bincitysioux

Just curious as to how so many devoted followers here came to be North Dakota fans, and how closely we all follow and support our favorite teams............ Was it ingrained in your blood from birth to love the Sioux? Did you just end up at UND or in the state of ND? Are you a former student or student athlete? Did you just catch a North Dakota sporting event on TV and it caught your eye? I grew up and still live on the same North Dakota farm I have my whole life (33 years).............about 100 miles from Grand Forks. I never had a predispositon to UND or any college for that matter. I grew up knowing of UND of course, mostly from watching Sioux-Bison football and basketball games on TV as a kid. I actually didn't even know that North Dakota had a hockey team until I arrived on campus in 1996. The reason I became a Sioux fan initially was because my fresman year of high school, the men's basketball team was travelling around the state to area schools and putting on a show. I got picked out of the crowd to be on a team with Scott Guldseth, Rico Burkett, Broderick Powell, and Chris Gardner in a pick-up game. Later I received an academic scholarship to UND and was exposed to Sioux hockey, football, and basketball. Today, my family of four are devoted followers of North Dakota athletics and have season tickets to football and hockey, and try to attend basketball games whenever they fall on the weekends. My daughter lobbies hard to get us up to one or two volleyball games each year as well which turns out to be alot of fun. What's your story?..................

My question is, why couldn't state of the art video boards simply be added to the Betty? The Sioux Center is a beautiful arena and that is about the only thing it is missing. There have been many discussions about the logistics of the Sioux Center, but IMO I think it is a great home for North Dakota basketball. It seats a little over 3,000 and if memory serves Big Sky basketball attendence averages a shade under 3,000. The double header format (which inflated attendance numbers in the DII days) is going to be a thing of the past. When the Sioux Center is full, it provides a great environment. I've been accused on occaision here of "thinking small" when it comes to the future of North Dakota athletics, and specifically regarding facilities.................but having more "intimate" venues has its advantages too. It provides a better atmosphere on gameday, drives up demand for seating which can escalate ticket prices, drives up Fighting Sioux Club donations in order to procure season tickets, and gives more reason to get sporting events on TV.

Game Notes Televised on FSSN, MidCo Ch. 323, and DirecTV 617.

What makes it sound more familiar is that UNC was outgained by Lindenwood, something like 437-266..................... It was no fluke. Lindenwood played better football that day. Scary familiar to our game with Sioux Falls.................. On the bright side, based on 1 week of play, I think North Dakota looks to have the upper hand in the match up with the Bears...........................

Point taken.

I think the point was the quality of the FBS opponent. NDSU (and these games are generally scheduled years in advance so it is basically out of their control) has played some very poor FBS programs. The 2007 Minnesota team was 119 out of 120 according to Massey if memory serves for example. Last years Kansas team was not much better. Central Michigan, who NDSU defeated to their credit, is hands down the most talented FBS program that NDSU has faced so far. The 2009 Texas Tech team and the 2010 Northern Illinois team that North Dakota played were far better FBS programs than any FBS opponent that NDSU has played to date, save for perhaps Central Michigan..........................

I wouldn't be surprised to see an announcement some time this week regarding local TV.............................

I fail to see your point................... I go to all the hockey games, and I see REA staff slingshot fans across the ice as a human bowling ball, little kids doing the chicken-dance, watch them do trivia questions with students, and see them play blindfolded hide and seek on the ice. I can only assume that your agrument is that all of these tacky stunts are simply more tolerable when they take place at the home venue of a program that is excelling rather than at one where the program has been struggling lately. Personally, I'm far more concerned with what is taking place on the ice or on the field than what Max Huber is doing....................

Here was mine............ 1: Eastern Washington Eagles 2: Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 3: Appalachian State Mountaineers 4: Georgia Southern Eagles 5: William & Mary Tribe 6: Northern Iowa Panthers 7: Wofford Terriers 8: Montana State Bobcats 9: New Hampshire Wildcats 10: Lehigh Mountain Hawks 11: Villanova Wildcats 12: North Dakota State Bison 13: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 14: Jacksonville State Gamecocks 15: Southern Illinois Salukis 16: Richmond Spiders 17: Sacramento State Hornets 18: James Madison Dukes 19: Pennsylvania Quakers 20: Liberty Flames 21: McNeese State Cowboys 22: UC Davis Aggies 23: Southern Utah Thunderbirds 24: South Carolina State Bulldogs 25: Central Arkansas Bears

20 South Dakota 37 Air Force 32 Bowling Green 15 Idaho 19 Wisconsin-Stoudt 7 Black Hills St. 29 South Dakota St 28 Southern Utah 24 Montana St Northern 17 Montana Western 49 San Diego St 21 Cal Poly 22 Lindenwood 20 Northern Colorado 33 Washburn 17 Sioux Falls 48 Arizona St 14 UC Davis Kind of surprised by the score in that Northern Colorado game......................

That's real nice.................that type of attitute is the problem with the whole nickname debate.

Sioux just swept Southern Utah to win their tournament.................

North Dakota takes down Green Bay in three sets

I don't care if the football team gets pounded regularly, or if the hockey team falls into obscurity for that matter...........................the fact is, you don't throw 400+ student-athletes under the bus just so fans can continue to buy hats with the portrait of a fictional Native American Indian on the front of it..........................but that's just me. Perhaps my values are all mixed up..........................

