Taz Boy

Neither camp is bluffing. I do agree that the NCAA is absolutely capable of making UND's life a little tougher if the no-nickname option is selected and the fans continue the Fighting Sioux cheers and chants indefinitely. But, I haven't seen anything in the past 3 years suggesting this is not a workable option with the NCAA. I'm guessing the UND admin is soliciting this position from the NCAA to turn up the heat, since neither wants the no-nickname option and both have worked very hard to get rid of the Fighting Sioux name.

Specifically to the subject of your avatar, one can be for it and also wish to be "against" it as well.

Two of those four have Hawks in them, and there is no worse nickname in all of sports than Gophers. I would pick Ermines over Gophers. I would pick Roughriders over Gophers. I would pick the snot from my nose over Gophers. And, there is most certainly snot to be picked with the high pollen index these days. Just because people from long ago, likely under the influence of illicit drugs and/or homemade elixirs, made a bad choice for representing their state doesn't mean we have to do the same in 2015. Aren't we supposed to improve on history, not repeat it? The Gopher State debacle should be a cautionary tale, not a roadmap. Since my dog has been pulled from the fight for being too big and popular, I'm left with the lesser of 5 evils and North Stars tops that list. Yes, it's Minnesota, and perhaps its the name UofM should have selected for themselves instead of the miserable rodent. But, it's pretty cool nonetheless and will drive my rodent friends crazy with envy. It's the one they secretly want. I say we rescue it from obscurity and give it the majesty it deserves. MN, weakened with debt and DFL incompetence, will be reeling as their much wealthier, healthier and more athletic neighbor beats their butt, again. taz

This^ With Roughriders, you have Cowboys (on the ice/field/court) vs. Indians (in the stands). Judging from some of the comments here against "no nickname idiots", I'm sure there will be some rifts. Saw some of that with the Wild and North Stars, but doesn't come close to the passion in this fan base.

I'm fine being of common thought with those four dissenters, rather than University Faculty. Have to think Dave St. Peter knows a thing or two about sports marketing. But, so it goes. With North Dakota no longer an option, Taz must rethink the nickname landscape. Good point on the "Hawks" cliff jump; however it's a natural move away from a Native American theme. Here's my new list, as of today, from least awful to full on epicly massive fail 1) North Stars 2) Fighting Hawks 3) NoDaks ... 4/5) Roughriders/Sundogs Yes, sorry SS Cowboys, but Roughriders is still that bad. Among many things related to it's lameness, it's a poke in the eye at our Sioux brethren whom we once identified with and adored but have now switched sides to spite everyone. The Herald is bending over backwards to excuse the sins of the past related to TR and his racial views specifically against Native Americans, but interesting they could never have done that for the Fighting Sioux name and it's supporters. It's beyond irony. But, to go from Fighting Sioux to Roughrider will certainly be in the running for most diametrically opposite nickname change in the history of the planet. taz

What gave it away, Tom's full-throated defense of the name against any negative connotation concerns, or the motherhood and apple pie tribute to the majesty of all things Roughrider? The Herald rarely holds it close to the vest. Opinions start on page 1, above the fold, and don't stop until you get to the DNR zebra mussel report. On second thought, I may be thinking of the S'trib. taz

Blind Clydesdale.

I'm starting to like Hawks now. I don't know why. Fighting or Green, I don't care. But, I knew this thought was so important I just had to post it here because I don't know how to use Twitter very well and I don't have any followers except my wife and some strange dude who I'm pretty sure is her new boyfriend. "Daytime Daddy" as my kids call him (them). Plus, the web is no place to air out your personal issues. taz

Understandable. Using Gopher fans as a source or reference of any sort strains credibility. I'll be talking to a few Minn-St Mavericks in a few days, that should help legitimize my source pool. Er... well... uhm... It's not that I absolutely hate the Roughrider nickname, it's just that I think it is remarkably, extraordinarily bad. A level of lameness immeasurable even using the latest distributed computing technologies. Although I'm certain my position on the matter is wildly popular (as is Taz Boy himself) and shared by the vast majority of alumni, I can see angst with some of the folks here. Let me be goal oriented, constructive. Assume the crappy Roughriders becomes the nickname; which is a horrifying thought, I strongly recommend taking a page from Saskatchewan on marketing efforts. taz

Report from Gooferville: The Collective is giddy with anticipation that UND will select the awful "Roughriders". I'm being bombarded with colorful references to prophylactics and their creative usage. It is the first topic I'm met with when I proudly venture out and about with my legacy FS logowear. These gophers are sure naughty. To be fair to the Gopher Fans, they are near unanimous in their disappointment that UND has to drop the Fighting Sioux. But, the sympathies are short lived, as the topic of Roughriders is apparently just to good for a rodent to ignore. I'm happy to report that in a Taz Boy official poll, "North Dakota" is the most popular choice by a wide margin.

