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Man, I just can't do it. I can't cheer for the Gophers. When they scored their third goal Saturday night and they celebrated wildly, I actually threw my shoe at the TV. Okay, so it was only a bunny slipper, but still...That's the kind of feeling the Gophers engender in me. I think they are arrogant and they always have been, even when they couldn't back it up with skating and scoring prowess. So, no, I won't be cheering for them in the NCAAs. If the Gophs are in the title game against a non-WCHA team, I'll be as neutral as Switzerland. And if they happen to win their first title in more than 20 years, think of the year's worth of smugness the rest of us will have to endure. So who would I like to see win the title? Team ABG. Anyone But the Gophers.

I was very proud of the way our team handled itself on Saturday night. For the most part, Blais had only three lines rolling and you could see that they were dog-tired but they were skating their hearts out for "Sioux Pride." I wouldn't trade a single one of our guys for all the hockey gods on the Minnesota squad. The Gophers had the talent and the Sioux had the heart. In the end, as in so many games this season, the Sioux came up a goal short. I have thought of 2001-02 as a "refueling year" rather than a rebuilding year. Our freshman class is now battle-hardened and I think they will take away from this trying year determination to dig down deep. Next year, we'll win those one-goal games, we'll hold the lead when we have it, we'll come back when we don't, we'll refuse to lose. I was especially proud of Andy Kollar who seemed to be the Andy of old. You could see in his eyes a kind of steely determination that had not been there for most of the season. While winning would have been great, even miraculous, I think the team left it all on the ice which is they way they should have gone out in the final game of the year. Skarpy, Maz, Schneeks and Andy: thanks for the memories. We'll miss you.

Riverman: I didn't read the whole Kupchella letter on D-I but I scanned it, looking for one thing: any reference to the UND athletic teams by their name, Fighting Sioux. I don't believe there was a single reference. This sends the wrong message-- If the University President can't bring himself to write the nickname, there must be something inherently wrong with it. A decision has been made by the Board of Higher Ed, Kupchella's superior, that the nickname will be used and Kupchella should be expected to carry out that mandate, certainly in all his public communications concerning UND athletics.

Dagies-- Thank you for offering to do this.

The Grand Forks Herald has a story today about the SI poll.

You'll find the key to the symbolism at: www.UND.nodak.edu/news/symbol.html

I remember the Panzer celebration so the one I'm thinking out must have been a different situation because there was definitely no goal awarded and I remember talking to others around me who thought there should have been a goal signalled even belatedly.

I saw a "no goal" called at the old Engelstad (last year or the year before?) on a very similar shot by a Sioux player which slammed into the tightly strung back of the net and bounced back out into play with a lot more speed that Denver's only goal Saturday.

Please tell me more. What was the percentage of Indians offended and unoffended? The point most of the nickname opponents fail to grasp is that no one group is a monolith when it comes to an opinion on any issue. Not only do the opponents want to force their view on the white majority but also evidently the majority of Indians, too. Whose interest are they advancing?

Faul has appeared in only 7 games--that makes his point production a fairly useless stat, I'd say.

In beating Michigan State, 5-4 in OT, the Sioux outshot the Spartans 44-34.

So far, on the DU-UND thread on USCHO, I'm the only person to give the Sioux anything more than a split against the Pioneers. I predicted the Sioux to get three points, because, as a Sioux fan, I'll never say die. The key to beating Denver will be peppering their goalies with shot after shot after shot. At least 40 each night. How many SOG have other teams had against Denver? Asking because I'm too lazy to look it up myself.

It's so obvious I don't even need to say it. To beat a defensive-minded team like Denver, you have to shoot the puck, shoot the puck and shoot the puck. The Sioux will need at least 40+ shots on goal each night. Pepper the DU goalies and we'll get lucky. Shot placement is important, of course--doesn't do any good to hit 'em where they can stop 'em. Also necessary to be in position to bang home rebounds--Bochenski, are you listening?. Outskate, outshoot, outscore. C'mon Sioux, we know you can sweep the Pioneers even though, with the MacNaughton Cup on the line DU should be on fire.

There were 25 protesters against the Sioux nickname at the DECC Friday night, according to the Duluth paper. I got to the game an hour before it started, by way of the skywalk, and didn't see them. Can anyone who walked past the rabblerousers verify the turnout?

Did someone already suggest that when Parise's current teammate Murray joins the Fighting Sioux in 2003 (I think it is), the line he's on be dubbed, "The Brady Bunch"? P.S. As always, Sicatoka is one step ahead of us, having already suggested (but with trepidation) the same thing.

