Teeder11

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.

This just in: An aspiring SAB reporter and student "journalist" from NDAC weighs in. At least, he's about as consistent with this facts as SAB. Must read! :lol: http://www.ndsuspectrum.com/opinion/not-caring-about-anyone-1.2808127

Thanks... I bet you are right. I'm not that familiar yet with how these guys look without their numbers and not in uniform. I'm counting down the days to Spring ball and I am going to throw myself a personal little "Done with Transition" party on July 1!

Unexpectedly walked in on the QBs and receivers practicing at the Hyslop Multipurpose gym today (Saturday, about 1 p.m.). I paid close attention to Braden. It was odd to watch a lefty, but his throws were superb -- straight and accurate. There were no real bombs thrown by anyone, mostly short pattern stuff and some mid-range over the shoulder stuff for the receivers. I realize there was no opposition of any kind so take this with a grain of salt. But it was sure fun to watch the future in action. R.J.looked like he's in as great shape as ever, fast and darting. There was another receiver who was much taller than R.J. -- couldn't tell if it was Hardin or Tyree (sp?), but you could tell he was in the gym over the off season. Looked totally ripped. The rest of the receivers there looked to be bigger, plodding tight end types. Joey Bradley and another QB (maybe Comes) also were there throwing. Wish I could have stayed longer but had to get to the men's BB game.

Good point. Another thought I had is the reason (whether they recognizie it or not) that the nickname-at-all-costs crowd cling to the idea of the legendary 1969 pipe ceremony is because it has an aura about it that is unbreakable or irreversible simply because it is so much more intangible than a signed document, a treaty or a series of "whereases" and "therefores" on a perishable piece of paper. It gives it a sort of mystical treatment that is somehow more important than mere modern tribal law because it is so closely tied to native elders and religion. It also fuels the suggestion that any attempt to question it is equivilent to sacrilege or a tribal form of treason. Finally, for all these reasons, the pipe ceremony is seen as never-ending and immune from modern tribal meddling. Pretty convenient, if you ask me, since pretty much all of the participants in the pipe ceremony are all dead and gone. Would it simply take another pipe ceremony between UND and Standing Rock to jointly reverse the first pipe ceremony to satisfy the nickname-at-all-costers -- or is the contention that it has to be the original participants in order to make it legit? If that's the case, we'll need to have a seance to raise the dead! Again, how convenient.

I've always thought that was a pretty darn good user name and I've always interpreted it to mean that he/she will always hold the Fighting Sioux nickname in high regard in his/her heart even if it must go for the sake of the greater good. Just my read. Sure is a lot better than a bland handle like "Teeder"!