iramurphy

Dean would be a very viable candidate. I think Rob Bollinger would as well, especially with his proven ability to fund raise. He is very well liked and highly respected by almost everyone who has worked with him. He has proven he is supportive of UND and UND athletics. He has an excellent working relationship with most of the "heavy hitters" which he developed as the moving force behind the Fighting Sioux club. He was also a very successful coach and has the administrative experience now to enhance his resume. He and Blais, if they are interested, need to be on UND's short list.

I don't think this has anything to do with Dale's values. He has a long record of being of good character and a class act. He was approached by SIU while on a recruiting trip and asked to meet with the AD from SIU. They were impressed enough with him to ask him and his wife to come for an on campus interview and to offer one of the highest salaries in D1AA FB. There are a number of challenges for him and opportunites he may not have access to at UND for a couple of years. He didn't leave because of any administrative issues as such. He has dealt with those over the past few years and weathered the storm. UND football is left in good condition with a great recruiting class last year and a great start on recruiting for this year. If he steals some of the recruits committed here then criticize him. Otherwise thanks Dale and Godspeed. Best wishes for great success for Dale and his family except when they play UND. Then I hope he gets his butt kicked. UND FB isn't Dale Lennon. It is much more than that and the program is positioned for the transition with an excellent group of athletes for success next fall. UND will hire a good coach. Dale thinks we can hire internally and we should be able to do that. There should also be great candidates outside of the program. Whomever we hire should be the best coach to keep the UND tradition and success on track for the future.

UND wasn't recruiting the Chicago or Illinois area and was not D1AA. That would be more of a deterrent to recruiting the area than the coaches. NDSU's success started when they made a committment to success in the early 1960's with Mudra. That allows Bohl, Hager, Morton, Earhardt and the others to be successful. It sure as heck isn't because they hired a coach with no ties to NDSU. You need to hire the best person for the program. If that is someone of the staff or hiring from within is best for the program then the hire should be done ASAP. I would want to know who else is interested in the job, and the AD (if we had one) should be making contacts to prospective coaches similar to what SIU did with Dale Lennon. I will bet a lot of money Dale and his new staff will have no trouble recruiting the Illinois area. What NDSU did and does, is of only passing interest.

Dean Blais as an AD would support FB. Too many people think someone's previous backgound will limit their support of other athletic programs. They will be evaluated on the athletic department. Sioux hockey is in very good shape financially. We need to get the University leadership structure squared away and that includes the role of president as well as AD and FB coach. The AD must then quickly do what needs to be done to evaluate the coaches and programs and get to work providing the necessary resources to keep the good coaches, dump those who are not good, and then provide those coaches with the resources for success.

I was told UND doesn't plan to open the job and will appoint Mussman. I was told by the same source that Tibesar would be interested. I wonder if Bohl will apply. He may wish to upgrade.

I don't think he is even looking unless someone would offer a better situation with a boatload of money. I think he and is staff are excited about the new facility plans and the support for the D1 move. The Sioux are having a very good recruiting year already from what I understand. I would think our friends from down south may want to counteract the fact that the coach at the AC is looking elsewhere.

I have never understood why because someone has done a lot for UND and had outstanding success at UND that if they were ever rewarded by being appointed to a new position that it is the "good old boy system". UND is a an excellent University. Look at the CEO's and senior executives at businesses and corporations all across the country. Look at the number of successful attorneys, doctors, nurses, pilots, engineers, educators as well as coaches across the country with UND ties. Being an Athletic Director first and foremost requires the personality and passion for UND athletics that will sustain that person through the next years as we deal with the stresses of the D1 move, the change of the Fighting Sioux name, a new president and the new facilities. Whomever takes the job needs to be a leader with vision and they will need to be a fund raiser. They need to oversee the busget but if we are looking for a numbers guy before someone who can "work the crowd" and generate support it would be a huge mistake. Who cares where the candidate comes from. There are CEO's out there with no athletic admin experience who would be a great AD. Purpur, Blais and Bollinger are all qualified candidates. If one of them is the best choice that's who it should be.

