The Sicatoka

We should ask the Trojans, all of them, how they deal with that: Anderson College (Anderson, South Carolina) Dakota State University (Madison, South Dakota) Hannibal-LaGrange College (Hannibal, Missouri) Mount Olive College (Mount Olive, North Carolina) Taylor University (Upland, Indiana) Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, Tennessee) Trinity International University (Deerfield, Illinois) Troy University (Troy, Alabama) (former name: Troy State University) University of Arkansas-Little Rock (Little Rock, Arkansas) University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California) (men's team) Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia) Goodness people, I thought universities promoted such things these days.

I worry about the consultant's capabilities and credentials if they know nothing about certain words beyond what they read on urban dictionary. Then again, maybe they are personally familiar with certain definitions of certain words, and unfamiliar with Teddy Roosevelt and his relationship with North Dakota. Then again, that probably explains every consultant's fascination with < school color here > Hawks. It's "safe" and all they know.

So 20 Gage is the captain. Can we get the full "who's in this fall" list?

How awesome are the Blackhawks? http://wgntv.com/2015/06/16/this-mans-reaction-to-blackhawks-win-is-the-best-weve-heard/

Pretty much any time you try to do something "by committee" you end up with the obvious at 10x price.

I guess I'm in agreement with RD17 when he said here, " ... Roughriders as the top choice because it is the only name that makes sense." That's why it's easy. "Lame and unoriginal" are your opinion. However, I will agree with you on one point: Taking a decade plus to end up with the obvious is a waste of time and money.

They'd probably Chrysler!* *Say it slowly ... cry slur.

Jim's poll in this allows for multiple selections. At this time I see 124 members have cast 197 votes (about 1.6 votes per member). So for every 5 members, about 8 votes have been tossed in. Anyone else interested in what "one choice only, live with it forever" poll results would look like?

Math with numbers is hard.

Do you expect me to try to Dodge that one?

Weston Dressler's take.

There's no Fighting Sioux tribe* either but that didn't work. The < adjective > < tribe name > pattern (like Fighting Sioux, or North Dakota) as a nickname would not pass muster. *There's Spirit Lake Sioux, and Standing Rock Sioux, and Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux, but no Fighting Sioux tribe.

How long before the ESPN and other random media guys just start calling us the "Nodak Nodaks". There's a loss right there. You want them saying "University of North Dakota" and then the nickname (Roughriders ) for the brand and market identification.

... now hard to listen to is another story.

I do wish the committee would come out and say "we don't mean North Dakota as a nickname; we mean 'no nickname'". Why? "North Dakota" as a nickname would be in violation of the NCAA policy because Dakota is a tribe name and can not be used as a nickname. Yes, I'm harping on this point, but people need to know what the intention is, because I really don't believe they mean "North Dakota" as the nickname and should say so to be clear.

I'll send you your hotel and airline confirmation numbers right after you send me your credit card number.

I believe you just found out why "Green Hawk" was so popular in the Forum Forum unscientific poll (... of mainly NDSU fans).

Really? I thought "bin city" was part of the Grand Forks Metroplex.

Green Sun Star Hawk-dogs. Green Fighting Sun Star Hawk-dogs? Saddle up. Go Riders.

Like I said ... jdub27 just proved it so.

Phil hasn't got the kind of money to make me like that abomination of a word.

(reposted here, because it probably better applies here) My take on the Silly Seven, and I see these seven in four categories: < adjective > Hawks: This is the standard consultant template. Look at Miami and a host of other schools that have dropped Native related names. It's so pattern and predictable that it's a running joke. And it needs to be dismissed out of hand. The Unimaginative: Yes, that's Nodaks and North Dakota. Nothing says unique and creative like using the state name, or better yet, shortening it to a postal code abbreviation. The unimaginative is not worthy of a center of creativity like a university. The State Nicknames: Well, that's what Roughriders and North Stars are, state nicknames; except, North Stars is not North Dakota's but is Minnesota's and must be dismissed as such summarily. Duckies, Bunnies, Rainbows, and Unicorns; aka The Kumbahyas: Sundogs are light and sunny and rainbows ... just sunshine on ice crystals, ... or are they. Sundogs mean it's cold and going to be colder. If you're from North Dakota sundogs are not something you want to see in January. Or it means something very different and that is a Class A misdemeanor (or is it a Class C felony). Run through that list of trite template solutions, the completely unimaginative, and sunshine on ice crystals which also means a crime (sex in public) and what are you left with? Minnesota - the Gopher State Iowa - the Hawkeye State Nebraska - the Cornhusker State Kansas - the Jayhawk State North Dakota - the Roughrider State The TR Rough Rider Award is the State's highest award. Just ask UND Athletics icons Fido Purpur and Phil Jackson.

Let me translate that for our NDSU friends that haunt these parts: Towes is good at teh hockies.

My take on the Silly Seven, and I see these seven in four categories: < adjective > Hawks: This is the standard consultant template. Look at Miami and a host of other schools that have dropped Native related names. It's so pattern and predictable that it's a running joke. And it needs to be dismissed out of hand. The Unimaginative: Yes, that's Nodaks and North Dakota. Nothing says unique and creative like using the state name, or better yet, shortening it to a postal code abbreviation. The unimaginative is not worthy of a center of creativity like a university. The State Nicknames: Well, that's what Roughriders and North Stars are, state nicknames; except, North Stars is not North Dakota's but is Minnesota's and must be dismissed as such summarily. Duckies, Bunnies, Rainbows, and Unicorns; aka The Kumbahyas: Sundogs are light and sunny and rainbows ... just sunshine on ice crystals, ... or are they. Sundogs mean it's cold and going to be colder. If you're from North Dakota sundogs are not something you want to see in January. Or it means something very different and that is a Class A misdemeanor (or is it a Class C felony). Run through that list of trite template solutions, the completely unimaginative, and sunshine on ice crystals which also means a crime (sex in public) and what are you left with? Minnesota - the Gopher State Iowa - the Hawkeye State Nebraska - the Cornhusker State Kansas - the Jayhawk State North Dakota - the Roughrider State

The consultants need to get over themselves regarding Roughriders. They probably would tell the U of Southern California Trojans to change their name. In North Dakota, the TR Rough Rider Award is the highest honor given. http://governor.nd.gov/theodore-roosevelt-rough-rider-award When in Rome, do as the Romans; when in North Dakota, its the Rough Rider Award.