Big A HG

Olsen is a Bulldog....big deal. There were a lot of other good players in college hockey when we won our titles that didn't wear Sioux sweaters. I heard from a pretty good source that Olsen actually was ready to public commit to UND (and already told the coaches he would), but something came up and Olsen was upset about something so changed his commitment. From what I understood, our coaches and Olsen had a disagreement. So, he was almost ours, but maybe it's a good reason he's not. (PS, sounds like a Chelios deal and look what happened during that timespan)

There was plenty of that too....my shins are still recovering many moons later.

Granted we didn't have a hard ass rubber puck, but there was a kid in my class who actually played at Mankato for a few years and spent a couple in the USHL as well. A lot of good MN and GF HS kids as well I got my fair share of welts.

When I was in floor hockey back in the day, I was a pretty stellar goalie if I do say so myself....and that was without pads.

A. The problem with no nickname isn't trying to convince people to support UND alone. The problem is that it isn't very marketable. It's limits UND's options BIG TIME when it comes to trying to sell athletic or team merchandise. If you are UND alone, that's all you have, one option. If you have UND and a nickname, that's two options, one being very expandable and much more marketable (that being the new nickname). As much as it will hurt to have a new nickname, it's really the only good option from UND's perspective. All that having no nickname will do is make people hang onto the Sioux nickname longer than we need to....and that will hurt marketing and merchandising even more. B. Sorry to disappoint, but UND isn't a "popular" school. Growing up in Wisconsin, I had no idea that UND existed nor that their nickname is the Sioux, and that's only two states away. It wasn't until I arrived in North Dakota the weekend I was to tour campus that I found out anything significant athletically about UND. That's not going to change by going D1, other than a few new schools outside the region that we may be exposed to that we weren't before. But, even those "fanbases" will be limited exposure.

Whoops, wrong forum, I'm moving this to the hockey forum....mods please delete.

Well, for an unnamed project, I created some older Sioux logos in a detailed manner. In the coming weeks, you'll see what the project was for. However, I was thinking of having some t-shirts made up with these logos. They'd have the logo/image in large on the front, with the possibility of adding name/number on the back. These are some very small versions of the artwork, and they are not trademarked or restricted to UND, so there shouldn't be any problem using them. Indian chief, Sammy Sioux, old Blackhawk-style logo (not Blackhawk tho), S-tomahawks If I did do this, it'd be on a small scale....maybe 20 of a particular style or two at the most. I was just curious to see if anyone else would be potentially interested and what ideas some of you may have.

You're right, you can't dismiss it as an option, and that may be what we do for a year. However, I don't think that decision would last long, if it got implemented at all. It's just not a smart business decision.

Yeah, they couldn't even get that one Sioux motorcycle to start last year, or the year before, forget which.

I think it's funny how people keep comparing UND to the top of the top-tier programs when it comes to this nickname stuff. UND, even with the Sioux nickname, can't compete with the ideas that are being given in correlation to those universities. Michigan is just that, Michigan. What do you think of when someone says Texas? Ok, how bout when someone says Longhorns? Now, Florida? And what if someone mentioned Gators? It's obvious you know exactly what someone is talking about when they mention the nickname. Just like Michigan. If you said Wolverines, you know exactly whom is being mentioned. Michigan has done great with marketing that name. The school is academically one of the best in the countries as well. We aren't Michigan, so why compare us to Michigan? Not only that, but they sell ten times more stuff than we do, so as long as it's blue and gold, they can say whatever they want to say. UND is different. We are a small school with a smaller fanbase, and less marketable income. There are only so many ideas you can put on a t-shirt referring to UND if all you have is the ND logo and no nickname to work with. And blatantly, nothing's intriguiging about a logo so similar to Notre Dame's and as bland as it is.

It could be argued, but would be a dumb argument. Yes, people will be upset about having a new nickname, but it likely won't be because of the nickname itself. Those people will be angry no matter what. If we have a proper nickname that isn't horrendous, people will come to accept the change even if it takes a little time. Having no nickname is a nice thought, but would be a bad move by the university.

Not feeling it, just to be honest. The one thing going for it is our mascot could be Spuds MacKenzie

People would still have found reasons to hate Finley, and then actually have a second defenseman to beat-up after he (whoever it may be) got schooled trying to stop countless 2 on 1's and 3 on 1's.

We'll see how MacWilliam does following his shoulder surgery, which turned out to be worse than originally thought. He should be ready for the season, but shoulder problems plagued Forney's NCAA career.

I don't see having a modified ND logo being something drastically more marketable than what we already had. The ND logo merchandise being sold was an alternative to using our Native American logo. As a standalone marketing campaign, the ND logo sales will be better, but not to the point of what a new logo would bring. People already have many ND only products, and it wouldn't generate the excitement (good or bad) of a new logo. I don't think many of you know or understand marketing if you think that the ND logo alone is going to be great for sales. People will be against the new logo at first, but people will come to accept a new nickname. There will also be people that are pro-Sioux, but aren't against the new nickname and want the latest and greatest in UND nickname apparel. I think it's fair to say most people prefer UND apparel with our Native American logo in comparison to our ND logo, and the same can be said for any new nickname we have (assuming it's not something horrendously bad). If anything, if UND doesn't adopt a new nickname and just markets ND logo apparel, many people will continue to just continue using Sioux products, hurting sales even more.

For monetary reasons, there's no way that I can see us having no nickname. Selling merchandise with the new nickname will be economically substantial for UND, in my opinion. There are already products out there that just plainly say "North Dakota" or "U of North Dakota" or "UND" without the Sioux nickname, and I doubt you'd see a spike in those sales like you you would with merchanside donning the new nickname. As nice as it sounds just to be "North Dakota", I highly doubt it would happen. People might be upset about having a new nickname, but no matter what you do, there will be people that don't like whatever decisions are made. Eventually, these emotions will deteriorate and people will accept the new nickname eventually, and the sooner that new nickname is implemented, the sooner those things can happen.

The current Ralph is big and beautiful as we all know, but Sioux hockey doesn't need it to survive. We've won 7 titles, none in the current building. Let 'em tear it down if it means keeping the name. I like the name more than the building. Yes, we have bragging rights with the arena, and it draws many good recruits. But the banners are what count. They don't give those for having the best home ice.

Did she say it to his face or say it after he left?

Wow, that makes 2 of us!

Of course that's how you think

Dang....and to think I always thought coaches and home ice advantages were useful.

Well, being the mature adult that I am, I don't get hurt by "put-downs" on the internet....especially when I obviously state things just to get people riled up. I heard the guy in this picture likes the Gophers, the Sioux, and Ulf Samuelsson....but those types of people are a dime a dozen, so it really could be anybody.

Either way, retaliation is so childish. Adults don't need to retaliate. I feel I am much more mature than that....

Hindsight is 20/20

Let's not forget the fact the Sioux are bound to run into a "hot" goalie virtually every game....