The Sicatoka

Random observations, for what they're worth: UND offense v. NDSU defense - NDSU's defense lost both starting safeties, three opening day linebackers, and the best DE in FCS. Their twos become the ones. <-- Are the threes ready to be the twos. - UND will start _______ at QB and _______ at RB. <-- Monster questions without answers today. - Will UND's offensive line be better than how they were playing at the end of 2014. <-- The answer to this is a big factor in how the game will be played. NDSU offense v. UND defense - How many will UND have to keep in the box to withstand the NDSU run game or will NDSU choose to forgo the run and attack a suspect UND secondary. Special Teams - NDSU will have a new primary kicker

For those of you with Midcontinent Cable, while channel-surfing last night I found the Minnesota HS tournament games live on MidcoSN Alt Channel 2. That is 322 on the cable system I was on.

Don't infringe on our jocularity.

Las Vegas Roulette Las Vegas Black Jacks <-- that's really not that bad ... Las Vegas Gamblers Las Vegas Craps

Things like that are exactly why I fear the NCAA will come back at UND: As long as there's not new the old will fill this void.

They don't have to be factual, but predictions have to be pointed out as just that: predictions. I don't know the NCAA will come after UND like Thought Police ... but they have in the past so it's not unreasonable to expect it again. And I never said the "ND" would have to go. Like I said already, that's not in violation. However, the ND logo is not a "new nickname". That's what's missing. I guess I don't find "Lemmings" all that catchy. To each their own. And I've never claimed a new nickname and logo will be a cash cow. What I have said is that it will generate more revenue than nothing. And it will stave off the Thought Police and that's worth a few bucks in itself.

We missed the boat on that in the current world. And you know this to be true. Cool. Can you hook me up with Saturday's PowerBall numbers too?

Because, not 100 years ago, or 100 years from now, we have to live in the world as it is today,

So, predictions on the final list? < ethereal noun -- like "Liberty" > < regional raptor > < clawed mammal, but not too scary > < weather phenomena > < color > What's missing?

That "retain the trademark" was to retain control, a means to the NCAA's ends. That's why they had it written into the agreement.

One amusing day in the future ... Minnesota Twins front office flunky: "Mr. St. Peter, the MLB league offices just called. They've been taking pressure from PETT* for a long time. Mary Kate and Ashley are leading protests in front of their offices. MLB has decided to ban team names related to twins! What do we do?" Dave St. Peter: "Well, we'll just go without a nickname then. We'll be known as the Minnesota MLB Franchise from now on. That'll show 'em!" Minnesota Twins front office flunky: "Sheer marketing genius sir! I'll go back and get on those roster moves now." *People for the Ethical Treatment of Twins

Don't go down a rabbit hole. The issue is the world is changing around us. We sat back and didn't believe it. Well, it did. And now, like it or not, we have to live in that changed world.

Methinks you have some SRV on that iPod. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F73EcycGCO8 Side note: I've long wanted to see REA put together highlights of opposing goalies left out to dry set to this music: " ... stranded ... caught in the crossfire ... "

Don't you see the color of deception? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psDTiUV0PNI

Six. That's a squiggly number.

I hope so.

Folks, I'm listening to a radio talk show right now discussing how Ringling Brothers is dropping elephants acts from their shows in three years because of constant, continual animal rights (PETA) protests. The host is talking about how it happened because the majority who support Ringling didn't get in front of it, didn't take it seriously, because they didn't believe it could really happen. And now folks are upset that the decision has been made. "Who are these people who complained? Are they < event > fans?" was the question he just posed. But that really doesn't matter. The elephants are kicked out of the circus. This scenario should ring eerily familiar to all of us.

No you won't. You'll see one color: the color of money.

Marketing a franchise and making poor roster decisions are not the same.

* And hopefully Schweigert and Idowu also.

The old N's and D's can stay because they comply with the NCAA policy; but, they still aren't "new". "If UND does not adopt a new nickname and logo, ... " <-- As that refers to UND, the "new" applies to UND, as in new to UND.

They're busy ... on the committee*. * Carla Christofferson and Dave St. Peter --> those two surely understand the value of brand identity when marketing a sports franchise

Rerun:

< a color >

"If UND does not adopt a new nickname and logo ... " Which logos and names were in use by UND on the date that settlement was signed? Anything in use before the signing of the settlement agreement would not be "new" after the agreement.