fightingsioux4life

Props to everyone's comments so far. Here are a few things I am sick and tired of hearing from the team, the media and some of our fans as well: 1) "You have to give (the team that just kicked our butts) a lot of credit. They worked hard, they buried the puck, blah, blah, blah!!!" If Hakstol gives any more credit to other teams, he's going to have to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. I have no problem recognizing the talent other teams have and respecting other programs. But if you respect them too much, it can put up psychological barriers to playing well. Not to mention providing a convenient excuse when you play like crap and lose. 2) "We ran into a hot goaltender" I believe this started with the 1996 WCHA First Round Playoff Loss to the Badgers (back to back overtime games) and it's still going on. Yes, a goaltender can and occasionally does carry a team to a win or a championship that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to achieve. But you can't bring this up after every single loss. It doesn't seem to happen to any other teams except us, which leads me to believe that it has become a sorry excuse for bad offensive execution and poor shot selection. I also think it becomes a sort of self-fulfulling prophecy for our players. By making a goaltender unbeatable, you psych yourselves out and that leads to forcing shots and passing when you should just shoot the stupid thing. Unfortunately, the media has picked this up and continues to repeat it over and over again. During the World Junior Tournament, the U.S. lost to the Czech Republic 3-1 in the prelim round. The U.S. forwards kept blotching odd-man rushes and shooting the puck over the net, but all I heard the next day was how "hot" and "unbeatable" the Czech goaltender was. Lucky is more like it. If I ever hear this again this season, I think I'm going to throw up. 3) Tim Hennessey on the Fighting Sioux Hockey Network during the St. Cloud series at The Ralph (paraphrasing): This team and the fans in this building need to understand that if this team wants to win, they're going to have to win ugly. In other words, the team lacks offensive talent and needs to keep scores down to give it at least some chance to win. Let's see; Stafford, Porter, Zajac, Spirko, Murray....yeah, those are marginal forwards at best. Maybe Tim has a point. While I have stated in the past that the upperclassmen forwards are nothing special and that our best forwards are freshmen and sophomores, I don't think they are so devoid of offensive talent that they have to start playing like Michigan Tech or Anchorage. There is a lot of underachieving on this team right now and that shouldn't be overlooked by the media (and especially the coaching staff). While I think Hakstol deserves a few years to prove he has what it takes to lead a big-time program like ours, some of the things I've heard this season are not encouraging. I think we can make a run in the playoffs, but I think the coaching staff needs to plant some boots in some rear ends. Hakstol needs to figure out he's not an assistant anymore. He needs to set the tone for this team and program, or we won't win #8 anytime soon.

It's over! The Tigers sweep the Rodents in "The John", winning 5-3 tonight. It kind of makes last night a little easier to swallow.

This proposal is ridiculous, of course, but it shouldn't surprise anybody. It is attitudes like these that sour my attitude toward Canadian hockey (I cheered for Canada in the gold metal game on Tuesday only because I didn't like Russia). They hate the idea of hockey being played by anyone but Canadians. If they want to limit the presence of Americans and Europeans in their precious Major Junior system, by all means let them. It probably will encourage more top players in the States and the Old World to consider College Hockey. I wouldn't mind seeing another Spirko or two wearing Green and White in the future!

Cratter, I think this is a case of cheering for the lesser of two evils. I usually cheer against Canada every chance I get, but this time I will have to side with our neighbors to the north. Those Russian punks don't deserve to wear gold metals. The Canadian fans I have been sitting with are pretty cool. Those jerks in the upper deck cheering against us are exceptions to the rule. I can't believe I'm saying this, but..... GO, CANADA, GO!!!

On the front page of the December 15th edition of the Grand Forks Herald, it is reported that UND is going to try to land a $25 to $31 million Federal biological research facility that would specialize in creating vaccines against deadly human pathogens. This would mean more and better paying jobs for Grand Forks and another important addition to UND's educational mission. With the war on terror continuing and the fear of terrorists using biological weapons inside the United States, a facility like this is very much relevant to the times in which we live. The one big potential hurdle is that the ND legislature might decide that the Federal matching requirement would cost the state too much money. I hope our elected representatives, who are usually much better at talking about economic development and job creation than actually doing it, will think twice before killing what could be a wonderful addition to our economy and educational system in North Dakota. Any other thoughts?

Just the thought of North Dakota kids growing up dreaming of wearing Maroon and Gold makes me want to throw up! That being said, I don't think it will happen. Most North Dakota kids grow up wanting to wear the Green and White. With the advent of the Fighting Sioux Sports Network, more and more kids will grow up watching the Sioux play in the best hockey arena in College Hockey (and better than some NHL rinks). I think Danny Irmen grew up watching the Gophers and wanting to play for them, so I think he was lost a long time ago. The Potulny's got away because Blais made a rare recruiting mistake by passing on Grant, thinking he wasn't very good. If Grant had went here, I think Ryan would have followed. I think Hakstol needs to make keeping D-I level ND kids in North Dakota a top priority in his tenure. Blais made it a priority when he took over in 1994 and our program got some good players out of it. We'll never be able to fill our roster with ND talent, but we need to try to keep as many of them here as we can. They are a nice compliment to the Canadians and Minnesotans we bring in on a regular basis. Who knows, maybe this year's European addition to the program (Spirko) will help open a pipeline to the Old World. But I think if we can keep the ND kids at home and continue to pick up talent from Canada and Minnesota, I think we'll be just fine. Enjoy the ND kids you have Gopher Fans, but don't expect it to continue!

