fightingsioux4life

No, you didn't offend me. Five years ago, I might have been offended. Now, at 39 years old (and a mature mind, CMSioux), I have grown a thicker skin and I don't take things quite as personally as I used to. But the very notion that the braintrust of UND doesn't care about being #1 in the nation in our signature sport (hockey) and has allowed our #2 sport to decay to the point it hasn't been at since 1986 (football) does offend me. That is what set me off, not you personally. I am sorry it came off like that. For the record, I am not calling for Hakstol's head. But I do think it is fair and appropriate to question our lack of ability to get over the hump in March and April. And I don't think Hakstol will be pushed out. When he leaves, it will be because an NHL team offered him a lot of money to serve as an assistant and we won't be able or willing to match it. I do hope Hakstol gets us over the hump before he leaves; I just have some serious doubts it will happen.

Really Mr. Rogers? This isn't about me? You are right, this isn't about me. It's about ALL OF US. ALL OF US that contribute our time, money, energy and passion to this program (and all our other programs; check out the FB coaching search thread for evidence of this). ALL OF US that bleed Green and White and are still mourning the loss of the Fighting Sioux name and logo. ALL OF US that will stand with the school and the teams win, lose or draw. And if the Athletic Department doesn't think winning NCAA titles is important to the hockey (and FB) programs, then they are doing a disservice to all the stakeholders (including everyone on this forum) of UND athletics. So you are right, it isn't just about me. But know this; I and many others will continue to speak our peace about our programs and the institution whether you like it or not. THAT is a tough truth for YOU to accept. I hope that little nugget of truth doesn't burst YOUR bubble. And since you are playing Mr. Rogers, why don't you go over to the FB coaching discussion thread and tell everyone that is concerned about the search and how it is being conducted that it isn't "all about them" and that "it isn't always what we want". But if you get your butt chewed over it, please don't let it burst your bubble.

But we get to keep more of the gate and that is what really matters according to some people.

Don't jump off the ship; that doesn't solve anything. Let's wait and see what Faison comes up with.

You are right, I would hold it up as an example of our continued failings in March and April. I just wish we would get off the schnide and start collecting NCAA title trophies instead of bridesmaid dresses. I get so sick and tired of hearing about Boston College this and Boston College that. That attention used to be focused on UND. That is what I want us to get back to. End Rant.

Yeah, I noticed that too.

Really? The fans don't have to "get used to" anything. If we backslide into being a perennial .500 program, the Athletic Department and REA will have to "get used to" not having home sellouts anymore. We've won four in a row, but I am still not sold on this team being a factor in the playoffs this year or next. And please, everyone, enough references to Jerry "Freaking" York! I do not care what Jerry York and his program are or aren't doing; I care about THIS program. Period.

I remember that series. The tie was on Friday night and we won on Saturday night.

I think that was early in the 1997-98 season on the road in Colorado Springs; where freshman Karl Goehring had his coming out party. I believe we won and tied that weekend.

But Lennon has tried to win with the same basic philosophy and it isn't working very well down there. If the Bison had a good (but not great) defense, they wouldn't be close to the team they are right now.

That example keeps being brought up, but everyone ignores the fact that they do have a functioning passing game. Brock Jensen is not a great QB, but is a consistently solid QB; you know what you're getting from him every week. He keeps the defenses honest so that the running game can work and (with a few exceptions the past couple of years) makes good decisions with the ball. With a great defense like they have now (which they won't always have), that is enough to win. At Southern Illinois however, it hasn't worked as well for Lennon and company. Dominant defenses like NDSU's are not all that common; they come around only so often. If we are going to count on having a defense like that, we'll have a lot of lean years.

As nostalgic and sentimental I am about the Thomas-Lennon era of the 1990's through the mid-2000's, the game has changed. You must have some sort of deep passing game to loosen up defenses enough to be able to establish a legitimate running game. Defenses are more athletic and nimble than they used to be, so you must have balance and enough tools in the toolbox for any situation that comes up. The offenses we had in the early to mid 1990's would be toast in today's game. I think the spread option would work great for us.

Well said GoGriz. I just hope Faison looks at it the same way.

But Hakstol says we should have shootouts because fans in Montreal, Quebec like them. Seriously though, I agree with you on shootouts. I think 4X4 for 10 minutes would eliminate a lot of ties. And I think the skill players would love the chance to show off their talent.

Use next time and I think people will get it.

I agree with this.

I have said before the NDSU win over the Badgers in Madison was a signature win for them. But beating the Irish just isn't quite at the same level.

I don't see the Irish beating us by that much. If we can play Wisconsin close in Madison, we should have a chance to do the same in South Bend. And please don't give them any more bright ideas (the NDSU-Miami Heat comment). Their egos are so big right now they probably could talk themselves into believing that too.

Why should we be nice to them; most of them won't even acknowledge that our hockey titles are legitimate (niche sport, not enough teams, nobody cares, blah, blah, blah). They come on here and troll for attention, make inflammatory comments and then we are supposed to be nice and complimentary to them? Sorry, I am through being nice to our rivals, it just encourages more trolls to come over here and cause trouble. Our fan base has gotten soft and complacent over the years. We are just expected to accept mediocrity and give everybody else credit for this and that (the nauseating level of fawning over Grand Valley State back in the day is just one example). We have serious problems in the Empire to solve and we had better start solving them. Or we'll pay for it for years to come. End rant.

Just because the media thinks the Irish are great at everything doesn't make it so. Yes, it was a solid upset win on the road against a big-name school. That does not make Notre Dame a great Men's BB school. Anyone that thinks they are great is being "ludicrous", not me.

If you are talking media exposure, it definitely is a big win. I was simply pointing out that the Irish are not known for their greatness in Men's BB. And making the NCAA tournament is not exactly like getting a BCS Bowl bid; look how many teams there are. Just getting into that tournament doesn't necessarily prove greatness.

And you just proved the point I was trying to make. Thank you.

I don't believe I said any of those things, don't put words in my mouth, even though it's one of the few things you are really good at. All I said was that Notre Dame is not a marquee program in Men's BB and that is the plain and simple truth. I will give you credit for the FBS wins and the FCS national titles (despite the obnoxious nature of your fan base), but I am not going to buy the notion that beating Notre Dame in Men's BB is some sort of huge milestone in your program's D-I existence. Beat a team like Kansas and then I'll give you all the props you want.

They have the occasional head-turning team (2011), but more often than not, they aren't anything special. FB comes first, second and third at Notre Dame, with everything else way behind. If you want to call it a signature win because of Notre Dame's nationally prominent brand, that's fine. But it's not nearly as impressive as beating Wisconsin or Marquette.

My point is that they are not a consistent basketball power year in and year out like Duke, North Carolina, etc. I don't think they are even ranked right now. When you think Notre Dame, you think FB, you don't think Men's BB. As for making the NCAA tournament 31 times, that doesn't necessarily speak to greatness, considering how many spots are available. NDSU beating Wisconsin in Men's BB was a much bigger accomplishment than beating Notre Dame in Men's BB.