I don't know what to think about the Idaho game. They lost about half of their starters from last season, including their QB who was drafted into the NFL. His replacement really struggled last night. They lost rather handily to Bowling Green, which finished the 2010 season with a 2-10 record. The Vandals couldn't run the ball worth a hoot against Bowling Green, and they really couldn't (or didn't) run much all last season. Given what I've seen from UND last night and the last couple seasons, I'm confident that Idaho won't have a huge amount of success running the ball against our defense. But then again, maybe they don't care to.....................If the Sioux can be adequate in stopping the Vandals passing game, and not turn the ball over on offense, then they have a chance. I'm not going to predict a win, but I think it is highly unlikely that the result will be anything close to what it was last year.

You know, a very very small part of me almost wishes that UND would just keep the nickname and accecpt the NCAA sanctions for about 5 years.................. That way, when the Big Ten Hockey-bound Gophers and Badgers implement their boycott to UND hockey's program, and we replace those games with Niagra and Alabama-Huntsville, I could finally see the "all hockey, all-the-time" crowd start to see what I've seen coming down the pipe for about 5 years now................................... Arguing that it is pointless to retire the nickname because a football game did not sell out is one of the stupidest things I've heard in my life. Some members here act as if the nickname is a gift from the hockey program, only to be used if certain conditions or criteria are met. The Fighting Sioux nickname was around long before the hockey team was...............................

Fighting Sioux sweep Montana Attendance was 703................... Nice win! To expand on that, I thought it was cool last night when they interviewed Hardee on the Jumbotron at the FB game and he said "you better get your tickets because we're the hottest ticket in town and that's for sure". Hardee and Idalski are by far and away the two best sources for soundbites from any of the North Dakota head coaches..................

Both Johnny Baily and John Randle played in that game for TAMUK.......................

My thoughts: Defense: A I thought the D played great. Had a take-away (nearly a pick 6), held them scoreless, gave up just 43 yards rushing, and recorded 5 sacks. Seems like they had plenty of pressure. Offense: C+ No turnovers. Should have scored minium of 10 more points if not for Anderson's drop on 3rd down and Daggett's drop in the end zone. Way too many penalties. Felt the O-Line should be able to push around a team like Drake a bit more. Special Teams: A+ Zeb Miller 3-3 on FG. Cameron with a punt downed near the 5. Blocked field goal. Great return by Mersereau. Several head popping hits. Crowd: B- Dissapointing showing for a season opener. But the ones that were there made their presence known. Great turnout by the student section, hope they keep that up. Overall: B Nice to get a win to start the season, especially before back to back FBS games. Would have rather seen a more convincing win against a non-scholarship program, but we were mostly limited by our own mistakes, not because of what the opponent was doing. Bradley looks to be a huge upgrade over last season. Throws a good ball, and made good decisions. At times, almost felt he was too cautious though. He looks like a quarterback, rather than an athlete playing the quarterback position. Depth at wideout may continue to be a problem behind Hardin and McGill. Love the new "vanilla" offense. Balanced, with no gimmicks. Keep it simple, stupid. No reason to go away from the run when it is working. Defense was superb. Other than a couple coverage breakdowns, they harassed the QB, stuffed the running game, had an INT, and held Drake scoreless. I would have rather seen North Dakota come out and blow this team away, but what I did see is a team that looks improved from last year, but still has alot of room for more improvement.

Agreed.................... If it isn't Notre Dame.......................I'd much rather see the NCHC pursue the likes of Air Force, WMU, Bowling Green, or even Michigan Tech..................

You and I have disagreed on this subject several times.........................but if UND is to one day expand and join the FBS ranks, I admit I'd get behind the idea alot more if it meant staying indoors in a city-subsidized expanded Alerus vs. an outdoor stadium...................I think the atmosphere would be much better with 10,000 fans in a 25,000 seat indoor stadium that it would with 10,000 fans in a 25,000 seat outdoor stadium............ Plus, I wouldn't have to freeze my ass off in November every other year watching North Dakota duke it out with Lamar for the right to be the first alternate in Ed's Bait Shop Bowl..........................

Gotta love coach Ashley Hardee..................... Tonight on the coach's show, when asked what type of volleyball program the University of Montana has, he said "they're usually a top 4 Big Sky program..................next year they will be top 6". Then he pointed out that he feels that Northern Colorado will be a program that challenges "us" for Big Sky championships.................... The guy is an awesome character and has a refreshing attitude.................................

I doubt the city would entertain the idea of footing the bill to double the size of the Alerus to accomodate even its #1 tenant that cannot currently fill even 2/3 of the available seating of the arena................... Especially when most council members cite UND's transition to DI as being one of the main factors that the facility loses money every year..................

Ironically, on the coach's show tonight Coach Mussman pointed out that the turf in the Alerus has basically become a great advantage because there are just a few stadiums left in the country that have it so nobody is really used to playing on it. Even obtaining the proper shoes to play on the carpet can be a problem. He said he actually likes it............................

Heard on the coach's show tonight that Mussman is very very high on Jer German................... Also the transition away from the pistol is mostly because he felt a "disconnect" last season with what he has been trying to do with the offense since he became OC in 2001. Lastly, he likes Joey Bradley's approach, skill, and willingness to learn....................said it was a huge benefit to get him here for the spring semester so he could acclimate to the program............