mizzou/sioux

I'm guessing given the general tone of the recent meeting in Florida that Bemidji State at some point--maybe much sooner than we think is "virtually IN" the WCHA, the sticking point at the moment being a necessary 12th team. Given the comments made, Minnesota State University-Moorhead at this point is likely to have quite a ways to go to become that 12th team. I would not at all be surprised if a 12th team soon becomes available. I was in Bemidji recently and chanced to purchase a "Support BSU Hockey" T-shirt. With college hockey have the few teams it has relative to D-I college basketball, I think it essential to preserve strong and vital programs instead of permitting them to possibly wither away on the vine. Maybe the Big Ten will form a separate hockey conference one day. Maybe not. In any event, we can't live in constant fear of an event which may or may not happen. A new Big Ten hockey conference could happen regardless whether the WCHA expands to 11 or 12 teams. As a Sioux graduate I would prefer both Minnesota and Wisconsin remain in the WCHA. The strength of the WCHA through the years might be somewhat of a factor in whether or not the Gophers and the Badgers would choose to opt out. Nevertheless, it's hard to predict the future. I, for one, hope Bemidji State's men's hockey program is admitted into the WCHA. BSU's women's hockey program is already part of the WCHA. Shouldn't that mean something? Another thought has just occurred to me. Awhile back the WCHA and Hockey East had somewhat of an interlocking schedule. Is is possible for the WCHA and the CCHA to develop somewhat of a similar type scheduling? Might this permit Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State to participate in two separate conferences simultaneously, thereby possibly eliminating the need for the teams to withdrew from current WCHA/CCHA affiliations. With some modifications, there could still be a Big Ten hockey conference while leaving the WCHA/CCHA relatively intact. Just a thought.

MplsBison, I quite agree with you regarding the last paragraph of your post. For the stability of the conference it makes a good deal of sense to keep the four Dakota universities together in one conference, and even more specifically, in the same division. And thanks for responding to my question as to why it matters to you. You have spoken eloquently and for that I respect you. Good post.

I respect your position, MplsBison, but we'll have to agree to disagree. For you, at the moment, it is that simple, because it's a theoretical not a real-life challenge at the moment. Years ago Bobby Kennedy when asked about his pursuing the presidency of the United States quite adamantly ruled out that option for a long time. When, later, suddenly reenergized by then Minnesota U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy's strong challenge tp sitting president Lyndon Johnson in the 1968 New Hampshire primary, Bobby suddenly "reassessed" his position. He quickly did a 180 degree turn and tossed his hat into the ring. I believe you at the moment when you say you would choose conference membership, and maybe you would even if the UND/NDSU situation were reversed at the moment. All I can reiterate is that the NDSU situation you talk about is theoretical, and is something you will likely never have to face in this either-or scernario. Knowing the scenario you are operating under (NDSU entry into the Summit or other auto-bid conferences) you are quite safe in saying what you say. By the way, why do you really care if UND is admkitted into the Summit anyway?

With all due respect, MplsBison, you go to your church and I'll go to mine. Your nickname hasn't been severely tested and challenged and likely never will. Furthermore, already having membership in said conferences, you really don't have anything to worry about do you? So for you in reality it's simply a rhetorical question at the moment, one you just might have to reassess your opinion on in the unlikely event push would come to shove. Either that, or it's just a game you can play while woolgathering.

Rico was hurt in practice that year prior to the Elite Eight. I doubt very much the Sioux would have squandered that huge lead if Rico Burkett hadn't suffered that injury prior to the Elite Eight. If I recall correctly, the Sioux men under coach Rich Glas were ranked No. 1 in the nation in men's hoops when they played Virginia Union in the quarterfinals of the Elite Eight at Springfield, Massachusetts. Had Rico been healthy, I think the Sioux would have gone on to win the national championship. I do think that Sioux team would have had the capability of playing with this year's Bison team. People may have a tencdency to forget just how good that Sioux men's team was.

I'd like to add my congratulations to the Summit League regular season and playoff champion North Dakota State Bison. What a fantastic accomplishment. Plus, the team is composed of some very classy young men. With a little bit of luck who knows what might happen? In any event, the best of luck to the Bison men as they head for March Madness and the Big Dance.

I quite agree. A good or great showing by the NDSU men's basketball team helps the state of North Dakota as a whole, including the Sioux at some point down the road. Many people get the two schools confused for one reason or another. Sports Illustrated once had the Sioux men's hockey team located in Fargo. Congratulations to the Bison men and may they win the Summit and get to March Madness. Let's get behind the Bison. In the long run we won't regret it.

As a Sioux fan I would like to see Bemidji State added to the WCHA. BSU and UND have worked together in the past to both schools' mutual benefit. UND needs to hlep out a brother in need. NCAA Division I hockey needs it. Bemidji State has proven it long ago belonged in Division I hockey. I enjoyed the post going back to UND's playing in a quonset hut along with the subsequent construction of Engelstad I and Engelstad II. The Big Ten will do what it wants regardless of what UND may think or want. We need to take care of our own. We need to help BSU maintain a quality Divison I men's hockey program. Remember, the BSU women's hockey program is already a member of the WCHA. What we need to do is to look at the long-range implications. Don't leave a vibrant Divison I hockey program out in the cold. BSU has proven it belongs. Admit BSU to the WCHA men's league as well.