1) North Dakota - not a nickname. it's our state name. And soon to be UND's permanent sports identity! It's the only choice. 2) North Stars - nickname for Minnesota. Indeed. But it's a great name and the thought of the angry Goofer pushes this one up for me. I would have completely understood if this one got removed early on. 3) Nodaks - what is a Nodak? What's the logo going to be besides the wrd "Nodaks" Can't argue with this. Awful. But, not unbelievably epicly awful like others. 4) Fighting Hawks - not awful, but why do we have to the the Fighting _______'s. Because we are mad and want to fight. In fact the Hawk wants to bring a whole can of whoop-a$$ on someone, somewhere, right now. Why? Because it has to be the logo everyone hates, and therefore it's bringing it old school, to everyone. 5) Sundogs - probably the worst nickname idea ever. Abdominal snowmen was better!! Ha! I do wish that one stayed on the list. 6) Roughriders - Best possible option among remaining names that most fits the criteria laid out by the committee. I'm not on the committee, so I don't care about the criteria. If I were on the committee, they would have already picked the name North Dakota because I am so good at persuading folks. Especially when I bring beer. And, if this name gets picked, we are going to need lots and lots of beer. 7) Green Hawks - so unorriginal that we paid 100K to have experts come up with the PC garbage! Yep. That's why it's last for me. Color + Animal = Safe.

Tough to argue with you on that one. I'm surprised myself at where that ended up. I started going through a period of intense self reflection, then remembered that names 4-7 were of no particular relevance to me so I turned to napping instead.

Happy to answer that. Here's my order of preference: 0) Fighting Sioux (had to work that in) 1) North Dakota 2) North Stars 3) Nodaks 4) Fighting Hawks 5) Sundogs 6) Roughriders 7) Green Hawks I can assure you the difference between 1) and 2) is large, and more massive between 2) and 3). Then from 4) on it becomes a blur of apathy and indifference. That's where I'm at.

Just checking in... has UND selected the fantastically awful "Roughriders" nickname yet? Will a Hahvahd alum be given the task of sketching logo concepts for the midwestern hicks to fawn over? Perhaps Ang Lee can pen a script for a short documentary on their deeper symbolism. For all the effort given to explaining why North Dakota history supports the logic of using Roughriders-- certainly scholars of the Spanish-American war will get the obvious connection-- no one has successfully explained how the name actually does not suck royally and completely. It is exceedingly spectacular in its mediocrity; no offense intended to any Red River alums... your name is awesome. "But, taz, you are just whining that you can't have Fighting Sioux anymore and you only want 'North Dakota' so you and the rest of the stubborn old fart alums can continue status quo ad infinitum." Yeeeup.

Indeed. The list is so bad I cannot bear to watch the rest play out; especially this new wave of support for the gawdawful "Roughriders". I seriously am beyond the history debate on this one folks. It's already used, spoken for, not of our own. And having the logo be that of our 26th President, a Harvard educated New Yorker, as our fierce North Dakotan is so laughably bad I cannot stand it-- But Harvard will love it. Don't get me wrong, he was a fine man, but don't we have anything closer to home? I just... I... Really? This is what it's come to? Green Hawks? Sundogs? Nodaks? Now, there is some Taz Boy amusement in the thought of taking a famous Minnesota name and how that would drive the Goofer Collective crazy, but again, not original. My friends, just be North Dakota. It's OK to be unique, confident, self-identified as a place and a people that we are. Inclusive. Not Cowboy on the ice vs Indian in the stands (think about that for a moment). Not ambiguous dog representing a solar-atmospheric effect. Not color + bird = safe. North Dakota. Here we come to beat your ass. Again.

You are more qualified than me on paper, but I will rock the f2f interview with stunning good looks, magnetic personality, and my encyclopedic knowledge of late 80's bars and taverns in the greater GF/EGF area. The Spud, legendary.

Reminds me too much of baseball I guess. But, I'll admit it is slightly better than getting an appendage chopped off with a rusty butter knife. taz

Looks like one of my cousins. taz

Bah! Please stop it with the Roughriders already. I get back from a long weekend of drinking and napping and watching Bickell turn a simple dump-n-change into the most horrifying 5 seconds thus far in the Hawks' 2015 postseason only to see another discussion on Roughriders? And then there's the shorter "Riders". Riders of what? At least the former tells us how or in what manner we are going to ride. I have to admit, for sheer awfulness, it's tough to beat Wooly Mammoth. Tip o' the cap to the sly jokester who pushed that one through without protest. taz dark horse predictions: look for "wings" to gain steam. Not that I like it. I dislike them all equally and intensely, with the exception of "North Dakota."

