82SiouxGuy

They can be. The school can exist without an athletic department or nickname. The school and the athletic department can exist with a different nickname. There are people on this board that have stated they don't care what happens to the school or the athletic department as long as they can keep the nickname.

The University will survive as a school without the Big Sky. The Athletic Department will take a major hit without it. And damaging the Athletic Department will take some of the luster away from the school itself. Dr. Kelley has to spend most of his time leading the University, he shouldn't have to spend it trying to work a miracle that you've dreamed up. That isn't a practical use of his time, especially when it is an almost impossible task.

My guess would be losses last week by some schools ranked higher than UND.

But you are willing to let the rest of the Athletic Department die rather than give up the nickname.

The 30 year part wasn't in the settlement. The SBoHE said that they wanted at least a 30 year agreement because they didn't want to have to worry about the issue coming up every year or 2. But that number was never written in stone, they were willing to negotiate on the actual length.

I agree. But there seem to be a lot of people that don't understand any of that.

I have mixed feelings on that issue both ways. Free speech is very important, especially at institutions of higher learning. I was just reporting what happened on the radio.

You should go see a doctor. You really seem to have a hard time reading more than baaaaaaa.

I believe that this has changed. They added the schools on the hostile and abusive list as schools that could not be scheduled unless a conference member. The Assistant AD from Wisconsin told Mr. Faison that they would not be able to play UND now that the nickname is back.

The settlement doesn't mention a vote, so the NCAA never cared about whether the tribe voted. They weren't going to accept a tribal vote on the issue. It had to be the Tribal Council. And you are correct. It is too late. The NCAA was asked during the big meeting in August whether they would accept a change by Standing Rock. The NCAA said that the settlement specifically said that they had to have approval by November 30, 2010. That did not happen. It is too late. The NCAA will not accept UND using the Fighting Sioux nickname or logo. They are not going to back down or change their mind.

Mr. Faison was on KNOX this morning. A caller told him he should have fired Hakstol after the e-mail, that's what would have happened in private business if someone was insubordinate. Faison told him that Universities don't work like a private business. He said that he had a meeting with Hakstol and did as much as he could. He also said that they came to an understanding during that meeting. He wouldn't elaborate any further.

Getting one of the presidents to back UND wouldn't take a leader, it would take a miracle worker. The Big Sky is a club that has been stable for a long time. They have relationships with each other. And they work in an atmosphere of consensus building. Most decisions are made by a unanimous vote. Once a majority makes up its mind, it is very rare that another would rock the boat. You are expecting Dr. Kelley to go and cull one of the other presidents away from the herd. You want him to find a way to make that president go against the people that they have been working with for years, and plan to work with for years. All for the benefit of the new guy. The chances of that happening are very, very small. And that isn't a practical use of Dr. Kelley's time. He has an entire University to lead. Remember, his job is to lead the University of North Dakota, not lead the presidents of the Big Sky.

And I just pointed out that you have to support a minimum level to remain in Division I. You can't have just a hockey team and no other sports, even if some people would like to do that.

The NCAA never cared whether Standing Rock voted or not. The settlement said it could be decided any way allowable in the Tribal Constitution. Then they wanted the decision sent to them in writing. The Standing Rock Tribal Constitution does not allow a vote on issues like this. The majority of states do not have a referendum and initiative system available to them. So getting Standing Rock to vote on the issue is meaningless to the NCAA. In addition, the NCAA told the North Dakota delegation last summer that the time period available for the tribes to give consent was done. Even if Standing Rock gives approval today, the NCAA would continue to have UND on sanctions because they didn't live up to the terms of the settlement. As far as the NCAA is concerned, the issue is done. They will not let UND use the nickname.

And to remain a member of Division I you need to have a minimum number of sports spread between men and women and spread across all seasons. I would have to look it up to be sure, but I believe that it is a minimum of either 6 men and 8 women's sports or 7 and 7, with at least 1 sport for each gender in the fall, 1 in the spring and 1 in the winter. So there is a limit to how many "money losing" sports that can be cut. dakota is correct about a couple examples of when other sports were bigger than hockey. As he said, history has a habit of repeating itself.

