The Sicatoka

Consider it an attempt to "embrace diversity" if it makes you feel better.

Playing hooky today? Careful, someone may tell the truant officer at school.

Those remarks could also be spun (as you are spinning) as, "We hope that DII realizes what it is doing to itself and stops. We'll point it out one last time and try to convince them to stop." Spinning that as lack of leadership would be just as easy as spinning NDSU's approach as being quitters (on a long, past positive relationship) when they don't get their way. I'm tired of spin. You chose to ignore the Thomas statement that is the first sign of softening on the issue by any official of UND, namely, "But it (further reductions) also might tip the balance because we're surrounded by the schools that are looking at Division I-AA football" When he says "tip the balance" what do you think he means? What is dishonorable about making an attempt to salvage something that has worked in the past? Back to the "diplomacy" analogy, don't you keep talking and trying until it is rock-solid sure that nothing else will work? Until a vote happens it's not inevitable. UND should be saddened (not shocked because of history) if it happens, because they tried to make another case and no one listened. It's not certain until the vote happens. (However, I'd bet the same way you'd bet. I hope you're not surprised.) Claiming UND's leadership "scuttled" the effort is spin. Do you believe a DI(AA) NCC was realistic, UND taking the position they did or not? The enthusiastic, fond of the NCC and nostalgia, side of me believes it would be possible and a good thing. The pragmatic side of me crashes me to reality, namely because .... Most of the NCC just can not afford a move to DIAA. USD took its stance, without having DI hockey, because of budget concerns. (Yes, SDSU took a different stance.) Augustana? See USD. Minnesota (the state) is running a $4,200,000,000.00 budget deficit and is cutting higher ed funding. Where can SCSU, MSU-Mankato, and UM-Duluth find more revenue to fund it? And with Creighton in Omaha and UN-Lincoln just 60 miles away, would the state of Nebraska fund it for UN-Omaha? UNO made statements about going to the MIAC (DII) rather than going IAA. A "best scenario" from the beginning would have been UNC, NDSU, SDSU, USD, and UND. That's five, and five does not a new conference make. What would be your solution?

St. PAUL, Thief River FALLS, it'd be an easy mis-hear off the tube. Engelstad is a former UND goaltender and UND graduate ('54) with a degree in business. http://www.ralphengelstadarena.com/ralph.html

I haven't heard much about Fabian lately either. Mentioning Topeka, anyone heard anything about Sedevie's recovery status?

How about a loud yell of "You've got NOTHIN'!" after the last opposing starting player is announced?

The surface of the earth. And yeah, at Target (or REA since Christmas) would be slush.

tony: Yeah, you could look at it that way. You could also look at it that NDSU gave up before the last fight, when it didn't get its way, and UND is trying one last push for a "diplomatic" solution to salvage DII. It's all in how we choose to spin it. Rather than wasting effort spinning, let's look at what was said. I think you'll like that because it will vindicate a great deal of what you have postulated. Note carefully Roger Thomas' words: That, I believe, is the first sign that UND is quietly considering breaking away from DII and assuming a DI(AA) path. Combine those words, the current reductions under consideration, and the hockey conference fiasco that was discussed here earlier this winter, and I can see where at least considering it has to come into play. UND is one letter (and two faxes of it) away from being in its provisionary year (2003-2004 season) similar to NDSU. They have until late August. It should be an interesting summer. On that I'm sure you'll agree. Let me ask you about this: Mr. Brand (the former Indiana president who fired Bob Knight) is the president of the NCAA, all of it. I'm not sure how you connect his statement with DII leadership. Could you expand on that? I don't want to read something into your statement that isn't there. Thanks. One last thought (and I know tony hates weasel-words) but let me go back to President Kupchella's position paper once again:

Mentioning league-only stats for a league award ... Freshman Scoring: Player Team GP PPG G- A- P Vanek UMn 28 1.18 15-18-33 Parise UND 26 1.23 16-16-32 One point back in two fewer games (with a better PPG)? Not bad. (Zach was at the WJC for two league games.) Like I posted over at POI: I just realized that North Dakota fans are claiming an 18-year-old, straight from his senior year of high school, American (better yet, Minnesotan), should win the WCHA ROY and Minnesota fans are claiming an older than 18-year-old freshman, who came from juniors, who isn't American (much less Minnesotan), should win the WCHA ROY. I think I've now seen it all.