PCM, I'm positive we'll pick up a road sweep in the second half someplace. Doing it in Duluth against a desperate team that has more talent than they have shown so far is tough. We have been showing slow, steady progress the last few weeks. I'm looking forward to getting back to the Final Five and making some noise. Hopefully, that will lead to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Without the pressure of being the #1 overall seed like last year, maybe we'll perform better.

State of Hockey, I just had to comment on your cute little sig line. We still have had (and will continue to have) WAY more North Dakota kids in our program than you will EVER have. You got lucky with Grant "Sour Grapes" Potulny and his kid brother (Ryan), who also brought along his best friend ("Danny-Boy" Irmen). But most of the really good ND talent will usually wear the Green and White. At least now I won't have to listen to Gopher fans rip North Dakota hockey talent, they really can't do it anymore. At least UND can steal Minnesota High School kids from the Rodents from time to time. But oh, that's right, I almost forgot: "If UND gets a good Minnesota kid, the Gophers really didn't want him anyway." Go back to POI and quit polluting this forum!!!

U2Bad1, I don't think anyone is suggesting that people that live as far away from Grand Forks as you come back; I think the message is for people that live relatively close to campus and are very capable of driving back for the game. This is one of the biggest home games we've ever had, at least the biggest since the UC-Davis semifinal game in 2001. We need a lot of people and a lot of noise. I think this game will be like a heavyweight boxing match, two fighters slugging it out until one of them can't continue. With both teams thriving on defense and being somewhat inconsistent on offense, I think special teams might decide it. If that is the case, I would have to say......UND 17, GVSU 10

At least we HAVE a legitimate hockey program, not some cheeseball club team that probably couldn't beat the ND High School Champions! As for when we move up to D-I in all sports, we will do it when it is the right time for UND, not because we want to show up our rivals or because we are jealous of what our rivals have and we don't have (UND has hockey and NDSU doesn't). Now, onto the subject of the playoff bracket: I was hoping to draw Winona, as I think they would be a somewhat easier opponent than St. Cloud. But I think all the teams in the Northwest Region are good and there are no really easy games, especially when you are on the road. I think there is a very good chance of Sioux-Lakers III at The Al on November 27th. But both teams need to take care of business the next two weeks first. I have a feeling that both these teams are ready to start winning games when it counts. Too bad for the rest of the region.

Good analysis, here are a few thoughts of my own....... Agreed. Stop Matt Birkel and you stop the Huskies. I don't think their quarterback is good enough to carry the team if he has to. Roland and Strouth will have to play well, but I think we are going to have to use the pass to set up the run. Our running game hasn't been dominant this season so far. We got to Florence throwing the ball last year and I think we'll have to do it again this time. Spreading the ball around will be a must. Belmore (who I think will be starting) will have to make plays for us to win. This game is a chance for redemption. The defense needs to get back to its usual level of nastiness. We've given up some big plays the past two weeks. We can't let that happen in the postseason. The special teams are fantastic right now. And special teams can win or lose games for you all by themselves. Taking the redshirt off of Dressler was one of the best decisions the coaching staff has ever made. This is a must in the playoffs. All the teams are good and if you aren't on top of your game, your season will be finished. I said after the loss in October that if we played this team again, we would win. I still feel this way. UND 28, SCSU 17

