mizzou/sioux

By all means. Safe travel to you. And welcome back.

Thank you for your congratulations on our stellar season. Kudos to Notre Dame for its outstanding season as well. I know this is regressing, but had not the Michigan schools and the Irish left the WCHA years ago, just think about it: another all-WCHA Frozen Four. Best of luck to you, but I'm thinking we both have sterling competitors in the semifinals to get past first. In any event, good luck to Notre Dame.

Sadly enough, at the moment I think this comment is right on the mark. Many of us Sioux fans are upset with the Gophers and the Badgers leaving the rest of the WCHA in the lurch, so to speak. If we (UND) rush out of the WCHA along perhaps with Denver, then aren't we doing the same thing to other smaller schools, potentially crippling additional hockey programs? For one thing staying in a league with Bemidji, Duluth, St. Cloud and Mankato eases travel expenses somewhat, something not to be overlooked. I'm not convinced that adding UBC is going to be as great as some suppose. I don't think Miami is going to leave the CCHA for all that travel to the WCHA. It's also rather doubtful Notre Dame could be convinced to switch leagues. All I am saying is let's not be hasty and greedy ourselves. At this point do we want to leave the best college hockey conference with all its championships and traditions to go off into the wild blue yonder?

Chad Purcell's article really hit the nail on the head. And Dean Blais was right on in his comments. One can only speculate on how all of this is going to play out. It could possibly cripple a lot of smaller enrollment hockey schools. In my opinion I don't think it bodes well for college hockey overall

Yes, we did, at Madison. Plus, I believe our women's softball team is scheduled to play Bucky again in Madison this spring.

Bison Dan, you've made it quite clear both here and on Bisonville that you have little or no regard for UND athletics in any way, shape or form. All right, UND men's basketball may not be in the class of Kansas, Ohio State, North Carolina et al, but why do you and others from Bisonville have to piss on our parade?

For anyone interested, UND trails Big 12 Kansas Jayhawks only 2-1 after four innings at Lawrence, Kansas. Game is on Gametracker.

I can't help but wonder if the possibility of four WCHA teams was just simply too much for the so-called powers that be. It could also possibly account for the fact that the three WCHA teams that did make are all in the same bracket, leaving the possibility--remote, I think, but nevertheless--that not a single WCHA team would earn a spot in the national championship game.

I would have to agree that it's probably the softball team's best win since moving to D1. A year ago Ohio State finished 39-14 and advanced to the regionals for the fourth time in five seasons, according to the Buckeye website. Furthermore, it was ranked No. 22 in one pre-season poll for the current season and something like 24th in another. And, after all, Ohio State is Big Ten and, I believe, reportedly has the highest athletic budget of any school in the nation. That in itself, I think, is saying something.

Much food for thought here. I quite agree that freshmen often wear down as the season (and latter part of the games themselves) progresses. That's part of the learning curve. Nevertheless, being down 17-4 early against a WAC team nonetheless, and then responding the way they did seems to bode extremely well for the future. Bloggers on the Louisiana Tech board do appear to be having a meltdown; some of them apparently feeling UND had no business of being on the same court with them. Well, that's their problem. One never knows what the future may hold, but if the nucleus of this squad can hold things together it seems only natural the freshmen will get better. Northern Colorado should be a good measuring stick. In any event, the win over Louisiana Tech was to me at the moment anyway a major milestone. For the momen also, let's enjoy it as much. It was a very good win.

Good post.

It does strike me as being pretty far-fetched that we had that much control over Douple. In addition, I feel I have to come to the defense of AD Brian Faison, a fellow Mizzou graduate. I personally think he has been a very good athletic director thus far. It isn't easy to come in and schedule games for teams during the probation time prior to earning full Division I status. Considering the circumstances, I think he's done a good job scheduling teams from major athletic conferences. In any event, I do not feel that President Kelley or Faison should be fired over this incident. I can well understand that the UND administration would like to have this matter behind it. It certainly is a major distraction. As a UND graduate as well, I would prefer to keep the nickname, and with the likelihood of losing the nickname, I feel that a part of me is being lost, and lost forever. But I think the matter was taken out of our hands. The NCAA in its infinite wisdom--ha!!!--unfairly chose to come down on a handful of schools and used absurd reasoning in its decision-making process. Standing Rock should have voted on the issue. Since that's unlikely now, I can see where the UND administration is coming from. But I will be a Fighting Sioux forever.

In a nutshell, I agree. Horrid free throw shooting. As it turned out, one more free throw almost anywhere along the way would have resulted in a W. Nevertheless, let's not forget that Utah Valley went into Corvallis, Oregon, and knocked off a Pac-10 team in Oregon State 70-68. Also, the way UVU was knocking down the threes in the third overtime to rally back from an eight-point deficit was a killer. If it helps any, the Bison men were up 18 points last night and lost 84-80. I have a feeling UVU is going to make some noise in the Great West this season. I know they say that youth is wasted on the young, but I have a feeling that as this team matures they are going to be awfully fun to watch.

