The Sicatoka

Better yet? Matt Greene's DOB: 5/13/83. There are three "May 13th" birthdays on one roster. And as far as "young guys," that stallwart, dependable defenseman, the long-in-the-tooth, go-to guy, the senior this fall, Matt Jones, doesn't turn 21 until August. Robbie Bina and Matt Greene are older.

Isn't it amazing what happens when, in a close game, you actually shoot the puck on net and not try to get really fine around the edges (and end up shooting wide)?

I believe it was Commodore from Jeff Panzer and B. Lundbohm against Niagara. Greene moving and firing with the puck showed me that he's grown as a player. For defensemen the transitions are normally (and each takes about a year): get used to the speed, control your end of the ice, improve the offensive side of your game, dominate the entire game. Seeing Greene do that says to me he's making the next transition. If you're not sure what "dominate the entire game" means, reference Ryan Caldwell versus Maine.

Look back; did I ever say it wasn't? What I said was DI-AA is "DI small-ball football." Good golly, even MSU-Mankato and UM-Crooston offer football scholarships, but, more than a quarter, approaching a third, of DI-AA "football" schools don't give athletic scholarships. There's a "competitive upgrade" indeed.

I think I've figured out one funding stream for a new on-campus parking ramp that's been rumored.

No, there's going to be a situation that I've heard coined as "goaltending is like money, there's no such thing as too much." As far as "a mess in the crease" please refer to the Holy Cross goaltending department.

I'm sorry, but what I watched Saturday night wasn't very "pure." There was more obstruction in that game than in the most filibustered Congressional session.

A platypus? Maybe platypi? Or is it platypuses?

WRONG. Harvard, and the other Ivys, all DI schools, do not offer hockey scholarships and they play DI hockey. And the DI-AA football scholarship limit is 63.

Berkhoel was a senior.

No, BisonMav, you misintrepret the NCAA classification system. Division I is Division I; the A/AA/AAA only applies in football conversations. Thus, 33 DI schools play ice hockey (including Minnesota, Maine, and Denver, namely a IA, a IAA, and a IAAA). DI-AA is DI, DI small-ball football. By the letter of the NCAA law, during this transition year, NDSU is still a DII. Yes, they're playing Minnesota in baseball on that date. Seen the UND swimming and diving schedule? Many occurances of a DII competing against DIs. But then again, I'm forced to ask: Don't you high-falootin' DI types have better things to do than play here with a lil' ol' DII school?

Fear not 'jk' for tomorrow is this wondrous day.

It's the theme Tim's used since he assumed the role of Execute VP: Riley, who's more familiar with campus of late than Tim is, because Riley's been there with Katie and Tim only recently moved back, leads him to places that Tim "rediscovers," places that make UND great. I thought it was pretty good when he came out with it. It's the theme Tim's used since he assumed the role of Execute VP. Don't read too much into it. Diggler: Can we get a couple of dingos or are they too dangerous?

So MNS can't give his opinion on this unless he's given $x to the UND Alumni Association? Why'd the word "arrogant" just jump into my head? I think we're having a "pot calling kettle" moment here.

With the "name game" going on I forgot to point out a key issue: 'forecheck' shedding the shirt in public? I'm sure the guy's motivation was only the jersey. I'll avoid asking, with the shirts off you "swapped" ... what, exactly? Oh, yeah, a coat for a jersey. That's the story and 'forecheck's' stickin' to it. Diggler must be off his game or he'd have asked all these "enquiring minds" questions.

Based on history, I'd guess: - a 46-70-116 scoring line (assuming it leads the nation) - a season capturing the MacNaughton Cup, a Broadmoor Trophy, and an NCAA National Championship - a cure for cancer and a workable Middle East peace plan probably wouldn't hurt either.

I know a girl named Mercedes. There was an Oakland Raider lineman named Lincoln Kennedy. And how can you forget Chevy Chase. What worries me are kids named after cars, like those mentioned, and cities, like Houston, Austin, Cheyenne, and so on. Names like that always make me wonder where those children were, how shall we say, created.

What people, and especially males in this age grouping, forget is this: There is a world of difference in physical maturity between even a weight-trained 18 year old and a 22 year old. Biology (testosterone spurring the thickening of muscle mass) fills out the male frame during that age span. Now imagine being at a place with some of the finest training facilities on earth, and finest strength training staff too, during that time of muscle maturation. Guys like Drew Stafford and Matt Smaby could be monsters when they are in their early 20s.

Imagine if people found out that Riley ordered a round for Tim, the photographer, and himself!

Don't be so sure:

There's stuff in there that is mindboggling. That's just one of many. That is one interesting read.

Let me put the devil's advocate argument out there. I'll assume said "hypothetical" team finished in the top half of the toughest "hypothetical" conference in the country. To win a conference tournament championship: - win a weekend against a lesser team 2 of 3 at home - win 2 (maybe 3) games in a weekend against teams as good or better than you at a neutral site To win a National Championship: - win four games over two weekends against teams as good or better than you at a neutral site To win a conference regular season championship: - win all road games against lesser teams (assume four weekends) - win all home games against lesser team (assume three weekends) - win half of home games against as good or better than you (assume four weekends) - win half of road games against as good or better than you (assume three weekends) That works out to being 0.750 which will normally win a "hypothetical" conference. A "bad bounce" can change any single weekend. There's a little of what Gino Gasparini used to call "puck luck" involved in one-and-done play. Being good for 14 "hypothetical" weekends is tough. The "puck luck" evens out. You have to be better than the rest. Then again, proper respect is due to those being there for the "puck luck" to arrive in a given one-and-done weekend.

You spin it one way. What about the other? Should they ignore the group that believes the current positioning is correct? Can't afford it because of hockey? Again, when 256,591 fans come to Bison football, in one season, at Sioux hockey ticket prices, tell me about "can't afford." That's how many attended Sioux hockey in 2002-2003. PS - The Sioux hockey team made the NCAA Division I National Quarterfinals and lost to the eventual National Champion. Trust me, NDSU won't be associated with the phrase "made the NCAA Division I National Quarterfinals and lost to the eventual National Champion" for quite a while.

I'm going to float this concept here first: - One weekend for conferences to settle the autobid. Do it how you may. - Four weeks of "best 2 of 3" NCAA series with the higher seed getting home ice except for the neutral site finals series location being predetermined. Imagine this year: The three West Regional games drew 5128, 5352, and 6047. - Miami of Ohio at DU would have drawn as well as the West Regional - Holy Cross at UND, two games, would have outdrawn the three game West Regional. My proposed schedule: - What is the WCHA first round now becomes the autobid deciding weekend. - The four weekends of NCAA play would be the weekend of the Final Five, the NCAA Regionals weekend, the "off" weekend, and the weekend of the Frozen Four. I'm surprised the NCAA hasn't done it. That would guarantee no less than 30 total games. Yes, there'd be some small rinks (= small gates) in there but I wonder if they wouldn't be money ahead in the long run.

Picture of Riley in a building or any dog in a building? I've seen non-guide dogs in UND buildings. Of course, they weren't leashed and who knows how they got in there. (I believe 'street mutt found an open door' would be an accurate description.)