ksixpack

I don't see anything wrong with lady squatches...sure better than lady beavers!

University of North Dakota Fighting Sasquatch…yes Sasquatch! It is unique and the marketing possibilities are endless. The Bigfoot imprint would be our logo. We could finally have a mascot…something similar to the Big Foot on the Jack Links beef jerky ads (nobody messes with Sasquatch!) Because this is a mythical creature (I think?) we should be able to avoid the PC crowd and have a little fun with our mascot and marketing our team. Envision it all…loud music blaring…team in the tunnel… close up of the glowing eyes of the Sasquatch on the fascia ring… cue the famous Patterson video of Sasquatch on the big screen...extreme close up of the sasquatch on the big screen as he turns his head toward the camera …the sudden primal scream of the sasquatch fills the arena…Brian Lee Rivers/Darrin Looker asks the crowd “Are you ready for your Yeti?...crowd worked up into a frenzy and banging their tree knockers (thunder sticks) together… No, we don’t have any history of Sasquatch in our area but they are mythical (I think?) and frankly all the other names like Cavalry, Rough Riders, Sodbusters, Norkota, Spirit, Pilots, Oilers, etc. are either boring or lame. The kids want something hip, now, with it, and wow and Sasquatch fits that bill. The marketing aspect of this is through the roof. Wisconsin fans do the Jump Around thing we can do the Squatch walk…yes, hunched over with arms swinging a few steps to the right and then back to the left…Lower bowl one direction and upper bowl the opposite. Tree knockers instead of thunder sticks. T-shirts featuring our beloved mascot with his huge foot over our opponent…”Squatch the Gophers” or Bison or any of our rivals as the caption. Former Sioux kids club now the Little Feet. Similar to how the T-Wolves use the howl of the wolf we could use the primal scream of the Sasquatch during games. Perhaps we can get James “Bobo” Fay of the TV show Finding Big Foot to do the primal scream for us. “Gone Squatching” would be code for following the University Of North Dakota. Are you ready for the Yeti?

Wouldn't it be absolutely fitting and completely ironic if there was a petition started to oust Gene Taylor. A petition with actual names and signatures. On a side note, they might want to check that AD office down in Fargo for lead paint...the athletic directors down there get a little goofy after a few years on the job.

Oops...I stand corrected...they actually ventured out on the road for a non conference series at future Big Ten member Michigan State which they lost and tied.

Interesting that out of 43 games this year the Goophs have only played 16 out of the twin cities. In addition, for the umpteenth season they did not play a single non conference game on the road. Good luck against BC ...this team is not prepared for what's coming....

If you believe this to be a big advantage then it would also be a big advantage for UND in recruiting against MN because UND plays on an NHL rink, correct? Still going to go with that thought?....

This is a fact...UND was on the road for 7 of the last 11 days and MN 0 of those 11 days...UND played 5 games in those 11 days and MN 3 games...records during that time were 4-1 for UND and 2-1 for MN with both teams only losses by 3 goals to each other. Those are facts that cannot be disputed by anyone. Did UND look fatigued compared to MN on Sunday? I thought so. If the roles were reversed would MN have won on Sunday...I very much doubt it...

would you be willing to go one further...a team should never play in their home town in the NCAA's? ...................I didn't think so..........

I couldn't disagree more. The "crappier" team should not have any advantages...the advantage should always go to the better team from the past 6 months/35 games of the season. That is how it is in every professional playoff format and this is how it is in the WCHA playoffs. They used to play a 2 game total goal series at the higher seeds rink to advance to the frozen four back in the 80's so this is not without NCAA tournament history...I much prefer best of 3 to 2 game total goals...

