The Sicatoka

Just pray they didn't get folks from Florida to count the votes or we'll find out in 2019.

Do I love the new nickname? It's what you get when you have to order 1 pizza flavor for 10 people. Do I love the new logo? Honestly, more than the name. It's simple, smooth, and clean. And it's the best you can do with that nickname. What do I love most of the combo? No "talking points letters' from folks in Boulder this Thanksgiving. That does make me happy. But here's the best: Ben Brien has put that "broken beak" logo into the public domain. No way in < bleep > UND ever touches it now. It can no longer be registered as a trademark. No trademark, no rights money. ... Whups.

I didn't realize how much KU looks like a Big Tenner. < insert punchline here about Big Ten football and Kansas football >

Are OU and KU AAU members? KU yes. OU no. That would hurt OU with the Big Ten (NU was when admitted, but now isn't). OU getting NU back would replace losing UT in football. KU sure wouldn't hurt Big Ten BB. That said, OU would have a really hard sell to the Big Ten, in my mind, not being AAU. I believe UT would rather not follow TAMU to the SEC as much because of ego as academics. I still think UT wants the Pac12 .

Which recruiting regions (or responsibilities) did Rudolph and Knauf have? Will those get shuffled now also? (I flatly expect coaching duties/roles to shuffle before spring.)

geaux: Stockdam goaded me into it; I'll use the $70 still in my pocket* to buy you a beverage to atone for it. *That's not IQ, that's just smart.

This hurts me, but maybe you look at NSIC schools and cherry-pick key people. Sioux Falls had the best rushing attack (O line coach?) and MSU-Mankato had the most efficient passing game (OC).

Get fat and sassy after that (theoretical) win? No way. Out because of the target on the back and not being focused. Treat a (theoretical) win as motivation that bigger things are possible so bust it harder to get into the playoffs? Yes.

24 teams have at least one more week of practice. 16 teams have at least two more weeks of practice. How important is that to a team? Do those extra reps give a significant advantage to those teams in following seasons? Or are all FCS teams allowed to practice while the FCS playoffs are happening?

Actually, some of us do qualify to join Mensa. I have a qualifying test score (pre- Sept 1989 ACT at or over 29 composite). But that also makes me smart enough to know I'd rather have the membership fee still in my pocket instead of the membership card. It gives me time to opine and moderate here instead.

Let's hope it was some 21 year old Canadian playing in Edmonton that's just decided he wants to be a pilot. That's what it would take to jump start some offense.

Yote: I'm with you. I've seen that lining up since Benson (then SBC commish) talked P5/G5 and Saban talked about "all P5 football schedules" however many years ago. That's been a while but change in college football comes glacially slow until the glacier cracks. I believe what you do ... sort of: It's OU and UT Austin that'll make or break this. I could see the P5 become four 16-team conferences. (Yes, that may leave a couple teams in the cold. Sorry BYU.) My speculation was as yours: the top 2/3 or so of FBS is one level, the rest of FBS plus the top 40% or so of FCS is the second; the rest of FCS is the rest.

I recall seeing a red Arthur Knights letterman's jacket on the wall in the bar in Arthur ... vaguely. Red and white I believe. No further comment. Want ND HS history of one school? Check this place out. Someone converted the school to a hotel/restaurant/bar but kept all the school history (trophies, jackets, uniforms) in the display cases.

He was going for "Vaht?" as made famous by Watzisnaem "Perky" Sparko.

No help on any of those. Sorry. I'm just wondering why the question didn't include colors for the Page Panthers and Hope Hustlers and Finley-Sharon Raiders. @bincitysiouxmay have some insights to add.

Note to DC Schmidt: The focus now turns to you and the defense. Why? Any new OC gets a little first-year margin to get their stuff implemented which puts the magnifying glass on the defense.

Well, we're here. And here is off-season and looking for an OC and a O line coach (so far). Do I expect other responsibility shuffles? Yes. That said, here's what I see as homework for the off-season heading into 2019. 1. Relook at strength and conditioning. I'm tired of the injuries; that is S&C related. 2. The offensive line needs to be rebuilt. If you're not sure why the O line is important just look at the NAU game where the NAU D line spent the afternoon in the UND backfield. I don't put that game on Ketteringham or the RBs: You can't be effective when you have no O line blocking. 3. A simplified, effective offense needs to be implemented. It's true so I'll say it: the model is 80 miles south. 4. Ketteringham needs someone new in his ear. At the start of the year he went through receiver progressions and had some designed runs for him. By season end he was locking on and never taking off even when he should've. What changed? I'd say not the QB but what he was being told. 5. Next season's schedule is ugly (@NDSU, @EWU, @Weber, host UCDavis). That said, if those teams don't drop off and UND picks off one or two of them and finishes 6-5 they'll be considered playoff worthy under the "UNI" (tough schedule) rule.

Selection criteria: - statistically speaking - quality losses

Didn't WMU lose a guy similarly the week before they went to Grand Forks?

Mentioning "skate" ... one more thing. If I see another guy lolly-gag coast-skating to the bench for a change I'm going to explode. A few guys need their "Dean Blais" moment. Control what's yours to control and how hard you skate every minute you're on the ice is yours to control no matter what else is happening.

My pre-season fears are exactly here: I just didn't see where the offense was going to come from. At this point I'd put in one rule on the team: Shoot wide, skate later. Yes, even if it's a weak shot, get it on net and play for the greasy stuff. Go fancy or send it wide and you skate next practice. This team can't fire like Boeser or pick corners like Ryan Duncan. So don't waste any opportunity; get the puck on net and make their goalie work.

What were consistently our two biggest problems? Offensive line play and play-calling.

All this has to do with is the state of UND football and nothing else so leave all the rest out of it so we can focus on the problem at hand .

Whose were they?

Make change quickly and it gives time either way.