PCM

The first time the NCAA mod came out about a year ago, it only had Hockey East and CCHA teams. I'm not sure who is responsible for adding the other teams. Until recently, I thought the project was dead. I created a custom Sioux team using Dallas Stars jerseys and used it to play the other the other college teams. However, it's not as much fun as playing the WCHA teams, too. Also with the first mod, it was very difficult to install correctly. I never could get all the arena graphics to work right. Although it may not seem like it, this version is much easier to install.

As a former cohort of mine used to say, if you think any publicity is good publicity, try getting your name in the paper for DUI.

Sometime in late September, PCM attends Sioux hockey media day, receives the 2005-2006 UND men's hockey media guide and begins salivating.

http://216.92.7.174/hockey/add-on/

That's the myth.

Always here to help.

Now that right there is scary. I don't care who you are, that's scary.

That's only part of a dead animal.

I think the reality is that most North Dakotans agree that their legislators should be working on issues other than Roger Maris' homerun record. Just because ESPN chooses to highlight the efforts of a couple of misguided politicians doesn't mean that everyone in the state agrees with them.

Sure. I know lots of people who bring dead animals to hockey arenas because they plan to wear them for warmth in cold weather.

I haven't tried this, but I'm guessing that you can do it. The fastest way would probably be to use the NHL View editor to change the existing players' names, information and ratings rather than creating completely new players. Be aware, however, that all other teams (except Minnesota) are based on the 03-04 rosters. You can get the latest version of NHL View here.

It will only work with NHL 2004.

That's two quick questions. I haven't made a list of all the teams, but offhand, all the WCHA teams are there and it looks like all Hockey East and CCHA teams are included. I haven't tried any other mode except a season. However, it appears that you can do everything with this mod that you could do in NHL 2004.

As some of you know, a running joke on college hockey forums is poking fun at newbies who post messages asking why nobody makes an NCAA hockey video game. But as this new SiouxSports.com photo gallery and the image I posted below show, such a game does exist. Actually, it's a modification for the EA Sports NHL 2004 game for personal computers (it won't work on the PS2 or other game consoles). The good news is that NHL 2004 is usually available at bargain-basement prices from such stores as Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Buy the game, install it on your computer and download the NCAA 2004 files here. Be sure to download and read the notes text file which explains how to properly install the game mod. Once you have the game mod files properly installed, the game is really a lot of fun to play. And even though the 03-04 Sioux didn't go all the way, they're darn good compared to the competition. Besides, who can resist bringing back the Money Line for another shot at the Denver Pioneers and a national championship? I call this one Dances with Adam. IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS The main file for this game mod is about 230MB. If you don't have high-speed Internet access, it will probably take you several hours to download it over a dial-up connection. Make sure that you dowload all three files and read the notes to understand how to install the files properly. Installation of the mod files requires that you have a program such as WinZip to unpack the compressed files. You should also have some familiarity with the Windows file system. Otherwise, you might run into problems getting the correct files into the proper folders. It's not terribly difficult, but it helps to know what you're doing. If you're having problems getting the game set up to run properly, feel free to post a message here, PM me or e-mail me. You can also e-mail Mike McClure at mike@analogrecordings.com. He is the person making this game mod available, although he is not the sole designer. It was actually put together by a team of people over a couple of years. Nearly all of the team rosters are from the 2003-2004 season. The rosters and player ratings aren't as accurate as they should be, although the Sioux team isn't too far off. I've used an editing program called NHL View to make the Sioux more realistic. Also, be aware that the Gophers are NOT the 2003-2004 team, but are intended to represent the 2005-2006 Minnesota team with Phil Kessel and other Gopher "super recruits." In time, I plan to edit the Gophers to have their roster reflect the 2003-2004 Minnesota team. By computer gaming standards, NHL 2004 (first released in 2003) is an old game. However, if you have an old computer or an "el cheapo" video card, it might not play well on your computer. Or it might not play at all. Here are the recommended system requirements: Operating system - Windows XP, 98, ME or 2000 CPU - 700MHZ or faster RAM - 256MB or Windows XP or 2000 Disk drive - 8x or faster CD or DVD drive Hard drive - 820MB of free disk space (probably even more for the mod) Sound - DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card Input - A game pad controller works best Video - DirectX 8.1 compatible video card with at least 32MB of video RAM with an Nvida GeForce 256 or ATI Radeon 7200 or better chipset. (The game will work with other video cards, but those made by Nvidia and ATI are by far the most common.)

Which type of "hummer?"

For the record, I have nothing against Fargo or NDSU, although I may disagree with their approaches to certain issues from time to time. I like visiting Fargo because there are more places to shop and more things to do there. I won't deny that. And although I'd like my son to attend UND, he's seriously considering NDSU because it's clearly better in his area of interest. For that reason, I'd have no problem with him choosing NDSU, just as my parents who attended USD had no problem with me choosing SDSU. I want what's best for him, just as my parents wanted what was best for me. Because Fargo will always have geographic advantages over Grand Forks, it's not realistic to think that Grand Forks will ever outgrow Fargo. I would much prefer that Grand Forks find its own niche and carve out its own identity than pursue the unattainable goal of being like Fargo. That's why I think it's ridiculous for Fargo/NDSU supporters to slam Grand Forks/UND for not emulating Fargo and NDSU. Both cites and both universities should pursue courses that get them where they want to be. Grand Forks doesn't have to be like Fargo to be a good place to live and raise children. UND doesn't have to be like NDSU to be a fine and successful school.

So when you said this... ...followed by this... ...I was supposed to consider it a compliment? The fact of the matter is, you don't know what you're talking about. Some of us have tried to educate you on what's been happening in Grand Forks since the flood, but you don't want to hear it. Furthermore, you're attitude is hypocritical. In Fargo, urban sprawl is a sign of economic growth. In Grand Forks, it's ugly. When Fargo revitalizes it's downtown, it's progress. When Grand Forks does it, you tell us that the former vacant, crumbling eyesores downtown were better. You act as if the bad things that have happened to Grand Forks were by choice and the good things that have happened to Fargo are part of some grand, visionary design. You repeat that same baseless garbage over and over again, then claim that you mean it as a compliment. Nice spin. I'm not buying it.

If you would have lived here during the flood's aftermath, seen the total devastation and heard all the dire predictions being made about the future of Grand Forks, you'd know why residents of this community are proud that their city has not only survived, but also grown, propered and improved. And it has done this despite the BRAC monkey wrenches thrown at it. You are completely misrepresenting my point by taking one word from my post and using it totally out of context.

Yeah, I know some people around here who thought old, crumbling, dark, half-vacant downtown was just fine the way it was, sort of the way some people prefer to drive cars that are noisy old smoking rust buckets because they have so much character.

When Ralph announced his gift to UND, he said one of the reasons he was doing it was to assist Grand Forks with flood recovery, and there's no denying that it helped. But hundreds of millions of dollars -- some of it public and some of it private -- have been invested in other areas that have made a huge difference. The city would have bounced back without Englestad's generousity, but because of him, Grand Forks came back faster and better.

Grand Forks lost "a pretty decent downtown"? You're kidding me, right? Downtown Grand Forks was an embarrassment before the flood. I deliberately avoided taking visitors there because I was ashamed of it. Downtown Grand Forks still has a long way to go, but at least it's a far more attractive and active place than it was before the flood.