iramurphy

UND's disadvantage is that we do not have the coorporate support the Gophers do. It won't change in the future because of the demographics and geography of the two schools. The Gophers have the advantage of the WCHA tourney scheduling both for location and for the timing of the games with the U of Mn getting the evening games thus increasing the crowds. UND and the other DI for hockey only programs do not get to share the profits from the NCAA tourney like the DI schools. I believe UND actually lost money going to the Frozen Four this year despite being the Runner-up. That is one of the considerations for going DI in other sports because it will likely bring in $$$ that we can't get otherwise. The Sioux advantage is the school is a great place to go to college and UND fans are very loyal. The arena is second to none and the hockey program has been rated by many over the past 20 years as the top and /or one of the top programs in the country. The NHL scouts and coaches have very high regard for the UND program and that respect for the program transcends the last 3 coaches (Gino, Blais and Hakstol). The Alumni support has been tremendous over the years and thus we we are a power in college hockey, one of the elite and have been with the exception of the late 1960's and early 1970's (before the first Englestad arena was built). All in all, even though I live in Minnesota, I will take my chances with the Sioux even-up.

Thanks. Mary is probably a good place for Kraft. If Englehardt has speed, he would be a player at that level or higher. Maybe a good walk on at UND. He is a pretty good athlete.

Anyone know if Englehardt and Kraft are playing college FB anywhere?

Graham continues to ignore the fact that his elders gave UND permission and because of what his elders did years ago, UND has a right both legally and morally to use the name. If he thinks that because times change, we ignore what was done in the past means that should apply to all agreements and treaties and the white folks can then change the treaties and agreements with the tribes anyway they wish. Some of those treaties and agreements are no longer what we would do in today's world but we are stuck with them anyway. The tribes across the country use our federal courts to enforce those agreements. For Graham to think that because this permission was given years ago, and now the tribal chairs want to change that, only dishonors his elders and ignores the cultural diversity between the University and his culture. What he thinks of the use of the name doesn't mean it wasn't done with honor. It was something our culture did to honor his. His insults go way beyond his refusal to consider the cultural diversity outside his own. His thinly veiled referal to "homo...genous" is an insult to gays and those who participate in this forum. Graham has no desire to have an intelligent conversation on the subject. I think he wants someone to come over to the Cultural center so he and others may verbally abuse you and attempt to physically intimidate you. After you leave they can pat themselves on the back and think they have won Little Bighorn II. What would make more sense is to offer to listen to why it is so important to UND and then relate why the name change is important to him and his friends and the campus PC folks. If he were smart he would use the issue to gain allies in the work that really needs to be done for Native Americans and especially the Native American kids across the state. Given the choice of leaving the name and using it to bring UND resources to the reservations or expand programs for Native Americans across the state, vs changing the name and pissing off a lot of people with UND ties, he would rather sacrifice the opportunites it could provide just to get the name changed. That is the saddest part of his argument and one of the reasons the kids on the reservations will continue to struggle. The so called leaders don't have the vision, leadership and foresight to make this a win - win situation for all concerned.

The late Bob Eaglestaff was a Sioux basketball player. I rode with him back to school a few times back in the 1970's. We talked about the Sioux name when the AIM guys beat the hell out of the fraternity guy during the ice sculptor week. He thought they were a bunch of Jack-asses and said the people on the reservation liked UND as the Fighting Sioux. I have heard that same thing from other American Indians time and time again. I continue to work with Native Americans on a weekly basis. UND has no obligation to teach the rest of the world about Sioux culture. They asked and received permission to use the name. UND did it in a respectful way. This Graham Cracker guy wants to dishonor those elders now because he and others have seemingly changed their mind. They make no attempt to understand our culture and how insulting it is now to have them demand the name be changed in such a disrespectful manner. I am no expert on Sioux culture but I know enough to know that this is not the traditional way. His elders would have honored this agreement.

Don't know how it went, but he has seen it and played here before with Shattuck. Fergus Falls is big Gopher country and he has Gopher FB blood in the family. It will be his former Shattuck teamates and the coaches more than the arena to get him over those yellow and marroon ties but it sure helps to have the arena.

We can only hope. The best president UND had was Tom Clifford and the best guy the AC had was Loftsgard. I think they were both "local" guys. I would hope we can find a replacement who better understands the people of the State of North Dakota and the Alumni of the University. Don't read this as saying Kuppy didn't do a good job. I think he did a decent job. I am hoping for someone with a more personable style. I would hope Bruce Smith who is head of the Aviation program would be a candidate.

Does anyone know if Jay Panzer teaches? If so is he looking for a hockey job?

More than twelve of us read it. There was nothing other than support for the move to DI. It was respectful and there was communication of support financially and politically for the move. There was recognition of the difficulties the change would bring especially the financial costs but the will to work together to overcome those difficulties.

Which letter? To Kupchella from FB alumni, the letter from Kupchella in response to that or a different letter altogether??

PCM I think you have been whacking yourself on the head with those drumsticks. Are you going to be OK?

I am pretty sure he wasn't.

I thought all we have heard recently was that the AC wanted to play UND and UND was afraid. Taylor must not have been straight with the media or fans. Remember he was at Navy and Buning is a West Pointer. UND won't play the AC until it will have no adverse affect on playoff opportunites. If the roles were reversed I would certainly want to play them with a 25 scholarship advantage. They wouldn't want to play us. UND doesn't need them anymore than they need us. At some point in time, the rivalry will resume on an even playing field and it will be more intense because of this. Taylor should be smart enough to keep his comments like that out of McFly's column even if it is true. That is not going to open up communication to renew the rivalry. However, thanks to McFly, we can point out to our s&!t kicking friends from the south, that when they are sitting outside their home at the trailer park, cleaning the crap off of their boots wondering why their Bison are not getting beat by the Sioux this year, that it is Taylor and the AC coaches who don't wish to play UND!

