iramurphy

Dave or Jeff?? The fact that our two biggest rivals in hockey won't play us won't harm us??? If we get into the Big Sky we can deal with the issue of not hosting playoffs in other sports but it means we give up an advantage we earn. It is a bigger disadvantage to hockey because of the last line change rule for the home team. It would hurt our womens hockey and who knows what will happen in the future with the rules for men's tournaments. Losing Gophers and Badger games and anyone else who won't play us will be a factor for some when it comes time to recruit because recruits do look at schedules. They may wish to play in front of their home state fans. If we lose the name how would that ever hurt our ability to either compete or recruit?? Which is more important? Losing the name does nothing to harm UND athletics. NCAA sanctions certainly can.

Frank was never "Mr. Hockey" He was average on a good night. . His brother Mike was a better player. I also don't put much faith in a guy who tries to make himself a spokesperson for UND athletes or UND hockey players when I can't find his name on the list of donors published in this years hockey program. Wasn't he an airline pilot?? Should have been able to contribute something in return for his education and hockey experience. Frank came on just as there was a resurgence in UND hockey. Until then you could walk up to the Arena and get in with your student ID and there were plenty of empty seats. There were a lot of FB guys supporting the hockey team in those days and the FB staff lobbied Clifford on Gino's behalf when Miller was not going to hire him. Those guys seem to forget who had their back then. UND hockey is a great program with a great tradition. If the Frank Burgraffs are the guys who will be point men for UND hockey we are in trouble. Hockey hasn't always been and will not always be the top sport at UND. Hopefull it will be very difficult for another sport to regain that spot cuz that means hockey is still doing well. The change in hockey leagues and the statement from Wisconsin and Minnesota does not bode well for our future. We have more empty seats this year at the Ralph than I have seen since it opened. UND hockey needs to stay focused on what is important for UND hockey and that is not this name. If the name comes back , embrace it but don't crap on those who were there for you when you needed every fan and supporter you could get. The rest of UND and UND athletics were there for hockey. They need to be there for UND and UND athletics. The impact of Ralph's gifts have been tremendous but the other schools have made inroads. Those of you who have turned this into a hockey vs everyone else are not doing hockey or UND any favors.

You can do that as long as you would like. Doesn't matter what UND, the legislature or the NCAA decides. Don't even need to go to an athletic event. In fact, if the name is that important you could even do some volunteer work in your community to help Native American families or children. Trust me, that will be more rewarding and certainly more productive than yelling words.

Baseball has had a couple of very good recruiting years in a row and it will be interesting to see how they develop. Drop baseball?? Heck no we need to step up our support. Can be fun with a few beers and warm sun in late April or May to heckle some umps and spit seeds.

UND needs to be preparing for this possibility. We saw what happened when we weren't ready to move to D1AA in the 1970's and what happened when we weren't ready to move when the AC and SDSU moved before we did. The AC needs to do the same and in fact I think the AC, SDSU, and USD need to keep an eye on the Big Sky. UND will need to forget the past crap and help them make the move if and when the opportunity arises. If Wyoming can play in the WAC UND and the AC can. Just need to pick up the pace and start engaging with the Billionare Alumni. Look what Ralph did for UND. We have a couple more alumni with those resources. Gotta start thinking outside the box and rather than find excuses not to move we need to look for opportunites. We can always say no, but we can't miss opportunites becasue we aren't thinking ahead and lack of preparation means it won't happen.

if one reads Ralph's letter it is clear he held up contstruction at one time to make sure the logo's were OK. I read this as he didn't want to spend time and money if it wasn't going to be approved for the arena. Once he was given permission he moved ahead and his threat to Kupchella was after he had continued with the logo as part of the arena, Kupchella started waffling. It was the fact that Ralph couldn't seem to get a consistent direction from Kuppy that led to his frustration. There is not, nor was there ever, a requirement for UND to keep the name and logo in order for the arena to go to UND after the 20 years. Ralph also says in his letter, the arena is for UND hockey and the UND athletic department. Some mistakenly believe Ralph was completely focused on UND hockey. This letter from Ralph says otherwise. I was in the meeting room in the old Hyslop the day he made the announcement he was donating $100,000,000 to UND. Eddie Balfour was there with the Stanley Cup. Clifford, Strinden and a number of UND hockey staff and alumni were there. It was clear Ralph's gift was to build the finest hockey arena in the world and it was to benefit the hockey team and UND athletics and the University. Initial estimates were an arena costing around $50,000,000 and the rest to UND for priority needs. Fetch you make reference in one of your goofy comments that UND doesn't deserve Ralph's gift. You don't have to earn a gift, it was given freely by Ralph without strings attached regarding the name and his letter and the contract bear that out. No one deserves someone elses $100,000,000. UND was quite fortunate. With regards to your other comment that UND should drop hockey and an AHL team should move into the arena is a comment that lends the readers to understand the depth and knowledge involved in your opinions. If they still don't understand then they could reference the pink lamb you have seemed to have grown attached to. There is no hockey other than the NHL that will draw and create the atmosphere we get with UND hockey. You and your pink girlfriend in her wool jacket would be able to sit almost anywhere in that arena with a few hundred others who may have a passion for the game no matter who plays or what level but it wouldn't be 11,000 per game. Lastly, with regards to Kelly's comments, he follows direction from his bosses. He did that when it was time to retire the name and he does now. He isn't a cheerleader and he isn't going to be. Last spring he was wearing Sioux logo gear, yet some of you have tossed him under the bus and criticized him for the agreement reached before he arrived.