I would like to see it stay as 16 teams with the top 8 hosting the bottom 8 in a best of three series on the home campus of the higher seed (16 vs 1, 15 vs 2, etc). Then I would like to see the 8 winners go to a Great 8 tournament where the teams are reseeded 1-8 and there would be 4 games on Thursday (8 vs 1, 7 vs 2, etc.) with two in the afternoon and two at night. The 4 winners would play in the two semifinal games on Friday night and the the Championship game Sunday at noon. The benifits of this would be numerous... #1 Tournament Integrity...the best and highest ranked teams during the season would be have a great advantage of playing the lower seeded teams at home in a best of 3 and also lower ranked teams in the Great 8 tournament. The best teams over the first 6 months and 35 games of the season deserve this reward. #2 Revenue...with this format there would be between 23 and 31 tournament games as opposed to the 15 games currently. Every one of those games would be played in jam packed arenas and not in poorly attended regional venues with no playoff atmosphere which is embarrassing when shown on TV. With the added home venue games and great 8 tournament there should be more buzz and a greater tv audience. #3 Reduced Travel Expenses...travel costs for the tournament would be less as there are currently 20 travel teams in the current format (all 16 in the current regional format...unless you are Minnesota, and the 4 that make it to the frozen four) and only 16 in this new format...8 the first week and 8 for the great 8 tournament. #4 Fan Experience...with the current tournament format you have to travel (unless you are Minnesota) to see your team play in the NCAA tournament. With the best of 3 opening round series at home, you get to see your team in the tournament. This would eliminate travel costs for fans as well as reward them for having a top 8 team. For example, look at the reward now for winning the WCHA...you get to watch your team play the #12 team in the league playoffs (yawn) and then it is on the road for 3 weekends (Final 5, Regional, Frozen Four) to see them try to capture a national title. The great 8 tournament would be awesome with twice the teams and fan bases there for the tournament.

Just 2 left for Friday...

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Two great seats for tonight in 104 isle seats behind net Sioux shoot on twice. $70 for pair. Text 701-739-5623

Sorry folks but I must confess that this thread has been a sham...just a thinking exercise for all of you sky-is-falling types out there. My point to all of you is this...wouldn't our leaders be doing the very things I posted on this thread if indeed we were in peril of losing our Big Sky membership? Of course they would! Wouldn't they be trying to secure support from the members of the league? Wouldn't they be looking at plan B instead of talking about failure as an independent? For heaven's sake, wouldn't the talk coming from them sound more like leadership rather than trying to persuade that the sky is falling and dooms day is near! I would sure hope so... Fact is we are not in eminent peril of being kicked out of the Big Sky and both Kelley and Faison know this. If the vote passes which is very likely are we going to face the NCAA sanctions...you bet, for sure we are. We can argue the depth of those ramifications but that is a totally separate argument. Kelley, Faison, and Fullerton are setting up a smoke screen to get this issue behind us. They want it gone and frankly can you blame them? Surely the Big Sky doesn't want us on NCAA sactions. Obviously it's not good for business but they still believe we are a viable member to bring in otherwise they would have kicked us out already after the original state law vote wouldn't they?...why is this latest petition drive any different than that? The nickname was gone both times and resurected both times...so why kick us out now and not then? Remember what Fullerton said in his interview with McFeeley...he said we are for sure in the Big Sky next year, are not in danger of being kicked out before we enter in August, but would could be considered for removal if we were no longer viable after a period of time with NCAA sanctions and that removal would take a unanimous vote from the 10 presidents. Listen to the audio if you don't believe it.

Let's ask the same of Mr. Faison...can he lead us through this (see gloom and doom dribble above). Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear this from Mr. Faison ..."While we feel the Big Sky would be a great fit for the University of North Dakota and we would love nothing better to be a proud member of their conference if there ever came the day where they would not accept our membership we are confident that there could possibly be other potential conferences out there that would love to have this great University as part of there membership. Although President Kelley and I are fully opposed to the yes vote on June 6th because of the NCAA sactions that will be levied against us, the passion and commitment to this University is overwhelming to the point that is amazing to a lot of folks across the country. We, as well as our passionate supporters in North Dakota, know this university has a lot going for it and I would hope that cooler heads prevail and we will continue to have the support of the Big Sky as we weave through this difficult process..." Instead we get his quotes above...you would think he must have taken a Public Relationship course at some point?

