DamStrait

I think the solution is pretty simple, really. It looks pretty clear that continuing with no nickname or adopting Roughriders are going to be the two most popular choices - since I believe there needs to be three for the voting process, pick a token third - not Cavalry, since that would really put the PC zealots in full hysteria and therefore will never be selected as an option for the voting process; not North Stars, since UND is not in Minnesota - so let's say Explorers. Whatever receives the most votes gets adopted - if it is Roughriders, all the chicken littles will be able to breathe again - if it is no nickname, UND goes with that, and IF the NCAA has a problem with it, a respectable effort to bring their heavy-handed ways to full light should be undertaken. If at the end of the day we are further forced into more abject PC stupidity, all should be content that the good fight has been fought and all that could be done has been done, and we can at that point effortlessly adopt the second most popular option, i.e. Roughriders. This may cause the rabidly anti no-nickname crowd untold amounts of additional wailing and gnashing of teeth, but you know, I'm okay with that.

I think the ND should have a flat finish too.

YOU do not want UND to be a school without a nickname - please refrain from speaking for me or others that think otherwise. Not specifically referring to you, but some seem to be arguing that it is just a nickname - pick one and be done with it - these seem to be some of the same people that are saying that UND MUST have a nickname. If the nickname itself isn't important, how can having one at all be important - seems like talking out of both sides of one's mouth.

1. North Dakota - in a landslide - not because I'm a "hockey only" fan (which I am not), but mostly because the rest of the field is so incredibly weak. 2. Rough Riders - distant, distant second - it's too bad RRHS felt the need to go with a nickname that had no ties to the city, but was merely alliterative. To make this clear - it has ties to the state, and UND is a school for the entire state - but not the city, so would be much better for UND than RRHS. 3. Cavalry - mostly because would be poking a middle digit in the eye of the NCAA and all the other PC zealots which are too numerous, nauseating and undeserving to be listed by name. But does not work with our green and white athletic colors, which should not become yet another victim of this misguided process - and will never be selected due to the very reason I find it attractive. 4. Explorers - surprised this made it, as it has pretty undeniable connotations to the Lewis & Clark expedition, which of course was the beginning of the end for native domination of the West, therefore will never be allowed by the PC zealots. I thought "Pathfinders" would have been more unique and marketable, but also likely more undeniably associated with the Lewis & Clark expedition, so odds are that that is why it was axed. Pathfinders would have been my #2, slightly less distant than Rough Riders. Any other selection is reason to conclude the fix was in from the beginning, and is strong evidence that we are living in an age of abject stupidity.

Since you are on record as saying that "Fighting Sioux" is racist, any opinion of yours must be taken with a HUGE grain of salt.

And you would have been the very first to rip Hak afterwards if Johnson was put in and immediately gave up a couple of goals.

She should cite some of this so-called abundant research - as far as I'm aware, there isn't any that has passed the peer review process - it has all been puff pieces by PC hacks with an axe to grind. Anyone that has to resort to calling those that hold a different viewpoint from her "racists" and "uninformed" really ought not be listened to. If she is so thin skinned that she can't stand to live in a non-PC world, maybe it's time for her to grow up and let it go.

Good taste.

Trimming the possibilities using just three inviolable rules: No animals. No inanimate objects. No intangibles. Aeronauts Aeros Arctic Blaze Arctic Force Aurora Aviators Badlanders Big Green Bison Slayers Blackhawks BLAZE BLAZING STARS BLIZZARD Blizzard Dogs Bombardiers Bombers Cavalry Charging Nokota Drillers ENERGY Explorers Fighting Green Fighting Green Hawks Fighting Hawks Fire Flame Flames Flickertails Fliers Force Force of North Global Hawks Green Bombers GREEN HAWKS GREEN PRIDE 'Grey Hawks' Night Hawks Night Riders Nighthawks Nodak Nodaks North Dakota North Force North Stars Northern Lights Prarie Hawks Pride Riders roughhriders SNOW DOGS Snow Leopards Spirit STORM Sundog Sundogs Thunder Hawks Warhawks Warriors Warriors of the North Wings Wooly Mammoth fighting greens Not left with much - no nickname looks to be the best by quite a margin. Badlanders (rhymes with highlander not with Lunar Lander, for those that might [willfully?] confuse it with having negative connotations for UND's aviation program) a distant second, but the only other real option, in my mind.

Blais recommended Hak when he left - I wonder who Hak has recommended?

What did that "banner" say? "You can take our name, but you can't take our pride" - or something very close to that. Anybody that finds that racist is a blatant jackass of a moron that is just looking to pick a fight - looking straight at you ROK.

I am too - they are essentially saying they are for perpetually giving UMN, BC, and BU home regionals whether they have earned it or not.

When it comes to snarky and sanctimonious (not to mention self-righteous), I must admit, you definitely know whereof you speak!

Amen brother!!!!!!!!

No @$!%#& inanimate objects!!!!

No @$!%#& animals!!!!

You? Guilty of keyboard operation error? That's credibility stretched to the breaking point!

What UND has been using for the past 3 years is not working from a marketing standpoint because most people gorged themselves on buying up the remaining Fighting Sioux gear, which has artificially depressed demand for new gear in the near term. Michigan, Harvard, Stanford, to name but a few, have all done well selling merchandise without emphasizing a nickname. What's the most popular Michigan chant? Go Wolverines go? No, it's Go Blue go. I think its very possible that well designed no nickname gear could sell every bit as well if not better than new nickname gear. I have no evidence to support that, but neither do you have evidence to support your position, but somehow I doubt you'll admit that. I am unlikely to successfully change your opinion on the subject and you are unlikely to successfully change mine. I will end with this, and hopefully successfully resist the temptation to respond further - literally every UND fan I have asked has stated they would very strongly prefer to remain without a nickname rather than adopting a new one. Only on this board have I seen fans that feel differently. It seems likely that you part of the vocal minority. It was a vocal minority that got their way when the old nickname was abolished. I have had my fill of the vocal minority.

Talk about a straw man argument! The choice going forward is not Fighting Sioux merchandise and merchandise with a new nickname/logo - it is between UND merchandise and merchandise with a new nickname/logo. You and your ilk are arguing that the latter will obviously generate more revenue for the university. In other words, ANY new nickname/logo is better than sticking with just University of North Dakota and our existing (or possibly new) non-Fighting Sioux logos. Others, including myself, are arguing that it depends entirely on what the new nickname/logo is and since there is no natural consensus, it may very well be worse regarding merchandising revenues for UND than continuing only as UND. Your absolute certainty to the contrary seems to me to be irrational and often stoops to the level of condescension - and is so dogmatic as to lead one to believe you may have some ulterior motive, although I can't imagine what it might be.

Why is it racist? Because Erich says so - solid reasoning there. What a stupid little bitch he is.

I said what I meant and meant what I said. Opinion is opinion and truth is truth - didn't say or mean to say anything more or anything less.

One of the many that confuse their OPINION with the truth.

Still a niche sport.

Yes - how dare anyone interject any reality to the argument by suggesting the importance of the programs may be more relevant than their number.

Just think if all of those schools whose athletic departments would be in the red if it weren't for their wrestling programs - not to mention how great NCAA wrestling is at feeding professional leagues.