This is the game I would like to remember concerning the 2010 UND football season, a game we could just as easily have won against a pretty fair football team in Northern Illinois.

I'm rather inclined to agree with the above assessment. Nobody said the transition was going to be easy. Football team on defense really showed some bright spots. Loss of Landry at QB really hurt. Let's not be hasty.

My sentiments exactly. I must say I was impressed with the way the Sioux defense stood up yesterday in spite of all the handicapped situations they were put into early. Holding the Jacks to two early field goals when it could just as easily have been 14-0 at that point is a testament and a tribute to good D. I still recall the year back in the Murray Warmath-coached years when the Gophers went from last in the Big Ten in 1959 to national champions in 1960. Don't despair, Sioux fans. Hang in there.

My experience with Wisconsin fans has been somewhat of a mixed bag. Once, while in Madison to attend a Minnesota-Wisconsin football game, I was wearing a Fighting Sioux sweater while waiting in line at a steakhouse. A Badger fan came up to me and queried, "Didn't you get on the wrong plane at Denver?" Well, I guess that really wasn't too bad, all in all. At another Minnesota-Wisconsin football game at the Metrodome recently a graduate school buddy (we both attended Mizzou for grad school, and my buddy earned his undergraduate degree from UW-Madison) and I were both wearing Mizzou clothing and sitting up in the nose-bleed section of the Metrodome with a group of about a dozen Badger fans. Those Badger fans were fabulous to talk to and joke with and were highly appreciative and respectful of the excellent season Mizzou was having on the football field. If I recall correctly, it was a season Mizzou eventually reached a No. 1 ranking in the country only to lose in the Big 12 title game. We also had an opportunity to watch the University of Minnesota Marching Band wend its way up to the Metrodome Plaza where it put on an outstanding performance. Then, after the game, while waiting for the crowd to disperse, we listened to the University of Wisconsin Marching Band with its Fifth Quarter performance. Two outstanding university bands that really added flavor to an outstanding and memorable day. On that day those Badger fans were great. They were also most appreciative of UND's outstanding hockey program. A most satisfying day.

I think the team was "up" when playing at Northern Illinois. It's entirely possible Sioux got jobbed on goal line TD call that was reversed if I'm not mistaken, which likely would have turned a 23-17 defeat into a 24-23 victory. Northern Illinois is 8-2 currently, if I'm not mistaken, with losses coming to Iowa State and Illinois. I'd say that was an "up" game for us. Plus, I saw some good things happening in the Montana game in spite of the loss.

WYOBISONMAN, I agree that changing coaches is traumatic for a program. The fact that UND is transitioning doesn't make it any easier. The potential lack of a conference home shortly doesn't play to our advantage either. I can't fault Lennon for moving. Certainly Bohl must be wondering if he made the right decision after his Bison posted a couple of one-loss seasons. Lo, how the pendulum swings. I believe Muss has warranted another year. Some of the problems are not of his making.

I, too, remember some of the down years of the past. The 1980s were not very kind to UND football as a whole. Yet, we rebounded with a furor in the 1990s, one of the best decades of Sioux football ever. I think part of the problem is the whole transition thing. Whoever said it would be easy? Plus, we're playing in general a better caliber of opponent. Southern Utah narrowly lost to San Jose State. Score, I believe, was 16-11. South Dakota beat the Big Ten Minnesota Gophers. Yes, the Gophers are down, but they still are Big Ten. UND almost pulled out a win at FBS Northern Illinois before losing 23-17. I believe this shows we can compete. Definitely we're going to have some down games, but what team doesn't when they're in transition? What about our wins over Cal Poly and Central Arkansas a year ago? I don't believe in throwing the proverbial baby out with the bath water. Keep the faith.

Quite a feat to knock off the #1 team in the country. Just like last year with the Wisconsin ladies. This is an outstanding win. Helps make up for the painful football loss yesterday at homecoming against Southern Utah.

I was at that game as well. Believe the potential (and very likely) game-winning pass was dropped in the end zone with less than a minute or so to go that very likely would have turned a 14-9 deficit into a 16-14 lead and most likely a victory over Northern Colorado. Had that happened it's also most likely the Sioux would have again hosted Northern Colorado instead of having to go out to Greeley the very next weekend.

I quite agree with the electricity surrending Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on game day. The campus is buzzing with excitement. Fans stream in for breakfast at a variety of venues near the stadium. The UW band performs in a plaza. Brats and brews add to the flavor. Fans, mostly decked out in Wisconsin red, are swarming all around. I went to graduate school at Missouri with a friend who was a Badger undergraduate. I've fully appreciated every trip I've made to Madison. This has got to be one of the best college football venues in the nation. It's what college football game day is all about.

Great summary, Hammersmith, for those of us who were unable to be there in person. It is much appreciated. I have a feeling that after the Bison rallied to come from behind in the first two sets it took a little bit out of the Sioux ladies for the third one. Again, that snowball effect. Congratulations to two very good volleyball squads and programs. Will expect the Bison will again make the NCAAs this season.

Seems the lady volleyballers are off to a terrific start to the season, losing thus far only to unbeaten teams. Way to go!!!