I'll buy ribs and beer but you pay for the psychiatrist and leave the friggin lamb in the truck with Dave K.

That would not have any effect on the issue other than it would give us solid evidence that people ( we can assume most would be Native, but we wouldn't have proof) living in those areas supported the name. It would be irrelevant legally but Fetch might take his pink sheep out to Famous Dave K's for Ribs and drinks to celebrate.

You and I may agree and everything I read about Native culture would seem to make this a correct statement but unfortunately, the NCAA isn't buying that. Unfortunately, not all elders agree with us either. The petition does nothing to help our cause with the NCAA and they have made that clear. So far our legislature and Governor have been unable to convince them otherwise. What the petition does is create potential problems for UND and UND athletics. There should be no legislation to force UND to do anything with the name unless we have assurances it won't hurt scheduling nor our entry into the Big Sky. Anyone who does not see the real potential for problems that exists for the entry to the Big Sky and the fact that we have NCAA sanctions outlined and the real promise they will go into effect are fools. I would hope the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to the Big Sky but with Fullerton has raised this issue as a potential stumbling block and I am afraid this could lead to a very expensive and costly mistake. Reminds me of the British Officer in the "Bridge Over the River Kwai" when he realized his zeal for all that was British that led him to build the bridge and then he almost prevented the allied special ops guys from blowing it up. His comment was "my God what have I done?". I couldn't find the Minot attorney nor even Frank Burgraff's names amoung the many donors listed in the hockey program. Their legacy won't be that they contributed what they could to the athletic programs, it will be they gathered 16,000 signatures in order to screw a dead horse. What will be left is a dead horse and I am afraid it will stink, but we will get to call it whatever we wish. The key to the name is with the litigation from the Spirit Lake tribe or Standing Rock, not in this same flawed legislation that has already failed.

That is an insult to those who suffered under the Nazi's. Go visit one of the concentration camps and then tell me if you equate this to what the Nazi's did. The mixed message we have received from Native Americans over the years is why the Peace Pipe ceremony hasn't carried the weight that some of us wish it had. Take that up with the Tribal Council at Standing Rock. It would have been very easy for them to give it credibility. The council claims the ceremony had no binding authority and was unofficial. Because it was done by tribal elders I thought it might stand but their elected officials say otherwise. None of those folks seem to care what you and I think though. Dave, your goofy comments lead me to believe you have always been an observer and not a participant. You seem to believe that calling UND athletic teams by one name is so important that you would actually discontinue athletics at UND if we lose the name. The tradidtion of UND athletics just like the traditions or the Native American people themselves is not the name but the ceremonies, the history and the people and the trials and tribulations they have gone through for thousands of years in the case of our Native brethren and for over a hundred years in the case of the University of North Dakota, Whether they are called Sioux or Lakota or whatever name one chooses does not cancel out their traditions and history. Same goes for Fighting Sioux athletics which has had a proud tradition of excellence and success long before were were called the Fighting Sioux. No one team owns this name anymore than any other including women's hockey. They are already developing their own traditions. I don't think some folks understand the what is important with these traditions and history. That is why we agree and will continue to do so. I want to win and be successful and I want that for our athletes and athletic teams. You want to keep a name. Simple as that. I don't believe those of us who are here now have the right to jeopardize the proud tradition of UND athletics and what those who have come before us did to make all of this possible on behalf of a name. By the way, I would almost be willing to pay to see if you and Fetch really exist. My fear would be Fetch would bring his pink sheep and the two of you would get in a fight over who would get to take her home.

The tradition of UND and UND athletics is not, nor has it ever been, the name. That is something we adopted because we didn't want to be the Flickertails and we thought the Sioux were an improtant part of the history of N.DAk. plus they killed a lot of Bison. We have received a mixed message from the tribal councils over the past 40 years. Blame who you wish but don't say anything so stupid as the name is more important than the kids and coaches who compete on behalf of our University. They and those who came before are the tradition, not the name. We compete and win or lose regardless of the name on the jersey. If you don't get that then you have never competed in anything or been part of a team of any kind. It is about the people, not the color of the jersey or a name.

So much for the claim that this is all for our Native American brothers and sisters.

You can. Bring your checkbook and about $100,000.

Unless I missed something, Spirit Lake Sioux is not part of the petition so it is irrelevant as far as this petition. I could be wrong but I don't see that included int he petition.

Jess signed at Bemidji. Jordanis Perham's QB and a very good HS QB. He is projected as a LB. Great athlete. Could play SS. Excellent BB player but sat out last game with back injury.