The vote would be of all presidents except the school involved. So President Kelley would not vote on the issue. Have you ever served on a board or committee? How many votes are unanimous? Almost all of them. Normally you end up with a group that feels very strongly about the issue, and may have a group that doesn't feel very strongly. The group that doesn't feel strongly about it just votes with the crowd. And it is very rare that a single person is going to stand up against the group unless they have a vested interest in the issue. Nobody is going to put their relationship with the group on the block for a new guy. And it is doubtful that even Clifford could prevent this problem with the Big Sky.

At different times the basketball and football programs have both been bigger at UND than the hockey program. There is a good chance that one or both could reach that level again. Everything in sports goes in cycles. And even the hockey program is going to be affected by this issue. Losing historic rivals is going to hurt. It could hurt recruiting, it could hurt ticket sales. The NCAA has talked at times about returning the first round of the playoffs to the campus sites. UND would not be able to host those if they happen. The new hockey conference could adopt the same policy of limiting playoff hosting. Other conferences have adapted similar NCAA policies. The hockey program will be affected by this policy.

Wisconsin and Minnesota have been long time rivals in hockey. They will be playing in another conference starting in 2013. Neither will play UND with the Fighting Sioiux nickname when they are in a different conference. Yes, the conference affiliation is huge. Losing Wisconsin and Minnesota as opponents in hockey will also be a large issue. And there is nothing to prevent more schools from adopting the same policy.

Faison talked to the AD's at both Wisconsin and Minnesota after the petitions were turned in this week. Both of them said that they would not be scheduling UND in any sport, including hockey, now that UND is back on the NCAA sanctions. The tentative deal to play Wisconsin in the future is off the table for now.

Wisconsin told Faison on Wednesday or Thursday that the deal was off because the nickname is back. Both Wisconsin and Minnesota told Faison that they wouldn't be scheduling UND after they left the WCHA. Time will tell what happens.

The Summit said they weren't interested in UND because of the nickname issue a couple of years ago. They became interested when it was announced that the nickname was dropped. Then there was the whole dustup over who said what and whethere UND pushed the Summit to complain about the nickname. The Summit is not an option any time soon. The MVFC was never an option. They didn't want South Dakota, but the Summit members pushed enough to get them in so they could keep them for the Summit. The MVFC isn't going to add UND for football. Being an independent for a new Division I school like UND would be suicide. How many home football games do you think they would get? Attendance would drop like a rock because the only home games would be Division II. Basketball would be the same. And at this point, going Division II would be about as effective. Losing the ability to schedule schools like Minnesota and Wisconsin in hockey would start to hurt that program, too. Even if the NCHC doesn't do anything, it will become more difficult to recruit top talent in hockey if they can't play against the best. And attendance could start dropping at the Ralph.

I have begun to think that the only hope of stopping the madness is to get some of the big name hockey alumni to come out on the side of changing the name. Or if Hakstol would admit his mistake. I'm not sure whether the nickname-at-all-cost crowd would finally believe them or turn on them, too. But hockey people may be the only ones that could reach the crowd that either doesn't understand, or doesn't believe, what is happening to the University.

Talk to your friends at Bville. Many on that board have said they would sign the petitions/did sign the petitions. And they plan to vote for the law(s). That's been going on for months. This is the first time anyone on this board even mentioned the idea and you are ready to attack both tSic and UND. He just mentioned something that is within the realm of possibility, but very unlikely to happen. Try getting some of your revenge minded friends to back away and not make this farce worse than it is now.

It's been a couple of years, but I usually stay down in Eagan. There are several places right off 35E like the Dakota Ridge Best Western and a Microtel. I have always gotten them for a good price. It is a straight drive up 35E to the X, usually takes me 10-15 minutes.

I graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1982 as a proud supporter of the University of North Dakota Sioux. I'm pretty sure my screen name is historically accurate. If I were graduating at some time in the future and the school is using a different name I would probably incorporate that name into my screen name. Notice I used University of North Dakota first, and used it multiple times. That is the important name in the equation.