CMSioux

I guess I watch for enjoyment more than analysis - so I don't feel I have the insights on much. It was so disjointed since it wasn't a real game situation. Just noticed some players making plays - Both Edmunds and Butler in that mix , saw some nice wrap up tackles - but obviously not up against Big Sky competition. Nice to think that our QBs have a full year behind them and both are talented so that could drive improvement and perhaps we can steel a few games with special teams and home field - it really comes down to rebuilding both lines and I think both staff and players realize that.

Beasley - not a player for over a decade, Petition Fakers = current players. FU Pride. They look even dumber now because all they had to do was sell FU memorabilia on Ebay to make money... oops.

THoughts on Spring Game Day: Maybe intentionally so as not to set expectations too high but IMO massive miss on making this an event for fans - there were 3 group tailgating, the entire parking lot was empty when I pulled in around 11;30, in past years with the food competitions there was at least some activity - this was very sad. Weather was decent. One group tailgating was graduating seniors from the football team out to support the team. Bubba pulled up and came over - as has been his mantra he said "We're going to buld this back up". Spent about 5 minutes with us which was nice as he obviously had a busy day ahead. Parents of an incoming freshman linebacker walked over and chatted with us - excited for their son and next season. They are expanding tailgating areas and I heard they have a waiting list they hope to be able to empty. UND tent is moving out away from building and those spaces are opening up. Lot to the east of the main tailgating area is also being opened for tailgating. Of course this comes with more "rules" but none seem over the top. Even though tailgating was very small the attendance for the game was comparably to previous years. Spring games are tough to generate any crowd energy and even tougher to gauge team progress because of player rotations. Like last year we still have issues getting the ball from center to quarterback in shotgun - at least three bad snaps. Nice to see that the new names catching the ball many seemed to have good hands - as has been shared - it will take time to build back the running game especially in the Big Sky. I think one of the the keys to improving next year will be if any of the JUCOs are able to make an impact.

Kind of knee jerk to this past year's upsets but the building and local hotels can hold plenty more and the more the merrier so why not make a change that gets more fans into town - make the Big 10 Tourny look like small potatoes.

Don't feed the trolls.

Yah Tribe has come up I believe there are at least two other schools that have it - not a deal breaker in my opinion - once again I would just say that the liberal lefties that are going to make dang sure their opinions are heard when this decision is made will say it is too "Native American" in context no matter what spin you put on it. (they would also say it would just perpetuate the Fighting Sioux logo). If UND decides to add a nickname it's going to be an ugly process and there will be no winners - We are North Dakota - let's keep it at that.

Yup that's how we beat Northern Iowa on their home turf - line domination - it's where we need to get back to - big ole boys from the midwest.

Warriors would be great because it also loosly connects with the Norwegian Viking - however those who will be making the decision and those who will be influencing those who are making the decision will never allow Warrior because they will say it is too close to reference to the Fighting Sioux as Warriors - sucks but that the way it will roll.

Could that "Private Money" just be profit from The Ralph being used - isn't that still a private entity or I a wrong? With all the alumni in the NHL I guess it would only take a couple of those guys tossing some money together to make it happen - lots of Sioux pride and tradition there. (Wonder if the adminstration makes them take off their Sioux jersey before they accept the checks).

Then it's all about communicating the changes with the fans - right now they've shared a tweet or two that just says "not enough OL and DBs to hold an actual scrimmage". It could still be developed and promoted as a fan gathering - heck the spring game isn't about the game - that's usually very low-key with no actual game atmostphere. The spring game is about possibilities, it's about coming together as UND football fans for the first time in 5 months.

I think that's a given. Hopefully we can beat Georgia Tech's attendance. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2036801-attendance-at-georgia-techs-spring-game-was-really-bad

I don't think it has to be about hype it's more about getting the community and fans excited. You don't have to win the conference championship to have a good following in a community. It's about connecting the team and staff with its fans. Giving the fans a reason to come out in the spring and get to know the team - which in the fall could translate into either more season tickets or at the minimum some more walk-ups on game day. Most who follow the team understand where they are at in development - it's about getting some of those that are on the fence to come take another look. This feels like the athletic department has given up on trying to build on anything in the spring.

http://nauathletics..../201404225se4x8 https://www.facebook.com/events/471880206271918/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Just sayin...

Wow - really Pontiac was an indian chief - who knew - (except just about everyone) Guess that FU education is really coming in handy as a professional website troller. Can you check and see if there are any other car models named after native americans and report back - I'll give you head start - start with Jeep.