Sadly, by the end of the season they were back to marching to the old clutch-and-grab is OK beat. Watch a few minutes of an NHL game on TV. There is far less obstruction in the NHL these days when compared to any of the DU/UND games last weekend. In a way I believe it to be an advantage. If UND is shipped to an eastern regional where C&G is not as common and called more often, think how light the guys will feel without an extra 200 pounds attached to them.

YaneA: If it was real, it wouldn't bother me as much. 'Siouxrock' posts in both a near gibberish form and then can come out with near perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation at other times. Obviously one is an act. 'schmidtdog' says that he believe the act reflects poorly on GFRRHS (his alma mater). I believe the act reflects poorly on all of us because of the 'Siouxrock' posting name. That's what bothers me. About the question: 'Siouxrock' posted, then deleted, a statement that they "knew more about hockey" than anyone else here. I challenged it with that question. No YaneA, I won't be asking you, or anyone, why the torpedo system was developed (or when to send a runner from third base ) unless a similar situation arises.

farce_poobah: Your hard hockey question. What surface is the game played on?

'Siouxrock': Why'd you take down your post where you said you knew more about hockey than another poster? I just finished the question: In the style of hockey used by certain teams, the fullback (in this case we'll say the left fullback) goes behind the net to retrieve the puck. (1) What is the name of this style of play? (Yes, there is a style that plays with fullbacks. Name it.) (2) What is the libero's (in this style, that's the name given to another position) defensive responsibilities in this situation? (3) Why was this style of play developed? (4) Who has used this style of play? (You only have to name one team.) Questions are great fun.

Where do I go to take "PCM" on that bet?

That's exactly what most of us think about your act.

I figured all along that "Siouxrock" was actually somewhat famous. Here it turns out that "Siouxrock" was the inspiration for a national cartoon strip!

Michigan Tech dropped it's football program today (under "radar cover" provided by resignation of head hockey coach Mike Sertich).

Some of the good ideas from those meetings, well, I haven't seen them and I'm going to point squarely at .... not students, not the season ticket holders, but UND and Ralph Engelstad Arena, right now. Where are the lyrics to "Fight on Sioux" and "Stand Up and Cheer" on the ring or boards? I thought those were coming. I'm sure there are other things that were brought up as well. 'Diggler,' 'forecheck,' help a fogey's memory.

Those are the types I'm trying to fix.

Yeah, but 10674 (minus the already standing students) jumping out of their seats at 18:56 of OT last night had to look pretty intimidating.

I never understood how standing for a whole game makes you a "better" fan. I'll save you from the "back in the day" stories and just say it's fun to watch a lot of those standing fans on cell phones or scoping the crowd for a date later. The place was wide open rockin' this weekend. That's with empty student sections in the upper deck. Yes, empty. (Yes, it's spring break.) The noise was coming from the non-student areas. Those "old fogey season ticket holders" can shake some window panes. There are those of us working to get the new fans up to speed. But a lot of new fans are put off by some of the other stuff. (You know what I'm talking about.) Meet us even part way and that place will be complete bedlam.

As long as you admit it.

Pot to Kettle, Pot to Kettle, ....

Best line overheard leaving the arena Sunday regarding the Fighting Sioux and the new REA: It's not "where they play" now; now it's "home." And it happened on March 16, 2003, or 3/16 .... /03, if you will. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Ralph 3:16 -- For he loved them so much that he gave onto them the crown jewel of hockey arenas to be their new home.

Yeah, but "Rulph" is gone now. Let him rest peacefully.