To all fans of the nickname "North Dakota Cavalry". Please do something for me. Yes, for taz. Ladies excluded, you already do enough. Anyway, Google it, then click the first link. Wait, here, I'll do it for you... Then, read the first line from this very popular web information service. Again, because I'm sure I have to help, here it is... "The 1st Dakota Cavalry was a Union battalion of two companies raised in the Dakota Territory during the American Civil War. They were used for service along the frontier, primarily to protect the settlers during the Sioux Uprising of 1862." (emphasis taz) That's exactly what the NCAA would want, so by all means let's stick it to the tribe. Please help me wrap my throbbing head around this entire situation. What situation? The situation in which one of the worst names on the list which has the added bonus of insulting the Native Americans we had previously intended to honor actually gets considered for selection. Not to mention the word is hard to say, and most with a lazy tongue will end up referring to the sports teams as the name of a holy place. Cavalry = Failure of Massive Epicness

beauteous. taz

As luck would have it, the Wild Nokotas are off the list. What list, you may ask? My list. As is also the fate of every other gawdawful nickname that has been spewed out the past 10 years. Then, I see the latest top 62 or whatever and I have to wonder when the nightmare will end. Using my advanced knowledge of Microsoft products, specifically Excel, I was able to determine that Nodaks has the most committee "yes" votes. I know, some of you were able to scan the list visually and arrive at the same outcome, but I tend to leverage science and technology for such mundane tasks while I work more complex issues such as what was it in the end that tipped the scale in Hakstol's favor when I clearly have the edge in appeal to the female hockey mom market. Clearly. Back to Nodaks. I really, really like it not so much. It is an extremely average, obscure name. What is a Nodak? I did a quick search, again using science and technology at my disposal, and didn't really find anything useful. To me, this is just about as vacant as no-nickname. Is that the point? And, how do we cheer for a NoDak? "Go No's!" "Go Dak's!" "No. Dak!" "No. Dak!" Next up is "Force" 'Sokay. F = m x a. Hockey has mass and acceleration. Applicable. I actually would prefer "Machine" better. That's Minnesota Made's AAA program in Edina and I've always thought that name was cool for hockey. But, honestly, all names are awful when compared to the Fighting Sioux. NorthStars reminds me of Minnesota where I am forced to live due to the wickedness of my youth. Pride? Lame Spirit? Lame Big Green? Big Lame Flames? Way cool awesomeness, if you live in Calgary. Roughriders? High School. Sundog? Please, oh please, not this one. and so it goes... I just... can't... oh heck. Just be North Dakota. taz

Imagine: a school known for it's world class aviation and flight training centers chooses "Badlanders" as it's nickname. Could print it on all fixed wing aircraft in the fleet. Would make for a hoot at the next NIFA SAFECON event. taz

Yes. With a cart overflowing with hair care products. It boggles the mind. taz

Further to the point of lamenting my pathetic aging situation... ...then I see the proposed "Charging Nokota" logo and wish it all to end instantly, like I'm with Tony Soprano and his family at the diner with the once inspirational and now incredibly haunting Journey tune playing as soundtrack to my demise. I haven't seen that much horse hair 'flow since my last Broney convention. "Charging Nokota" is so gaddawful bad I'm beginning to think this is all an elaborate scheme by Jerry York to further inflict pain and suffering on Sioux fans beyond the usual Frozen Four trouncings. I can't agonize enough over the list of horrific names still "under consideration." Drillers? Energy? Arctic Blaze? That last one just doesn't even make any sense. And, of course there's the cunning subtlety of Bison Slayers. Too clever by one one-hundredth. Yes, I get it, the Fighting Sioux were Bison Slayers. Genius. It's just so bad it's good; that sort of thing. And... honestly I can hardly type this... "Aurora"??? Wha. Tha. Fa? We can all dress in creepy 70's tie dye and cue up the 5th Dimension on the quadraphonic. Let's bring it back to base camp fellow explorers... There's no other option than just "North Dakota." You know it. I know it. We know it. It's the only way to avoid a complete unhealthy backlash from all of the hearty, God-fearing, gun-toting, red-state, tough-as-nails, ruggedly individualistic and fantastically awesome members of Fighting Sioux nation who, despite their vast numbers in the majority, have no time or inclination to post their whimsical BS on this web site. taz is here to help