The Sicatoka

The issue today: What is best for UND? A nickname or no nickname? I'll state my belief: a nickname. Why? I see the benefits that NDSU has from the multiple marketing options (NDSU, Bison, spelling out North Dakota State University, different logos, art or word marks). They can target different audiences and different media using all the resources available to them. I see all the words written out in some ads. I see just the cow head in others. I see the letters "NDSU" in some places and the word Bison in others. They have options and use them to target demographics and media platforms. Not having all the possible resources and options handcuffs UND from what I see. We used to have all the options and they were used well so clearly they were at minimum useful if not necessary. Our best logo right now is mostly misrecognized as that of a school in Indiana. If we just put the words "North Dakota" on something do people know "U of" or "State of" without additional context? (Say "Bison" and it is clear.) The reasons I can find for not having a new nickname and logo: - the options we have stink - stick it to the NCAA - I don't want one so I can keep saying the old name If you believe one or more of those, that's fine. We've beat those topics again and again. But in the end it comes down to: What is best for UND? Why would not having all the options other NCAA schools have going forward be a good thing.

The historic record? A cadre of likeminded folks within the NCAA, who didn't like one category of team nicknames, had the power to take most of them out, and did. That's the key triggering event, the cause. After that it's effect.

My take: 17th Avenue needs an underpass (no ramps) like 40th Avenue in Fargo. That would be a big help. You don't have enough space for ramps between there and the Demers ramps but being able to get west of I-29 there would be useful both for Alerus Center and the city in general. They probably don't want to put ramps on at Merrifield because that road is considered the southern edge of the Grand Forks flood control system. Look at the height of that road and how even South Washington (Hwy 81) has to rise up to cross it. That's your clue. They want the overpass on a section line (main arterial) road. They do want the overpass inside the flood protection. Given that they have two options from 32nd Ave to Merrifield Road: 47th Ave or 62nd Ave. There is a pipeline corridor that crosses I-29 about one mile north of the Merrifield overpass. Yup, right about 62nd Ave. You don't want to have to deal with that. So, you're left with 47th Avenue.

PCM used to say it was a minority of a minority that was dictating. He was and is right. But they won.

Pretty telling when darell comes off as a voice of reason. (No offense intended, darell.)

OK, so we need a native born son done good to use the name of his followers ... roger that ... I see the future ... < arena lights drop > < bubble machine fires up full bore > "Here comes your University of North Dakota ... ORCHESTRA!" < lights come up full and Lawrence Welk mascot carrying interlocked ND flag comes onto playing surface > < team comes out of the tunnel through a maze of bubbles onto the surface > < and the fans all cheer > "An' a one! An' a two!"

Just like other single season campaigns go away after a season, like ... "Force of the North" or our neighbor's ill-fated "Sctream Yellow!".

I figured Kelley (UC Berkeley alumnus, fairly old when he came) was brought in to do one job. If he leaves without doing that one thing he may force his all-time ranking to the bottom. Before folks start ripping Kelley for having that job to do, he didn't create it. The settlement and timelines were in play before he got here. The fight was over when he arrived. He was handed a mop ... (and the floor is still wet).

That's like "gluten free" labels ... on fresh carrots.

Can I toss in ... 2a) He allows a final showdown between "no nickname" and just "Roughriders" --- "mano a mano"

I'll grant you that part. However, if "no nickname" is so smart, so great, so marketable, why hasn't it been done before by the great sports marketeers of history. (See: Bill Veeck, et al)

Technically, wouldn't Gregor Mendel be guilty of creating GMOs?

Friend, the first knock down and standing eight of the fight was August 5, 2005. The fight was stopped by the referee (TKO) in 2011. Everyone was sent to their corners until 2015. Fighting after the bell is unsportsmanlike.

"San Juan", ND, is up by Belcourt and Rolla, ... and there are hills! ... so maybe there is a "San Juan" Hill in ND.

Naw, just where a Colonel of the unit lived.

Please go and help those folks in the southwestern part of ND working under the Succeed 2020 grant.

Why do I want a new nickname? 1. I have vowed to never use that "S" word again except in reference to geographic locations. (Yes, I've slipped a couple times.) I've taken to calling tribes by their names: D/L/Nakota. <-- We needed them to have UND's back. They didn't. They chose to not even work with UND. They're done with us? I'm done with them. (Yes, a generality and thinking of tribal councils; there are personal exceptions.) 1a. Call it malicious compliance with the settlement agreement. 2. "North Dakota" is not declarative. Do you mean the State or the University of? 3. If it's such a great marketing idea to run without, why hasn't it been done before? Why didn't Bill Veeck (the quirky marketeer he was) rename the "White Sox" to just be Chicago? You have to have something to sell that distinguishes and declares you, by its presence, not its absence. 4. Fatigue. I'm done with the 30+ years of fighting and infighting. The time, money, and energy is better spent elsewhere. 5. We'll never have perfect. And newsflash, blasphemy to some to follow, we never did. 6. The cooling off period did nothing. Waiting longer will do nothing.

Artic?

They haven't been the University of North Dakota's representative, with an associated nickname, since inception? And that's "The Spectre". It's fitting, because we keep living under the specter of the old nickname around here. That's why I chose it.

Indeed.

Would our northern neighbors let us join their CIS?

Incorrect. We have been North Dakota since 1883.

No, as Johnboy pointed out, no school that had a sanctionable name and that has chosen a new nickname has faced any sanctions after adopting the new name.

(I'm about to agree with Benny ... < gulp > ... ) If you come into my house and say "Go Gophers!" I'm well within my rights to sanction you (by kicking you out). Your First Amendment rights end at my front door. In this case, it's the NCAA's house.

Yes, yes they did. And yes, yes they do.