Sure doesn't seem like the athletic department is doing much to build up any excitment for the spring game this Saturday. I realize they already announced they can't actually hold a game/scrimmage because of lack of OL and DBs but they should at least be trying to build on previous years when they had BBQ competitions, local restaurants tailgating, live music etc.

We just had a very high level new hire - all i's dotted and t's crossed - guess what - the teenagers in the family changed their mind and didn't want to move to another state - we're starting over. It happens more often than you think when a family is impacted.

I think his decision, while not one I would have made, speaks loudly of his priorities. His family was settled in Mankato, why would he uproot them for something he did not do. He shared at the press conference that the community was supporting him throughout this travisity. When he applied for the job in Minot the information he knew was that he was done at Mankato through no fault what so ever of his. When he told Minot he was committed to them it was based on the information he had at the time and the current situation - well the situation changed. Minot officials had to have known that this was a tenuous situation if they didn't then that is their own fault. I think it speaks loudly of this guy's values and his personal strength that he is willing to go back to that situation for the good of his family when it would have been so easy to walk away. To judge him based on conjecture and headlines is very shallow - he is taking back what should never have been taken from him and doing what is right for his family - he has every right to do this - if he walks away the idiots who put him in this situation get to breath a sigh of relief and continue their reign of incompetence - now they have to face the music and hopefully some of them will be fired.

Unfortunately the banner will go down in history as racially charged and it will continue to be brought up in every discussion related to examples of racism at UND even through there was nothing racist about it - people see what they want/need to see. Related to Twyla's story about her husband reaching out to the Sigma Chi - wouldn't it have been nice if someone from the Native American Cultural Center would have simply approached the Sorority and shared what their perception of the banner was rather than taking a picture and making it a social media sensation - not the way they roll over there I guess. Why try and make friends when your goal is to make headlines.

Can we at least wait to see if anything happens - his wife and kids live there, his wife has a great job there - they did nothing to deserve any of this. No need to paint him as the bad guy in this - if Minot State officials weren't aware that his job status with Mankato was pending that is their mistake - as far as what he said in the interview about being committed to Minot well he probably was based on what he knew then - but then things changed. I think the comments in the media show that EVERYONE was surprised with the judge's decision that Mankato had to give him his job back, the thought process might have been they were going to have to cut a big check but until you are put in the situation of being offered a job back that you loved in a community your family loves and where you have lots of friends I dont think we can judge. Plus he was only gone two years so all the juniors and seniors on the team were recruited by him and by now realize that he did nothing wrong. He had just a good a record as the interim coach and even the interim coach knew that his title was interim and nothing had been finalized yet.

At least he's closer to his family.

Good discussion - I agree more with what his attorney said in the press conference "If anyone has the right to be selfish in this situation it is Todd he did nothing wrong and his life was turned upside down," The players should be blaming the school adminsitration and if they are truly upset then why would you want to stay at a school with an administration that they don't respect - transfer now. According to the press conference Todd's wife and children were still living in Mankato well established in the community and their schools they did nothing wrong. They players obviously don't understand the whole sitatuion - the reality is he has a right to his job and has chosen to stay so their choice is to accept it or leave. Coaches come and go anyway - those sophomores and freshmen were never guaranteed that the interim coach would have been there all four years anyway. It was the Mankata State University's administration and coaching staff's responsibilty to make sure the players understood that this could have happened - if some of them aren't sent packing that is the real injustice here.

After all this guy has been through these players are out of line - obviously there is loyalty to the coach they've had for the last two years but guess what life wasn't fair to Todd either. If they don't want to play for him then those scholarships will be put to good use in the future - it was going to be turmoil regardless - just seems so unfair after what he and his wife have gone through.

Or shirts that say "Sioux fans riot in the stands, Gopher fans riot in the streets".

Welcome - yup you are knew - you'll get pummeled into submission soon enough. As I was driving to work I was thinking to myself I wonder if fans of other perennial winning teams have "fans" that think - this is getting old, this coach can't take us to the top - Red Socks, Yankees, Blue Devils, or do they appreciate that they get to cheer for a perennial contender and winner - which was exactly what Ralph wanted when he built The Ralph - I believe his words were something like, "I want to build a facility that will make UND one of the top hockey scools in the nation, one that is annually in the hunt for the national championship."

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/254849281.html When I hear gopher fans or a certain coach try and say "it's just another game" or "it means more to them than us" I have to laugh.