fightingsioux4life

So I'm not the only one?

The goal of UND athletics should be to attain success at ALL sports. That means MBB making the NCAA tournament. That means WBB making the NCAA tournament (already happened once) That means FB winning conference and national championships. That means MH winning conference and national championships. That means WH winning conference and national championships. Notice what I did there? I didn't pit one sport against another and turn this into a game of false choices and further perpetuating the myth that this is all a zero-sum game. I want UND to succeed in all it's endeavors (academics, athletics and research). That should be our focus, not this petty debate of football vs. hockey vs. basketball vs. whatever else.

Shhhh, don't ask questions like that. Don't you know it is inappropriate to question anything connected to REA, the BESC or the Engelstads?

I think it was started as a joke and people turned it into a serious discussion of the merits of FCS FB vs. DI Hockey.

That would mean an increase in the number of Bison trolls on here trying to convince us to join the MVFC/Slummit League. Grab the popcorn!

It should be pointed out that a lot of hockey-playing kids don't play on high school teams.

The overall chaos UND was experiencing probably wasn't attractive to him.

The Tim Brewster of DI FCS?

Thank you for working on keeping this a great place to talk UND and other sports.

That would work, wouldn't it? Off-campus, large enough, and you know we would pack the place. I don't think they put pipes into the Alerus Center when they built it; I kept hearing the argument "there are many fine facilities already available". And remember, this was before REA was announced. Maybe it is worth rethinking now?

Cripes, this is supposed to be about winning Gold Medals and sticking it to our neighbors north of the 49th parallel. If this nonsense keeps us from winning Medals (preferably Gold), then some changes need to be made at the top.

I am beginning to believe he is a double-secret double agent working for Bisonville.

LOL! Seriously though, you are right, it is a privilege to watch this team. As for "the top teams from the east", I am not scared of any of those teams. The NCHC is, top to bottom, the toughest conference in the country. We'll be battle-tested and ready for whatever comes our way in March and April.

Kieffer Bellows6-1 (185)195 (88)6/10/98LEdina, Minn.U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL)2016 Draft EligiblePaul Bittner6-4 (193)202 (92)11/4/96LCrookston, Minn.Portland Winterhawks (WHL)CBJ ('15, 2nd rd., 38th ovr.)Anders Bjork5-11 (180)183 (83)8/5/96RMequon, Wis.University of Notre Dame (HEA)BOS ('14, 5th rd., 146th ovr.)Brock Boeser6-0 (183)192 (87)2/25/97RBurnsville, Minn.University of North Dakota (NCHC)VAN ('15, 1st rd., 23rd ovr.)Alex DeBrincat5-7 (170)161 (73)7/29/98LFarmington Hills, Mich.Erie Otters (OHL)2016 Draft EligibleRyan Donato6-1 (185)181 (82)4/9/96LScituate, Mass.Harvard University (ECAC Hockey)BOS ('14, 2nd rd., 56th ovr.)Christian Dvorak6-0 (183)187 (85)2/2/96LPalos, Ill.London Knights (OHL)ARZ ('14, 2nd rd., 58th ovr.)Scott Eansor5-8 (173)168 (76)1/3/96LEnglewood, Colo.Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)Free AgentRyan Hitchcock5-10 (178)170 (77)3/30/96LManhasset, N.Y.Yale University (ECAC Hockey)Free AgentClayton Keller5-10 (178)170 (77)7/29/98LSwansea, Ill.U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL)2016 Draft EligibleAuston Matthews6-0 (183)199 (90)9/17/97LScottsdale, Ariz.ZSC Lions (National A-Swiss)2016 Draft EligibleRyan MacInnis6-4 (193)185 (84)2/14/96LSt. Louis, Mo.Kitchener Rangers (OHL)ARZ ('14, 2nd rd., 43rd ovr.)Sonny Milano5-11 (180)185 (85)5/12/96LMassapequa, N.Y.Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)CBJ ('14, 1st rd., 16th ovr.)Nick Schmaltz6-0 (183)172 (78)2/23/96RVerona, Wis.University of North Dakota (NCHC)CHI ('14, 1st rd., 20th ovr.)Matthew Tkachuk6-1 (185)188 (85)12/11/97LSt. Louis, Mo.London Knights (OHL)2016 Draft EligibleColin White6-0 (183)183 (83)1/30/97RHanover, Mass.Boston College (HEA)OTT ('15, 1st rd., 21st ovr.)As we figured, Boeser and Schmaltz made the preliminary roster. I think both have an excellent chance at making the final roster.

That is a pattern I have noticed as well. I would urge current college players to listen to the voices of experience and think twice about leaving school early. Unless your last name is Toews, Parise or Oshie, it isn't worth giving up your college years (which will never, ever come again).

<sigh> On that, we agree.

I think he'll get another couple of years to get his team back into the NCAA tournament.

I have said this before, nobody has said it in so many words. However, they make comments such as "Well, it would be nice to win another 'natty', but it isn't all that big of a deal if we don't." That makes it clear that they don't care all that much if we hang another dark green banner or not.

I agree with you. However, more than a few people on this forum seem to not care so much if we do it or not.

I agree with this 1000%. The frustration people had with Hakstol was the inability to finish the job at the biggest stage in college hockey (Frozen Four). And that frustration was built over a period of 10 years. Berry will obviously get a honeymoon period here (something that Hakstol admittedly did not get and should have gotten), but with the expectations our fans have of this program, that won't last more than a few years. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

You obviously didn't read my post; I said this team dumps it in the zone WHEN APPROPRIATE. And no, we didn't dump it in if we had a breakaway under Hakstol or any other coach, that would be boneheaded. However, I have seen many instances this season where one of our guys carried the puck into the zone with two defensemen in front of him. Under Hakstol, he would have dumped it in. Under Berry, he carries it in and it usually leads to some scoring changes. And it wreaks absolute havoc on the opposition as they scramble to protect their goal crease. Putting pressure on your opponent also leads to turnover and mistakes, which can lead to goals. I have never said dump and chase is ALWAYS bad, sometimes it is the only play available and sometimes it is just the right play in that circumstance. This whole conversation started when someone had the unmitigated gall to point out that there are some differences between Hakstol and Berry in terms of offensive tactics. That led to all these defensive comments by some people complaining about "Hak Bashing". THAT, my friend, is MY biggest pet peeve on this site. I do like what this team is doing and I hope they keep on doing it.

Not to mention a couple of tall WRs to stretch the field. Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace haven't done much.