Penalty on Finley was a terrible call. Wheeler skated in late and pushed a UND player in the mask with his glove. Finley skated in, grabbed him by the back of the jersey and yanked him out of the scrum. Wheeler turned as if he was going to fight, saw who it was and backed off. He stood quietly with Finley and watched. Finley just held on to him until the refs cleared the other players out. Campion saw the entire move and must have been the one who made the call. Finley did nothing to get that call. UND should have the league look at that. Finley pulled out a guy who was initiating more contact nothing more. He didn't hit him or push him around once he pulled him away from the net, just held on to him. (might have scared Wheeler a little).

Great Crowd, Great atmosphere. Whomever sits next to the loser who threw the pop on the ice needs to drag him out of the arena and toss him into the snow. Real lack of class. Not many Gopher fans at the game. Hakstol said he thought we stood around in the first period, didn't play well in the first two periods. His was happy with Lammy and thought Malone was one of the guys who played well all three periods. He was happy with how they kept their composure and played well in the third. He also thought the guy who through the soda was a loser with no class but didn't say it on the radio.

One of UND's alumni recently gave a large chunk of change to the AC in honor of his father. I believe it was over a million dollars. There are no strings attached. I understand there is a very large donation planned for UND from this same Alumnus and I am not aware there are strings attached other than I believe it is to go to the College of Business. He has also given generously to Concordia College. This UND alumnus likes to meet those students but I am not aware there are any other strings attached. He has pledged to help UND raise $500,000,000. I am not aware of any strings attached. I don't know who nor how much is pledged for the athletic department but it does happen and will continue to happen at UND. Ralph's donation other than it went to UND and it was built under his supervision to avoid the red tape associated with all of the government constuction and bidding requirements etc. No other strings attached that I am aware of. The facility will go to UND at the end of the lease. Specifically the donation has no provisions related to the Fighting Sioux issue. There is a contract and there is nothing in the contract requiring UND to keep the Fighting Sioux name. My guess is that contract is public record. There are many extremely wealthy people who give very generously to others and there are many UND alumni who have done so and will continue to do so. Plain and simple it does happen and will continue to happen.

Adam Theilen, 6'1'' receiver has been in for a recruiting visit and made another visit on his own. Most Valuable Receiver in the UND FB camp last summer. Turned some heads at UND's 7 on 7 passing contest last summer. Great hands. Catches the ball as well as any HS receiver I have seen. Great position receiver. Physically still maturing. If they offer, he will likely commit. Other NCC schools and I think SDSU looking at him. Bubba really likes him. If he ran a 4.5 he would a big time D1 recruit. Will likely average 20 ppg in basketball this year, great shooter and will get some JC and small college interest in BB. Varsity golfer shoots low 80's to mid 70's and played baseball last spring.

thanks, will check it out if i can't get a sat feed. How 'bout those Cowboys!!!

Thanks, otherwise would be at the Grand Valley game again. If Sioux are healthy enough they win by 10 if not they still might win. I am guessing Mat or one of his teamates will have satellite and will try and watch the Sioux Sat.

Anyone in Dallas know if any of the bars will do the telecast? The Alumni office sent out a list of cities around the country but I didn't see Dallas listed. If anyone is going to arrange this put it on the Website here with an address.

Freund has had a great year and would have been deserving as well. The difference was Freund in the UNO game. HE missed Dressler twice when he was wide open and the FB once all for touchdowns which likely would have made the diffeence in the game. Conf. Championship to the Mavs, home field advantage to the Mavs, bye week to the Mavs and All Conf to Miller. Can't argue too much. He can make his case by getting wins the next two weeks over GVS and the Mavs in Omaha.

Heard an interesting rumor over the weekend that Ron His Horse is Smarter Than He Is has been using his influence as Tribal Chair to let others know that he expects them to get in line behind him and the opposition to the name. Favors, $$, and political appointments are at stake. It isn't unusual for tribal governments to award jobs and favors to family and friends, so this isn't a surprise that he would do this. (our government officials do similar things depending on where you live and the level of government) Combined with the rhetoric coming from the anti-name activists their case will likely only get stronger. I don't see them changing anything and most people on the rez who support the name won't get any direct benefit from it keeping the name, so wouldn't be willing to oppose him and his cronies. Rumor is probably correct but can't verify. (I guess similar to the so called racist incidents on campus the opposition keeps talking about).

