Hypothetically speaking:
If, let's say, Force or Force of the North makes the final list.
Does that mean the University knew what name they wanted the whole time and made sure to do what they could to make it happen.
Or its easy to condition people to like something new after advertising and showing them it enough times.
Force of the North is second on the online herald poll behind Blackhawks. But it wouldnt be there if the University hadn't "sold" it to the general public. But now that general public seems to "like it."
If second theory is correct, shouldn't be hard for the general public to start liking a new nickname is a relatively pretty fast time frame.