The Sicatoka

To everyone reading: Stealing an overworked phrase, if you see something say something. I intend that to mean if you believe it's wrong, not to forum standards, don't be afraid to challenge it yourself in the forums. You don't have to just report to the moderators. That said, all the moderators see all the reports. Lately we've had a rash of reports by "Guest". If you're a guest and that concerned please join the forums and follow the above advice. Having said that, reporting as Guest is taken, admittedly, very lightly by me (can't speak for others) because it's easy to log out, appear as "Guest", and weaponize the reporting system. If you're really that concerned become a member and follow the above advice: help create the conduct you'd like to participate in by challenging things that don't meet the standards. We can't be everywhere all the time. The moderation team has also been accused of having a double standard. I'll say plainly: Yes we do. We have the written one; we have the one we actually enforce. If folks would like I, we, could start hard-enforcing the standards to the letter. To. The. Letter. And then this forum would have @jimdahl as the only one left in under six months. Historically, we try to give quiet (personal message) warnings; suspensions from us are a last resort. And frankly, it takes a lot, a significant and repeated pattern of behavior to achieve suspension. Sometime we'll post in a thread directly, kind of like what we ask of all members when they see something not up to snuff. We can change that soft-handed approach if you'd like. Not a threat, just simple reality. But we'd rather have a group that self-maintains a set of mores and a code of conduct. Remember: this is a private forum; I just help the owner with moderation and some admin stuff. He doesn't have to allow anyone anything here; this isn't a "First Amendment thing" because this is a private non-governmental forum. Put another way: he can set rules and enforce them as he chooses. His sandbox, his toys, his rules. The moderation team is following the owner's framework for how he's expressed he'd like the forum to run. But as stated above, you can influence it by participating beyond an anonymous Guest report. Final Thought: The above was written by me and me alone. The board owner may suspend me for it if he disagrees. That's his prerogative. See "private forum" above. Signed, The Sicatoka PS - When you report as "Guest" we still log the IP address the report came from just like every other interaction with the board.

Everyone throttle back the personal attacks. Thank you.

Where are my bonus points for correct usage of "whom" in the response?

So, Tex, do I bench everyone that makes such attacks? Ponder your answer before responding. Or are you asking for a double standard that applies to everyone not you.

Loose it on whom? Just make sure you recover it afterwards; we'd hate you to lose it. < Mensa meeting gavel pounding sound here >

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.