JackJD

By 'catering to the minority', do you mean Native Americans or do you mean the population in general -- as in a minority want the name change? If its the later, I've always wondered if any actual scientific polling was done on the name issue. If so, what were the percentages in favor of retaining or rejecting the current nickname/mascot? Anyone? If no polling was done, is it possible a majority either 1. don't have a strong feeling or 2. are okay with a change?

I don't think that's what he said (and your "question" cannot be answered 'yes' or 'no') but am I reading your post correctly: are you suggesting UND needs NDSU's help? I don't think I've ever read that before.

I cannot say what SDSU's position may be on the subject. As you and others have noted, SDSU has scheduled several baseball games with UND so that says something...just not sure what (maybe it says nothing more than the schedules of the two schools "fit" on those dates). I'm an outsider on your warfare with NDSU. I cannot fully understand whatever goes on in the minds of some UND fans as expressed on this message board. (I know, its just a few posters.) The USD and SDSU relationship did not seem to attain the same whatever it was that you guys managed to attain. Several posts ago, someone asked why UND fans...or some on this message board,...seem to get so bent out of shape because NDSU won't schedule UND. Someone asked: Why do you care? I have looked through this thread for an anwer to that question. Why do you care? You have full schedules. Some of the same posters have made such extreme statements showing intense hatred for all things Bison...so why do you care? I think you'd be pleased UND and NDSU are not on each others schedules.

I'll start with an apology...this may look off topic but thought you'd want to know: As you know, Griffith Callahan left UND last year to join his brother Garrett, at South Dakota State University. He was eligible 12/21/08. Tonight he started for the Jackrabbits against Iowa State at Hilton Colliseum in Ames. And he was great. SDSU 65, Iowa State 58. You're recruiting the right guys. They just don't stick all the time...every D-I basketball program will attest to that. We're feeling pretty lucky having Griff on the Jackrabbit squad right now.

It was observed on SDSU's fan message board (by a member -- not me! -- who has great ability to get down to some basic facts) that the transition is probably the most difficult for men's basketball. SDSU's woeful experience in transition may be the rule while NDSU's remarkable success is the exception. I see USD going through their struggles and it looks like UND is having some rough times, too. At least you're getting "W's" -- beats the heck out of a loss to some of your competition. We see a light at the end of the tunnel for our men's team at SDSU but it's been a tough few years.

Edited response: I guess since I don't have a dog in this fight, I'll just stay out of it from this point on. Happy ripping on each other!

Don't you think your argument is a little over the top? Geez, throwing out such important concepts as "freedom of speech" etc. is an exaggeration. Nobody said the sorority members or those attending the party should have been prevented from doing what they did. I think many posters have noted that it was unfortunate they held the party given the current climate at UND, the controversy with the NCAA settlement etc. etc. As has been noted, the same party and costumes at most any other university wouldn't be news. I am interested in following UND through DI transition. Some issues are entirely within the school's control (like, what to call the teams) while other issues are nearly impossible to control (scheduling, travel, joining a conference). Pick your fights. Dump the name. I like Force of the North and its derivative, the Force.

"Want to dress up as a hobo or bum? Sorry, you're "making fun of the homeless". You obviously haven't been to Hobo Day at SDSU!

Of course, you're right: the next party and the one after that won't be prevented. That's not the point. It seems to me UND would want to avoid the noise and distraction thrown its way just because somebody decided to throw a party with an unfortunate theme. Why deal with the controversy? With the transition years here, UND will have lots of other issues to worry about. If UND named its teams after an animal, an inanimate object or some concept as opposed to a group of people, a party such as that sponsored by the sorority will not make the news. Oh well, I guess it's your institution's problem. Added later: Incidently, I have some understanding of those who contend the name is intended to honor a group of people. I also am aware of the sentiment that no one likes to have what some would claim is more "PC" run amok shoved down one's throat by the NCAA. It just seems to me this is a no-brainer: why have the fight any more?

