The Sicatoka

Sure, Bismarck and Fargo grew. Grand Forks "held serve" through the flood of 1997. But the state's population still declined. That tells me that all that's happening is that the small towns are going to collapse because all their people are moving into the three or four main cities in the state. When all the small towns are empty the growth of those cities stops. Why isn't there more growth in ND when it seem to have all the factors working for it? To me there is a deep-seated almost hyper-conservative economic nature in this state. That nature allowed ND to show positive numbers during the national economic downturn; however, that same nature didn't allow ND to boom like the rest of the country during the big growth of the two decades before it. Put another way, surrounding states seem like stock investors. North Dakota seems like a bond investor.

Three! The old REA banners were given to each team's captain/designate. The championship banners in the old REA had the geometric logo on them. The geometric logo didn't exist before 1976. Please explain 1959 and 1963. I'm thinking that set precident.

Forgive me for interjecting (I'll probably end up owing an ice cream cone or two); however, the past is far from lost and decently honored in The Ralph. Walk that lower outer concourse: the All-Americans, the old outdoor statue from old REA, the photos and murals. Walk that upper outer concourse: the NHLers, the Sioux Hall of Fame, and more photos and murals.

Uh, 'beersong,' you have to change your handle. I'm pretty sure I heard "The Beer Barrel Polka" at UND hockey games long before it was done at the DECC which means only a UND fan could use that handle, right?

OK, if Sioux fans oh-me-oh-my shouldn't do a lap, maybe they should take a cue from this guy .... and pee on him instead.

I'm pretty sure the old Ralph was "too big" in 1972. When the new REA opened some were claiming too small. (It was originally projected at over 12000.) Now some say too big. Honestly, it's about right. It'll be an awesome facility for the next 50 years. Now, does alcohol deaden an atmosphere? I've seen raucous crowds in new REA. I've seen dead ones. I've seen loud crowds in Mariucci; I've seen otherwise. The same goes for The X. The same goes for Mankato for that matter. They were pretty boisterous last year and pretty quiet this year. It's not serving. The bottom line with a crowd is this: Give them something to cheer about, or have someone leading them, and they'll cheer. Forgive me, but Saturday, February 14, 2004, the UND Fighting Sioux gave the home fans nothing to cheer about.

The DII mens limit is 10. The DI mens limit is 13. Those "so many in so many" rules you mention I've never looked at.

More to sway votes one way or another. http://www.fightingsioux.com/sports/mhocke...RELEASE_ID=2705

That, or never return to that jurisdiction.

Football pre-season picks? Guys, it's a different sporting season in my world, but "The 'H' Word" is not liked by some in the football forum.

I'd guess (not knowing) not. Alternatively, he wouldn't have to sit a DI-to-DI transfer season and would be post-season eligible for the remainder of his collegiate eligibility.

You have the best college hockey facility on earth, plus, it supports itself through its operations. Me-thinks it sounds like some folks are complaining because their ice cream is cold. And all this "Old Ralph" nostalgia: ask me some time and I'll tell you about the day I had my choice of 500+ old arena "rush seating" student section spots .... AGAINST MINNESOTA. No, I'm not kidding. And having heard the F-bomb on live radio as well (and knowing Hennessy had made an earlier comment to the effect that "looking at this crowd it's clear they serve here" ) I'm almost positive that was an unhappy (about Lundbohm scoring at 19:42 to make it 10-1) Mankato fan. Knowing Hennessy's style, he'd have let it slide if it was a Sioux fan and gone on without acknowledging it. His "really classy" retort assured me it wasn't a Sioux fan.

Clarkson's travel schedule was messed up by weather so they only played one game this weekend at The Ralph. Congratulations to the Sioux Womens Hockey team on their 4-0 shutout over Clarkson and their first winning season! http://www.fightingsioux.com/sports/whocke...RELEASE_ID=2702

My issue with Mussman is predictability: You know what is going to be run. How? Watch the personnel package going in. That tells you clearly what to expect. I'm pretty sure teams familiar with UND know that too. Now, in fairness to Chris, I don't know if any of us can say for sure if that is him or a conservative style of offensive play dictated by the overall philosophy of the team (set by the head coach). Then again, they've won with Mussman at the offensive helm so there really shouldn't be any issue.

It doesn't have to be a huge stretch. It doesn't even have to be logical. It's the NCAA. They do whatever is politically expedient for their benefit.

People, look who set up "Fabi-o's" goals: Erik Fabian (Drew Stafford, Robbie Bina) Erik Fabian (Ryan Hale, Matt Greene) Erik Fabian (Drew Stafford, Matt Greene) Fabian got us through a weekend. Let's see who gets us through a season.

I'm still concerned about the lines (offensive and defensive). I'm hoping spring football clears up who will "lead the way" or "stop the first wave" next fall. If those two groups perform as well as this year's (and 2001's) look out. What's behind them is loaded.

Congratulations to the UND Womens Swimming and Diving Team. Twenty-three conference titles in a row! The UND Mens Swimming and Diving Team had a pretty good weekend (swept all events at conference!), and couple of decades, as well (same link). Congratulations to them all and good luck at Nationals.

Goon made Roger Thomas' and Dr. Kupchella's case for them right here. Should UND fans be dropping F-bombs and other vulgarity toward visitors? Look how even Goon referred to the MSU-M fan that dropped an F-bomb toward Tim Hennessy: "jerk." So, good fans or "jerks." You decide.

Look at what's going on at Michigan, Michigan State, and Maryland (and don't kid yourself, now Oregon and the Pac-10 will be next). To think the NCAA won't try is to not understand the NCAA. Remember: All the actions at all these places started after the 2004 NCAA meetings in Nashville in January. I believe something is afoot from those meetings.

Anyone listening clearly heard what was said. Anyone listening knew that person was making a horrible impression. That's why the efforts of Roger Thomas (and Dr. Kupchella) are important. Are UND fans "that guy" or better than that?

Rumor has it that Al "White Cowboy Hat" Pearson's group (two buses) is staying in the Holiday Inn Downtown. Those folks never have any fun, pre- or post-game.

Stafford is only 18 plus a few months, right? To be drafted this summer, wouldn't he have to opt in and thus lose his collegiate eligibility (like the BU goalie DiPietro (sp) a few years back)? EDIT: Yup, he would. Given the NHL CBA situation, I'm not sure that opting in right now would be a wise move. I hope he waits (but that's me being greedy). He's big and talented. He'll be a high draft pick if he opts in or if he waits for 2005. Plus, it sounds like he'd be OK on the free agent market too.

I was hoping you weren't going to say "Dan Hammer." Hammer left KVLY-TV and is no longer associated with them and now works for Clear Channel ND. The only time I hear KVLY people on KFGO are for a "what's on KVLY-TV news tonight" spot (or the same for sports). I'm not sure if those are "comps" or paid ads. Otherwise, KFGO news/weather/sports is KFGO people.

A green paper, two-sided letter was waiting for me in my cupholder Friday (in the upper deck) as well. It was pretty clearly aimed at fans and fan behavior. Regarding "cupholders": Wasn't there a problem in Season One at REA where some of the cupholders were intentionally damaged by some students (and the act was caught on tape)? Help me out. I seem to recall something along those lines but haven't found anything in a quick web search.