tnt

... and let me guess, he thought Sundogs was the bomb.

You really thought there would be two or three we would be fighting over? If you go through the threads from day one, someone would suggest a name, and there would be some that like it and some that hate it. There was no way that a name like Cornhuskers, Hoosiers, Sooners, or the like was ever going to gain traction because they don't sound right initially. Do you think anyone would have chosen a name like that if they were available? It is even harder when you had a great name in place for so long. Do you think a name like Badlanders or Sodbusters would ever be able to muster up enough support to move forward and have the chance to become popular down the road? I don't think any unique name was going to gain popularity because those names like I mentioned just sound odd until they become synonymous with that school.

You mean the "Bully Pit"!! So many possibilities with Roughriders. The hockey teams new motto could be "Walk softly and carry a big stick"!

But many of the people that don't like the nickname are hoping for no nickname, in which case we will be spending that money all over again years down the road. If it's all about the money, then where is the common sense in that?

Not an early departure, but good for him for getting a chance to play in the top organization of the Blackhawks.

Was wondering if they thought that was a problem because their radio commercials said "We hear you Grand Forks, some times a big burrito is too much", or something to that effect, trying to get people in with the smaller burrito. Can't eat that food often and maintain weight, unless you are in high school or college, which you think would have been their main business.

You know, now that I think about it, UND got this process all wrong. They should have had the same group they are going to let vote narrow the choices down to 3 or 4, then had the committee pick the name. At least then, you wouldn't have the possibility of getting a name that just about everybody hates.

I'll tell you this, if you thought petitions and protesting was crazy for the Fighting Sioux nickname, just wait to see what happens if they somehow narrow it down so Sundogs gets picked. I don't think most people would stand for that.

Just talked to a supplier I deal with from Minneapolis and read the list of names to him. He couldn't believe how poor of choices there are, except for Roughriders. He thought it was odd that North Stars would be on the list, and thought the two Hawks names sounded like community college names. He said for being one of the two big Universities in the state, they sure didn't come up with very acceptable names.

Channel Susan Powter, and "Stop the Insanity"!

Yeah, then we could lay further claim to the state. We are already the flagship University, then we would have the state nickname like those others you listed as well. After all, nobody refers to North Dakota as the Bison state.

Hey, if we were going to be the "Force of the North", we just could have been the "Stars of the North". Sure it's semantics, but it wouldn't actually be North Stars. O.K. then, Roughriders it is!

Just curious, during this meeting, did the consultants bring up any concerns about the Urban Dictionary and Sundogs? When the consultants are done here, are they going to talk to the State of North Dakota about changing the Roughrider Award and state motto? Phil Jackson is pretty PC, and he was the one who originally suggested Roughriders when we still had the Sioux nickname. Get the consultants out of the process - NOW!

The fact that many have accepted Roughriders as a viable choice even though they weren't enthralled with it in the first place, might indicate that it would be less divisive than choosing any of the other names on the list. If they want to pick a name that would require less time to gain acceptance and prevent discord, then perhaps this could be that choice.

Now I think I know how all of those other schools came up with lame bird and color names. The consultants talked them into a generic name that couldn't possibly offend anyone. Sounds like they should just have asked the consultants to pick out a name, because they obviously are such elite minds. Unbelievable that we are paying these guys and that Sundogs is still on the list.

I'm thinking that we will at least have one or two names that can be voted on. Hopefully the next narrowing of the field doesn't do a complete 180.

So if the Hawks hold on, who is the Conn Smythe winner. Keith? Crawford? My bet is Keith.

Was recruited for football team and was injured. Ended up trying out for hockey and was kind of plugged into defense as depth so only played one game. Not sure if he quit football and was fully healed somewhere down the line and decided to give hockey a try, because I think originally it was a neck injury that wouldn't allow for the specific contact required in football. Others might know more of the exact situation. Was more of an intimidator for the Penguins and did his job well. Believe he is a personal trainer in Pittsburgh now.

Who knows, but they do recognize Geoff Smith who played for UND a little over a year then left for Kamloops of the WHL.

... and it would lend itself to so many jersey combos. You could have Teddy charging on the front, and the horses as arm patches, or vice versa. More jersey combos, the more people will find one they like and buy it.

Was thinking the same thing. Go with whatever wins, and if there is a problem, then it reverts to the next in line.

You do realize you were in the minority on thinking Flickertails was a suitable name, while many thought that was garbage.

Since the consultant seems to know what is right, I am sure we will see some variation of "Hawks" in the final vote because as someone said there isn't any possibility of controversy, except for Thunderhawks. How lame would it be to be spoon fed another generic name, as the other schools in the same situation did with all the bird and color names. Despite the criteria set forth, I am guessing they will ignore it and put this generic option before us for a final vote.

Hate to tell you that there have already been petitions about it just staying North Dakota and how it would leave people with Sioux as the default name. I have no appetite for going back and forth for the next 10 years with people bickering about that again. Pick a name and move on, or we will be right back here again shortly anyway. And if you are in the crowd that says screw them, well, they said the same thing about people that were against the Sioux nickname. The NCAA will react to that minority eventually, whether you think the previous settlement allowed us to remain just North Dakota or not.

I think more Red River grads like it than not. It is the Central grads I would think that would be predisposed to disliking it, and I guess I can understand that. It is a shame that there aren't the options we were all hoping to have.