The Sicatoka

Ask the "man on the street" in the major media markets and they don't know the difference between UND and NDSU any more than they know the difference between NDSU and SNHU. Actually, more may have heard of SNHU than NDSU or UND.

There's no story until UND releases it. Why? Private, contract negotiations (legal under ND open records).

Laudable for you; however, many in the "no nickname" camp really are for it for the specific reason you cite: to be able to continue using the old one (and think or feel like they are "stickin' it to the man!"). One morning the NCAA attorneys will: - wake up, - find that a Power 5 school has a scandal brewing, - need a distraction for the media from that, - realize that they've been played by those hick in fly-over North Dakota, - pull out their copy of the Settlement Agreement, - highlight the word "new", - make a statement about "not selecting a new nickname is fostering a hostile and abusive environment" which is what the Policy and the Settlement were to prevent, - put UND back under the Policy, - and put out a press release about it. The media lackeys will miss the P5 scandal story and instead write about how the NCAA is serious about "diversity and inclusion" and how they are rightly slapping down those contract-breaking rube hicks that are still fostering a hostile and abusive environment by not taking the last step in retiring their terrible nickname. Grandiose? Boisterous? Preposterous? Really? Uh ... the same type of scenario got us ... here.

Then again, he chose to go with a new last name rather than just going with "Zane".

David "Izzy" Marvin (late 1980s).

There's the letter, and the spirit, of the agreement. The letter is open to interpretation (as Chewey and I agree). The spirit of the agreement? We're trying to get around it with "weasel words".

Can we ever go back? Do we have to (legal obligation) move forward? I think the answers are in here: Source (reprint of GF Herald): http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/22000/#sthash.FeE0PujV.dpuf

The main reason: Contract Law. UND (the State) signed an agreement with the wording "If UND does not adopt a new nickname and logo ... ". (Settlement Agreement, section 2.d, page 5) North Dakotans don't "weasel word" and do follow through on agreements, especially contracts. I don't want a judge to rule one day that the NCAA is free and clear to stick us back on the list as subject to the Policy. There's one way to ensure that doesn't happen.

It would not be hard for the NCAA to claim UND is "fostering a hostile and abusive" environment by not selecting a new name and allowing the de facto nickname to perpetuate. They would then enforce the Settlement Agreement, section 2.d (see below). Nailed it.

Duncan's replacement was Trupp. Trupp's replacement was Grimaldi. --> Small, dynamic forward. Does the work along the walls, no nonsense, great shot, not the best player on the ice but never outworked, plays the role put in front of him. Who am I describing? Pattyn? Simonson?

Think one of the Ohio State QBs wants to transfer in ala Braden Hanson? #pipedream

Choose the lesser of two evils and you're still choosing evil.

Who recruited Blais' "playas" when Blais was here. (Hint: His top assistant.)

I'd like to see a unique letter mark, something where the D is shaped like the outline of the state. Calling the creative talent here ...

Fixed your post, and yes, the skunk is my first thought. When I think of Michigan, I think of the fugly helmets first.

Nothing. But Michigan still uses "Wolverines". Even with the M focal point, they still keep and use Wolverines.

Simonson is Pattyn's replacement (long term team role-wise). That's my prediction.

No, I said they aren't using all of the resources fully. That's wasteful.

Delay, delay, delay is the academic way of claiming they are diverse and inclusive when they are really just too weak to act for fear of not everyone liking them.

I don't wear yellow much less an XS. If you buy me anything at Scheel's with an "X" in it, it should be an "XDM".

So they've had a logo, they're exploring a new logo, and have a nickname.

Can I guess? He chose the alternating yellow and green pleated skirt. What do I win? Please don't say a picture of him wearing it.

I can define the Wild's problem in three words: Too. Many. Gophers. The NHL game is played along the wall. You don't find Gophers there.

... in your opinion. Again, "wrong judge, wrong court, wrong day" and ... BOOM! ... UND is subject to the Policy. It comes down to the interpretation and implementation (actual or spirit) of the word "new". I make no bold predictions of how that would come out. Another court battle, and those costs, just to lose, is just digging the hole deeper. Heck, even if you win you've lost in the arena of public opinion (more public spending; the 60% of the survey that said be done with picking a new name in a year). There is one sure-fire way to make sure the phrase "new nickname" is met.

The University of Michigan, with it's established lettermark (above), still has a nickname. And it has a (admittedly seldom used) logo or two of a wolverine. http://www.gamafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/michigan-logo.gif http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b183/M33NTS/blockwolverine.png Found at http://vpcomm.umich.edu/brand/: “A brand is the most valuable piece of real estate in the world: a corner of someone’s mind.” - John Hegarty Michigan's brand, famous as they are, still includes the block M, a nickname, and a logo.