green_sioux

The vote at Spirit Lake was 67% in favor. That's 2 out of 3 in favor. But, that also means that one out of every 3 people there were not in favor. So you're telling the 33% who were against it how to feel, huh?

you make a lot of assertions and accusations while knowing maybe 10% of the actual total facts. None of us on here will ever know all the discussions, negotiations and details that have gone into the nickname situation over the years between all the parties. Rumors and opinions aren't facts. Neither are opinions based on opinions. Making bold statements on emotion, opinion and 10% of the facts don't make them "facts". To claim you know enough to be calling out Kelley and demanding his head shows a level of ignorance that is beneath even an anonymous sports message board. It's reached the silly stage.

Obviously you have you right to any opinion you want. My point is none of us have enough information to know completely and exactly how the schedule comes to be what it is. What I thought was silly is that you somehow imply you know more about proper college football scheduling than the people that do it for a living. The comment, "This nonsense has to stop and it has to stop now", is like you can't believe that the AD doesn't know what you know. To me that's kind of a ...........I've never scheduled college football, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night type of comment. For a little perspective on how terrible attendance has been, UND football average home game attendance for 2010 would put us 3rd highest in the Big Sky, behind only the 2 Montana schools. Of course it can always be better and it will certainly improve. Better days are ahead. I just would like to see things more positive and reality based on here. For me personally, I'm going to continue to be a season ticket holder and a donor to UND athletics. And when I go to the Alerus this fall, I'll be going to see the UND Fighting Sioux football team, regardless of who they are playing.

Who said it was ALL about economics and balancing the budget? Obviously, those play a major role. But, it's a little silly to keep hearing fans on this board pontificate like they know all the facts and have all the information. The reality is what most of us know about college football scheduling is what we read in the papers and on these boards. Anyone, like me, that's posting on here, has never dealt with all the hundreds of issues that go into scheduling sports, especially during a transition and the first years after. We might have 5% of the facts and information needed. For me, it's tiring to hear well meaning, diehard fans like myself making silly statements like "This nonsense has to stop and it has to stop now. " Like we know something and can makes demands. Get a grip folks. Great to be passionate, but no one on here knows enough to make statements like that. I am also a season ticket holder, and saw my first Sioux football game in the mid-1960's. That doesn't make me an expert on how to schedule. I'm just a fan. I remember seeing an awful good Sioux Falls team a few years back come in and beat us. I thought beforehand it might be a pretty weak game. I saw a lowly D2 Sioux team play at Northern Iowa a few years back and beat a team that was in the FCS title game the previous year. What was their AD thinking scheduling a D2 team, didn't he know how much beneath UNI the Sioux were. Turned out to be a very good game and a Sioux victory. All I'm saying is for some on here to take a chill pill and support the Fighting Sioux Football team against whoever they are playing....... Go Sioux!

As always lomack, thanks for adding such upbeat and thoughtful comments. You're always such a breath of fresh air on here. Sarcasm intended. It must really stink to be you!

I guess with all your knowledge, far better information, and much better grasp of the situation than the people doing the scheduling, why aren't they lining up to get you to help? Sounds like you've got it all solved for them.

Have you done a lot of college football scheduling to know how it should be done? It sounds like you should be offering your services. Realistically, when you made the statement "but in my mind someone gave up and gave in and took the easy way out" you had about 5% of the total information and knowledge UND officials had. I suspect the people who do UND's football scheduling for a living might possibly have a little more information than you. I know that's part of what these forums are about, but statements like the last one are just silly.

Any thoughts on Kevin Arvidson?

I got a Sioux Forever shirt as a gift at Christmas. My daughter and son-in-law got it for me after seeing people tailgating at the Alerus this fall wearing them. I asked her where she got and she found the website for me. http://siouxpride.com/ Don't know much more than that but I'll be wearing it and my Sioux gear for years to come.

All I can say to that is you must be tremendous Sioux fans.

Some really pathetic commentary on this topic. Like it was mentioned, the last year before starting conference affiliation brings it's own problems with scheduling games. 2012 will be incredible, just show a little patience and maybe a little more discernment of what is happening as far as the difficulty in scheduling. I would suggest if you're the type of Sioux football fan who gives up on the program at this point, quite frankly they don't need you.

Bohl in his 8th year (second stint) OC Vigen in his 13th year ( plus as a player) DC Hazelton in his 4th year. Pretty fair continuity at the key positions if you ask me. Plus, look at the experience of many of the assistants. You're always going to have turnover in the coaching ranks of successful programs. Coaches and administrators know that, and good teams that can limit that turnover are often much more successful. That's why I agree you'll see Mussman as UND's coach for the foreseeable future.

Some reasonable comments. I've played the game and have only missed attending 7 home games dating back to the 1969 seasons. (I hate fall weddings) Plus 2 very long trips I was fortunate to make to Alabama. But, I find much of what you write amusing. It's easy to sit in the stands or at a keyboard and have all the answers. I guess this forum is a good place to pontificate and that's OK. It's easy to have an opinion, but let's be serious here. Having all the answers based on watching the games and reading the newspaper is pretty silly. Sioux football coaches are full time professionals. Year round jobs on Sioux football. They have been through the recruiting process with these kids. Through every practice, every film session, every bus trip, every off season. They know and work with these young men every day. You don't think they've considered the use of a 4-3 instead of a 3-4? You don't think they'd like to have got the ball to Hardin more? Most defenses can take away any single player if they want and that's partially what happened as Hardin emerged into a great player. Good teams can shut down one great player and dare you to beat them other ways. Turns out it worked for some teams. I agree a 5 win season was possible. Losing Landry and watching the forced growing up of 2 younger QB's was tough. They each showed flashes of good play, but not enough to win games. I don't think we even have this discussion if Landry hadn't been hurt. Unfortunately, young backup QB's thrown into the mix don't always do so well. In years to come I'm guessing there will be more quality depth at all positions, but especially at quarterback. Again, I agree with some of what you write here. But, realistically you're doing it with about 5% of the knowledge and information that the coaching staff has. It would be similar to me judging your work performance at your job without having met you or knowing how to do your job. But, maybe if I watched you work for a few hours one day and talked one of your co-workers, I'd have all the information I need to tell you what you're doing wrong. You stated "But talking about the officiating or how we gave a great effort after getting pounded is not appropriate" Maybe you should explain to Mussman what is appropriate for him in post game interviews. I often hear that kind of coach-speak from other college coaches. If it's the truth, I can hardly see why it's not appropriate. Patience. Depth and quality and many more wins will be coming. The North Dakota football tradition is solid. I know this is the place for opinion, and that's a good thing. But, like I said having all the answers when you don't know all the facts isn't always the best thing. But, it's a fan's right to have an opinion. I admire your passion for Sioux football, and stay tuned, because great things are going to happen in the coming years.

I work at UND and have heard discussions involving people way above my pay grade about an alumni who "is going to do for football what Ralph did for hockey". They are very tightlipped about it and I don't have any details, (and I tried to get them) but it makes me wonder what could be coming.