UND-FB-FAN

Absolutely. You don't offer a kid this early unless they show you something. Only extra compelling that it is in person with the coaches. UND football on the rise.

I now suspect the same out of UND football as well, particularly with Bubba's staff and the HPC - available most of the winter for workout.

You could maybe try a little harder to not appear to be trolling. Of course seeing these student-athletes in person is a huge plus. Offering someone based on film and FCS/FBS interest is one thing, but when you see how a student-athlete moves through the same drills that UND runs in practice and takes instructions from the same position coaches that will be coaching him if he commits to UND, that is invaluable. Probably most importantly, you get a better idea of how the student-athletes are as a person while competing and before/after competing. Bubba has recruiting at UND figured out far better than Mussman ever did. Just admit it. Apparently, your "job" is to come on this board and try to reassure UND fans and yourself that UND will remain a bottom-feeder. Well, I'm afraid you may just have to admit that UND is improving, whether you like it or not. Mussman's tactic was to offer many FCS/ lower tier FBS kids early on and hope they would commit later on. Oftentimes, these kids weren't from around here so they would leave after a year or just not fit in to what UND was trying to do. Bubba's Elite Camps help better prevent such mistakes, not to mention his staff is just plain better than Mussman's staff.

Nothing but positive to get commitments this early. Means your sales pitches are compelling to commit this early.

Mussman never brought in the early numbers like this nor did he have the state support/camp process that Bubba has already implemented. Really, Bubba's method of recruiting is far more effective.

Verbal #6 has came in. DB Tim Ryan (5'11" 170 4.48) from Huntley, Illinois; same school as last year's true freshman standout DE Brandon Dranka. Tape shows solid special teams and skills from FS spot. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1863607/tim-ryan

At this level, you have to be able to assess and recruit without recruiting services and other interest. There are many, many Midwest players, particularily in North Dakota and northern Minnesota, that don't get paid attention to. UND did not run player assessment camps with Mussman like they now are with Bubba. These camps serve as a very valuable recruiting tool as they are basically a combine for the student-athletes. Today is the camp, and it's very likely UND gets commit #5 today. Bubba has this program going in the right direction. Period. He's improved coaching/schemes, recruiting tactics, and gear. Also, the facilities have just happened to improve as well with the HPC and Alerus Center upgrades. UND football will soon be at its rightful place: winning conference championships and competing for national championships.

Each player had interest from regional schools (e.g., NDSU, USD, SDSU) and a couple had offers. Don't feel like looking up details since you NDSU trolls are, well, trolling.

4 before August? We're on the right track! Bubba is getting this thing rolling!

That's cute? Try show a little respect, particularly when making assumptions. Lastly, your opinion is perfectly fine, as granted by the first amendment of the U.S. constitution. With that said, those with qualified knowledge and experience in college athletics and administration will likely have the final say.

However, its a matter of one or the other. If the vote is opened up to the public, do you honestly think everyone who votes is going to be passionate about UND or do what's in the best interest of the university? Of course not. In fact, many people who vote will have little to no background knowledge of this situation. Truly passionate does not equal truly rational. The individuals with the experience in college athletics are far more qualified than the public of North Dakota. I am not saying the public should not have the opportunity to vote on a list of five nickname options, but they should not be allowed to decide whether or not "no nickname" remains viable as an option. They do not understand the adverse pressure that puts on UND's student-athletes and marketing staff. Also, the explanation of "why UND remains 'different' from every other DI school" remains redundantly present. Trust me, I understand that most employees in UND's administration and athletics department are not from North Dakota or even Minnesota and they view their job as a stepping stone; yet, they better comprehend college athletics and the NCAA than the general public, regardless of passion.

