[Congrats to football crowds at Alerus]

I was at the game wearing my Sioux sweatshirt and my wife in her Bison sweatshirt and that crowd was pathetic first it was sold out but there were a lot of blue seats all around the dome, and second with W. Ill with the ball at their 45 the fans left with 1:45 on the clock and NDSU had 3 TO. WTF!!! Talk about giving up well WIU went three and out and NDSU used up their 3 to and NDSU got the ball at their 15 with about 1:25 or so left. You telling me the game is done time to leave?? Losers. That is not a way to cheer your team on in a dire situation maybe if the score was worse than 27-22 i mean a touchdown you win 85 yards in 85 seconds it can be done the clock stops after every first down but it didn't matter and NDSU threw a pick. But that crowd was bad they got loud when the game started and it died.

[The Writing is on the Wall]

I don't mind some of the things he mentioned like the language as a foreign language and the % of sales for merchandising, but say 5 years down the road they want more and UND says no then boom out goes the name. Does that cancel all terms of the deal between UND and the tribes?? Because the NCAA put in the settlement that the name could be changed at any time. So with that in mind i would ask for either a contract to be renewed every 20-50 years or else get rid of the name now. I don't want to deal with this again.

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

So if UND changes the name is money for Indian programs going to fizzle out, and are pow wows going to disappear? I think they don't know what consequences this name change has, people are going to care less for those things on campus if the nickname is something else IMO. Could you imagine if those things happened and the tribes cried for the nickname to be re-instated what then? Just a thought could the NCAA allow UND to re-instate the Sioux nickname, and would that trial decision still hold up where the nickname would be gone at anytime after the 3 years?

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

If the name gets dropped I don't think, as some on this forum and others have suggested, that UND can simply go nickname-less. It's not feasible for marketing and merchandising. I hope that there is a lot of student and alumni involvement throughout the re-naming process and that whatever is chosen isn't bland. I would hate to see another "Mavericks," "Wildcats," "Eagles," or the like. And, I think having a name that has to be explained in every breath -- the Norkotas, e.g. -- would just about be the worst thing. I would also hate to see something chosen unilaterally -- unilateral decisions (from any institution or individual) mostly reflect an arrogance of self and a contempt for disagreement, no matter the path.

I also agree with a previous poster that there seems to be a fear of having Sioux gear confiscated, kind of like when people say, "They're gonna take our guns away!" Not gonna happen. I would also be sad to see the Ralph lose the Sioux themes throughout. After all, you can take a jackhammer to the past, but that's not going to erase it, especially if that past is on Italian marble. However, if the name changes, I think the outside of the Ralph -- "Home of the Fighting Sioux" -- would have to go. I mean, how lame would that be?

I agree they are not going to take your Sioux gear away. If i go to a Central game in my Redskins jacket are they going to take that away..no, same with Sioux gear, its a part of history and its not like its banned in public. Also we cannot go nicknameless, i did that crap at Central when for a year we were just Grand Forks Central the school without a nickname then it was maroon and grey which at that time sounded better than just plain ol GFC but be thoughtful on the name don't rush on a stupid name and don't pick a common name...no more Mavs or Huskies. Wouldn't the WCHA be wierd on 3 teams named Huskies.

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

Great cermony at the Ralph. I saw the 14 protestors, after the editorials in the Dakota Student and the GF Herald, combined with the email sent to all UDN faculty and students....you would think if it were a worthy cause, there would be hundreds or a thousand people there. Compare this to the 100 plus reservation members at the game, they were not noticable at all. There was a very nice drum ceremony before the game...very educational. GO SIOUX!

Was Ron His Horse Is Thunder among the protesters?? If not did he have anything better to do?

[Sioux-Salukis]

After seeing SIU yesterday, you will not win on the road in Carbondale. They are one of the most athletic FCS teams you will find, they just lost their momentum yesterday, and it's hard to recover from that on the road. I'd very much be surprised by a Sioux win on the road in Carbondale or anyone else in the MVFC. That team is a level above anyone else on your schedule.

