If there's a problem, why isn't someone quietly going first-person to the media.

If there is a problem I'd love to have someone step up, on the record, and define it in a first-person account. I'm willing to listen to someone on-the-record stating the issues. But they wouldn't do it here. They'd do it in the media, and that's fine. Until someone goes on-the-record I get the sense of a (how'd Tran put it?) whisper campaign.

I'm fine with people saying they don't like dealing with Buning as long as they were dealing first-person. The "my buddy's pal told me" stuff wears thin; but, I'll trust first-person reports. Who here in dealing with the AD has a first-person horror story they'd like to share.

Given 2 of the last 3 had no UND ties that's a safe bet.

I'm glad at least someone got it.

It would be interesting to know what was so important that led a state's attorney to take something into a court room that would get tossed after an hour. A state's attorney has to have a pretty good idea going in if he can win or not. To get tossed in an hour? That's a waste of his time, the court's time, and the taxpayer dollar ... unless there's something that can be gained by making the effort. What was the state's attorney trying to gain, what precedent was he looking to set, by doing this?

And I need one more just so I understand everyone's point of view: Is this more of the problem or more of the solution?

Just so I'm clear on your opinion, if Dale would have left in 2002 for Sacramento State would that have been Buning's fault too?