I agree with you, but that's where the state legislature is taking us. But that's another topic for another time. The point I was trying to hammer home is that with students paying more and more of the bill (in tuition and in other fees), students shouldn't be treated like dirt at hockey games or anywhere else. I guess I could have picked a better example. Anyway, if I remember correctly, the legislature voted back during the 2001 session to not help pay for any maintenance or operating costs for the new REA, so this whole "taxpayer" discussion is somewhat irrelevant to the topic at hand. My mistake, again. You are partially right. UND wouldn't exist without state sponsorship and support and with the support of alums and other private organizations. However, without students continuing to chose UND as their college, UND would be in a tough spot. I went to hockey games as a student and now as a season ticket holder. I never have detected this "attitude" you are talking about, either sitting in the student section or now sitting a couple of sections across from the student section. All I've seen is a bunch of college kids having fun on a Friday or Saturday night. Sure, there are always a few bad apples and malcontents, but it is wrong to paint the entire student section with this label. If anyone needs an attitude adjustment, it's the REA management and some of the staff. Again, what "behavior" are you talking about? Is it the standing up for the whole game? I've already stated that I think both sides need to sit down and hammer out an agreement that everyone can live with. Profanity? I don't use it and I don't like it. But you will always have it to a certain extent in sports crowds in this country, whatever the sport. At least we don't fight each other like soccer crowds in Europe. Throwing stuff on the ice? Other than hats after a hat trick, it hasn't happened much in the new Ralph. I think it happened much more in the old Ralph. Again, I haven't seen much inappropriate or rowdy behavior on the part of student fans. The only inappropriate behavior I've heard about is on the part of REA management and staff, based on the comments I've read on this forum and on what I've heard from others on campus. I am one of those people who pays good money to watch our team play. And the only bad behavior at the games has been on the part of REA management. You know, the most outrageous thing about this whole ordeal is how the whole student section has been blamed for the actions of a few jerks that you will invariably get at sporting events. That green-colored 'riot act' that showed up last year at the CC series is an example of blaming one whole group for the actions of a few jerks. By all means, kick out those that are causing trouble. But don't look for any excuse you can find to kick students out of the Ralph. A little balance and common-sense goes a long way to preventing problems. The old Ralph had rules: No banging on the glass, No throwing garbage on the ice, basic common-sense things that probably 99% of students had no problem with, including myself. People who couldn't behave were tossed out. And deservedly so. But people who were behaving were left alone. That is not the case in the new Ralph, if the posters on this forum are telling the truth, which I think they are. If we can fix the seating arrangement so that students aren't bothering season ticket holders and vise-versa, that would fix most of the problems we've had since the new Ralph opened in 2001. And I don't think the atmosphere would suffer much, if at all. I think it might even be better. As for troublemakers, toss them out but leave everyone else alone. That makes sense, probably too much sense for REA management! The bottom line is, I want a good college atmosphere where everyone has a good time and no one feels unwelcome. This is as a former student, season ticket holder and FSC member. There's my viewpoint, fair and balanced!!!

PCM, Don't start with the "taxpayers of North Dakota" B.S. (of which I am one, by the way). The "taxpayers of North Dakota" are funding less and less of UND's budget with each passing legislative session. As a result, the students are paying more and more of the bill for UND to operate. You can't ask students to pay more in tuition, fees, hockey tickets, ect. and then treat them like second-class (or worse) citizens. And the university does exist because of the students. If our students are treated like crap, they might decide to go someplace else for their education (perhaps NDSU! ) and we'll lose out on tuition dollars and future alumni contributions. And they'll tell all their friends back home about it and they might not come to school here either. And thanks to dwindling state appropriations, we can't afford that. And that's what this issue is really all about, is it not? If students are treated like dirt at athletic events like hockey games or in other departments on campus, when they are out making money in the "real world" (something some people on this forum think they are experts on), they might decide not to contribute one cent to the athletic department or to any other department on campus. This issue goes beyond college athletics. It goes to the heart of how we treat our students (a.k.a. future alums and potential benefactors). There is no reason why we can't work out a deal that protects student interests while insuring that REA continues to generate the revenues we need to fund our athletic programs. That is what it was built for in the first place. A lot of people, particularly in REA management circles, have forgotten that. All I want, as a season ticket holder and a FSC member, is to bring back the atmosphere of the old Ralph to the new one. That is what the team deserves and it's what all the fans deserve as well.

Sorry, I didn't see it. I don't watch the "Worldwide Leader in Hype" very much.

Okay, I stand corrected about yesterday's game. But in a lot of games this season, our O-Line hasn't gotten it done. I hope they can pull it together again next week and give us a shot at getting into the post-season. Whatever happened to Lennon's "If he's not 100%, he doesn't play" rule? It's a good rule and he should have stuck with it. Good question and the answer is we shouldn't. I'd rather lose because of young QB's mistakes than because an injured senior can't put the ball where he wants it. I certainly hope we get into the playoffs and make another run at it, but I just don't think it is meant to be this year. Next year could be the best season ever for this program, assuming injuries don't come up AGAIN. I'll be there on Saturday. Win or lose, playoffs or not, it's been another fun year!

ESPN has always hated all of our athletic programs. When our Women's Basketball team was winning National Titles in the 1990's, the 4th string announcers they put on the air always rooted against us. Same with the 2001 FB National Title game; they were getting all excited about a Grand Valley State victory right before "The Play" put us on the one yard line, setting up the game winning TD. And who could forget the Doug Flutie love fest back in 2000 during the Frozen Four championship game. At least we got the last laugh on THAT one! Screw ESPN and their cheesy, hype-filled style of sports reporting! We know what the team should be called and that's all that matters! GO SIOUX!!!

I hate to say this, but I think we're going to be out of the title picture for a few years at least. The senior and junior classes of forwards are nothing special. Some of the freshmen and sophomores are special, but we can't lean on them to carry the load up-front on a night-to-night basis. Next year, we lose a big chunk of our defensive core and will have a very young team again (just like in 2001-2002). I think that after next season, we'll be able to shoot for another championship (both WCHA and NCAA). But until then, get used to being average to slightly above average.