Sioux27

Not alot of substance in his response. I sent an email about 30 days ago and haven't heard a thing back. I am not getting my hopes up for a reply. If I do get a response I hope it takes on a more "challenging" response.

Any chance you can burn some copies?

I know of at least one picture of me crossing the finish line. I will try get the pic and post it. I am thinking I will do 1 of 2 things for next year. 1) Get two other guys and myself to carry the huge U N D flags into the dome. 2) Put on a jersey and pads and spike a football at the finish/goal line. And the best plan for the future................. After we start playing the Bison again for the nickel, I will carry a replica nickel trophy into the dome!!

Congrats MD and thanks Hockey Mom! I finished in 2:04 (with the Sioux flag coming across the finish line of course)! It was refreshing to hear all the "Go Siouxs" along the way. It was even better to hear the Boos once inside the dome.

I be running the half this year. I would love to stay after for a few beers, but due to a prior commitment I have to get back to Fergus Falls right after the race. I will be the runner that will be carrying a "Fighting Sioux" flag the last few miles. I can't wait to see it on the Fargodome jumbotron! A perfect way to once again tell the Bison to kiss my ass!

I know it is somewhat unimportant to the "entire" issue, but I do have a problem with Holy Cross and the use of its mascot/name/emblem. As a devoted Christian, I think it is completely irresponsible for the use of its nickname. I do however, understand that the use of this in not intended to offend me. I will always wish a competitor best of luck in competition, AND, I also realize that their intent is not to humiliate me. BUT...............If we as a member of the NC$$ continue to "accept social and moral challenges" that the NC$$ wants to evaluate, then I also feel that they (meaning the NC$$) need to make a much broader appeal to the misfortunes of other minorities as they define it!!

As much as I hate to agree with a Bison supporter. Bison Pride, you make a great point and I can't disagree with your rationale. I think the Bison definetely "beat us to the punch" with the move to DI. Despite what most of the Jack-$$es from NDSU might think, I believe that Big Irv was a HUGE factor in this transition! UND has been only slightly delayed in their transition, but the DI move will happen. I just hope it can be done with a renewed rivalry of playing the Bison once again. With that said, I KNOW WE WILL KICK YOUR A$$ EVERYTIME, WITH OR WITHOUT THE NC$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brekke is an excellent choice for this position. It is just too bad he couldn't coach the Men's team as well!! Hell, with how good he still is, he could probably still play. The Brekke family has been great to UND athletics. Steve, Mike, and Chad all played on the men's team. I am not certain, but I think Kim played for SU. There is always one in every family. She does get an excemption since I believe her husband is Durene Heisler's brother. Best of luck Steve!!!!!!!

I see us being a better overrall team this year for various reasons. Here are a few bullets on my thoughts: 1) No longer will we typcially "settle" for 3 instead of trying for 6. Although I always want to get the points, I think we were in a comfort zone too much this last year. I think that going for the TD or 1st down more often will build the confidence of the offense much earlier in the season. Last year the offense seemed to actually lose confidence as the season came to a grinding hault. 2) We will not rely on the defense as much as in the past. Instead of the ball control scheme we have relied on we will start to look downfield more on offense and create more big plays on defense. (I think we always try create big plays on defense, but I think we will develop a better scheme of pass rushing as well as pass coverage) 3) We will have the right quarterback on the field who can create offensive plays when things get scrambled. This is going to both help and hurt us this season. Manke will possibly throw a few more INT's due to his lack of experience (Yes I know he is a senior and has played but not to the level of Belmore). Even though Manke is a tough kid, I think he will likely get hurt during the second half of the season from all the shots he will be taking. The O-line will be good this year, but when Manke gets down field he takes some hard shots from the LB's and DB's. Manke going down won't hurt us as bad, since Belmore is a solid backup. 4) The O-Line will be solid this year. This will not only help the passing game which was sporatic last year, it will help the running game. (As long as Beatty can run more than 3 yards without fumbling) 5) We need Strouth healthy for the whole year. Not having him last year was the reason we lost to UNO which was the loss that seemed to crumble the rest of the season. If Strouth stays healthy, we will go 9 - 1 next year. If we have to rely on Beatty, we are pretty much screwed and must settle for a 6 way share of the NCC crown at best. 6) Even though the loss of Digger will hurt, I think overall we will play much better overall on Defense. I don't think our defense will be better than last year, but I do think they won't be playing 40 minutes a game and getting tired. Our defense seeing less reps will allow us to play tougher in the end and give up less points. I am wondering however, who the next Digger will be. I can remember as far back as Dean Witkowski saying, "There will never be another one like him". Then came LB's like Digger and Tibesar etc!!!! There will be another Digger, just not with the same defensive stats. 7) One area we will be down in will be the kicking game. (Really going out on a limb here). It will be tough for the team and fans to realize that everytime we get inside the 30 that its no longer an automatic 3 on the board. I don't really know who the kicker is going to be and how good he is. Hellevang is apparently a good kicker, but doesn't have much for experience yet. With all that being said...............my prediction for next year is a 9 and 1 season (That 1 loss will be to UNO or USD) and as a number 3 seed in the region a trip to the semi-final game.

AZSIOUX I must agree with, I couldn't care less who gets what award and when!!!! All that really matters is whether or not we can hoist up #8 this year. If we can't do that, then we both can sit at Blarney's and continue to talk about what a d-bag Kessel has been this year. Hey gophs, I wonder how the jersey pull looks at Blarneys while watching the Sioux at Milwaukee versus the jersey pull when you wish you were at Milwaukee!!!!!!!