Why is anyone even giving the tribal Government the time of day? They already made their point, we took it to court. The NCAA would have lost this round and won the next. Therefore we have a settlement. We can whine about it but it is what it is. Drop the name and if the tribes want to associate with UND they can make a proposal and UND can consider it. You don't pay someone to honor them. The tribes simply say they don't wish to be honored. That is not the message UND received from their elders many years ago and it is the tribes who have chosen to dishonor their elders not UND. diversity is only important to them when it is to their disadvantage. They make no attempt to understand our culture and what UND was trying to do. In fact if you read some of their rhetoric they will also tell us why UND adopted the name in the first place. For those activists who worked hard to change the name congratulations. For those who lobbied with misinformation and scare tactics, fabricated stories of the racial incidents, or exagerated stories of real incidents, good luck with finding some other issue to stir your juices. It is over, lets get on with the things that are more improtant and a lot more pleasant than dealing with the likes of His Horse is Thunder (especially if you put prunes in his hay) and support UND and Sioux athletics. We can cheer for the Sioux as long as we wish. We still have the right of free speech. Leave the NA students alone and don't harass them. They are UND students first and formost and deserve a chance at a good education and a great college experience same as the rest of us. No one can keep us from waering Fighting Sioux attire. no one will care that much about the issue when UND wins another FB, BB, swimming, hockey, or other sports championships. We look weak to those elsewhere and especially on the Rez when we come begging or buying. Time to move on.

I believe Walrus is correct about Molde and he would also be a viable candidate. I don't think the experience as an Asst. AD or even an AD are as important as the leadership skills of the person chosen. The issue about the budget isn't whether or not they can do the budget, the issue is that they are responsible to develop a budget, strategic planning, facility planning and make sure the Athletic Department opperates within the confines of the budget while at the same time "taking care of their people". All of these issues need to keep in mind the mission statement of UND and also make sure it fits within the Universities strategic plan. Blais, Molde, Purpur and Bollinger are all viable candidates. The references to the "good old boys club" ring familiar with those parents who think their kids lack of success is because the other kids gets the part in the play or is the starting Goalie or QB because of who their parents are. I don't care if they are in the good ol' boys club, the Elks Club or Rotary as long as they are the best person for the job.

Roger wasn't dead set against the D1 move he wanted it on a different time table. He wanted the facilities brought up to D1 standards first then make the move. I sat in on a couple of meetings and that was his position. Purpur, Bollinger and Blais would all be good candidates. I don't know if any of them are interested though. Blais just took a coaching job in Fargo, Bollinger is doing well at Bemidji and likes the area and Purpur is doing well at Stanford from what I understand. There will likely be more good candidates. This will be an exciting and challenging time for the person who takes the job.

I think too many people are equating the tribal governments with the native American people. I haven't found that I have a lot of respect nor am I impressed with tribal government that I am familar with, nor for that matter a number of those in leadership postions within the tribes. As far as the Native American people, they are like people anywhere else. Those that struggle with poverty and the socio-economic problems inherrent on the rez tend to fall into the welfare trap of dependence on others and the associated ills of drug and alcohol abuse and crime. That is not consistent with the American Indian Culture but you will find similarities in all races dependent on others. They tend to be raised by disfunctional families with leaders who lack the skills, experience and leadership qualities to lead their people to a better life. It is easier to blame whatever their problems are on someone else. You will find that those who take the opportunities to better themselves, take pride in their accomplishments and want their own families to grow up to be responsible citizens and have the opportunity to succeed. There are a lot of examples and many of those who succeed are the least patient with those who remain engulfed in the chains and problems associated with those unfortunate souls who don't believe life can be better. As I have stated before, it is time for UND to move on but still be willing to consider any request by our states American Indians who wish to re-establish a connection with the people of the State of North Dakota through the use of the Fighting Sioux name at UND. If no tribes come foreword, we should be smart enough to get the message. It is not worth negotiating. I would not be willing to negotiate our honor and dignity to those who have been so insulting and closed minded to what our culture thought was quite an honor to offer them. Their elders and ancestors understood and approved. You don't pay someone to let you honor them.