In 1863, President Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation. Much of the "majority" was upset, but it was eventually considered civilly and morally correct. In 1920, President Wilson supported the 19th amendment. Although not nationally popular at the time, it became better understood and soon overwhelmingly accepted. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed by President Johnson, and although it was disputed at the time and continues to be challenged contemporarily, it has unarguably benefited this country. You can have your opinion, because as history suggests, everyone has one. But what history also suggests is that the popular opinion may not always be the right opinion. Now, I'm not trying to focus on discrimination, which is what the above historical acts were centered on, but what I am trying to display is the sometimes necessary submission of public opinion. In regards to UND and the nickname situation, I believe the opinion of the UND administration and athletic department is of the most importance, and although most, including myself, will miss the Fighting Sioux nickname, its time to move on.

Hockey is not a major NCAA sport; it does not garner the type of spotlight you may be perceiving. The FCS playoffs/NCAA football receive just as much support as does NCAA hockey, if not more. Perhaps if all UND fans were true fans; that is, they recognized UND has more than one sport (in fact, they have a tradition of excellence in several sports), then UND would have multiple sport student-athletes in the national spotlight. And no, Hajdu should not pick the name, but the people of the University and athletics department - who actually understand what it takes to field competitive teams and be in compliance with the NCAA - should have weighted decision-making capability. When actual university athletics employees say the "no nickname" status isn't working, it may not be foolish to actually listen.

In terms of polls, I think having a weighted total is more important than ever in this situation. Those with the University of North Dakota and athletics department know more than what the general public knows. They have to deal with the "no nickname" and Fighting Sioux/NCAA battle on a consistent basis. They know what it takes to manage a university athletics department and assemble competitive sports teams, and I think its a stretch to assume the general public knows such intricacies. For example, do you think 6 out of 10 people or 60 out of 100 people (the majority) in Grand Forks could coach UND hockey or football? Do you think they would even know what FCS football is or what the NCAA settlement terms were? Do they know what the sanctions that the NCAA threatened to impose were/are? Grand Forks citizens and UND supporters are not knowledgeable in college athletics to the point where they should be entitled and entrusted to make this "no nickname" decision. Having them choose a nickname out of a list of 5 is one thing, but completely excluding a nickname is a different category of decision-making. Its time to listen to the people who know something about what UND has to deal with behind-the-scenes. Its time to move on. As UND supporters/alumni, we can voice our support by showing up to games and supporting the student-athletes and coaches as they attempt to best represent UND athletics by winning on various stages.

Yes, it is speculation, but most of this nickname debate is just that. No one can accurately speak on the ideals of everyone involved to various degrees. It bothers me to see such passion aimed at the nickname, only then to wither away when UND football and basketball teams need such passion in terms of support. Its a cyclical issue; there would be more "overall fans" if they would attempt to make a department-wide difference with their support, because the product on the field/court would improve along with that. You have to be able to call a bluff in some of these instances. If "fans" really will drop funding because a name will change, so be it. They will come back when UND hockey is winning national titles and UND football is on the DI map competing in the playoffs every season. Point is, they will eventually realize - perhaps the hard way - that their love for UND is deeper than just a nickname/logo. If they feel they were excluded in the process, I understand their bitterness, but it is no reason to abandon the university they imply admiration for via donations.

Completely disagree. Anytime UND plays a school outside of this region, which is very frequent, the story is covered in detail - far longer than 30 seconds. It does take away from the match and student-athletes and it should be a non-issue. I think this opinion circles back to the perception of national prominence. Many UND supporters naively believe UND is the way it is locally everywhere else (i.e., everyone in the country who is a college athletics fan should know what UND is dealing with). That is just not the case. Go to SEC or PAC-12 country, where UND rarely plays or recruits, and you'll see the instant drop-off in familiarity. This is why making UND uniform with the rest of DI athletics, regarding the nickname, is the most logical solution moving forward as it relates to the success of ALL UND sports.

There will always be two sides of the fence, but that doesn't mean both sides should be contemplated lengthily; that is why popular opinion is being tested here. The vast majority of the people coming out of the woodwork on this issue are of the "hockey-only" crowd. If those individuals were truthfully passionate about University of North Dakota athletics, they would support all sports, not just one. Furthermore, it's their opinion that excludes the holistic approach to UND athletics. Lastly, UND needs to worry about competing on the field of competition, by improving academic standards, facilities, and instruction/coaching, not how to politically deal with impulsive behavior regarding a nickname/logo. This is what is called prioritizing, and to the "hockey-only" crowd, their athletic priorities are biased drastically.