Posters bring up good and valid concerns. I supported Rob and he has been a friend for many years. He would have been a great AD. I think Kupchella and Harmeson did what they usually do and they did nothing wrong. I don't think either of them wanted Rob from day one, but they are certainly entitled to their own opinion. There are many many people in Grand Forks and the Alumni community who appreciated all of what Rob has done for UND and Fighting Sioux athletics. He is too valuable to be an asst. or assoc. AD here. His present job had a lot more responsibility and would be a step down. He already has other job offers from the private sector. Bottom line, he didn't get the job. Rob would be the first to say support Tom Buning. Remember all Tom Buning did was apply for the job and get it. Please give him your support and make him feel welcome. If you have time go on over to the press conference and meet him. I think you will be impressed. Lastly, I don't think anyone is "whining". Kupchella and Harmeson work for the students and the people of North Dakota. Those of you who feel bent our of shape when others critcize their decisions, should remember that. I get the impression that they do not feel they are there to serve the students and the people of the state of North Dakota but that is based on personal contact with them not their comments on the subject. . If people have concerns about their performance then they need to take them to task. I would however, separate that from Tom Buning's position as the new AD. To do otherwise would be unfair to Tom Buning. It is also the best way to show respect for Rob Bollinger. As I said, if you get a chance, go meet him and welcome him to the UND family. Have fun with Kuppy and Dr. Phil.

I think Buning is an impressive guy and will do a good job and deserves our support. I also felt Rob Bollinger should get the job. He earned it, but no way will anyone change this decision. Kupchella will never regain support from a number of former Sioux athletes but he has never shown he cares what they think. There are a number of big $$$ supporters who have stated this is the last straw and will pull their support. It isn't as much that Rob didn't get the job, but the callous way he was treated by some in the administration and the disregard this administration has for the alumni, especially former athletes and the tradition of Fighting Sioux Athletics. I am disappointed for Rob but happy for Tom Buning and will do what ever I can to help him move UND athletics to higher levels of success. He is bright and articulate and will work very hard to continue and improve the high quality athletics we have come to expect from UND. I hope he has a plan to shake up UND's dismal track and field, softball and volleyball programs. They have slid by for too many years with mediocore programs. At the same time he will need to support FB, MBB, WBB and hockey with the goal of national championships. He will also need to raise the funds to build an indoor track/baseball/softball/soccer/FB practice facility and continue the process to DI when appropriate.

Back then there was no DIAA. There was DI, DII, and NAIA. I can't remember if there was DIII but I don't think so. DII was made up of smaller Universities and Colleges that didn't play DI, and included almost all of the DIAA teams today in addition to teams that have since gone on to the real DI. Montana, Montana State, Northern Iowa, Youngstown State, San Diego State and UNLV among others. There were a number of Bowl games for DII teams and these three Bowl games were some of them. There were no playoffs. The Camellia Bowl was in Sacramento and thought by some to be the "Rose Bowl" of DII. It was televised on ABC. UND won all three of these Bowl games. Details of the games are in Lee Bohnet's book about UND Sports history. Is that what you wanted?

Thanks for setting me straight. I was under the mistaken impression that because UND beat the Agricultural College 10 of the last 13 games and also owns a decisive edge in the series, that everyone, except the jock-sniffers in Fargo, would believe that would be the criteria one might consider when trying to decide which is the better team. Obviously, I was wrong. Unlike the rest of the world, you simply declare it to be the case. Where do I get season tickets. That also means that Army is better than USC, Rutgers is better than U of Miami or Harvard is better than Michigan. Some time back I believe they were better, especially Army. Times change buddy and UND has been a much better team in the last 15 years or so. If you wish to consider all of history the same holds true. There was a decade or so in the 1980's when they used creative accounting to increase their scholarships and were the best DII program in the country. The NCC made them stop it and they were no longer dominant. One of your beloved former assistant coaches outlined how it was done over a few beers. I figure it created almost 13 scholarship equivilants. That is a rough estimate but it was significant. Once they were back on a level playing field UND resumed our dominance. As for being comparable academically I was again mistaken. US News and World Report rankings year after year rank UND in the tier above the AC. A number of other ranking services do the same. These ranking services see clearly UND is a better academic institution. They obviously have not heard from Fargo Bison and I would assume you will straighten them out.

It does. Well said.

You left out a very important part of DFS's post. He/she said "UND and the fan" (fans). I am not trying to lobby for Bollinger because I have stated my opinion. To clear up misconceptions of those who have not coached or been part of an athletic department Rob has been functioning as an assisstant AD for years and has been very successful at it. The assistant AD in Fargo with similar duties is Inniger. No one would say he has no experience, yet I read where some posters think that because this position at UND is with the Alumni office, it wouldn't count as AD experience. At the bigger Universities around the country this is a typical duty of one of the assistant AD's. Because a candidate is very good working with people and well liked does not mean they can't make difficult decisions or work with difficult people. The assistant AD's make those decisions all of the time, so all of the candidates should have experience doing just that. I think all four of them do. If folks don't realize the importance of the fans, students and Alumni then I am not sure they understand modern day Intercollegiate athletics. Read the thousands of posts on this site and I would think one might change their mind. People want their opinion to matter and if your AD makes you think your opinion is important then you are much more likely to donate, support the University, cooperate with projects or plans, donate your time or attend athletic events. I respectfully disagree if you meant to say that there are more important things in chosing the AD than the people skills, but I disagree. If you don't have the people skills you won't get people to listen beyond the superficial BS. It isn't the only thing by a long shot, but whether we are looking for a new AD, new coach, new president of our University or a CEO for our company these people skills are of paramount importance.