The Sicatoka

Reverse 2020 and 2021. Why? There is no way UND will host the xDSUs the first MVFC season. USD has traveled to UND recently so that is acceptable.

I'm with you until the end of the last sentence --> flip 16 and 14. There's history of 22 and 16 working well together in K-zoo.

Not that long ago, perennial Fargo-Moorhead radio ratings #1, KFGO-AM, had been caught (tied) for that spot. And then came the great shuffle of college athletics media outlets. NDSU went to "Bison 1660 AM". UND went (back) to KFGO. The fall Arbitron ratings book is out. KFGO first, Bison 1660 last in F-M fall radio ratings The Fox 107.9 is the sister station of Bison 1660 and they also run NDSU Football games. That slid them from tied at #1 to now #4. And now KFGO is alone back at #1. What was it that was added to KFGO recently?

The top three forwards on this team can get away with relying on talent and skill alone. The other forwards have to do it by sheer will and hustle. If the bottom 9 (or 11) forwards aren't playing full throttle there can be no success.

My observations: Ausmus is playing slow and is weak on the puck. His passes are not crisp. Even his chips up the boards are not getting to their destinations. I smell senioritis. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but three freshmen and two sophomores and a junior on defense is a better option right now until Gage decides to play. Cole Smith did not look out of place out there when Boeser was out. Actually, I think Smith's energy level rubbed off on Boeser and that is a good thing. Smith has the things a bottom six forward needs to bring: speed, size, and a bit of a snarl. Mentioning energy level, Smith and Gornall bring an energy that is sorely lacking. And frankly, I'd say Wilkie is showing that energy also. Yeah, that group is not going to be confused for "The Circus" any time, but when you skate hard and fast and move your feet good things do come your way sooner or later. And, you set the tone. I think they're expecting too much out of Hoff right now. Put him in a position where he can play a simpler game. There are 14 forwards on the roster. That means two sit per game. Right now, I'd have to say one needs to be Simonson. All he's effective at right now is PK. With a team lacking in firepower you can't have a PK-only guy dressed. After this weekend I'd say the next guy to sit would be Olson. If we can get everyone healthy, it might be time to put Jost, Boeser, Gersich back together to find some scoring.

Credit where credit is due: Brock Boeser late in the third actually chased down, from end to end in the rink, and broke up a SCSU centering pass that probably would've otherwise been a GWG. Actually, Boeser's skating looked about as good as it has all season. (I believe there's more than a wrist with him this year.)

I kind of wondered if the NCHC didn't schedule Omaha's last regular season series at UND this year for a reason.

Between the sack and the hold ... From the 21, ATL could've run three dives, eaten clock, kicked the FG to go up 11, ... and won.

The home team had better be ready for a full throttle first 10 minutes of this game. SCSU will still have a bitter taste in its mouth after what happened there earlier this season and will come out flying and firing. The best thing the home team can do is keep it simple. Short passes; support the puck; battle hard; go to the net.* *Insert other favorite coach-speaks here as you choose.

Tomek is not 20 and has three years of eligibility left. (He didn't "participate" in a real game last year; effectively he redshirted like football guys do.) Thome is ... wait a minute. Are you serious? EliteProspects.com says Tomek and Thome have the same DOB! No way. So we lose Rinks and Cam after this year (you have to assume Cam is gone). That would be Tomek, Anderson (the practice puck eater) and Thome next season. So, they go and find someone else for the spot in the pipeline that Karki had.

Are you sure I can't reverse that? Please? How about just reverse Ausmus and Jost on that list? Pretty please?

A big write-up in the Denver Post, with a big picture, of UND's three Colorado recruits in this class, and nothing in this thread? Do I have to do everything around here? http://www.denverpost.com/2017/02/01/university-of-north-dakota-football-signees/

Like I said earlier somewhere around here: Sacred cows are best on the grill with a nice South American sauce marinade.

You could make that case; however, you also need to look at tertiary effects. I am unaware of any significant donors or donations to UND because of M/W Tennis players. However, I do know of significant donors due to football and basketball. That tertiary effect must be calculated into the ROI.

UND Womens Hockey IS losing $1,500,000.00 annually. And that's not a real number because they are paying $0.00 for use of REA. (The mens team covers 100% of that expense.) Put half the cost of REA ($2.23M) on the women and that number pushes their number up $1,100,000.00 to over $2,600,000.00. <-- OOPS! That's more than the average FCS FB team. Now, the average FCS team loses $2,500,000.00. The average. Please tell me the number for UND's FCS team so as to make a direct comparison.

Uh, the all bold font? There's no need to shout.

"80 some doctors" ... until you need one.

The "pick your slot" approach would lead to nothing but bulletin board material. "Well, #13 Whasawmattah U, you're up. Which of the remaining slots do you want to play?" "Oh, we're going to take out #1 overall Schreuw U."

The '15 team was a bunch of guys who'd gelled into a team. This group is a bunch of guys still. Bring on the gelatin!

I've said before and stand by it: If there must be college athletics* it should be team sports only. Real team sports. Want to go for a swim or a run** or bowling? Knock yourself out. Have at it. Ask your roommate to play tennis with you.*** A team sport is one where you need multiple players working in conjunction to participate. If you can do what you do as a single competitor, that's not a team sport. Examples of team sports in my narrow-minded**** view? Basketball, volleyball, football, hockey, soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse. Wrestling is not. Participants act individually. Tennis is not. You say "doubles". I say "singles". Swimming? No. And don't say relays. See "tennis". Same for T&F. That's my opinion. Rip away. *I'm still the curmudgeon that would like all sports out of educational institutions, but that's not the world we live in. **I just PO'd siouxrunner. ***That was for you Brad. I know you're reading. ****Yup. I admit that.

We've heard about Illinois state budget issues and normally WIU is brought up. Well, there's this place called Southern Illinois ... Southern Illinois University announces cost-cutting measures in Athletics

It's the NCAA.

Cut both sets. Go to 16 total sports. Fund those at championship levels. Next question.