fightingsioux4life

Grand Forks has never had the same things to entice recruits that Denver or Minneapolis has. Yet, we still hung a bunch of banners. As for the almighty B1G, the success of two of their teams can be attributed to the following: -Minnesota is more successful now because they replaced Don Lucia with Bob Motzko. The program was stuck in the mud with Lucia at the end of his tenure there. -Michigan is more successful now because Red Berenson finally retired; he was decomposing behind the bench towards the end and the program suffered for it. NIL is being used as yet another reason why we can't expect national-level success at UND anymore. I am not saying we shouldn't do something pro-active about it, but it is a very convenient excuse to throw out there when we have a disappointing season like this one. The Engelstad Foundation could set up an NIL program for athletes to help promote the various charitable endeavors of the Foundation. The Foundation is not a part of UND, so I think it would pass NCAA muster. What say everyone?

The Little 7 will never cut us in on the main revenue streams, so that isn't happening.

I guess my concern is being left behind in the college hockey universe. It can happen quickly and it is not easy to claw your way back.

Fair enough.

So if next season is similar to this season, you'll point to the back-to-back-to-back NCHC titles? It doesn't take long for a program to sink into the sewer (Wisconsin). I don't want us to learn that lesson the hard way.

The changing landscape doesn't seem to have negatively impacted Denver at all. The basics of recruiting, coaching and locker room culture will always determine success or lack thereof. And all three are suspect at UND this year.

The sample size on Lance is too small right now, so I say Wentz.

Denver and Duluth have each won two NCAA titles since we hung #8. If Denver wins it this year (a distinct possibility), it would mark their third title in six years (not counting the non-tournament 2020 COVID year). That's a .500 batting average for those keeping score at home. Yet I am told UND cannot expect to win NCAA titles because of any number of reasons (parity, lucky bounces, one-and-done format). The idea that UND is incapable of having that kind of success is ludicrous.

Every year? Gosh no, hockey isn't watered-down like FCS football. But when I point out that Denver and Duluth have each won two NCAA titles since our last title, the response I get is something along the lines of "Well, we just cannot expect those results here." Why not? When did our standards and expectations drop to the point where early exits from the NCAA tournament and missing the tournament are greeted with shrugged shoulders? That is what bothers me and others on this topic.

4x4 for 10 minutes. If no winner, then it goes down as a tie. Go back to the 2 points per game system. And no more abominable shootouts!

You really think Berry cares what we post?

That is a patently false choice. This is not an either/or, zero sum game. It is possible to make the tournament regularly AND win NCAA titles. If other schools can do it, so can we.

Sounds like a coach we used to have whose initials were DB.

If next season is like this season, it will be time for a change. Wisconsin went down the sewer fairly quickly and it could happen to us just as easily.

Now there's a thought that will fester.

I have disliked Fargo South since 1994.

Ugh!

Next season will be HUGE for the coaching staff and the program as a whole.

Yeah. Rope-A-Dope, then capitalize on a mistake.

So Grand Forks giving up everything is what's best for the state as a whole? That is pure NDSU-branded horse manure. Fargo is better for football. Grand Forks is better for hockey. The small school basketball tournaments probably belong out west. The large school basketball tournaments probably belong in the east. That is how I would divide it up.

That I agree with you on.