jimdahl

Yeah, that's the defunct carryover from the NCC conference scheduling (done 4 years at a time). Just like NDSU and SDSU already have a full schedule of 2004 games against NCC opponents, many of which will be dropped.

The biggest source of unique visitor inflation is actually people who access the site from multiple locations. It's particularly a problem on a site like this where a single person is likely to check the board from work, from home, from a computer lab, etc... Since we track registered users, it's pretty easy to count an average number of unique IP addresses per registered user over a period of time (in aggregate) and adjust the stats accordingly. However, registered users are a self-selected group whose behavior probably isn't representative of those who haven't registered. In calling the unique visitors stat a "floor", I make the assumption that an average registered user is likely to access the site from MORE IP addresses than an average non-registered user, but certainly can't prove it. Back to your point, you can actually somewhat account for floating IPs by playing with the time window. Again, the site unapologetically uses cookies to track registered users as long as they stay on one computer. Further, most people who have a "dedicated" high speed connection lease their IP address for at least 14 days at a time. A lot of dialup users, though assigned unique IPs each time, are actually behind proxys that mask their IP address (all AOL users, for example, are aggregated down to just a couple unique users). Bottom line? Yes, lots of forces tug unique visitors in both directions. That's why most sites just report "hits", which I personally find a horrible measurement because it's directly influence by page design (number of elements per page)! I tend to compare unique visitors to visits to page requests and do a sanity check to make sure the numbers aren't crazy. For example, January had about 1.2m hits generated by 250,000 page views, which historically correlates well with about 10,000 unique visitors for this site.

I've been trying to stay out of this one, but... I have to agree that Taylor is talking good about making changes. While that's never a guarantee (at NDSU, UND, or anywhere), I agree that it appears to be taken seriously right now at NDSU. The concern I think a lot of people have is that it also appeared to be taken seriously in the previous two incidents in the past year. It's starting to seem to some of us that a few in the NDSU administration prefer to give the troublemakers free reign and then apologize afterwards rather than attempt to restrain those bad fans' behavior in advance. That same .1% of idiotic fans exists at every school, including UND. However, permitting that behavior (in spite of a "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" admonishment) reflects poorly on the other 99.9% of fans who find it deplorable. I think a certain group of us fans are surprised because when similar incidents occur at UND (e.g. homecoming parade around '90), we're embarrassed and call for action because we don't want those idiots representing us. I guess we're all looking for some results to go along with the good intentions.

Mmmm.... I love talking stats, in any context. There are about 500 registered to post on the forums currently. That represents a small percentage of the total "lurkers". About 10,000 unique visitors per month generate about 1.2 million hits per month to SiouxSports.com (about half of those visit the message boards at least once). I don't have any current stats on total unique visitors over any longer periods of time. As I've often warned some of the more caustic posters, those numbers include a fair number of media, staff, coaches, players, and families, in addition to general fans. ** I should also mentioned that the unique visitors stat is probably a floor. Any roommates, computer lab users, family members, or coworkers who either share a computer or are behind a shared firewall or NAT router are counted as only a single unique visitor. That's why most web sites just quote the hits stat, which is absolute number of requests with no attempt to discriminate how many individuals were responsible for those requests.

Though you didn't ask me... My understanding was that next year (2003-04) is UNC's provisional year. It is supposed to intentionally include a mix of D-IAA and D-II opponents. Their first year for D-IAA tournament eligibility would then be 2007-08 (at one point the UNC FAQ on that issue stated that eligibility would begin in 2008-09, so apparently they were confused, too).

Thanks Kirk! As I promised, Kirk tries much harder than I do and the results show

Again, I don't really leave my seat and my digital camera is fully automatic, so not great photos. Here are a few shots from UW. These are just to whet the appetite, because I happen to know that the guy sitting next to me took like 50 photos (though again from the seat next to me). Hopefully I can get a few of those up soon if he feels like sharing. EDIT: KirkEisenbeis's links from below: KE's photos from UW KE's photos from the Duluth series

Other interesting statements (not quite quotes) from other coaches: To CC: Q: Is there a concern that since you're already in the NCAA tourney you might just drop two to AA? A: We've never won the Broadmoor, so we still have a goal. To Jack Kowal (assistant coach at AA): Q: How do you recruit when you haven't won since October? A: We tell recruits that they'll get a lot of playing time right away. Wisconsin, on going to Mankato: If they'd gone up to Minnesota, they would have been smoked, this team at least they can play with. Unknown person responds: At least the Holiday Inn is close to that strip bar.

