The Sicatoka

What you hypothesize there is the "restructing" of college football that many others have speculated on. What you don't take into consideration is this: If that restructuring were to occur, - what other changes would come with it (like would other teams then decide to move up)? - how would this affect various conferences and what would those impacts be? The other shoe is far from having dropped in all of this yet. It's just fun to sit back and watch it all sort out.

Careful. That one has two edges also. Don't be surprised to see NDSU doing the same thing (because NDSU lobbied hard for that aspect of "local control" with the State Board of Higher Ed).

How much money is that really in the scope of an athletic department budget that is running seven-figure red ink? I won't deny it is a help, but not a cure. Plus, look at Nebraska's schedule for 2005. They were supposed to play a IA but the IA wanted too much guarantee. A IAA underbid (took a lesser guarantee), saved "Big Red" some bucks, and got the date. (That's what I heard reported on ESPN Radio.) Those "big paydays" are becoming a low-bid war now too. Why? The big schools are looking for ways to save money. It'll affect everyone.

That's nearly as big as saying "never".

The Big Sky did send UND a letter of interest looking to recruit them, yes?

We complain about "into the chest". We complain about "shot it wide". How about quit trying to be pretty and just shoot the puck. And I've pointed it out here before: I've seen too many Sioux players get a rebound on the backhand and try to take the time to get the puck onto the forehand and end up not even getting a shot off. Shoot the backhander!

"Bar pour" is a great way to finish something like that assuming you mix it correctly. (If you don't you have a mess; it never dries and is sticky/tacky forever.) Looks like you mixed that one pretty well to get a finish that looks that good. Then again, every "bar pour" is better when properly mixed.

Yup. And around here what is most appealing is winning championships. It's hard to get noticed otherwise.

You have to compare hockey to BB: There's no "AA" subcategory in either. UND, as a DII, did get interest from the BSC: The BSC started the conversation with UND by sending a letter asking if UND was interested. Didn't 40-some scholarship SDSU and UNC beat a 50-some scholarship NDSU this year? I guess it cuts both ways, right? UNA is North Alabama. NAU is Northern Arizona. The BSC clearly wanted to stay in their geography and gain a major media market (Denver). The key words there: Geography. Major market.

Just some questions, nothing more. "Never" is a big word. Are you sure that's the one you want to use? Didn't the BSC presidents take the words "at this time" off the end of the statement saying that "UNC is the only program they'll look at"? What does taking "at this time" off that sentence mean? Aren't the revenue sports the key in this discussion? How are they doing? (That question is meant to be answered in three years.) When'd the ACC become a wrestling power? I thought that was the domain of the Big Ten and Big 12. Aren't all DI-AAs allowed 63 scholarships, or just NDSU? How can NDSU be a power with 27 more when everyone else has 63 also? Why bring up UND hockey? Is that the standard for DI program excellence that still keeps Bison fans awake at night? (PS - Saying you want to be Gonzaga or Creighton in BB is like saying you want to be St. Lawrence or Clarkson in hockey. Yawn.)

To a fan, seeing a "C" and an "A" in the box late in the game when you need a goal is pretty disheartening.

I can't disagree with that. However, what scares me is this: If they don't start winning some games they'll miss out on getting into the NCAA field. They're hanging on the edge of the field in the PWR*. I don't like being "on the bubble". * Remember, slots 16 and 15 go to the AHA and CHA champions normally. If an upset happens in another league tournament or two slots 14 and 13 go away also. I believe the only safe place to be is in the top 11 of PWR. That allows for five conference tournament upset winners.

REA, UND, Midcontinent Cable, and WDAZ have an agreement (contract) to produce the Fighting Sioux Sports Network. The camera work last night was the CC crew. WDAZ/FSSN bought the feed from them. To call them "high schoolish" is to do a disservice to the capable high schoolers out there. I'd guess a kid from Red River would be able to follow play. We don't know what CC's first goal looked like (see camera work above). I do know someone didn't cover up the back side on CC's second goal. Some are saying it was 9. My eyes said it was a defensemen who got beat to the post and didn't tie the man up. He got beat to the post by the goalscorer and he didn't tie him up. What I do know is that Fylling created a good scoring chance short, late, picking a CC defenseman at their blueline. But, he was hooked as he took the puck away. Normally when a team is up 5x3 that'll be called against them but this time it wasn't, luckily for CC. Seeing the "C" and the "A" in the box, down a goal, late, really irked me. If that's "leadership" .... But my biggest gripe on the night: Why try to cycle/go into the corner on that glacier? Cycling on Olympic ice is pointless. When you're in the corner you are 50 feet from the net! I'm sure the CC defensemen appreciate that. Quit going to the corner; take the puck to the net and ram it in.

You've hit upon the concept that I don't get: What did those 90s kids have to be so "angry" about exactly?

Your link is bad. Try http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=80428 What that story doesn't say is what KFGO reported on-air: UMary stated they are not changing divisions without a conference affiliation in hand.

I saw his "off the draw" goal last night. Yeah, you can say he "takes" draws. He took that one and shoved it in the SC Apollo net. Impressive work.

Let me agree, sort of: The one set up to be a star (and probably win a Hobey this year) in this year's senior class is playing in Binghamton. This group of seniors isn't leading the way like I expected them to. It's time for the talented underclassmen who aren't satisfied with underperformance as a team to step up, lead, and get it done. Here's a hint for a prime candidate for that role. PS - Dear "prime candidate", it didn't matter to Zach that he was "just" a freshman or sophomore; he led. That holds for anyone else looking to step up and lead.

When you only have one recruit playing in the USHL this season ....

The driver behind this isn't the athletic departments or the presidents at North Dakota or Michigan. The driver behind this is the NCAA. Similar things are happening in ACC-basketball-land too.

The ability to hurdle defenders on the way to a game-icing TD. Oh, .... wait ....

You missed one.

Yes, younger brother David is a freshman at S-SM. http://www.s-sm.org/ftpimages/131/download...675_id43961.doc

Didn't you read the manual? If you're going to use the "TM" notation you are supposed to use the bold italics green font, as in .... The Vast Fighting Sioux Conspiracy

The ref, the opposing SIDs, the league, they're all in on it, right "TC"? The point is so key it deserves a second mention:

Rule 6, Section 18, paragraph after paragraph d: The word "shall" in there is very interesting. No, actually, "shall" in there is the key. By saying "shall be credited to the player or players taking part in the play preceding the goal" and saying "but not more than two assists can be given on any goal" that affirms that two-assist goals are the norm as long as the two previous touches to the goal were teammates. Conversely, by saying "shall" it says that one-assist goals are only in the case of the puck going from opponent to teammate (assist) to goalscorer. And of course none of this pertains to unassisted goals.