Don't say dumb stuff. FB budget won't be cut. Sounds like some interesting new funding from Alumni as well.

Jordan Hein from Perham. Junior this year. Plays QB and DB. High on UND's list. Might be LB in college.

I think what most don't put any stock in is your opinion of anything related to FB. Now, you may wish to contact this guy named Fetch about his new girlfriend with the pink wool coat. I might put stock in your opinion about her or ringing a cowbell, but not about FB. We might be ticked off if you steal that chick from Fetch but no one will be " ticked off" about this recruiting class. If you want to relive history you can either include the rivalry going way back to the first game won by the AC or pick out which years you wish to make you feel good. Recently UND dominated winning 10 of the last 13 games. Before that the AC won 12 in a row. Before that both teams had good runs and UND won 12 in a row before the AC had their rebirth in the 1960's. All history. Bottom line is the AC won the FCS last year and have a lot of kids returning. UND made good strides this past year and have a lot of good kids coming back and have a good group of redshirt Fr.already on campus and had a great recruiting year. You have no clue what it takes to win in the Big Sky but fundamentals are similar whatever league you play in. If you are good in the MVC, your are good in the Big Sky. IF you can play you can play. (just ask Yogi).

Moves well now that his ankles are healed. Ran for over 1000 yds as a junior. Very good athlete and is mobile.

Coach has nothing to do with it. Coach can't keep kid from signing. As an alumnus of a school, if he told the kid to wait until he talked to him before signing, then he violated NCAA rules. Alumni are not allowed to talk to recruits in an attempt to influence their decision. I would not be surprised if this occured but I would like to see some evidence.

Quick note. Despite what our friends at our sister school in Fargo, Mollberg doesn't have a back injury, He had sprained ankles. That may or may not have affected a potential offer from Iowa but it had nothing to do with a phantom back injury. (I don't know what he did Saturday but the previous 3 BB games he scored 28, 22, and 25 with 9 rebounds in a physical game so maybe we need to give other kids the same phantom back injury). The ankle problem was unfortunate for Joe and fortunate for us. It probably kept him under the radar a bit. Despite what we might think of the AC, they were vey good this year and they wanted Mollberg very much. Bohl and Vigen went after him very hard, including worming their way onto the sideline during one of his games wearing their yellow outfits. Bottom line is UND is having a good recruiting year and as happens most years, we get some kids they want and they get some kids we want. That was skewed in their favor the last few years as they were ahead of us with the switch to FCS but "times, they are a changing"!

Some interesting notes on this years recruiting. We did not do well in the twin cities, One committment and that came last summer. New QB transfer from North Carolina is the real deal. Great arm and puts the ball where the receivers like it. Also very bright and leadership evident from day 1. Correcting routes and getting receivers to improve how to read and react to defenses and coverage. He is bringing some big time talent and already raising performance of those around him to next level. Will be worth price of admission next fall. Perfect scenerio for Mollberg and the other young QB's and receivers. They will have a great mentor for their redshirt year. Biggest goal for recruiting was QB and we filled that card in spades. Other goal was improving depth and we seem to have done that as well, Seems the reason for passing on Woods was justified. We get at least three new receivers to join a pretty good group already here. Might be interesting to see what we can do to develop our TE's and if can be athletic enough to become a 2 TE threat at the college level. If our Oline improve as much from last year to this we will score points. Need to improve pass rush and pass defense. Good group of LB;s need to get better. These kids make a committemtn to each other to get better each day, put team in fornt of individual goals, keep grades up and stay out of trouble we could raise some eyebrows in our first year in Big Sky. Faison and Kelly need to be doing their part. They need to be meeting with business leaders and students this spring to upgrade the game day experience. The support for this team and our other teams needs to be a focus of Faison and his staff. With the name issue in limbo for awhile, they should have more time to get on this. Faison also needs to be upgrading our schedules. Michigan State with Dave Fennells kid could be big. PJ Sparks sister Jordan and her celeb friends can be part of the game day experience. We should be scheduling Army in FB. One of Gene Murphy's former assistants is their head coach. We need to schedule Pudue with Tibesar there. There are other connections we need to capitalize on. We seem to be moving a long at a comfortable pace. That won't get it done. We need to be hustling. Players on and off the field, administrators in the office , in the community and on campus with the students. We don't need to wait for things to fall into place we need to be putting the pieces in place to maximize the chance for success, If any of us get a chance to visit with any of these folks we need to get on them and demand more and with an urgency consistnet with our expectations of championship performance from the athletes and coaches. These could be some pretty exciting times just around the corner for UND athletics. Goota get on the road for tonights hockey. Go Sioux!

You are correct on all points. Do what you can to help the Spirit Lake litigation or any other way you can think to regain the name without any harm to UND or UND athletics. We just can't handcuff or limit our choices by getting the legislature involved. We do not want the government of N.Dak. dictating how UND might be able to act and respond to any and all possibities that the future may hold.

Doesn't sound like it.

This subject posted here Dec. 11, long before Roebucks comments about the AC. No story here. Has McFeely ever had a story???