mizzou/sioux

Anyone wanting to follow UND-Wisconsin women's softball blog can follow it on Badger website. Score is tied 3-3 in the 7th inning.

Upon reflection, I think you are really on to something there regarding the fact that the Sioux logo has, in fact, become a symbol of sorts for nickname supporters in the aforesaid democracy, liberty and free expression vein, some of the very same elements reflected in the symbolism of the flag of this great country of ours. While the symbolism varies to a certain extent, I think in certain areas the comparison is relevant. I quite agree that few other sports logos in recent times anyway can make that assertion. Furthermore, in the event the Sioux logo survives, I'm convinced also that there would indeed be a deeper meaning as time goes by, and history will thank us for it.

Word just in is that apparently Gov. John Hoeven has recommended in an advisory opinion that in the event the Standing Rock Nation were to hold a referendum on the nickname issue and were the referendum to favor keeping the nickname that the State Board of Higher Education should then revisit their actions of the other day, providing that the action meet the November 30, 2010, deadline as previously established.

It's fabulous to see a longtime foe on the football schedule again. What is also interesting is that NDSU and USD have a game scheduled this fall. This is the way a number of people thought it might play out with the UND-SDSU and USD-NDSU games being played before the instrastate games respectively in the two Dakotas. The Jacks are a most worthy opponent and it will be interesting to see how things play out this year. It's a tough road schedule, two FBS bowl teams among them in Idaho and Northern Illinois. Should be a good season for the fans regardless what happens. Go Sioux.

It seems to me also that this could be a better deal for the Sioux than what was there before. Would be nice to see some statewide basketball coverage as well.

I keep hearing how faculty at UND are possibly as much responsible for anti-nickname protests and the like at UND. Just out of curiosity, can someone fill me in on just who some of these faculty might be. Was it pretty much limited to the English Department or were there other factors as well?

I, for one, am thankful and glad UND and NDSU finally got together on the field in at least one sport. Members of my family have proudly attended and graduated from both outstanding universities. This is most certainly a step in the right direction.

How about the Auroras or the Northern Lights?

Point well taken, MplsBison. However, in that event it still puts schools such as UND and NDSU pretty much right back into the situation they were before, at a level below the BCS-type football schools, making us comparatively once again D2 level schools with the power BCS schools once again a division above us. That then puts many of today's D2 schools at a D3 level, D3 at D4, and so on and so on. In the event that happens, what real longstanding good has been done by both UND and NDSU's move up to Division I. We can call ourselves Division I, the BCS schools can go into their own category--call it what you like--but we really would be Division I in name only.

Good point, MplsBison. And that just might happen--and--sooner than we think. Then much of this going up to D1 from D2 might all have been all for nought in the final analysis.

If indeed the NCAA does expand the men's basketball tournament field from 65 to, let's say, 96-97 or whatever, might it just be possible that what was result in the end is another BCS type field? One in which the power schools from the power conference have effectively placed most schools, including UND and NDSU into another D-2 category, FCS for a football comparison. Thus, the big schools and the big conferences will have in effect been able to distance themselves from the rest of the pack, collect most of the money and leave the FCS basketball schools in the rear-view mirrors. In the even that happens, we're pretty much back to the former D-1/D-2 situation we were formerly in. Not saying it's definitely going to happen, but as we all know from past experience, MONEY TALKS!!! BCS effectively hijacked college football. Isn't it possible the basketball superpowers and superconferences are looking to football as a precedent and BCS basketball is next?

