PCM

Like the NCAA, you arrogantly and condescendingly believe that your opinon is fact and there is no other way but yours. You are wrong about that, and so is the NCAA. The August 2005 policy arbitrarily and capriciously imposed by the NCAA's executive committee is proof positive that the polictically correct tryanny has already taken place. How you can be so blind as to argue otherwise is beyond me. I'm well aware of all the organizations and tribal resolutions against UND's nickname. Off the top of my head, I can think of one social issue that dwarfs the Indian nickname issue: abortion. There are many, many social issues about which the general public and, I dare say, the Native American population cares more about than the nickname issue. Tell me this, Gothmog. If the Fighting Sioux nickname issue is as hugely important to the American Indian community as you seem to believe, why is it that no protest over the name has ever drawn more than 100 people? Why don't the 400 Native American students enrolled at UND march as a monothitic block to demand that UND change the name? Why are so many of the protestors non-Indians? When did I ever say it was a conspiracy? Please stick to the topic. And as recent events at Dartmouth have shown, they will fail. Meaningless symbolic gestures don't end racism. Where's your proof to back up that absurd statement? UND has no illusions about curbing the NCAA's power. It simply wants the autonomy to make decisions as guaranteed by the association's own bylaws and constitution. That's what the lawsuit is about. Read it. You might learn something rather than hatching ridiculous fantasies. The resolutions passed by the various Sioux tribes calling on UND to change it's name haven't been around for 30 years. Just as tribal leaders were convinced to pass those resolutions, they can be convinced to withdraw or change them. That brings me back to one of my original points. How is it that during the past 30 years, those who want to end the practice of using American Indian nicknames for sports teams have been unable to convince a large majority of the allged victims that the practice should end? I'd like to know, Gothmog, what will your position be if the Sioux tribes pass resolutions demanding that NDSU stop using the Bison, a sacred animal to their religion, as its nickname and the NCAA uses its executive committee power to force that change? Will you be the first Bison fan to lead the charge and demand that NDSU cave into the pressure?

You are wrong. The lawsuit is not a waste of time because the NCAA has breached its contract with UND. If it can do that to UND, it can do it to any other member of the association. Is that really a precedent you want established? Do you really think it's a good idea to allow a small committee of the NCAA to rule by fiat in direct contradiction to the organization's constitution and bylaws? Perhaps you don't think that's important, but there are many people within the legal community who disagree. I prefer to rely on their judgment rather than your opinion. While you are correct that the current problem with the tribes will remain even if UND wins its lawsuit, by acting as a surrogate for the tribes, UND has no choice but to deal with the mess the NCAA has created for itself. That was the NCAA's choice, not UND's. You are also incorrect that the only way UND can resolve the problem is to change its name. I have no doubt that there's a committed and very vocal minority of a minority that will never change its position on the issue. They might eventually prevail or UND might convince the majority that it's to their advantage to work with the university rather than against it. Other options remain open.

The Sioux are averaging 2.91 goals per game. They are giving up an average of 2.82 goals per game. As Brad Schlossman noted in his blog, this is the lowest scoring UND hockey team ever. After this weekend, the average goals per game dropped even more. By comparison, during UND's most recent losing season in 01-02 under Blais, the Sioux averaged 3.62 goals per game. Lamoureux's save percentage is now .902 and his goals against average is 2.48. Schlossman quoted Hakstol following the win over CC:

UND doesn't have a mastcot.

From The Dartmouth: The Absurdity of Mascot Boycotts Racial tensions mar Fall term, activists respond

And I continue to be amazed that nobody seems to hold the forwards to the same standard when it comes to scoring goals. It's unfair to place the entire burden for the team's struggles on Lamoureux or on individual defensemen. Score some freakin' goals so that Lamoureux and the defensive corps don't have to play perfectly for the team to win. That's really not an unreasonable expectation.

Yes. I had visions of this team going 1-3 during this stretch. Going 3-1 on the road against good competition is quite an accomplishment, especially considering who's missing from the lineup.

Let's keep the political talk out of this thread, okay?

Hakstol's comments: Hell of an effort. Good way to sum it up. We played well last night, but played a little bit better tonight. It was our best game of the year. I like how we competed defensively after CC scored. Gave up very few shots. Bottom line we got enough. Zaba was better tonight. He had to be. He made some big saves tonight. Guys made good plays, but Zaba made some great saves. Two was enough. We'll take it and move on. Things change a little bit in this rink, but we don't want to change our whole game because of it. Last weekend we were strong from the middle of the rink out. We got good puck pressure and wore them down from the middle of the second period on. Transition was good. Every part of our game was very good in all facets. The one area we need to be a little better in is the power play, but we did get one and it was the game winner. It got the job done tonight. With a depleted team and winning three out of last four on the road was a very good performance. The attitude can't change. We have a lot to prove at home. We haven't got the job done at home. We took a warrior's us against the world on the road. But the position we're in now, we have to win at home. We're in a good position getting the split on the road, even though we wanted more.

I don't care what anyone says, this entire weekend was a gutsy performance by the Sioux. UND could have just as easily have come out with a sweep or three of four points. Only Zaba kept it from being otherwise. The season's not over yet. The Sioux have won three of their last four. There's hope.

Sioux win 2-1!!!

37 seconds left. Faceoff in the UND zone. Sioux lead 2-1.

CC goalie is out for the final minute.

1:13 left. UND leads 2-1.

C'mon Sioux! Hang in there! 3:07 left and the Sioux still lead 2-1.

CC getting some good opportunities now. Hope the altitude isn't starting to slow down our guys.

6:15 left with a 2-1 UND lead.

7:30 left to go in the third period with the Sioux leading CC 2-1.

I'd really like to see the all-frosh line put one in.

Radke's having trouble getting heat on his pitches tonight.

Sioux are really taking it to the Tigers, but we really, really need to take advantage of one of these opportunities.

Not before you give us some stock tips.

Believe me, I'm feeling extremely guilty about that joke.

I don't care if Finley gets mad as long as he scores goals. And we come out of the second period outscoring our opponent, which is a very welcome change.

Yes! Mr. Offense, Joe Finley!