The original Parent Trap Movie at the summer camp. I think one of the 4 person cabins was named Arapaho. Great flick. Leave the name the University of North Dakota. No new nickname for now. We can still cheer for the Sioux, it is our right of freedom of speech. UND should not contact any of the tribal leaders. If the tribes wish to have any sort of special relationship with UND they may have the appropriate officials contact UND. If we keep trying to get them to change, we simply continue to empower guys like His Horse is Thunder (but he isn't). Let those folks do what they do and ignore them. UND will continue to be successful and the traditions will continue. The nickname and logos are not nor have they ever been who we are anymore than the UND Fighting Sioux have had any thing to do with the identity of being Native American. Those Native American leaders have chosen to dishonor their elders and ancestors who agreed to the issue in the first place and it is now their problem not ours. We will look weak and foolish if UND tries in any way to enter talks with these folks. If as many Native Americans as the polls indicated want the name to stay, let them deal with their own tribal governments and then come back to UND and ask if UND is interested.

There would be no reason to stop supporting UND athletics. The kids and coaches had nothing to do with this. There is no reason to rag on the attorney General or the other attorneys involved. I believe most legal minds felt we would win this lawsuit and the NCAA would be able to make sure they properly follow all of their own procedures and guidelines then return to court and make it stick. some times you need to be smart enough to cut your losses. The only thing I object to is that there is no reason to place any restrictions on the Ralph. Heck, its a piece of history and we should save it for generations yet to come. Choosing the name was done for the right reason and will be discontinued for the wrong reason. The logo and traditions of UND Fighting Sioux Athletics are something to be proud of and this decison doesn't change that. The Fighting Sioux have never been the name. The Fighting Sioux are not the Native American tribes. Other than recognizing their place in the history of the state of ND the Sioux American Indians have nothing to do with UND athletics. The Fighting Sioux are the University of North Dakota student body, alumni and supporters who have made Fighting Sioux Athletics what it is. The name and logo don't change that. If it does, then the activists and the NCAA will be able to claim a big victory. I would initiate plans to change the name or simply drop the name effective next school year. If one or more of the tribes wish the privilage and recognition that goes along with being associated with UND athletics then let them request the privilage and UND can decide if they are honorable enough to continue the name.. If they don't, I wouldn't approach them. They have chosen to no longer associate their history with UND and I would simply say too bad for you and ignore them. No protests, no harrassments, no special programs but make sure they are treated with the same fairness and respect as any other of our students or our states citizens. Some day they may regret the decision but who cares? It is their choice now. Their leaders seem to want to polarize their people and kids and so I would say good luck and you are welcome to go to school here, all you need is and ACT of 23(or whatever it is) and a GPA of 2.5 (or whatever it is). You will not be placed on committees or given places of honor that you don't earn with your own deeds, same as anyone else. They are not to be mistreated harrassed or in anyway treated differently. Many of them will say agreed and many of them will say wait a minute, that isn't what we want. My answer is that of today your leaders have decided you no longer wish to hold a place of honor and respect at UND based on your history. It was a great run, but good luck. We will get on with the next chapter of a storied and proud heritage at UND without you. I am a big supporter of the name and the great logo but I wouldn't be willing to prostitute the University and especially Fighting Sioux atheltics to a group of people who are not interested in continuing this relationship. It is a bit like the guy whose wife has been visiting all of the other guys in the neighborhood while he works the night shift and still thinks he can make it work. Go Sioux!

I wonder if he will wear his Feather Jacket?

UND has a good group of young kids and two very good recruiting years in a row. If Lennon stays and the $$$ support is there it could happen. We need to solve the AD issue and the new president needs to be proactive and recognize the value of using the athletic programs as a tool for the University. UND should be competitive from day one and even a top 20 team or better. #1 would be pretty tough and odds are against it. The AC beat the odds. I also think it will be tougher for both teams to stay on top because of the better competition.

You could argue whether or not this is the best AC team ever. Some of the guys from those teams in the 1980's might take exception. I might agree with them. This is a very good team however. A win over any big 10 team is big and this was a big win no matter how much the Gophers are down. (We still talk about the near win over the Gophers in 1974 and they weren't that good then either and it wasn't one of our best UND teams). The cupboard was left pretty bare by Mason, but a number of these kids did play last year when they had more wins and went to a bowl game so I don't think you can say none of those guys should be playing in the big 10. Weber will get better, Barber beongs, Hightower belongs just to name three. Some of their young kids will be OK. I would have liked to see us play the Gophers this year and if we could have won we would be thinking it was a pretty big deal too, because it would be. Best to let the AC and their fans enjoy this one. Anything else looks like sour grapes.