The Sicatoka

We don't know the stimulant in question; however, as I've previously said, if it was caffeine just coming out and saying it would garner a lot of incredulity and pity from the average observer. Not saying what the stimulant is question is just leaves things open to speculation.

The NCAA bans ethanol, yes, "booze", an otherwise legal substance to non-minors. But what's "enough" for a sanction and how low of a level can they detect? That said, no cough syrup before the game I guess ...

Every test procedure has a "minimum detectable level". It could be some "parts per million" or "any". It's the ability of the test to find what it's looking for. That's just the science of testing. Don't believe me? Your smoke detector (testing for smoke in the air) doesn't go off when you light a candle in the room but there's still some smoke in the air. Is it detectable and above threshold? There's the questions. That said, I believe the NCAA has a "zero threshold" for Class I (Federally) illegal drugs. It has a below 15 sumpins-per-sumping "threshold" level for caffeine. Now the question is: For the stuff they test for, what are the "acceptable" thresholds? If they set a threshold level clearly they can detect at that level. Can they detect below threshold level is the other question.

You're coming to this site and trying to explain that the NCAA can be arbitrary and capricious?

Isn't there some old one-liner that the NCAA was so mad at Ohio State that they put Youngstown on three years probation.

So if you tested for caffeine at a urinary concentration of less than 15 micrograms per milliliter (the NCAA limit) you're acceptable. As you say, black and white. Thus caffeine is regulated, not banned, by the NCAA's own (mis)statements and stated limits.

Allow me to be more specific: If you are on a lunar scoring cycle* you're being stared at in my world. *There have been 3 full moons since the season started. Look at how many players with 3 or fewer goals.

Forgive the "back in the day" moment, but Lammy, Pattyn, Kaip wouldn't stand a chance in a Jim Archibald, Chris Jensen, Scott Dub (RIP) world. Different time; different styles. But just the same, I still believe you need one or two "come to Jesus" players on your bench. Except today they also have to move a puck (see: Ryan Reeves, Tom Wilson, Wayne Simmonds). Today, at forward, you have to have 12 offensive contributors who can also do other things (pester, "come to Jesus", PK).

Newbie treatment.

All I know is when things started getting scruffy late Saturday against St. Cloud I couldn't find the big peacemaker* defenseman in green to step in. No Finley, no Blood, no Commodore, no ... The closest we have right now is Peski. And the closest we have to a Prpich is ma-a-a-ybe Cole Smith. *Or should that be spelled 'piece maker'.

Are you sure? He's a 1999 DOB.

I don't see Randklev coming fall of 2019 after his injury. I think the injury brings Mismash back. I wonder if Frisch will be in (as he'd only be a senior at Moorhead right now). Poolman's probably the trigger on that move.

... or quiet "reaching of a private accord" in the background. <-- Again, pure speculation.

Ain't our QB until is our QB.

NDSU AD Larson seems to be watching his words very carefully.To me that's a sign of someone who knows they need to stay on a very narrow path (and there be landmines outside it). But that's also called living in NCAA-land. So it's not surprising. It's curious that the Robbins' haven't said what the substance in question is. Honestly, if it was caffeine (we don't know) they'd get a level of pity and disbelief from the casual observer. If it's not, well, I guess I wouldn't expect them (Robbins') to admit to what it was until they could use that information to show the validity of the rest of their claims. Finally, McFeely did a favor to NDSU. He inferred it was "5 Hour Energy" in question. That's going for the disbelief and pity. However, we don't know what the substance at issue is. So Mike should've stayed out of the speculative game. Or stated what the substance in question is (if he knows). But after all that it comes down to this: A very good NDSU FB player lost a senior year to a failed post game test. The player's (NDSU Athletics HOF mother) says it was a "trusted staff member" that gave the substance that caused the failed test. NDSU claims otherwise. Someone is being less than forthright and it's not a good look for NDSU either way. And we're yet to find anyone ready to step up and do a full discovery of the facts. We're getting whispers (Ben Newman, supplements), but not the truth and facts. Rumors and innuendo will fill the void until the truth is known.

Right there Milo you let down your guard and exposed yourself as a poseur.

A long hard stare at this roster going into 2019-2020 has to be done.

That game is just football moving to what soccer, and sadly hockey, have become: Low scoring defensive mindset stalemates where the games are not decided by talent but by "a bounce".

Rebounds? I thought you were talking Fowler, not Rubio.

Either NDSU has been slandered or is lying. After seeing the polar opposites presented by the Robbins and Larson I believe any investigative effort should come from outside NDSU. Its the only way to ensure a complete and unbiased fact finding.

We don’t know the issue is caffeine.

The NCAA needs to look at this Ben Newman fellow and his various endeavors. NDSU’s relationship with him (payments, access) should be explored as part of a self or State evaluation.

... and the front page of the Sunday Fargo Forum.

Fact is Robbins’ NCAA career is over because of a failed post game substance test. What that does is open the door to follow up questions and not all of them will be pleasant or polite. And it’s a reasonable basis for a greater inquiry by media (no comment) or the State (given claims by the mother of State employees being involved) or the NCAA (to evaluate some of the parties involved or how certain things are being done by certain parties).