There are several reasons why popular opinion via polls is misleading. Although the polls regarding this subject may be accurately projecting popular opinion in the Grand Forks area, I just don't see that majority as being rational thought, but rather emotional, impulsive subjectivity. When I sit in the stands to watch UND compete on the field, court, or ice, I do not think about the nickname/logo. Instead, I concentrate on the players, the competition, and how UND can defeat their opponent. That's the same thing that the players and coaches are thinking, and should it not be the same thing that the fans/supporters/alumni in the stands are thinking? By delaying this process, UND continues to take attention off the student-athletes and the competition on the field/court/ice. The nickname standoff should not be the focus! I want to see UND win conference titles, FCS titles, NCAA hockey titles, not some abstract nickname civil war. Let's move on and worry about what we as UND supporters, fans, alumni, etc. can do to affect the score on the scoreboard, not the name on the jersey. That means if people would attend football and basketball games with the same enthusiasm that they are attacking this fiasco with, UND would be a top 10 school in all sports, and it is that that disappoints me the most in my fellow North Dakotans.

There will be no ass kicking. NDSU is not God's gift to Earth. You will see you. Good day.

Worth a shot, even if it is a long one. I still feel UND needs one more "go-to" type back on their roster.

There is something to this; however, it's not just the success and coverage that UND hockey receives, but also the excessive emphasis/support from the administration. NDSU is where it is because it emphasizes sports that the nation cares about. UND is where it is because it emphasizes sports that the region cares about.

Yes. Success is key, not the status of a nickname. Time to move on.

Exactly, which is why UND needs to expand their brand, particularly in football and basketball. UND hockey is without question the financial-engine and fan-stabilizer right now, but way more potential exists with football and basketball. If UND football and/or basketball grows to the point that it can compete against the big boys (like NDSU has done), then UND will gain far greater national recognition. That needs to be focused on, not the nickname. Whether or not UND possesses the nickname Fighting Sioux, or "no nickname" , or any nickname for that matter, has no bearing on the competitiveness of UND. The competitiveness should be the focus.

How can the Fighting Sioux logo be one of the most highly recognizable nicknames/logos in the NCAA when college hockey (the only UND sport that excessively wore the Fighting Sioux logo) is certainly not the most highly recognizable sport in the NCAA? The college hockey niche that exists in North Dakota and Minnesota is blinded by their passion to the point where their perception of popular opinion is strongly altered. I'm sorry, but the NCAA and the national supporters of college athletics are not in the utmost awe of the Fighting Sioux logo. Yes, the logo was unique, traditional, representative, and honorable, among other things, but it was not the Holy Grail. Yes, the logo was majestic and attention-grabbing, but it was not the foundation of the University of North Dakota athletics. Ultimately, I completely agree with the stance that the University of North Dakota and its athletic teams are way more than a logo/nickname. I would much rather see UND athletics gain national recognition through the winning of the titles and actual accomplishment rather than possessing a creative, airport-loving, golf course-attaching, random bar-adoring nickname/logo. With that said, North Dakota is not a nickname, but rather a proper identifier. And if every other DI school is going to have a nickname -- for marketing, national identification, etc. -- then it is in the best interest of UND to move on and acquire one as well. Blame the NCAA. Blame the legal settlement terms. Perhaps blame the administration for selecting an illogical procedure in order to select the new nickname. But do not blame the University of North Dakota for needing to do what's best for itself: move on. There are far more important battles (both academically and athletically) to be fought than living in the past of a nickname.

Tremendous story. Jahmere Irvin-Sill's piece starts at 6:15 in the video. He's been through a lot, but he appears to have great character and determination. I have the utmost confidence that the University of North Dakota and the people of North Dakota will be a great fit for Jahmere. And, lastly, he appears to be a good football player. Should help out UND football right away. Bubba has this thing building up.