From 1965 to 1972 the Bison played in five bowl games, not four. The Bison came out on the short end of the 1967 Pecan Bowl, losing 13-0 to the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition, in 1964, the Bison won the Mineral Bowl played in Missouri, giving the Bison a 5-1 bowl record from 1964 through 1972

I, too, would like to congratulate the UMD Bulldogs for their win in the D2 national championship game against Northwest Missouri State. The Bulldogs represented the old NCC very well. At the half in the FCS semifinal game Northern Iowa, formerly of the NCC, trails Richmond 7-3. Hope the Panthers can come back and win as well.

I, too, would like to congratulate the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for pulling off a fantastic upset in Allendale, Michigan, where it's no easy place to play as Fighting Sioux fans well know. Congratulations for representing the former North Central Conference and the current NSIC as well. You can believe that as a Fighting Sioux graduate I will be pulling for the Bulldogs to go all the way. For those who want a blog for the game go to the Duluth News-Tribune to see how the game evolved. Bulldog defense held the Lakers to a pair of early field goals while scoring a first half TD themselves for a 7-6 Bullodg halftime advantage. Then the Dogs scored but missed the PAT to make it 13-6. Very late in the game the Lakers scored, made the extra point and tied it 13-13 to send it into overtime. After a scoreless first overtime the Dogs put it in the end zone but again missed the PAT. Dogs stopped the Lakers on their second try in overtime to win the game 19-13 to earn a whole bunch of respect from this NCC-NSIC fan. Go Bulldogs!!!

This is probably giving away my age, but I recall the 1961 Big Ten season, the year the Ohio State faculty enraged Woody Hayes at Buckeyeville when they refused to grant permission to the Buckeyes to go to the Rose Bowl. Minnesota did instead and wound up beating UCLA for their first and only Rose Bowl win ever by a 21-3 margin. Lost in this shuffle, however, may be the fact that while Ohio State won the Big 10 title that year, the three teams it did not play in the conference that year (as I recall Minnesota, Michigan State and Purdue) finished two, three and four, somewhat in that order as I remember). Does that put a blemish on the Buckeyes' conference title that year? As I also recall, Minnesota played and defeated both Michigan State and Purdue that season. Minnesota and Ohio State did not meet that year. Again, does that taint the Buckeyes that year? Just asking.

Unless the Great West Football Conference calculates its championships differently, it seems to me that if Cal Poly goes 4-0 and UND goes 3-0 there would be a co-championship in the offing, both teams having a 1.000 winning percentage. Furthermore, following that reasoning, should Cal Poly go 3-1 and UND 3-0, well then voila, UND is conference champion.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe AD Faison is a University of Missouri graduate which brings about another Big 12 connection. I have an undergraduate degree from UND as well as a graduate degree from Mizzou. With this in mind, I wouldn't be at all surpised to see future UND-Mizzou matchups in some sports along the way.

I think MplsBison is on to something. Wish I had posted this idea myself. Furthermore, both campuses are almost within a stone's throw of Minnesota, the Red River of the North being where it is. What's the big deal geographically? Why not give it a try? Let's think outside the box. Perhaps the winner then of this game would be in line to host the first game between the archrivals when the series returns to North Dakota, much in the same manner that the winner of major league baseball's All-Star game gets to have home field advantage for the World Series. I also like the idea of calling it the Red River Shootout. There's more than one Red River in this Good Old U.S. of A. Great idea, MplsBison.

I watched the press conference on video and must say I am most impressed with Brian Faison, UND's newly appointed athletic director. Coming down to the two finalists, it appears we have a University of Missouri graduate in either case, which I most heartily applaud, having a UND undergraduate degree in journalism plus a master's in journalism from Missouri. Brian obviously has the experience and the fund-raising ability to take UND into this athletic transition period. Despite the negative, whiny protestors of some of the expected naysayers at Bisonville (which, of course, I suppose is to be expected), I think UND went about selecting both a new president and a new athletic director in the right way. I would also like at this time to applaud the efforts of Dr. Charles Kupchella for all he has done to steer the University on the right track. I think we're on the right course academically as well as athletically. My niece is a 2006 graduate of UND's College of Nursing. Her younger sister is finishing up her freshman year at UND and has hopes of becoming a lawyer. By the way, the younger sister absolutely loves it at UND and is most happy with the college she selected (perhaps with a little urging from her proud uncle).

I should clarify previous post. The South Dakota men won the national championship in basketball in 1958 when it was called College Division.

Each of the Big 4 does have a national championship. The South Dakota Coyote men won a Division II national championship in 1958 with a resounding win in the national championship game.

I doubt that the so-called wrong selection in the opinion of some would put UND into an irreversible downspin. I think the fact that so many on the selection committee felt so highly of Dr. Kelley it speaks volumes on his behalf. Nowhere is it gospel that more than one candidate be forwarded to the State Board of Higher Education. There are quite a few credible individuals on the board which narrowed down the candidates. Knowing that, I think we should feel comfortable in abiding by their decision. Chances are there were quite a few outstanding candidates applying for the presidency, judging by the five finalists. As a UND graduate, I feel satisfied the selection committee made a good choice.