UND-FB-FAN

You realize in this day and age, with social media, that leaks are nearly inevitable and there will always be second guessing, right? I understand this process is going to be very difficult for many people, especially those directly involved, but a single recruit is not worth the millions of dollars lost each year by UND's women's ice hockey program. Sorry, but it is the cold, hard truth.

You should maybe reconsider which bars you are going to then. You may have been outside of the country, but UND just had four conference championship teams this season. Women's hockey was not one of them. National championships are hard to come by. Your argument is flawed in that many top programs around the country should apparently be "laughed at". Should the Oregon Ducks cut football? Should Gonzaga cut their basketball programs? No national championships to speak of with those examples. Your standards are a bit off.

Compassion is important, but so is being fiscally responsible. Well, since you feel it was completely classless, would you care to provide any alternatives as to how it should have been done? It's pretty easy to criticize when you don't have to be the one coming up with solutions.

Those semantics are horseshit. That labeling and status needs to be adjusted. It takes away from UND's other championship-level programs, including the ones that have relatively the most national following. Most importantly, it gives people the incredibly false idea that UND and the State of North Dakota should sponsor hockey even if it loses millions and is played in an empty arena. Obviously not true with men's hockey but couldn't be more the case with women's hockey.

It's unbelievable how hypocritical people are with this entire situation. Never mind the obvious financial sense the cut makes, but the attendance numbers for women's hockey were atrocious. The fallout we are seeing is what happens when you label UND a "hockey school" - people think UND and the State of North Dakota should sponsor women's hockey even if no one shows up to watch it and it loses millions just because "UND is a hockey school" ..... ridiculous From a semantics standpoint, I oppose the "hockey school" labeling because it takes away from the many other championship-level athletic programs at UND, not to mention the sports at UND that also have relatively high national following. Men's hockey is the biggest program at UND, but that doesn't mean financial sense should be blatantly ignored for hockey programs in general ... good grief people. Football and basketball are the most popular sports in the country and there's no reason living in North Dakota or Minnesota should force you to move away from that obvious trend.

I hope Zimmerman doesn't have to see the field in 2017, but if he does, it will be key that he is ready to go. Like usual, many factors at play in his hopeful success if he does play in 2017 (God forbid). If the offensive line can improve, and with UND's stable of runners (Santiago, Oliveira, Johannesson, Gordon), UND could maybe grind-out a win with Zimmerman not having to air the ball out much.

Spot on. 1+ (I'm out of positive votes - HA)

Then how would you characterize women's and men's basketball national championship odds? Relatively speaking, UND football is not a long shot. Hockey produces respectable odds but one must consider relatively less competition.

They all lose money, but in terms of revenue and attendance, they perform far better than women's hockey. Even men's hockey has a net loss.

You're in the minority. Would even 5,000 people watch a hypothetical UND women's hockey national title? Doubtful based on popularity and following. 1.4 million (1,400,000, not 5,000) did just care about a game UND men's basketball was playing in and tuned in. Is the majority wrong? Doesn't matter because the majority breeds $. In contrast, the minority - which includes women's hockey in general - loses $.

I disagree. If NDSU, Montana, and Montana State can win a national championship, why can't UND? Tremendous expense in sports not even sponsored by the aforementioned schools is one major reason for UND's shortage in football; now, after this cut, UND can actually make practical progress. Hockey is niche and UND's and North Dakota's budget do not allow for it, particularly in the case of a non-attended hockey program which was UND women's hockey. UND football is not a long shot. Women's hockey with its 800 total followers was the long shot. The right decision was made today.

The numbers tell the story of this cut. It is entirely jusitified and necessary. Still, there will be anti-empricial data folks trying to paint a different picture in arguing that the financial/attendance common sense should've been ignored (well, it's already happening).

It is. Period.

I feel the same way. From a personal side, I feel horrible for the student-athletes and coaches. However, from a financial perspective and competitive perspective, this makes so much sense. Before anyone begins pointing fingers and acting like they have better solutions, consider the statewide deficit as beyond UND's control and, thus, financial solutions limited.

I completely agree. He is *officially* a University employee and therefore he should support the *official* nickname and logo.

No, I do not have that opinion. I am making stark comments only to prove a point. I honestly don't care what people wear with one caveat. My concern is that EVERYONE understands that the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo are no longer official, are permanently retired, and, as such, it is not appropriate to criticize UND administration, coaches, student-athletes and/or fans for supporting the current, official logo and nickname. Everyone is certainly allowed free speech and a right to their own personal opinion so long as it does not impinge on others; unfortunately, many "Fighting Sioux Forever" folks are overstepping these boundaries.

My thoughts also. I can't imagine he gets much more playing time by going to another DI school.

No, but I received plenty of criticism during the regular season at the Ralph while using my season tickets. jdub27 confirmed my suspicions that some of the vocal "Fighting Sioux Forever" and "anti-new nickname" individuals made their way to Scheels Arena as well. I certianly saw plenty of Fighting Sioux gear on ESPN2. Trying to spin this away from my intentions, huh? How do you not understand my post regarding this? jdub27 was not a part of the said popularity trend, but rather on the opposite side of it. Rather the popularity trend, as evidenced by social media and hockey game chants, is to oppose the new nickname and sport Fighting Sioux gear. Reread my aforementioned post more carefully.

Football put the logo on the their helmet during a time when apparently it was still optional; thus, I would argue they were the first to officially implement it.

I hope that rock you've been living under has been nice and warm. Reality check. "Hockey guys" despise the new logo and nickname largely because of current "popularity" trends in social media and hockey game cheers and not because of individual critical thought. There needs to be leaders within the hockey community for mere consideration to happen. I am steadfast on this and I don't expect you to get it.

Another solid addition -good work. Go UND!

Exactly. Bubba Schweigert gets it; he is an AD type. Berry, although a great coach, just has too much conflict of interest in this whole "tradition" and "culture" situation. Of course, one could argue Bubba would have conflict too but clearly he took the logical road instead, which is great. The hockey community currently breeds hatred for the new logo and nickname. There needs to be a change in the hockey culture before many fans begin to even fathom change and I agree that starts with Berry.

Contact the GF Herald and let them know. They should understand if they have a bit of competitive understanding and/or control over the situation. In my opinion, the Herald shouldn't print NDSU stories; that's the Forums job and interested Ag school fans can pursue stories there. GF and UND have their own DI football team and that team happens to be in competition with NDSU; thus, the Herald *should* leave NDSU alone and cover UND! With all that said, the whole Forum Communications ownership thing is probably an issue that works in NDSU's favor - damn.

Disappointing, but completely understandable, if true. O'Brien was a captain in 2016 and his leadership can still be used in other ways for 2017.

You're right. If Connor O'Brien has to call it quits and miss his senior season (which is completely necessary and understandable in the case of repeated concussions) due to - or even partly due to - a cheap shot, that is beyond upsetting. That player from SUU definitely should've received more bad press and/or discipline than he did for his actions, because there was and is no place for his head-hunting attitude at the end of SUU's loss to UND in 2016. In this day and age, where head injuries are far better understood and subsequently scarier, those players that don't want to obey the head safety rules need to be subjected to discipline. At the big stage, the NFL is currently expanding such rules; there is definitely a trickle-down effect to the NCAA. With all that said, O'Brien is an inside linebacker and there was plenty of opportunity, unfortunately, for head injuries to occur outside of said cheap shot.