Teeder11

Mods, this thread is getting ugly and personal. Remember, gentleman, IM is an option, too.

I plan to be there tomorrow for the first spring scrimmage -- rain or shine!

The major fallacy with your analogy, and bear with me, board, as I'm going to prolong this rediculous "rape" theme, is that, per the settlement agreement with the NCAA, the act is not rape against UND, but rather it is consensual. UND is not a victim of the NCAA; the University is actually complicent per the settlement, or "surrender" agreement, if you will. It's other forces, external to UND and the SBOHE, that are forcing themselves on the decision-making power of UND to do what it feels is best for the University and its stakeholders.

The only party forcing anyone to do something it doesn't want to do is the state Legislature (and by extension the petitioners who forced the ballot question -- which is the people's right and I support the exercise, just not happy with the result), which is forcing the SBOHE, and by extension UND, to retain an athletic nickname is can't afford to keep. The NCAA isn't even "raping" anyone in this case. They haven't told UND that it has to do anything. For all the NCAA cares, UND can be the Fighting Sioux forever and ever. All they have ever said is that if you want to be in our club, you have to play by our rules, and here are the guidelines. Capice?

I wouldn't take Chewy's lead and start. How would one even broach such an inconsequential topic like that in a setting like the CVIC? Probably goes down something like this: "So, how do you feel about that whole UND nickname situation? Kind of analogous to what you got going on in your life, huh, sweetheart?" Maybe it's different in other states' victims' shelters but it does seem kind of callous to go surveying feelings about UND's nickname in a place like that. Bigger issues should take precedence, I would venture. How did we get off on this exit in the whole nickname debate, anyway?

Dave's not a UND fan. He's just obsessed with our "cool" nickname and logo. With friends like that ....

FYI, y'all... the ballot language has changed. "Yes", means drop the name ... "no" means keep it and watch UND athletics slowly decline.* http://www.inforum.c...group/homepage/ * a littl editorializing by yours truly.

I sure hope so! I knew you'd come around, Fetchy!!! http://www.inforum.c...group/homepage/

OK. I'll bite. What you're failing to recognize, or deliberately ignoring to prolong this stupid ping-pong, spitting contest, is the love UND fans have always had for the nickname. Some of us have already come to grips with the consequences and have reluctantly pushed for its retirement as we foresee no end result that favors our beloved University. Others are coming around but it's a slower process for them. Still others (and they'll continue to make themselves known and heard) probably will never concede (and that dwindling minority is the group that I think stands out most in your mind). Getting back to my point, is it any wonder that fans of a University would try every possible scenario to save the nickname they love? I can only presume that you would be extremely dissapointed in your own fanbase and program leaders if they acted/reacted any different than UND has over the years if the Bison nickname ever found itself in the crosshairs of the NCAA, as unlikley a prospect as it may be. It's hard to give up a nickname as loved as the Fighting Sioux is/has been no matter how prudent the justification might be -- and even more so when the reason is based on the arbitrary, capricious and hypocritical PC bullcrap elitist-think that the NCAA policy is. I am confident that NDSU fans, or any fanbase loyal to a Univeristy and a long and dearly held nickname, would put up a similar fight, if they were put in UND's position. You are right this is UND's mess, but only because it was deemed to have a hostile and abusive nickname by the NCAA, not because of anything UND has done to itself, or because of anything NDSU fans might do in the future, or because of anything anyone else in the state of North Dakota has done or might do. Hope it's clearer now. It all boils down to love and passion for a nickname. If it was an easy thing to give up, then, I'd say that's the saddest thing of all. Surely, as a fan of a great University team, you, too, must understand this. WWBFD

Another list, FWIW. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1127937-the-five-coolest-college-sports-stadiums-youve-never-heard-of#/articles/1100258-the-hottest-women-of-march-madness

Been attending spring practices for a few minutes after i get off work. Highlights from today included an awesome one-handed outstretched snag by sophomore Taylor Grant. Braden Hanson either led Grant too much or he was trying to put the ball where only the receiver could get it. Hanson hit Grant on about a 25-yard out pattern. Grant calmly reached out and snatched it with his finger tips. He did this while being defended in drills and not just during some solo route running exercise. Impressive!

Northeast Regional in jeopardy of being pre-empted on TV by Lacross... 10-10 tie with 3 seconds left in regulation. Too funny!

No. Never won a national championship. Or a Pulitzer! I sucked. Freddy

I'd rather be "Fighting Sioux" or something else. But I get your bigger point.

