The Sicatoka

Well, most consider western ND, ND's back yard. I was merely pointing that out. (Folks missed it.) We are oil dependent. How to deliver it: train, pipeline, supertanker? Each have pluses and minuses. C'est la vie.

OK. We stop drilling in western ND to preserve that. But we still need electricity and energy. So let's generate that in already blighted areas. So, ... let's build a nuclear reactor in north Minneapolis. Better?

Snow-nami? Blizza-tastrophic? C'mon ... It's January. It's North Dakota. Next question.

A buddy has asked me "14.5". Will the combined wins of UND and NDSU in football in the 2014 season (including playoffs) be over or under 14.5?

Allow me to summarize my expectation quite simply: Time of Possession per Game (2013 all games) Team Team Opponent NDSU 33:40 26:20 UND 28:05 31:55 I'd like to see UND start to win the Time of Possession battle in games. Why? - dictate the tempo - keep the defense off the field When you have the ball you tend to act as the composed team and the opponent tends to go into a scrambling, rushed, error-prone mode when they do get it. Now, how do you do this? Well, first, you need an offensive philosophy that values possession of the ball and thinks about more than down-and-distance, thinks about clock management, during play calling. Then, you need a defense that is angry when the other team has the ball (and will do the nasty things, five and six man blitzes, wrap-up-stand-up-rip-it-out tackles, required to get the ball back).

We had a TE?

It's good to be Jon Toews.

I think I just agreed with Fetch.

I'm wondering if UND didn't have a bunch come available in the last couple of weeks also.

Huh? From the admittedly little I've seen they're more a lightning (outside, quick) and thunder (power, tackle to tackle) duo. Then again, I'm used to drizzle and a light mist in the UND backfield lately.

How things are now is how they'll always be, I mean because Michigan has won every NCAA hockey title since the first ever title in 1948 and Florida A&M has won every IAA/FCS title since the first in 1978, right? Packers have won every Super Bowl since Super Bowl I, right?

1st Rule of UND Hockey injuries: We do not speak of a specific injury to a specific player.

After 3-8, an impending change in offensive and defensive philosophy, and "Dancing with the Stars: Sidelines Edition", is that bad?

We look small in the all black ... or maybe we just were small. Someone needs to come up with a home uniform combination that is telegenic.

Seems a fair question as the "S-word" no longer exists in collegiate athletics.

Three in a row and that is what is on Mr. Jirik's mind?

Wow. The lad says something that I agree with.

Happy with the L? No. Happy that if they are going to come back from the break and lay an egg it's a game that doesn't affect PWR? Yes. This is a wake-up call to re-find the team that ended the first half on a winning streak. It's season-defining time, ... for players and coaches.

Of course 'bama and UND have something in common: Both displayed a major gaffe when they didn't play to the whistle in the special teams kicking game at some point during the season.

I'm amending my previous answer: - sound fundamentals, including wrap-up tackles and playing to the whistle - discipline - intensity - focus Basically, restoring all the things missing during the last couple of years.

One more thought: last time NDSU was in Alerus Center a key cog of their offense came away with a broken leg.

I wonder if this trip to Alerus Center will be to NDSU football what a 1949 trip to Pike's Peak was to Boston College hockey. Hint: championship curse until they re-visit the location.

That I do not know; however, if found to be true it would not surprise me.

Yup. They talk "85" but the DI manual says you have to maintain 90% of that to keep DI status: 77. The 77 number is fact and reality based.

"In order to grow we must be open to new ideas… new ways of doing things… new ways of thinking." – George Raveling