The Sicatoka

If this is accurate (if) that is concerning to me. Not about the winning, but about the future State liability if such substances were provided by a State employee and later found to have long-term detrimental health effects.

I don't say simple as any disrespect to the scheme. I'd take simple with exceptional execution (as NDSU does time and again) over complex and missed assignments every day of the week. And yes, it is a wonder that teams think they have to do more. NDSU shows that doing less but always doing it right is better.

The method is the simplicity. Keep it simple and be perfect at it. Put it this way: If your offensive line never misses a block and can fall forward for 4 yards every play, what else do you need to do? If your receiver always runs a perfect 7 yard sideline out that the DB can't react fast enough to and your QB can put that ball in that spot every time, what else do you need to do? There's elegance in simplicity. Or as a wise mentor told me long ago: Anyone can put together an overthought overly complex system; what is difficult is designing out the complexity and creating a simple effective design.

And NDSU didn't beat an FBS team this season. Yes, they did beat an FBS in their other 15-0 season: Kansas State and K-State that year went on to play for the Nat..., er, won the Big ..., uh, has a fine program.

On 01/08/19: 42 GP, 15-21-6, 36 pts, 116 GF, 151 GA Let's see here ... ought and ought is ought, carry the one, yadda-yadda, ... Philly is 3-6-2 since releasing Hakstol.

Senior Rhett Gardner has 68 career points. Junior Colton Poolman has 49 career points. Those two combined careers (117 points) just exceed Tony Hrkac's 1986-87 season (46/70/116). Senior Joel Janituinen is the only other player on the roster with 40+ career points (44). Jones is at 39 points.

http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1819/teamstats/ndkm Plus/minus stats are in there.

NDSU fans, actually all non-FBS college fans, need to realize there's this thing call "Mount Union" in DIII that matters as much to the FBS schools (and national media for that matter) as FCS does. Mentioning Mount Union, they've gone 15-0 in 2017, 2015, 2012, 2008, 2006, and they've gone 14-0 in 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1993*. *Note that little run in there from 1996 to 2002 -- six of seven titles and just one combined loss (in 1999, 12-1).

major adjective ma·jor | \ˈmā-jər \ Definition of major 1: greater in dignity, rank, importance, or interest

Door prizes from Best Buy.

Those are a real pain in the ... nevermind.

We those two other games, per chance, played in the State of Michigan?

Let's hope this was our "US International" wake-up call for the season. If you don't know what that is, ... you're bandwagon. (I actually watched that debacle from the old REA press box as fate would have it.)

You miss on 100% of the shots that are wide.

10 solo, 7 assists, 17 tackles, 2 int, and a kick block in 12 games. That ain't Robby G (49/35/84, 6 int, in 15 games). Grimsley's loss will be felt more than Stick's loss. That's my prediction.

I am no NDSU roster expert, and I do not mean to undervalue Mr. Stick, but I believe losing SS Robby Grimsley is a larger hit to the defense than losing Stick is to the offense. Why? They'll still have that core functionality, that offensive line, that Oxbow and Blackheart could play behind. But in a Tampa 2 scheme you need a great MLB and safeties that make consistently good decisions. Grimsley's been that safety (blanket) for a long time and that's very hard to replace.

The losers with the shiny offices in Indianapolis that govern college athletics?

Larsen? What would the NCAA think of that (improper benefit?), or because they are seniors and have no more eligibility it's no big deal (and that may well be the case).

"Skate or sit." (c) Dean Blais

I see some housecleaning that need be done.

Goals by Forwards: Gardner 8 Mismash 5 Kawaguchi 3 Senden 3 This means that last minute roster add Mark Senden is outscoring Jones, Smith, Hoff, Adams, JJ, Hain, Johnson Weatherby, Keane, Yon, and Bowen. (At least Jones missed 7 games.) Worse? JBD, Kiersted, and Poolman each have 4 goals. Look where they fall into that list.

That'll happen in twenty-oh-never.

I keep saying it because it's true. I'm hoping that someone finally figures out that you don't need fancy schemes or systems but what you do need is a relentless commitment to be exceptional at what you do. Every day, every practice, every snap, every step, every move. If it's not exact, do it again or find someone who will. So how do you stop the NDSU momentum. You don't. What you do do is ... Control what's yours to control: Become relentlessly exceptional at what you do. The rest will take care of itself from there.

Where in this lineup is the guy that strikes fear into opposing defenses? That's the problem.

I said before the season I figured this team would be "offensively challenged" at best. What scares me is I was at the GB/Fargo USHL game Saturday and Mancinelli and Costello really didn't do anything that stood out offensively. At least Frisch had a sound defensive game.