The Sicatoka

... Or thunder hawks.

I smell a group that learned nothing from the experiences at Hofstra and Marquette.

Jim's list is solid, except it should say "no thanks" right after #2 and before #3. "North Dakota" (no nickname) should not be on that list unless we have a signed letter from the NCAA saying no nickname meets the settlement agreement in their eyes. Nobody wants to have deal with this cluster again.

I'd dare argue there's as large (larger?) portion of the fan base that is suffering "nickname fatigue" and they just want a remedy and to actually have the focus be on the players and teams for the first time since 2005. (2000? The mid 1990s? The 1980s? The early 1970s?)

Yup. I'll give Kelley this: He could've picked a name July 1 and said, "I'm out August 1." Instead, he rides it the fall semester. And accordingly, the new president will never have said the forbidden (by the NCAA) words. I still say Kelley (older, near retirement age) was brought in to retire the old and start the new. Seems the case.

The %gobc did nothing to Hak. Philly gave Hak ten million reasons to go. (Ron Hextall >> %gobc) The %gobc did nothing to Kelley. He's 70, and I'd argue he should've never taken this position. He should have stayed on two more years as dean of the College of Health Sciences and professor of medical education and public health at the University of Wyoming and retired (at 65). Instead he came here at age 63 ... and retired. I'd like the next president of UND to be the age of the parents of the average UND freshman, not the age of the grandparents of the average UND freshman.

What Kelley serves at cook-outs!

If you're an option team, and you're down 21-10 in the third quarter, and you don't have the ball, you're in trouble.

Ranking UND presidents of my lifetime (best to not so much): 1. Clifford - in a runaway 2. Kupchella - the man who dared question political correctness and the NCAA 3. Starcher - the Yankton Chief 4. Baker 5. Kelley

Sure. But the "Purpur" name was invoked in the context of a president conversation. Purpur for AD? You bet. Purpur for president. Uh, no.

Having access ( thanks to Chinese database hackers, © jimdahl ) to %gobc meeting minutes from when Kelley was hired, the %gobc endorsement last time went to this man (while he was still out east at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania).

You don't bring in an associate athletic director to be president of a university.

True, but you also had better take the opening kickoff and score because coming from behind is not easy when you run the option.

RE: Eichel Maybe he thinks if he produces enough bone-headed statements to the media that Buffalo will not want to deal with him and will trade the pick away. First ten picks in 2015 NHL Draft: 1. Edmonton 2. Buffalo 3. Arizona 4. Toronto 5. Carolina 6. New Jersey 7. Philadelphia 8. Columbus 9. San Jose 10. Colorado Eichel's latest gaffs would make him an instant media darling in Toronto. I wonder if Buffalo could give the #2 overall for Toronto's #4 and #34 overall.

Yup. In China, the internet is an all (attach to private college hockey websites) or nothing (banned western websites) venture. That, or U of Beijing is adding DI college hockey and looking to steal recruits.

I thought driving a big truck made you an eco-terrorist, consuming fossil fuels and damaging "Mother Earth" and all --> rollin' coal.

Apparently you are unfamiliar with how the internet works in China.

Minnesota approves certificate of need for Sandpiper. http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-puc-approves-certificate-of-need-for-pipeline/306312481/

How special. http://www.inforum.com/news/3760399-police-release-name-officer-and-suspect-robbery-shooting

Let me ask which is tougher: A perfect 1.000 winning ratio for four games or A 0.571 winning ratio over 28 games (that's going 16-12) It'd be interesting to go back through Hak's coaching career at UND and see how many 28 game stretches he went under a 0.571 ratio.

Three months later, and I stand by my take from March:

Who you kidding. Mafia is the fifth Beatle. Or is he the fourth member of ZZ Top? Who's at Alerus Center tonight?

I wonder who'll figure out the theme of today's entries in "Found on Mafia's iPod". (It's pretty easy; there's a dead giveaway in there.)