The ONLY thing we have in common with the Fighting Irish is "Fighting"!. The last thing I think we should do is take the angle of "well what about them" mentality. Notre Dame will have its day later on, but I think we need to focus all of our efforts for UND and UND ONLY!!! None of the others on the NC$$'s list seem to see the need for an alliance with each other and I think the Irish would be an embarassing choice based on the "Fighting" commonality. I am yet to be convinced (and I expect the NC$$ is of the same opinion) that the Irish are not yet considered an official minority. And, Yes, I understand that there is no official list. I certainly respect your view on this, but I do not think it can help the Fighting Sioux case.

I couldn't agree more regarding Belmore. I think Belmore has showed what he can and can't do as the starter. Manke deserves his shot as the field general. Although Belmore will be one heck of a backup.

Can we start talking yet or hasn't the last 17 minutes changed your mind?

I meant Milwaukee's Best beer!!!!!!!!!

Milwaukee here we come!!!!!!!

When is the Spring game this year?

"GK"/"Informant" sounds too much like the same arrogant school of thought. As the great Don Clericuzio once figuratively said "Let them dance of the bottom of the Ocean together". Can't either of you two find something better to do in your time? And by the way...........CBS?..................The chances of them covering a story in an unbiased manner is the same chance as Bigmrg74 admitting that there are other equal caliber teams as grand valley state!

As much as I like Bubba while with the Sioux, he still hasn't proven that he can run a program. NO GOOD COACH would have pulled that kind of play-ground-flag-football kind of horsesh-t that he did at the end of the season. Looks like he had a lot of desparation with nothing to lose. All good coaches would try build for next year regardless of that seasons implications!!!!!!!!!! He is not only losing good recruits to average programs he is also losing average coaches to less than average programs. If it were not for his longevity with the Sioux I would say he is no better than Mike "3 Hour Cruise" Tice. After Bubba goes 7 and 4 this year (and should not be anywhere near a 4-way tie for the NCC crown) I think more people will realize how fortunate he was to be with the Sioux!!!!!!! Belmore clearly made the correct decision by trying to remain an ally of Lennon and stay with an unquestionably proven program. By the way................Lennon (by himself) playing against USC this year, I would say Lennon 16 - USC 8. (One guy trying to cover a two-point conversion is pretty tough, especially when you were a RB in college). Lennon (by himself) playing against Texas, I would say Lennon 34 - Texas 23. (Despite Lennon being known for defensive coaching ability he still gives up three TD's (Young only 1), but only gives up 2 out of 3 2-point coversions)). Finally, Lennon (by himself, but does call for Roger Thomas as an eligible receiver on three plays) versus God...........Lennon 8 God 6 in OT. Lennon figures out the essence of stopping the 2-point conversion, and also denies Peter three times on 3rd down and short. Since it's Lent and I am Catholic I had to get St Peter some PR.

The question doesn't tie real well to the polling options. I voted yes in support of Rich stepping down. I think he was a pretty good coach at one time, and I expect he knows that it is now time to move on to other options if they exist. If he doesn't resign, then, and only then, do I think it would be appropriate to fire him. I would give him about 30 to 45 days before I would pull the trigger!!!

Just think.....It's only about 190 days until kickoff!!!!!!!!!!!! What are the chances of filling the Oct 21 date?

After that long of a post I was wondering why the rambling continues to go on..............and on..............and on.............and on..............and on....................... Please feel free to abandon Siouxsports.com and simply join your friends at bisonville!

Ironically, I did bring this up to Mr Brand regarding the Pontiac support. He of course didn't reply to my message, but his secretary/administrative assistant/or any other word that won't offend his right-hand-person that basically does his job for him did give me a response. The response was a riot to say the least.........."Sir, there is no way Mr Brand can honestly know if he is offending anybody by just driving a car. Afterall, it's only a car and how can that be 'hostile or abusive', Sir you are reading too much into this. Unless his or the NC$$'s cars are actually hurting the "native americans" in a physical, financial, or emotional way how can that be considered to be hurting anybody." To which I said, "that is my point exactly!, Thank You".

I think one area that is likely overlooked when it comes to funding is the segment of the alumni or "hard cores" that will likely up the ante when it comes to giving. I, for one, will certainly give more funds if we are DI versus DII. This is not based on my income or what is in my checkbook, it is based solely on believing in something. I love Sioux sports but I want to see us be on a better and more challenging playing field in the future. I am having a tougher and tougher time getting excited to play the Mankato's, Augies, and UMD's. Although I think it is great we had a share of the NCC crown this year in football, I am probably the least excited in the fact that we shared it with teams that I would never consider a contender (except for UNO). Men's hoops?? Moving up won't hurt us at all, considering how poor this program is, it's not like we will lose any more games than this year. In my opinion the only sport that will suffer will be Women's hoops. (Instead of 17-0 at his point in the season I am guessing 14-3). Don't ask me why. The entire Sioux athletic department (with the exception of Grandall and crew) have a solid nucleas to build on with this transition to DI and I think the timing is right to make the move!!!

Well its finally official.........Matt Anderson verballed to NDSU! Let's hope Gratzek doesn't convey similar news!!

Tim has been a great coach for UND the past years and I wish him the best. He and Lennon seemed to work very well together and always were on the same page when it came to game changing decisions. We certainly have some big shoes to fill in the next few months. Best of Luck Tim!!!! P.S. Any chance Mussman can find another job too?