SiouxDude12, not saying this is a complete answer, but check the scores from the previous 2008-09 season, another game for the men against Texas A&M played again at College Station, Texas. It was Texas A&M 76, UND 62. Not sure about you, but I think that's a fairly respectable score. Granted, the Aggies doubled us up just the other night, but we are a transitional program. Many athletes are going to lay off going to transitional teams. It's one of those facts of life. Now for just a bit of history. You've probably heard of Bill Fitch, head men's basketball coach at UND for five seasons (1962-63 season through the 1966-67 season. Then, of course, he went on to Bowling Green and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities before joining the NBA coaching ranks where he was ultimately named NBA Coach of the Year and later named one of the 10 best coaches in all of NBA history. Pretty impressive, right? Well, Fitch's first two years at UND were just ordinary, going 24-29 in that two-season span. Then, with an outstanding number of recruiting classes, including Phil Jackson among the recruits, the Sioux went 70-16 over the next three seasons, capturing three consecutive North Central Conference men's basketball championships and earning trips to Evansville, Indiana, for the College Division national championship (later termed the Elite Eight). Fitch's Sioux finished third in the nation in the 1964-65 season and fourth in the nation the following year. In all, Fitch compiled a sterling 94-45 win-loss record at UND before moving on. Also, historically, of all the schools in the former Division II, UND's men's basketball team was narrowly edged out of becoming the first Divisiion II men's basketball program to reach the coveted 1,000 win mark. Central Missouri State got there a day or two or so earlier than we did. Nevertheless, we were the second school to do it. So don't give up on the Sioux men just yet. Yes, this is a trying year. But there have been others. And, regardless what some fans of some other schools might have one think, we have some quality wins over the years over some big-name school competition, including a couple of wins over the Minnesota Gophers. Also over Nebraska (that's Nebraska-Lincoln for all you pardners out there), San Jose State, Creighton, the U.S. Air Force Academy, DePaul, Chicago Loyola, etc., etc. As much as some of our brethren may like to crow, don't we (UND) still hold a healthy margin in head-to-head competition over as such an unnamed school also located in the Flickertail State? I thought so. I may be getting older, but I'm not blind. This is not the time to cash in the chips. Mama said there'd be days like this...There'll be days like this, my Mama said...But hold on, persevere, for the Sioux shall rise again.

For the moment I would like to see expanded radio coverage of the UND men's basketball, women's basketball and women's hockey. If one doesn't have access to the Internet it's pretty hard to hear coverage when one is out of the Grand Forks coverage area.

I wonder how many people around the country would be surprised to learn that despite Northern Iowa's spectacular success in recent years that UND leads the series by a healthy margin, 48 wins for the Sioux to 31 for Northern Iowa.

Regarding that 45,000 stadium at Hillsboro, would that mean bussing in players from both Grand Forks and Fargo daily during the week for practices? On the other hand, it's possible that at the state's inception the intent at the time was to have one flagship university, but over time it evolved into both UND and NDSU. One can argue it's better to have a pair of competing universities than it is to have, for example, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Missouri or the University of Nebraska. Personally, I think strong arguments can be made for doing it either way from an academic standpoint. But, what's done is done. From the feedback I get I think there are some from NDSU who might argue that for years most of the state money was indeed funneled into UND, thereby ostensibly giving UND a huge advantage. And I say this in acknowledgement as a proud UND graduate. At this point I cannot conceivably think even a combined athletic program would be able to successfully compete in either the Big Ten or the Big 12. Has anyone taken a good look at the endowments of some of those institutions? I'm not saying never because one never knows at times what the future may hold, but I think we'd regularly get our butts kicked as members of one of those two conferences, either individually or as a combined athletic university. I also doubt very much whether the NCAA would approve such a novel situation. What if Texas and Texas A&M were to apply to do the same thing, or Alabama and Auburn, or Purdue and Indiana? It's not that I'm completely against the idea, but I doubt very much that its really workable. I also don't think alumni of either UND or NDSU would really go along with the idea, especially as it pertains to football. As for the other sports, I don't really see a need for it. It also seems to me that that stadium in Hillsboro would turn out to be a white elephant or a boodoggle of the highest degree. I just simply can't believe either UND or NDSU would want to give up any semblance of football independence, but, hey, if that's to be the case we can solve UND's nickname problem but calling the new team the Blenders.