TRex's practical, pragmatic comment ought to be the official, announced position of UND: Move on. I think most people do not judge UND generally by the actions of some of those attending the sorority party. But, the fact that the party occurred and involved UND students seems to be a clear warning sign that UND as an institution had better start getting out the word that the name change is inevitable -- apparently some have not gotten the message; or, if they've gotten the message, they persist nonetheless in providing evidence of why, in the minds of many, the name should be changed. If the school doesn't start pounding on the fact that a new name is coming, when the new name is announced, there will be idiots like those at the party who will cause trouble. I know there's the group trying to hold on to the name, advocating the tradition, honor etc. That's a losing battle (just consider the sorority idiots and their friends). The next few transition years can be very trying times but, they can also be some great times. Why remain bogged down with the name fight? As TRex said: get rid of the name and move on.

star2city said: "SDSU was a stronger team last year, but lost their star Vogel (who went in the WNBA draft). This year they did not play the strength of schedule nor did they win against highly ranked teams like they did last year. SDSU also lost to some very weak teams (W Ill and Valpo)...." Just cruising through and noted this thread. I won't participate except to point out that for the first part of the season, SDSU was missing as many as three and four of its top people (hard to say top people when they have at least 10 (could argue the entire squad) relatively interchangeable parts). We had a rash of injuries which affected all-Summit League Warkenthein as well as Oistad, Corneman and others. Once those problems went away, I think most Jackrabbit fans will tell you this year's team was a little better than last year's team. The key: superior bench strength. They should do well in the WNIT. For the future: the Jackrabbits are very young and have recruited exceptionally well for the coming class and have commitments from top athletes in the class of 09.

Was the last question intended to take a jab at USD based on opposition to SDSU's move to D1? Fact is, USD was not critical, as an institution, of SDSU's move to D1. USD was supportive of the proposal that the entire NCC move to D1. There were vocal USD supporters very critical of SDSU's move but I don't think it's fair to blame the institution. My impression is that UND, as an institution -- at least it's top representatives speaking openly -- was openly critical of NDSU's move to D1. The relationship between UND and NDSU does not appear to be the same as the relationship between SDSU and USD. From my outsider's point-of-view, it seems there's real hatred between UND and NDSU while the relationship between SDSU and USD may have slipped into sincere dislike (not hatred) and that seems to have occurred in more recent times. Current SDSU and USD students have no idea about the past relationship so separation of the two schools over the past five or so years has been a cooling off period. Now, with respect to that "flagship institution" comment: I won't speak to the State of North Dakota (although I'm confident the Bison fans will probably share my view), but with respect to the State of South Dakota, SDSU fans will state without hesitation that SDSU is the flagship institution. It is the largest, most diverse university. It is the institution that is foremost on the minds of South Dakotans when talking about higher education in South Dakota. I know that USD fans will argue the point (I think the argument centers on the placement of the word "University" ahead of the state's name) and this has been mindlessly discussed on SDSU's message board months ago (to the point everyone just got tired talking about it).

Hmmm....not sure what to make of those figures. Where does the following fit in your analysis: SDSU 2007 average attendance (6 home football games) 11,218. Brookings is a town of about 19,000.

I enjoyed that one! I gotta say you guys up north do like to scrap with one another and I think moreso than SDSU and USD go at each other. In any event, I enjoy reading your board and am a very infrequent poster...I think I'll slip back to infrequent poster mode. Okay, back to the topic.

Since the day NDSU announced it was moving to DI, I have watched with fascination, the bitterness between UND and NDSU (it's the same kind of fascination one has when one witnesses a car accident). I couldn't believe the rhetoric coming out of Grand Forks. Of course, I recognize that it would be inappropriate to lump all UND alums and fans together.... Anyway, why don't you just leave SDSU out of your bickering with NDSU? Comments such as the ones above (prompted by the sarcastic 'why don't we hire Craig Bohl' posting) convince me that the extreme nastiness between the two North Dakota universities may be more the fault of UND fans than NDSU fans and it's certainly understandable why many NDSU fans have no interest in having anything to do with Sioux fans. How about leaving SDSU out of it so that someday you may have a school in the region who is willing to schedule you?

What does the loss of Coach Lennon do to your plans for the 25,000 seat football stadium with the retractable roof that I keep reading about? I assume a capital improvement like a stadium moves along irrespective of coaching changes. When is the ground breaking?

That idea is not very appealing to me. If that concept found some acceptance at SDSU, you can bet any games in SD would only be at SDSU's Frost Arena and not at Sioux Falls.