MafiaMan

You know what was really funny about the All-Minnesota kid plan that Woog enforced. Everyone loved it and Goldy fans would chant "USA" to other teams or you'd hear fans yelling "go back to Canada" or other stupid statements. Now that that practice has been lifted, I can't find a single Gopher fan who says he or she was in favor of that policy, even though it was preached as gospel for years.

I always did get a kick out of the term "flamed." Time to put in my Simpson's DVD Season #3 and watch the episode of the drink created by the local tavern owner...THE FLAMING 'MO!

Reformed...didn't I give you one at Joe Senser's on Saturday? I'm in section 102 row 11. Apparently I have some Pizza Factory jerseys for BigChief too for the SS/Artists formerly known as POI hockey game on Sunday. Glad to see Nike finally got the black jerseys done. I've got to be honest...they look GREAT!

And yet you took the time to find it and comment on it, Bigchief?

UMDDOGZ, Oy.

Mory00, that's probably the best point made on the issue yet. Since it's UND/Wisconsin in the play-in game, the winner gets Denver Saturday at 2:35 pm. However, if it was Minnesota/Wisconsin and Minnesota won, the Gophers would wind up playing at 7:35 pm Saturday. This "rule" has got to go.

Considering all the thug punks are already in the NBA when they turn 18 (Darius Miles, Sebastian Telfair, etc...), wouldn't you think the grades would be better in college?

Wow...I didn't hear that Ms Gangelhoff had passed away. What a bum rap she got in that deal. Typical though. She blows the whisle and is the one who takes the blame...Clem and co. get buyouts to leave.

sagard, I can't recall the breakdown of jerseys between last year's play-in game teams, but I do know lots of fans went there to see Alaska-Anchorage for the first time in the Final Five. Whatever team you were a fan of, it was nice to see the Seawolves get a standing ovation when they took the ice. You could just see how pumped the players were to be there. I'm sorry they aren't making a repeat appearance as I read that that was their goal this season...to get back to the Final Five.

UNDGUY, Judging by the comments on ESPN.com today, I wonder if many Gopher hockey fans will be staying at home trying to figure out how to up Minnesota's ZERO PERCENT men's basketball graduation rate. Nice work, U of M!

The more I think about it, the more absurd I think the idea of just as many Gopher fans in attendance tomorrow at the X as Sioux and Badger fans. That thought is just silly. Like I said, I think it was 2001 when Minnesota lost to St Cloud in the semi-final game. Those 16,000 Gopher fans turned into about 8-10,000 the following afternoon.

I'd take you up on that bet, sagard. I'm not saying Gopher fans aren't die-hards, because some of them are and will go to all five games. But I think you can look back pretty recently at some Friday semi-final games at 7:00 pm that Minnesota lost where the attendance on Saturday afternoon was 8-10,000.

Personally, I like hockey, so my friends and I buy the package about one day after they go on sale. Most fans, I believe purchase individual game packages. If you have any doubt about that, see how many Gopher fans show up tomorrow night or Saturday afternoon if they are in the 3rd place game.

I know it's not without its pitfalls, but I think attendance would increase overall. What incentive is there for a Gopher fan to buy a ticket to a 2:35 pm game Friday afternoon not involving their team? None, unless they're a die-hard hockey fan. However, if it's a package deal and the price includes tickets for both games w/a short break in between, don't you think fans would go to two games?

3:05 pm start-time and 7:05 pm start time. That should give you enough time to hit a bar between games, right?

Plus, don't you think if they closed up the gap between game-times on Friday and Saturday, that if the Gophers played in the afternoon, most of those fans would stick around for the night game, thereby INCREASING attendance overall?

And despite all THAT being said about the love of North Dakota sports, I will add this piece of irony. Having lived in the heart of Gopher country since 1992, I would cheer for the 1980 Soviet Olympic team to beat Minnesota if they played today.

All I know is that if I'm not picked as the row when the Keebler Elf "tosses his cookies," there's gonna be hell to pay!

In a completely unrelated note, it IS possible to be a Bison football and Sioux hockey fan. My dad graduated from NDSU and his idea of sports is hunting deer. However, he would quit feeding cows or whatever early one Saturday a year: The UND/NDSU football game. I was watching that game when I was 5 years old. Hate 'em if you want, I'm proud of the success of North Dakota's two NCAA football teams at the D2 level. Heck, I'm proud of the success of the two women's basketball programs. It's a shame they're on sabattical from playing each other. Until UND turns D1-AA...but that's another thread for another day.

Since 98-99% of all the games during the season are played at 7:05 or 7:35 pm local time on Friday and Saturday nights, I'm guessing Gwod might think playing at 2:35 pm in front of a half-full arena isn't to his liking. But I guess we'd have to ask him, wouldn't we? I honestly have no idea. But do you think he'd honestly turn down a prime-time appearance in the TV market of the league's biggest target? Even Lucia thinks the rule should be scrapped.

The lower seed is always the "away" team. UND will be wearing their dark jerseys all weekend no matter how many games they play. Since Nike can't get their head out of their a** and get the black jerseys done, I believe you will see the Sioux in green, which is fine by me.

Phillysioux, Kinda like sending the WCHA playoff champ and #1 team in the country on the road to face Michigan at Yost in the NCAA tournament is a "reward"? That's what happened to 2002 Denver. Or the 1998 Sioux being ranked #1 and being sent to the same graveyard for road teams? No matter what happens to Minnesota, they're playing at Mariucci next weekend. DU's "reward" for being the #1 seed should be playing in prime-time at the Xcel Energy Center.

HUH?

I sure am getting some chuckles out of those in favor of a Big 10 hockey conference. Poor "assumption" that the tournament would be in Chicago. I'm guessing DLW4GOPHERS and others would have a hard time convincing the powers that be in Michigan and Michigan State and the # of fans they draw in Detroit that the tournament should be moved a few hours west of there. Good luck with all that...

I agree with you 100% WPoS about Memorial Stadium. People who haven't seen an outdoor college football game need to head to LSU, Ann Arbor (it doesn't get any better than The Big House), Alabama/Auburn, The Swamp, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma, or Ohio State and get a good look at what a great game outdoor college football on campus is. The cool thing about Michigan Stadium is that while 50 yard line seats are obviously more expensive than end zone seats, the fans' butts there will hurt just as much as mine by the end of the game. No luxury boxes is what it's all about! Back on topic...section 102, row 11 seat 8. #19 green jersey. See ya at the X. And don't forget to buy a waffle cone! Cue Homer Simpson: "MMMM...XCEL WAFFLE CONES....AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH."