PCM

It's all your fault!

Just like clockwork.

Here's a transcript of Erik Fabian's comments after Saturday's loss. Question: Coach Hakstol thought the team played better tonight and deserved to win. Did you feel the same way? Fabian: Well, yeah, I did. I thought everybody competed up and down the lineup. There wasn

I don't buy the argument that the NCAA has more important things to worry about than athletic teams using American Indian nicknames, logos, mascots, etc. Every governing body that's ever existed has dealt with smaller issues while pondering and studying larger ones. It's human nature to handle small issues to create the perception that things are getting done while more difficult issues linger. My problem with the NCAA in terms of the American Indian nickname policy isn't that the organization took action to "solve" the problem, but that it chose to ignore its own constitution and bylaws to leapfrog this issue over all others. There was obviously little or no thought put into determining how this policy would be enforced on member institutions that chose not to comply with it. Myles Brand and the executive committee simply assumed that when the 800-pound gorilla spoke, everyone would get in line to grovel before it. And with the exception of UND, Brand and his like-minded buddies were correct. So now the NCAA finds itself in the position of having to enforce a policy that doesn't exist in the rulebooks that govern its championship events because the organization's members have not voted on or passed such rules in accordance with the NCAA constitution and bylaws. I do think it's reasonable to ask the NCAA this question: If hostility and abuse at college athletic events are such despicable behaviors that they must be stamped out by extraordinary means, and if creating an atmosphere of respect for all is so vitally important that NCAA members can't be trusted to find a resolution themselves, why is this behavior allowed to continue in much broader and more pervasive forms? Is it not the height of hypocrisy and discrimination for the NCAA to claim that one race of people deserves special shielding from allegedly hostile and abusive treatment while everyone else must tolerate and endure behavior that is, without question, hostile and abusive? Two recent articles contrast and compare the borader problem of hostility and abuse in college athletics that the NCAA appears to have little interest in tackling. From the San Antonio Express-News: Rubs Me Raw: "The Brawl" proves that the NCAA is weak From the Columbus Dispatch: SPOILSPORTS Alcohol and late games don

We're not that bad tonight. The puck just isn't going in for us and Maine IS that good.

He is at the game. Two Minnesota Viking cheerleaders just made a pass at him!

We can't buy a goal tonight.

Who's that hot movie star hunk in your avatar?

Well, so far, the boys are playing better tonight. They're getting some good chances and there have been some rebounds left lying near the crease. Unfortunately, we haven't had people in position to take advantage of them. Maine is a smart, veteran team. They make so many smart plays on little things that they seldom get in trouble. But I think we can beat them if we just stay on our game and stay away from the chippy stuff.

NDSU field goal is blocked. Minnesota wins 10-9.

42 yard attempt coming up. NDSU takes another timeout.

Minnesota looked to have a game-saving interception, but officials say no. NDSU takes a timeout with 1 second left. Field goal attempt coming up. Bison will win if they hit it.

Bison use their first timeout with 45 seconds left. NDSU ball on Minnesota 25.

NDSU gets the ball down to Minnesota's 30 with just over a minute left.

Minnesota elects to punt. NDSU gets the ball back on the Gopher 15 with 2:14 left. Bison have all their timeouts left. Minnesota has none.

2:21 left. Minnesota 10, NDSU 9. Gophers have a fourth and 1. Will they kick or go for it?

NDSU settles for the field goal. Minnesota leads 10-9 with 5:42 left in the fourth quarter.

The Bison are putting together a nice drive. They're to the Minnesota 35 with 6:48 left.

Minnesota takes a 10-6 lead with about 10:30 left in the fourth quarter.

Yes, listless, in my opinion. That's taking nothing away from Bison because they're playing a great game. But Minnesota should be playing like a team possessed, and they look to be sleepwalking their way through this game.

I just can't get over how listless the Gophers look. They apear to have given up on their coach and the season. Unbelievable.

End of first half, it's NDSU 6, Minnesota 3.

NDSU sacks Gopher QB to end a scoring threat. Minnesota's kicker misses another field goal. Still 6-3 NDSU late in the second quarter.

Bison hit a 40-yard field goal to go up 6-3 in the second quarter.

NDSU scores a TD, but it comes back on a tripping penalty.