^^^^^^^This is key. I have written before about how active and vocal the Northern Plains' tribes were/have been in relative comparision to other N.A. tribes, bands and clans across the nation. This opposition was adopted very early on by a number of pointy headed PC faculty at UND as a cause célèbre, or more aptly, a feel-good pet cause, long before the term "political correctness" was coined. These groups' protests, resolutions, formation of opposition groups (i.e. BRIDGES), and outspoken promotion of their message through the media definitely attracted a spotlight toward UND and the Northern Plains tribes, but the NCAA's actions were, at least initially, an across-the-board move and not borne of some organizational vendetta against one institution. Later on, the NCAA did itself a disservice by muddying the waters with allowances and exeptions for other schools as a result of political pressures. However, it should be repeated that UND was given the same opportunity for an exemption, but at the time, Standing Rock's Tribal Council was opposed and SL was apathetic at best. In fact, back in my journalism days, I remember making repeated attempts for comment from Myra Pearson, SL Tribal Chairwoman, to nail down her (and the tribe's) position on the issue. Without fail, she either didn't take my call, was conveniently out of the office or out of town, never ever returned my calls, e-mails or snail mail attempts to reach her. The only thing that I didn't do was go to her house and knock on her door. I always frowned on this practice by reporters, as it comes off as stalking. I had similar experiences with other members of the council. When I did pin someone down to make a comment ... the response was always that the issue was "not high on the tribes priority list" or that the "tribe had more important matters to deal with." One time, when I showed up in Fort Totten, when the matter actually did come up before the Tribal Council as a matter of discussion (not a vote) I was politely asked to leave the "Blue Building," the administrative/tribal headquarters, because tribal leaders contended that a reporters' presence would hinder free discussion within the group. I did get plenty of comments from pro-nickname tribal members over the years and I published what they told me. The reason the Tribal Council's opinions mattered to me most was because these were the voices that the NCAA would listen to -- the only ones that would make a difference in the fight, and all I got from them was the sound of crickets.

And a very biased and jaded impression at that.

LOL! Just trying to keep you on your toes. Thanks for the additional qualifiers. I would say BC-BU are right up there in Hockey, along with Minnie and Wisco (just because of the Big 10 connections and the fact that those two schools and their states consider themselves to be peers; whereas both those states look down their noses at anything west of them and east of California <<<-- commonly referred to as Gopher arrogance); and in Basketball... gotta go with Indiana-Kentucky (I mean, Bob Knight won't even say the word "Kentucky" still to this day. He refers to it as that other "SEC team." Speaking of... that rivalry will be on full display tonight in the NCAA Tourney. Go Sioux! Fred

Michigan-The Ohio State. Done.

Agreed. That's what you get for free, I guess.

Mine started working after I refreshed.

Also, NBC's The Today Show was in Grand Forks today to interview Marilyn. They sent one of their Twin Cities producers and camera crew up here to tape the interview.

She's off to NYC in the morning to meet up with CNN's Anderson Cooper (another Olive Garden fan) to have dinner on the town and maybe offer a critique or two while they're at it.

Here's one. Tip of the hat to Goon for this one. http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/2012/03/struggle-of-long-time-sioux-fan-kim.html

^^^^^ This. Exactly!

You are correct. Some people just need a local scapegoat to quench their ire. The real problem, the NCAA, is too big and too far away for them to lash out against to satisfy their thirst for perceived justice and vindication. So, they hit what they can reach no matter how off target the blame might be. Kelley and Faison have done very little to fight to save the nickname because they understand it would be akin to shooting themselves (the University) in the foot. Even if UND could live with the sanctions as some think we can, and even if the Big Sky would bite the bullet and let UND remain a member despite being on the NCAA !@$! list, the controversies, the protests, un-invites and non-invites, negative press, bad publicity, dirty recruiting tactics by rivals, unfortunate "racist" incidents from opposing fan bases and other distractions aren't going away. Like the Big Sky, Kelley and Faison have nothing against the nickname and logo as a result of political correctness, and if there was a way to keep it without the NCAA's heavy handedness, without the sanctions, without the constant bad press that comes with it, without the negative distractions that it attracts, I am positive that they would be as proud to wear the Fighting Sioux name as Fetch is. See, it's not a "PC thing" for them; it's a "what is best for the students and the University thing" for them, no matter how much their detractors try to assign false ulterior motives and nasty aspersions to them.