Hawkster

to GreauxSioux, I'll admit, I'm not real happy about the timing of the D1 move, but I've decided that it will work out. No use bickering about that. The move and getting into good conference are more important. The name is another story, and I don't want it hanging over us forever. True, I'm not afraid to call things as I see them, it doesn't make me less of a fan or an alum. I honestly want to see the University move forward. I just wish the money would flow for academics like it does for sports. Problem is no one ever cheered for anyone talking a phschology test like they do for scoring a touchdown. Maybe we should stop griping about the lawsuit, the NDSU thing, and whatever other problems come up. Lets work toward getting into meaningful conferences and dominating the Great West before we move on.

I'm more interested in getting this behind us rather then fighting about it. Even if we win the lawsuit, there is nothing to keep other AD's from refusing to play UND. And, as I said earlier, we don't have the Native Americans solidly behind us. I feel it is time to focus on the D1 move up. The money going to fight the name change might just come in handy when we have to pony up $250,000 for an initiation fee. I know,it's a "separate" fund drive, but lets face it, money is money. I say finding a meaningful conference (or two) is more important.

It's that very attitude that got us into trouble with the NCAA. It's only offensive if you don't like it, RIGHT? While the "Sioux" name isn't offensive to me personally, it is offensive to many of the Lakota Sioux tribes, and for that reason, I too find it offensive and feel it has to go. I've talked to several of my classmates who feel the same as I do. This issue needs to go away, and the only way to do it change the name. Something nice and neutral. Then we can get back to the business of supporting a team with everything we've got.

Gee, is that anyway to talk about a UND alum? Actually, I'm not all that pleased about Janke. I have said this before, the name should be changed because it's offensive to some, so it should be offensive to all. I just want this thing put to bed and it's not going to happen until it's changed. Why fight the same battles for the next 20 years?

I've been saying that for awhile. Why do UND fans just keep going on about this? If you want to beat someone up about this, go bitch at Roger Thomas. He started it and then left. NDSU isn't going to give in, so why make fools out of ourselves over it. I hate to think about how much complaining there is going to be if we don't get into the first conference we audition for, besides the GWFC.

I wish this topic would just die. Why do UND fans beg for something like this. It makes us look bad and we don't need the game. Who cares? Every time it comes up, we get the Roger Thomas thing thrown at us. I hope the heck there is someone else out there to play. Concentrate on the transition and hopefully find a stable conference.

I really think this is the end of the road for the Great West. SUU will somehow get into the Big Sky, and God only knows where the California schools go, but I've got a bad feeling about this. I feel UND can and will get into a better conference, I just don't like what I see in the Great West anymore, and I never did like the Sky.

The only thing that concerns me is getting an eventual autobid for the Great West. With the XDSU's leaving, even if we get another team or two to join the conference , does this affect the core group requirements for eventual autobid? To me, it's not that important where we play, it getting into the playoffs once the 5 years are up. And no, I'm not getting my hopes up about the Big Sky, I've seen them jerk too many teams around.

I agree. I can't figure out why some UND fans think we just have to play NDSU. I've said this before, it just makes us look like we are begging. Time to move on to other teams.

It's too the point I am so tired of this name thing, I just wish the whole thing would just go away. There is no question the publicity isn't doing us any good. Would it really kill us to go to something nuetral and be done? Dickinson State changed their name as I recall and no one even remembers that any more. I know it's not what a lot of people want to hear, but sometimes the truth hurts. Besides, I want to beat the hell out of Minnesota and Wisconsin in something besides hockey.

Why do we keep begging for this game? OK, so Roger Thomas forgot rule number 1 in sports: Don't give your opponents bulletin board matterial. Yea, he should have kept quiet but that's water over the dam. Now we should just follow through with Roger's statement and find other quality opponents. Begging for this game just gives NDSU a reason to stick our noses in it. I say move on, we don't need any one game that badly.

So what the hell happened with Veldman? What possessed him to go up the river?

I'm well aware that it is used with "private" money. However, how many people are diverting money to the lawsuit that otherwise would have gone to other university funds? People only have so much money to give, and they'll cut back somewhere else. As a poly sci major, I know it's not in the best interest of the college to generate a lot of negative publicity. The name change is hurting us, I say get it over with before there are only a handful of colleges left that will play us.

Many of my posts made no mention of NDSU. I'm a UND alum, slightly disgruntled about the way things have been going. What irks me most is the money wasted on this stupid lawsuit when it could be put towards better purposes. Maybe being a poly sci major makes me look at things a little differently.

Winning the public relations war where? Every time some team refuses to play UND, that just makes things worse. The fact that there is so much controversy over the name is proof that the name needs to go. Even if UND wins the first round of the lawsuit, the NCAA will appeal. More headlines and more publicity. Change the name and get it over with.

I too, feel that it is time to drop the Sioux name. The list of who won't play us will only get longer. How long before NDSU uses the name as an excuse to go along with the snub the Sioux gave NDSU during their transition. I can well imagine trying to get into any conference with this hanging over UND's head as well. I say change it and get it over with. Even with the lawsuit, UND could well win the suit and still lose the war.

Something better happen pretty soon on verbals. I see NDSU is picking up prime players every day. Is someone in the front office not letting any info escape, or is UND being snubbed by the high school seniors because of the D1 move and no play offs?

I think you have to remember the fate of past successful Bison coaches who left. There was Jim Wacker who eventually when to Minnesota and was fired for miserable teams. There was Don Morton who eventually went to Wisconson, only to get fired for miserable teams. There was Earl Solomonson who went to Montana and was never heard from again. Why leave a succesful program?

When I thought the NCC should move up, I was thinking about the 4 Dakota schools, Northern Colorado, and UNO. I think UNO made a mistake going to BSC, look what's happening to them. It's not all the fault of the BSC, but it sure didn't help them either. A college the size of UNO in a city the size of Omaha certainly can support a D1 team. but then, it's all water over the dam.

I would say the SU's will go to the Gateway if asked, and I'd say it's highly probable they will be asked to join. As to the Great West, I guess UND/USD will again make it a 5 team conference and that's where it will stay in the short run. UND doesn't have to worry about an auto bid for the playoffs, since they will be ineligable anyway for 5 years. By then, the bigger question will be, who is left in the Great West? The California schools could find something out on the coast, and that could be the end of the Great West. I can't imagine the SU's wanting to stay in the Great West even if they do expand. the Gateway is just too tempting. It's where they do their recruiting, and it's closer then going to California, plus they have the auto bid. The biggest mistake made was by UND/USD in not pushing to move the entire NCC up to D1 when the SU's wanted to do it. Had they done it then, all schools would be eligible for an auto bid in a year and a half. I have a feeling UND will pay dearly for that decision.

I doubt UND would drop football, if for no other reason, that's the only sport that will be in a conference (Great West). As to becoming a basketball power again, not the way the guys are playing this year. They are pathetic. Add to that the fact that conferences are going to be hard to find. Forget Big Sky, it isn't going to happen. I doubt anyone is going to drop out of the Mid Con any time soon, and there is nothing else out there. I imagine they will keep plugging along, pumping money in, and hoping for the best. But I see tough times ahead.

I think it's time to give it up and change the name. There are going to be more and more people opposed to the Sioux name, and it's time to move on. It certainly isn't going to help get a D1 conference with this hanging over UND.

Anyone who has seen the mens basketball team knows what I am talking about. One has to wonder about the level of committment UND has to going D1.

I have serious doubts about UND's ability to perform at the D1 level for the foreseeable future. Football team was good, but not overwhelming, and recruiting is going to be tough for the next few years. The men's basketball team is pathetic. I see disaster ahead.