homer

What are they? I'd be open to listening to your ideas of dealing with the NCAA. My opinion on it is yes, there is the legal part and I won't try and argue that as this thread has proven there is a ton of grey area in the agreement. All I have asked is the UND leadership make this black and white for the people who will ultimately be voting on the nickname and at the end of the day don't have skin in the game. It really shouldn't be that difficult for them to lay out what was agreed upon. To me this is part of the "institutional control" that the NCAA loves to use and is very loosely defined. Than there is the NCAA's being able to take things out on UND. The NCAA and various committees make so many decisions that have an effect on UND, why give them any reason to make things difficult? These would include seeding, scheduling and to an extent conference affiliation if UND ever had a reason to switch. I don't think its fair to potentially punish the current or future athletes so some fans can hang on to a past nickname, regardless how popular it was.

I don't disagree. It is not a bad set up and I don't think NDSU will have a problem getting some of the schools on the schedule for duals. So does this get the full cost of attendance going for NDSU in wrestling? You are in the conference with schools that will offer it now.

You maybe missed this part. These six additions were made to give the Big XII tournament more legitimacy and regain recognition as an NCAA qualifying event. For the time being, these additions are for the Big XII tournament only. Iowa State will not be required to add these affiliate schools to their dual meet schedule. Don't get me wrong, still a big deal and nice to be affiliated with those schools.

No one knows for sure if they must transition to a new nickname but it in my opinion it needs to be addressed. What satisfies the written agreement that has been in place since 2012?

All most are asking is for clarification on if selecting no nickname satisfies the signed agreement between the state of North Dakota and the NCAA. You even say above that its not clearly defined and could mean anything. Therefore, it is not a scare tactic, its a legitimate question that should have been answered at the start but needs to be answered before things move along any further.

Thank you entire NDSU graduating class of 2011.

The O-line has a lot to prove this season. Last season we likely out weighed every opponent we played and struggled moving the ball on the ground.

It was partially sarcasm. In your opinion does being only North Dakota move UND further away from the Fighting Sioux name than Sundogs, etc?

Hate to see him go but I wish him the best. He was fun to watch.

They couldn't transition towards a new nickname because of the state mandated cool down period. Please explain how they can transition towards a new nickname when state law tells them they can't? And for consistency to your requests, site sources and examples. http://blogs.mprnews.org/oncampus/2011/11/solution-to-fighting-sioux-controversy-drags-on/

Maybe they were prohibited based on the meeting in August, 2011 between state leaders and the NCAA. According to people who were actually in the room, the NCAA acknowledged UND was doing everything it could to try and satisfy the agreements with the NCAA and the state legislature. They were attempting to move forward even though some who were outside UND were holding them back. If UND would have played as the Fighting Sioux in 2012, they would have gone against the agreement in place with the NCAA and what was discussed in a face to face a year earlier. Its similar to the situation of the cooldown period, UND can argue that they have been doing everything in their power to move towards a new nickname but the mandated cool down period is holding them back. The NCAA can't argue that but since the cool down period is up, the big question remains "will no nickname satisfy the agreement between the state of North Dakota and the NCAA?" http://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/2011-08-16/fighting-sioux-nickname-ends-2011

I really liked the way he played and the energy he brought to the field. Hopefully its not the case but its unlikely it would be in the tweet if it wasn't legit.

And replaced it with what?

The NCAA acknowledged that UND was trying to move away from the nickname when the state legislature was trying to force them to keep the nickname in the past. Could it be that they acknowledged that there was nothing UND could do once the state legislature put the 3 year cool down period into play and again acknowleded UND was doing what it could to move away from the name, which was use only North Dakota as state law was forcing them to do.

Or they keep up to tabs on how the NCAA governs.

Unless the name is the University of North Dakota North Dakota, its not the same.

I gave it my best guess in the 2nd paragraph. It would be pretty easy to argue that for the last 3 years and nearly 8 months, UND has been doing what it could to move towards a new nickname. Again, this is as much my opinion as your original post is your opinion. If everything is satisfactory, someone who met with the NCAA face to face could come out and say as much.

I can only speak for myself but since this has not been addressed by the committee or UND administration, it is as much my opinion as the above is your opinion. I cannot give you specific facts in regards to UND however facts can be given of how the NCAA plays by its own rules and doesn't like its member institutions giving it a black eye. Especially member institutions that are not the key money makers. I can also tell you I reached out to members of both committees and asked the question above and recieved the answer from numerous that "they hadn't thought about it but it was definately worth looking into." Can you provide a source, other than your own interpetation of the agreement that clearly states UND moving forward with no nickname satifies what was agreed upon by the NCAA and state of North Dakota? I would say that in all your facts above, UND could make the arguement they were doing what they could to move towards a new nickname however if/when the option of no nickname is selected that arguement can no longer be used. At that point, UND is one "Siouxper Drunk" scenario away from a NCAA institution having egg on its face and someone asking how no nickname moved UND away from the Fighting Sioux nickname.

Jason Hajdu's recent letter as someone who works with the sports teams daily gave several examples.

And if there's nothing else to catch on?

You should be very proud. The entire graduating class of 2012 looks up to you.

Linebackers are very good but hard to say they are better than one of the best defensive units in the country consistently. They really have to prove it and play at the level of late last year and not the early part of the year. I'd give the nod to NDSU

Not sure if we'll get one. UND will have a lot of new faces in some key positions on defense. Not one skill position on offense is decided. Offensive line is a question mark. NDSU is the 4 time defending champ. The last few years they have recruited and signed who they have wanted. They are good and have depth. Regarding check marks- Maybe kicker.

Biggest need in my opinion, and this applies to all sports is the new weight facility and meeting rooms. Phase 2 has to get going as soon as approval is given by SBoHE. Your points above are very good.

What are your ideas?