The Sicatoka

If Brand, Harrison, Westerhaus, et al at the NCAA, were confident a vote on this would go their way, why wouldn't they have done it already? They've already had the January 2006 convention opportunity come and go, and could have put this to rest then. But they didn't. Why not?

Winona State put a big scare in UND, in The Al, in the playoffs, not too long ago. That's my recollection. Coach Lennon needs to pull out that tape and remind his team that they need to execute on offense, on defense, and on special teams. No looking to anything. Winona State. Period. There is only one game remaining on UND's 2006 schedule. One. Execute.

I had the same thought.

What'd Teddy Roosevelt say about "the man in the arena"?

Does his deer stand have wireless internet and email access?

Channel surfing around last night, mentally I "stuck the fork" in Rutgers when I saw 25-14 Louisville at one point. Oops.

That ranks with the classic NASCAR minor-series qualifying report: "Dick Trickle gets pole in Busch .... "

Will a First Amendment loving Democrats, controlling the House and Senate, stand up for: - free expression on America's campuses, or - Myles "catalyst for social change" Brand's 'politically correct' speech codes and interpretations of contracts. (How's that for trying to veer this one back on course? )

Here's the real joke folks: Show me the written down procedure which all of these decisions and actions are to follow. Can't? Why not? Everything the NCAA does is technical and procedural and followed to the letter. The procedures must exist, right? Produce them. Show them. Please. (Hint: Good luck.)

But you repeat yourselves. And if memory serves .... Concordia College has played a playoff game in Fargodome. Valley City State has played a playoff game in Fargodome.

... if they choose to allow it to. Some do; others don't.

From the PLAINTIFF

Nothing is a given until is it completed. Just ask Kellen Briggs, or Tyler McGregor.

(to be fair) ... if he decides UND's case merits it.

Washington. Indianapolis. So, in the great and wise words of The Joker ...

" ... about student-athletes ... " Oh my, I love that one. It gets me rollin' every time.

Thursday gets more interesting given that UND's football team is a lock for a top four regional seed, and those should get home field in their opening games. Somebody planned the filing date well. Someone set the hearing date well.

And aren't the top four regional seeds supposed to get home field in their first games .... And November 9 is Thursday ....

That's pretty mean .... to penguins.

She knows what you should spend your money on. It's the classic MO.

OK numbers-gurus, is there a scenario under which UND would fall below #4 in the region?

USD's rushers and receivers on Saturday: The shortest(!) reception on the day: 21 yards. Draw you up with run, draw you up, draw you up, throw over you.

USD did bad things to UNO Saturday in the DakotaDome. Then again, last time UND was down there .... UND needs to go into this game focused on execution, and winning. One more note for Mr. Enger and friends:

We're going to need a 'year wiser' Rory Manke running the secondary next year, especially since we won't have Hoffschneider on the hot corner (not to mention DeSautel and Greenwood) and we'll have youngish linebackers. Given the emergence of Ryan Chappell, and the "extra year" the injury gave Brandon Strouth, and arguably the best returning running game for UND in quite a while, plus the Dressler factor, we have a year next year where the expectation on the QB position will be to manage the offense for maximum execution and minimum mistakes (meaning little expectation for "how'd he do that?" play like Manke pulled Saturday). That's as "low stress" as you can make the QB position and that's the role the 2007 starter will be stepping in to. My guess it'll be Freund with Setness and Landry pushing him very hard (unless we can get that hack Smith, at Ohio State, another year of eligibility and to transfer to UND).

Let's see Mr. Gary Lapointe prove that one irrefutably. If not, that is slander. Mr. Jim Dahl can prove his statements with computer records.