I guess the right thing to do is to write this information into some sort of article, but I'm the particularly lazy type of reporter:

u l4m3rz r nt l33t like uz

As former DC resident who didn't own a car, I feel compelled to mention that walking in G.F. in December isn't like walking in NYC. It's almost guaranteed to be below zero at some point. In this thread, forecheck mentioned a few of the hotels closest to the Ralph. You could probably use Mapquest to determine actual distances from REA. As usual, other people may have better advice -- I haven't lived in G.F. in years.

Bump! My UND prediction is looking a lot better now than it did Jan. 1. Swap SCSU & Mankato and it's not bad at all...

Moving the other direction from Kohl Center (toward State), you hit the Nitty Gritty (very popular pre-game, but not really much of a sports bar). On State St, State Street Brats is probably the best sports bar. I can't really think of anything else I'd call a sports bar near the Kohl Center. UPDATE: I asked my wife and we came up with Babe's on W. Washington as the place by the train car. If you go half a mile further down Regent toward Camp Randall, Oakcrest Tavern is a good sports bar (runs a shuttle to the Kohl Center for events). Of course, State St and University are full of plenty of bars. I think somone student-age would love living in Madison. I had a blast living downtown when I was at least a few years older than student age (though the town is actualy a bit smaller than I like, personally).

Sic- Don't forget his point about "crazy" Dale Lennon daring to be good enough to be the choice for a D-IAA coaching job in the conference that slammed the door in NDSU's face, but turning it down because he'd rather be at UND.

Umm... the entire point of this thread (and others that have preceeded it) is that many Sioux fans think it's ironic that NDSU is commenting on racial issues outside of its control while its own house is in such disarray. After years of having no complaints, NDSU is suddenly wringing their hands over UND's nickname right as NDSU is suffering highly publicized racial sensitivity problems among its fans and on its own campus. NDSU has no control over UND's nickname or logo, but it's sure an easy way to try to look tough without addressing NDSU's own problems. It's stunningly similar to the situation at SCSU -- when racism on your campus get out of hand and embarrassing, speak out against Native American mascots/logos.

If you haven't seen it before, check out the penalty list. 205 mins total -- looks like an all-out brawl at the end, though only one "leaving the bench" penalty. Guess some Mankato emotions were running a little high.

For some of us, the team for which we cheer is unaffected by standings or win/loss records. In fact, in a situation such as UND's (a talented team with a great record but in a current slump), fan support at home can be even more important than when the team is on a winning streak. Regarding the original poster, it's hard to imagine that your loyalty is really split between the teams. I suspect you wish one well because of your relationship with that team, but more deeply yearn for the other to succeed. For example, this UM alum is always happy to cheer for the Gophers (particularly in sports other than hockey), but if it came down to UND vs. UM, there's no question which team I would prefer to see bring home the NCAA championship trophy. My advice would be ignore which team you think needs the support, deserves the support, or stands a better chance of going further, and cheer for the team you actually really desire to win. Go with your heart.

It jumped out at me, also, that all the exhibition series and the holiday tournament are at home. I guess it's payback for this year when the Sioux traveled for an unusually high 18 games (4 NC).

Did someone here rent 8-Mile last night?

This discussion already occurred in the hockey forum. Not really a better place for it, but hopefully we can confine it to one thread.

Actually, it's weck. Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck. However, a couple years ago they changed their name to just "Buffalo Wild Wings", but people still call them BW3 out of habit.

I think he was joking. The thread just down the screen has some local bar tips. A little further away (but nothing is far in G.F.), I'm also personally a fan of the new BW3 on Columbia (though I've always been a BW3 fan so like to see one in G.F.) If Gopher fans feel more comfortable hanging out in Minnesota, there are some good bars just across the river in EGF, Whitey's and Blue Moose, in particular. Some of us have had luck getting tickets from UND/Fighting Sioux Club for UND road games in the past, not sure if there are any similar opportunities from U of M. There's a Hilton Garden Inn right by campus. It's pretty new so I've never stayed there, but I've never seen a bad Hilton (I use them all the time for work). No hotels in G.F. are particularly expensive. Others who visit G.F. more probably have better hotel advice than I.

From the WCHA web site:

Well said. The Sioux still have a great record, are on track for an NCAA tournament appearance, have only 1 home loss, and played very competitive games against some tough teams on the road the last couple weeks. This is the same team that put together a 16-game undefeated streak just a month ago and that clearly has a lot of talent. Hopefully the home crowd can be the 6th man and give the team that extra edge. Blais is working on the psychological impact of the past month on the players; hopefully the home fans will rise up and help rather than fall off the bandwagon.