I feel for the Bunnies. After all, they are sort of a departed brethren in a sense. Not that I really have anything against Montana. But I would have liked to have seen a Dakota team advance in the playoffs. I think anytime a Dakota team advances in the playoffs it's good national recognition for the region. I felt the same way when the NDSU men's basketball team played superpower Kansas in men's basketball this past season. Maybe Montana's extensive playoff experience helped them in this showdown. Hope Dale Lennon's Southern Illinois Salukis go all the way now.

Congratulations to Coach Mussman and the team, especially to the graduating seniors who meant so much to the 2009 edition of the Sioux. The victory over Central Arkansas was a great way to top off the season. Now I realize that 6-5 isn't much different from 5-6, but I think it means a world of difference. A great way to head into 2010. Just did some checking and learned that UND and NDSU over the years have both played to a statistical winning percentage of .623. UND has played 989 games, winning 601, losing 358 and tying 30, while NDSU has played 996 games, winning 604, also losing 358 and tying 34. Who would have thunk it?

Based on the thrilling 17-16 upset win over Central Arkansas in the season finale at Conway, Arkansas, I would say a solid B. That last game statistic-wise really favored the home team. Nevertheless, sterling defensive play outside of the initial Central Arkansas opening drive made me realize this team is only going to get better. I also feel had the UC Davis game been played at the Alerus, UND would have come out the victor and thus captured the Great West Conference football title. Had Central Arkansas won the game Saturday I would have dropped the rating to a C. One has to admit that starting out the season with three tough road games was not exactly a bed of roses. I also feel that the victory over Cal Poly more than made up for the loss to Sioux Falls. And had we beaten UC Davis we would have finished 7-4. This team got better as the season went on. The future looks bright for next year. I'm certain we are headed in the right direction because of all the intangibles. Good way for the seniors to go out.

I'd like to commend the UC Davis fans who have joined us on this board. They provide another stimulating point of view. In view of the present Great West affinity for the home team, I'm hoping this game might be some sort of reversal. In any event, I hope it's a well-played game on both sides. Guess it's one of those situations where we never know which UND or which UC Davis team is going to show up. This may be wishful thinking, but I, too, think (hope) it might be UND 24, UC Davis 21.

At least now we know for certain how the standings are going to turn out, regardless who wins Saturday. There will be a 3-1 undisputed champion (either UND or Davis), there will be a trio of 2-2 teams tied for runnerup and the loser of the South Dakota-Cal Poly game will inhabit the bottom rung of the Great West. Go, Sioux!!!

I don't really know if this is applicable or not, but at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium in Madison the Badger Band has what is called "The Fifth Quarter." The band entertains the crowd for quite some time after the game ends. I imagine part of the reason is to help the crowd out as it waits for other members of the crowd to disperse, thereby thinning out the traffic somewhat. But The Fifth Quarter seems to me to be a tremendous success. Sometimes Wisconsin's band takes it on the road as well. I remember watching the Fifth Quarter at the Metrodome in Minneapolis following a Badger win over the Gophers a couple of years ago or so. Wisconsin in my mind has simply one of the best college football venues there is. I know they are Big Ten and all that, but in the 1960s and 1970s when Wisconsin was going through some hard times on the field and equally hard times with attendance, it happened there as well. At NDSU, I believe the people down there have figured out a way to make football simply "an event that must be attended," much in the way men's hockey is at UND, or maybe I should call it a "happening." Was leaving Memorial Stadium a mistake? After having indoor football at the Metrodome since 1982, the folks at the University of Minnesota have decided to take football outside again. Will we have to do the same? True, not having had any home games in September this season has hurt attendance. I won't deny that. But it probably also didn't help to schedule women's hockey against Ohio State in virtually the same time slots. In all likelihood, however, a winning team would likely get fans back in the seats, and we have probably been spoiled by our D-II success in the past, so that just above .500 doesn't really seem to cut it if and when there are countless other options available. Maybe it's Scandinavian Stoicism, that and the fact that people want something for every time that is spent, and if the product isn't felt to be worth one's time and money that other options seem more viable. I just don't know.

Excellent analysis, I believe, TechFirst. Great piece of writing. Good post!