I would agree with your assessment of the people of North Dakota...this vote will pass with a resounding yes. It is going to happen so it is time for Mr. Kelley to lead. Those of you that think the Big Sky presidents will vote us out because of this it is time for Kelley to secure their support. Instead of spewing the same old sky is falling mantra how about heading off this train wreck so many of you speak of? You shouldn't rely on SBOHE. You shouldn't rely on a no vote. Both of those scenarios are very unlikely so we know what is going to happen on June 6th. President Kelley needs to step up to the plate and sell the virtues of this great university to spare us from expulsion from the Big Sky...can he do it? Will he do it? Will he go down without a fight?

I am sorry to inform you but there will be a vote on June 6th and you and I know it will pass. All 10 of the presidents have to vote us out for us to lose Big Sky membership. Can Kelley lead us to make sure at least one of the presidents has our back?

It was unanimous. The question is this...is Mr Kelley an effective leader if he can't get even one of the presidents to back us in the Big Sky? Put all of the other rehtoric on the back burner and take it as a simple question.

Guys, you are missing the point...in order to be booted from the Big Sky all 10 presidents have to vote us out...remember all 10 voted us in...so Mr. Kelley cannot count on any of the presidents to back him. He should be working behind the scenes to make sure this doesn't happen. Is he? Maybe he is, but you wouldn't know it from his comments. He should be forging relationships and partnerships with the Montana's like he said they wanted to when we were admitted to the conference. For academic reasons alone he should be building enough relationships and partnerships that he could count on these guys to have his back. In order to get voted out 0-10 after being voted in 10-0 would show me that he hasn't done his job and a lack of respect for him in the first place.

We can all agree that Mr. Fullerton said that it takes a unanamous vote from all 11 presidents of the Big Sky to kick us out. That is fact, so I propose one question for everyone both sides of the issue. Wouldn't you think our university president, Mr. Kelly, would be forging partnerships and relationships with these presidents to assure this would not happen? For God's sake he doesn't need all 10 in his favor, he just needs one! Is he so inept that he can't get one on his side? That is pretty piss poor if you ask me. He obviously doesn't have confidence he can because of his gloom and doom rehtoric. Mr. Kelley has said in the past that the Montana's look forward to the academic partnerships that they could persue. Well pursue them then...let's forge some relationships and partnerships. Our state and this University have a lot going for it so let's get together with these guys and make it happen. I ask you this...if Tom Clifford was at the helm would our stance with the Big Sky be in peril? He would have at least one if not many of the Big Sky presidents in his favor. It's time for Mr. Kelley to lead and not follow!

If we forge relationships and partnerships they would have a vested interest in the issue. We should be doing that already for academic reasons and not to save our Big Sky membership. No brainer...time for Mr. Kelley to lead and not follow...

We can all agree that Mr. Fullerton said that it takes a unanamous vote from all 11 presidents of the Big Sky to kick us out. That is fact, so I propose one question for everyone both sides of the issue. Wouldn't you think our university president, Mr. Kelly, would be forging partnerships and relationships with these presidents to assure this would not happen? For God's sake he doesn't need all 11 in his favor, he just needs one! Is he so inept that he can't get one on his side? That is pretty piss poor if you ask me. He obviously doesn't have confidence he can because of his gloom and doom rehtoric. Mr. Kelley has said in the past that the Montana's look forward to the academic partnerships that they could persue. Well pursue them then...let's forge some relationships and partnerships. Our state and this University have a lot going for it so let's get together with these guys and make it happen. I ask you this...if Tom Clifford was at the helm would our stance with the Big Sky be in peril? He would have at least one if not many of the Big Sky presidents in his favor. It's time for Mr. Kelley to lead and not follow!

Once again,the reason is simple...money. These programs make money for the league, scandal or no scandal. Same with UND...that is why they haven't kicked us out already...they think we will be good for the conference...if we are not viable after Fullertons "wait and see" they will consider it but I am willing to bet we will be viable sanctions or not.