Get ready to be surprised: Sioux 35 SIU 31.

[FSSN on Directv?]

Any chance the FSSN can be on Directv? Has they ever explored this option. It would be nice to have them next to the Big 10 Network.

[UND vs. NCAA]

And please tell me why that dumbass AG Wayne Stenjum (sp?) gave up and said the Sioux had 3 years to get tribal approval or change the name when this document proves that the NCAA and the those tribes have no right to mess with the name. WTF???

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

Spirit Lake group heading to UND hockey gameMaybe UND can change the name to the Spirit Lake Sioux.

They will ask Manitoba to change their name...Bisons its a sacred animal yadda yadda yadda.

[Future Schedules]

UND did a better job than USD on the 2008 home schedule. But as far as lining up home-and-homes, USD appears to be doing a little bit better job. But UND's 2009 schedule has not been released yet, so there may be a pleasant surprise or two on there. The only hope I have is that most of the away games on the 2009 schedule are home-and-homes (obviously not with Texas Tech, but hopefully some of the others).

It's not that teams are scared to play UND. It's hard for UND to schedule because it's in such a small conference that it needs to fill a lot of games with non-conference opponents. Keep in mind, UND didn't have a true AD in place prior to June 1, 2008 when Faison started. Given the two interim ADs with no DI experience at the helm when the 2008 schedule and part of the 2009 schedule was being created, and a new head coach with limited DI contacts, I'm actually pleased with the scheduling UND was able to do. But I do expect it to get better with Faison in place.

Why not, wouldn't that be a shocker to have TT come to GF.

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

If there was goodwill on the other side, I'd agree this is a good idea. UND has shown an abundance of goodwill and it's never reciprocated. As it stands, I don't like this move.

Kinda too little too late. And what about the other Sioux tribe that straddles the ND/SD border wouldn't they complain if their flag wasn't flown in the arena too, they are upset that the Sioux don't need approval from them.

[The Writing is on the Wall]

No offense because you are a true supporter of the Fighting Sioux name and logo and the University of North Dakota, but your post is a microcosm of what is wrong with the current relationship between REA and UND. When Ralph Engelstad decided to build this arena, I think he envisoned an arena that would serve the interests of his alma mater and help make the athletic department stronger and more competitive.

And what have we seen during the past seven years? Students treated like third class citizens (behind suiteholders and season ticketholders, in that order), clashes between former head coach Dean Blais and REA management, tighter athletic department budgets and chronic deficits despite the pre-construction promise of REA becoming a "cash cow" for the athletic department and the continued watering-down of the game-time atmosphere to almost Mariucci proportions. I don't think this is what Ralph had in mind when he traveled all around the United States to get ideas for this marvelous facility. And I am tired of our fans glossing these issues over like they don't matter.

You are right, REA is a $110 million gift of which all of us are grateful for. But a gift by definition is supposed to be just that, a gift. It should benefit the recipient, not just the people who manage it. It should serve the interests of the recipient, not just the interests of the people who are managing it. And those are qualities that are lacking in the REA-UND relationship as it stands today.

The REA-UND relationship should be a symbiotic one; REA makes money (and subsequent profits) off of the talents and efforts of UND athletes and coaches via our season ticket purchases and concession sales and UND gets a fabulous recruiting tool for it's Men's and Women's Hockey programs (I am excluding The Betty for the purposes of this discussion) and a big chunk of the proceeds. But this seven year relationship has seemed to be tilted in favor of REA over UND by a considerable margin. In short, instead of REA serving UND, UND has been serving REA. And that is just not right. As a season ticket holder, Fighting Sioux Club member and longtime booster of all things Fighting Sioux, I often feel like my opinions and concerns don't matter to REA management. And a lot of fans (not just students) have expressed similar concerns on this forum and in other media outlets.

My suggestion to file suit against REA was purely hypothetical, we don't know what will happen over the next couple of years. And I would hope that such a harsh action will not be necessary. But like I said earlier, this case would be a good acid test to determine if REA management really is interested in serving the interests of UND athletics and the campus in general or only their own interests, which has generally been the case for the past seven years. In short, philantrophy does not erase the need for responsibility and accountability.

My 2 cents (again).

should we destroy the arena and build a smaller one without logos around the stadium kinda like the Alerus doesn't display any UND logos except the banners, and the words Fighting Sioux in the end zones.

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

I disagree. Putting the flags of the reservations up is a good idea. Afterall the great majority of the tribal members either support or are indifferent to UND using the Sioux name.

They are going to look at this as trying to honor the name now when we honored the name back in the 30's. Its not going to change their mind, if it does i will officially become a Bison fan.

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

Our arena?

Yes our arena the fans of the Fighting Sioux.

[The Writing is on the Wall]

I know this isn't the topic for this post-but its the most active lately, so I'll post here to keep things moving.

I was wondering if anyone saw the Michigan State/Notre Dame football game last Saturday?

If so, you would have seen Sparty the Spartan, a paper-mache caricature of a Spartan warrior, running around on the sidelines, mugging for the camera, playing with kids in the crowd and hexing the opponent on key plays. And doing all of this while "wearing" a sombero and serape; in "honor" of Hispanic Heritage month.

So where do we draw the line? What's an "honor" and what's a "mockery"?? One caricature of a real-life group of people donning some stereotypical garments of another group of real-life people??

Who judges whether that's an insult or an honor?

The fact its Mich St and Notre Dame ($$$$$$) is the factor that the NCAA looks the other way at this, now if its UND/USD then the NCAA would have been all over this.

[The Ralph to Display Tribal Flags]

I think its horrible to display their flags in the arena. The same people want our nickname gone are going to have their flag in our arena?? I say let RHHT take the damn flags and do what he wants with them. I want to see nothing from those 2 tribes until they agree on the nickname and that is not going to happen. This is Grand Forks not Ft. Yates or Ft. Totten so keep the dancers and flags and pow wows to the rez keep it out of UND! If they don't believe us that we honor the nickname as is then keep the Indian dancing to the reservations and not at a UND sporting event! The name is going to be gone in over 2 years and there is nothing UND and these 2 tribes can do to agree to the name, not without a public tribe vote, not a vote of tribal council memebers.

[The Writing is on the Wall]

Nobody asked me, but I would view this matter in the following way: an advisory committee should be formed using the same criteria that drives the way your Board of Trustees is composed: probably with an overweighting on alums, but open to all. Testimony/suggestions are open to all people no matter who/where: and final voting/decisions back to alums, fans, students of a certain age.

And I would definitely make sure that "no nickname at all" is an available option.

To repeat: I'd DEFINITELY make sure that "no nickname at all" is an available option.

Lets just put it up on the November ballot, right ahead of the question who do you want for president, since there would be more interest on this than the presidency.

[The Writing is on the Wall]

Yes, and why not just be the Unversity of North Dakota until we have decided on a name that STUDENTS and ALUMNI, and those connected with the school can agree on...

We can't be just the University of North Dakota because Dakota is an Indian word then UND would be back on the list again.

[I respectfully decline]

My older son graduated a Redskin and my younger son graduated a Knight. I still love them both. Sometimes one more than the other. All depends on the day...

I was the nickname in the middle, Redskins was changed the summer of 1991 when i was to start my sophomore year at Central that fall. I was a freshman at Valley(formerly the Warriors) until that spring when this nickname crap started so i never "officially" became the Redskins and the Knights were the offical name in the fall of 1994 I graduated the spring of 94 so never a Knight I was GFC from 91-92 then from 92-94 a Maroon and Grey. Yea i think our mascot could have been 2 crayons.

[The Writing is on the Wall]

I love you!! I just don't believe that the name change decision should be open to every one. There are waaaay too many people who believe they should have a say in what the new name and logo should be; including the Sioux council leaders who are demanding we change. Not everyone wants what's best for us. IMHO, the most rationale way to do it would be to limit the voters to alumni, current students, and staff.

