farce poobah

I would never try that with you. You're an expert at it.

Any chance Portland State's old defensive coordinator is available? I keed, I keed ...

Another scenario would be games vs Western Michigan or Miami of Ohio. Or a football game at Bowling Green in exchange for a hockey series in Grand Forks.

While lacrosse is more realistic, wouldn't it be a kick if Montana(s) added hockey? (Really, why else would they want to invite UND into the club?) After all, the NCHC footprint doesn't extend that far northwest yet ...

Since hardly anyone can score after getting knocked on their butt, I would.

Now that its official, I note that astute readers of Siouxsports.com called it first, with a plurality predicting the correct result. Congratulations to us!!

I am impressed that 45 people voted, on a hot summer day in mid July. Long live Siouxsports.com. In the meantime, there's yet another website tracking this: http://www.haszachparisedecidedwherehesplayingnext.com/

If I were in Zach's shoes, I would be asking the Wild what ELSE they are going to do to get to be competitive. Who are my linemates; who else are they bringing in, what's the long term strategy. You can bet Pittsburgh Detroit and Philly will have some pretty compelling pitches in that regard.

As the parade to Mississauga continues, who wins ... ... and I'll start the over/under at $90 million.

Awesome. Wisconsin fans are among an elite group who can drink almost as much beer as North Dakota fans. Great rivalry.

The new nickname needs to be something inspiring, and something that draws admiration and respect. I think picking RoughRiders would make it easier (not easy, just easier) to ease the pain of leaving Fighting Sioux in the past. North Dakotans disagree on a lot of things. Support for those brave enough to put their lives on the line to defend our freedom is as close to unanimous as it gets.

Argh. Can't believe I missed that. Video is pretty clear.

OK then, we could drop the Roughnecks part and just become the Frackers. ... I'd definitely come to "Meet the Frackers" Night at the Ralph.

I think Fracking Outlaws would be even better.

Coming down the stairs, to be one of the first to congratulate him, is a representative of the University of North Dakota. Well done.

35 years ago, a Los Angeles Kings fan arrived on campus at UND. As if to prove that wasn't strange enough, he founded / cofounded the Farce. Tonight, I'm happy for one of my friends, who's waited a long time. I'm also happy for Matt Greene, the prototype against which UND defensemen can be measured.

I am fine if either team wins, but I'm just happy that there's two more days of hockey season.

I've never seen a team as snakebit as New Jersey, through 40 minutes of game 4. If they get one, perhaps the floodgates will open.

Your name calling and insults are beyond acceptable limits for board behavior. Please stop.

Nominated! Best. Post. Of. The. Year.

If UND keeps the Fighting Sioux nickname, then sure let's keep playing for the Nickel Trophy. If not, then no. PS. Could playing for a nickel trophy be a violation of the NCAA settlement? I would think of that as a bit of a stretch, but since when would the NCAA apply common sense.

Agree. What if Gino hadn't gone outside the list of UND alumni and hired Dean Blais?

I didn't say I liked the idea. I just think the top of D-1 football is tired of being exploited by the big bowls, and to destroy them means inviting a lot of teams to a playoff. Four is not sustainable. Eight is not sustainable. Div 1-AA started at 4 in 1978, and is now at 24, on its way to 32.

I think its amazing that anyone could finish in four years (or five), while expending the amount of time and energy it takes to be a D-1 athlete. I am sure I couldn't have made it work. Congratulations. Well done.

Florida State to the Big 12? http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--florida-state-trustee-sparks-firestorm-with-desire-to-join-big-12.html;_ylt=AlOPwTFkGuB2332ieLV1Qk45nYcB That one makes sense.