Just want to say what a thrill it was to see the Sioux of old playing Friday night in their 12-2 romp over the Huskies. Someone must have shaved down the pipes framing the net to allow the Sioux to actually hit the net instead of clanging shots off the pipes all night long. Massen's second goal en route to the hat trick (sliding the puck past the goalie with a defender draped around him and pulling him to the ice) was a testament to the never-say-die work ethic which I hope will continue to inspire this team. Saturday was less spectacular but the boys played with true grit, having to skate through Tech clutch and grab most of the night. When Blais makes surprising coaching moves he usually comes away smelling like a rose--pulling Brandt for Siembida to start the third just another example of his savvy. Even in a ho-hum season, that man can coach! Big, big weekend coming up as far as the home ice picture goes. Certainly don't want to jinx it but if the Sioux sweep at Duluth and the planets align, I think we are still alive for a playoff at the Ralph. This is the last weekend Mankato and Anchorage can rack up points since they close with non-conference series. By my reckoning, Wisconsin, currently in the coveted fifth spot, is the pivotal team. Yes, it's an unlikely scenario but in the words of Al Michaels, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!!" But, first things first: Let's take the Dogs to obedience school and teach 'em a thing or two.

Goon--what Sertich has lost is the bad-looking toupee. Or did you know that he threw out the rug and were just making a joke? In which case, am I dense or what?

Sorry I can't find the link to the story from today's GF Herald--the new website is terrible! If someone can add the link to this thread, I'd appreciate it. A new-to-the-parade group at Mankato has plans to demonstrate against Indian nicknames this weekend when the Sioux play basketball down there. This article contains a new wrinkle--indicating the fine hand of lawyers, methinks. Now, the party line seems to be that human mascots, logos and nicknames are insulting only if the name is not linked by heritage to the institution that uses it. This carves out an exception for the beloved Fighting Irish of Notre Dame apparently (as well as Indian schools with Indian nicknames), but still leaves the Fighting Sioux of UND, the Illini, the Seminoles, the Utes, et al., open to attack.

The media's pretty quiet. Last night was the first time I've heard Pat Sweeney mention the game (interview with Ryan Hale). WDAZ will be broadcasting the game and there's a promo for it using Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" as the soundtrack. I didn't get to see the whole commerical since I was just coming into the room as it was ending. Jeff Panzer has authorized the sale of 1,000 bobble head dolls in his image. These will be sold only at the game. Proceeds going to the Sioux baseball team. P.S. The doll looks nothing like Jeffy. The students ate up all their alotted tickets early, leaving none for the general public. I think we are due for a-wearing o' the green and a-tossing o' the gopher and the student section should be rockin'. Standing, and rocking. There's plenty of action in the Sioux v. Gophers thread on USCHO but it's degenerated into smack talk and some weird Zod (from Superman II) rant. I'm psyched for the game. While I'd rather see the Sioux leading the league and whipping the Gophers, I'll settle for seeing them being middle of the pack and spoiling the Gophers' season.

If by rush seating you mean you can sit where you want, there is rush seating in the student section. All other tickets are seat-specific. Students start lining up about noon and are let in at 5. Puck drops at 7:35. If by rush seating you mean, walk-up tickets, I don't think so. If there were, the ticket office would have offered those for sale this morning, I'd think.

I just called the ticket office and verified that no tickets are available for the series. I assume there will be "Trimmers" (can't say "Scalpers"--not politically correct) with tix outside the arena, looking to sell to the highest bidder. As for best sports bars, hmmm. The places I used to go to closed down: The Fabulous Westward Ho, Players. If your friends want bars instead of restaurants that serve liquor, DownUNDer and Dagwoods (your smoke-free alternative) are still here. Not sure which ones run buses to the game.

Those of you who depend upon buying on Thursdays the general admission tickets left over by students or the visiting team, may have to go to Plan B for the Gopher series. Although I'm a season ticketholder I usually get leftover tickets for friends from out of town but this week, no leftovers. All students seats gone for Friday and will be gone for Saturday before the end of today. I asked the ticket office if that included the away teams returned tickets and was told yes. I may still call them again tomorrow morning in case the info I got today was less than accurate

I don't know Ralph Engelstad but I continue to be impressed with his generosity. Here is one wealthy guy who has never forgotten where he came from--or those who helped him along the way. Live long and continue to prosper, Mr. E.

Couple of years ago I made up a sign to welcome the Gophers to the old Ralph. It featured the icon for choking-- a guy clutching at his throat with both hands. I embellished the illustration by adding a maroon and gold helmet and jersey. The caption? What else? "Universal Sign for Choking." Apropos then, apropos now. Unfortunately, I gave the sign to a student sitting at ice level and never saw it again. But, hey, it may be time to reproduce the slam. When the Gophers come to town, good sportsmanship goes out the window. Man, I hate those guys!

Let's not leave out the moralists from the other side of the aisle either.