If need be, I'll give you half of my vote.

I agree with you its stupid to open the voting up to everyone. At GFC the nickname change was just open to the students (with facuilty approval) one criteria they used for suggestions was look at the school (building, students, classes, song, motto, etc.) and choose your name that best fits the school, so after the list was cut down it was between Pride (pack of Lions) and Knights (which is in the school song) so it was Knights overwhemingly. A lot of people including myself still loved Redskins but we learned to tolerate Knights and as you can see 14 years later the name is as strong as ever. So I think students, alumni, and those directly involved with UND (NOT ANY SIOUX TRIBES!!!!) should be involved in the nickname process. And it will take awhile but the name will grow.

[I respectfully decline]

From an immediate standpoint, UND would go back on the NCAA's sh!tlist and be subject to the same sanctions that were under the original policy, which would basically mean UND would never host a playoff game ever again in any sport, and would have to alter their uniforms in all post-season events. However, there is nothing prohibiting the NCAA from strengthening its sanctions in the future and making them more severe. As long as UND is on the NCAA's sh!tlist, UND will be at the mercy of whatever sanctions the NCAA deems fit.

That is why i frown on some that think its okay to defy the NCAA and just stay on their list meaning no playoff home game, because who knows if say UND does great in another sport all of a sudden the NCAA comes out and says oops sorry UND you are not eligible for playoffs including hockey! What would people do, get mad at the NCAA or mad at the U for not changing the name. For myself i say change it enough is enough, yes i love the Fighting Sioux name and will wear the Sioux jerseys if and when its changed it won't change my love for the team, just like i still love Grand Forks Central i still have a Redskins jacket and people ask me where i got it and i said i got it from the school store (i was a sophmore at GFC when the last of the Redskin stuff was being sold) so even though they are the Knights i still cheer for them. So i say you got til Nov 30, 2010 set up a nickname committe now and discuss future nicknames because i don't see the tribal council changing their minds especially with that @sshole Ron His Horse Is Thunder still in charge of his tribe.

[I respectfully decline]

I have a question i don't think was ever asked, could the NCAA propose sanctions on UND if the Sioux tell them to F off after the 3 year deadline? Could the NCAA either tell UND no more scholorships, no playoffs all together since we are in the NCAA its their association i would think they could do what they want. So telling the NCAA where they could stick their deadline could maybe cost the Sioux more than home playoff games.

[The Writing is on the Wall]

That is a bad idea, the people that should decide this is the Alumni, present students... I don't think kids that may never go to UND should have a say in the matter. In fact it will trivialize the Fighting Sioux name. This is a horrible idea. This isn't some goofy contest this is our university replacement for a historic name and logo.

I agree it should be only UND alumni and students only. In 1994 we the students of GFC high school voted on a new nickname to replace Maroon and Grey and only students could vote, no outside help. So the process went like this you submitted what nickname you want then they took the list and chopped it down to the top 3 at that time it was Pride, Knights and something else i cannot remember, well Knights won overwhelmingly I thought Pride was stupid so i voted for Knights. So thats what UND has to do come up with a list then take the top 3 or 5 and vote from that. They better do it soon Sept 30, 2010 is only about 740 days away.

[Media Stories on the Sioux Name]

Yeah check this one out, Yikes...

Is MLB next?? Alot of them don't speak good English. They speak Spanish, Japaneese, etc.

[Scouting: Texas A&M Kingsville]

The only time I saw the Sioux play Texas A&M Kingsville they were known as Texas A&I and it was in 1986. The Sioux lost 67-44 but being 10 years old at the time I had a fun day at Memorial Stadium with my dad, I was pumped up before the game, a great crowd then it was kickoff and the Javs took the kick back for a TD so that sucked but Kurt Otto to Willis Jacox, it was fun lots of O and not much D but I think the Sioux won 3 games that year, what a difference between then and now. I predict Sioux 49 Javs 20.