[Sioux invade Mary-ucci arena.]

Yes, there is a good chance the Gophers and their high octane offense put up a dozen both nights....

...in other news, the NCAA has decided to give the National Title for the 2011-2012 year to the Minnesota Golden Gophers this Sunday. The rest of the games will be played out this year to determine who finishes runner-up and so on.

Wow, that really takes the pressure off so that's nice. But I bet the only reason you guys are okay with that is because 7>6. :D

They get you into the building. Get there and stand in line before the gates open, stake your claim at center ice. They aren't bad seats, the only part that stinks is that you can't sit at all. You can really project your voice over the arena too, which is nice.

The other bad part is since they aren't reserved, if you do find some seats but get kicked out by the actual seat holder, you can't go back to where you were. That has happened to me more than once.

[NCAA Hockey on VERSUS]

I hardly think we're a new phenomenom here. Plus you know you'd be bored without us.

[NCAA Hockey on VERSUS]

Hmmm, you don't need to go on....I, like 99% of the sports world, had no idea about those "other" sports. Congrats on that. Your basketball squad was legit when it turns out Clem wasn't legit. You are the Michigan Tech of the Big Ten, had great teams in the early to mid 1900s, but have reeked of mediocrity and irrelevance since. I wouldn't have said anything, but you were ripping on UND's athletic programs. As a UMN-TC fan, that simply is laughable.

Michgan Tech is above you in the standings, so is that supposed to be an insult?

Anyways, I don't remember ripping UNDs programs but simply responding to your rip on UMs. You can't make a blanket statement like that when you were only referring to football. And I like 99% of the sports world don't typically follow UND football so how did you expect anyone to understand that was your only frame of reference?

[Sioux invade Mary-ucci arena.]

Checked it out on GPL. Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't Sioux fans supposed to be the ones that are obsessed with Minnesota? The fact that the thread is the most popular in that category would suggest otherwise. Sounds like the crowd down there must know everything that goes on with every Sioux player, which sure sounds like a definition of obsession to me.

You're right and the thread's popularity must have nothing to do with the fact that the Sioux are this weeks opponent. Did you actually read the thread or just look at the post numbers?

[NCAA Hockey on VERSUS]

Honest to God, UND and NDSU are much closer to your athletic program than you will give us credit for. The U of MN-Twin Cities is the laughing stock of the Big Ten, and it isn't even close. If you can't admit that, you are a homer.

Good beat me to it, so thanks for that. I will give you football no questions. But how about our nationally ranked volley ball team? Baseball team has produced a couple of MLB players and has advanced into super regioals a few times. Golf won a national title the year after they were almost eliminated. Wrestling is consistently a national power. Need I go on?

[NCAA Hockey on VERSUS]

Last time I checked your precious Gophers don't exactly produce high level athletic programs, you should tone it down a notch.

Really? I suppose UND sets the standard for high level athletic programs?

[Sioux invade Mary-ucci arena.]

I love goof weekend! Love the hockey and love the intensity, as long as it stays civil. As to the goof fans resorting to ripping on ND, it only speaks to their lack of creativity. Born and raised ND, now back and won't leave (though a little break during the long winter never hurt)... But really which state would you want to be from? The one thriving in this down economy or the one that's broke and resorts to shutdowns? My favorite sign from last years series... Your states broke. Haha.

Right, because this post totally stays civil and really flows with creativity?

[NCAA playoff - a change of venue]

I read what he said the same way you did at first, but I think the poster is wondering if the Xcel as an entity would still want to host it.

I think yes. I'm not sure how it would work with the B6HC and their little tournament, as I assume that one would rotate between venues (Xcel, Joe, Kohl or Bradley Center, somewhere in OH, somewhere in PA), so the FF might have to move every five years or so (to Denver, to Grand Forks), but unless the Final Five was DU, CC, UAA, BSU and MTU (I am assuming they go back to the original format if they have 10 teams), then attendance would still be great. Really, as long as UND makes it it'll be fine!

I don't see why they wouldn't want to host. It has always been a great event for them and very well attended. Probably better then the class A hockey tournament in many cases.

I wonder if going back to the original format would reinstate the 3rd place game? There have always been mixed feelings about that but IIRC there have been cases where winning that game was a clincher for an NCAA bid for teams.

[NCAA playoff - a change of venue]

So you want a change in the playoffs because you don't like the end result? Ok.

I want a pony.

Wow, this is one of the first times I agree with you. And not about the pony

I don't think you can make the argument about punishing teams for making them play in certain venues because they are set well before the teams playing are decided. Also they are not being punished. They already got their reward and get to hang a banner. Get done with it and move on to the next fight. If you're already worn out from the previous fight to do well in the next one, that's no one's issue but the team's.

I think the best way to do this is to move it back to campus sites. Then there will not be any more cavernous empty huge areans. The other option is to hold 2 super regionals instead of 4. The first round series is an okay idea but I think another round is more exciting thing to see.

[Frozen Four 2012]

I would guess because it isn't exactly a driveable destination for college fans, except for Huntsville I suppose. I have been to Tampa in early May, it was great. I might have to hit this one up.

That's probably part of it. And I wouldn't expect too many Huntsville fans to head to the game. I think part of it is they announced it to a mostly local crowd who would be unlikely to make it again next year. Plus Tampa doesn't exactly scream hockey city, even with their NHL team. I think because the fans see Tampa as a lame attempt to expand the appeal of college hockey. Nice idea, but it won't work unfortunately.

[Frozen Four 2012]

Oh yeah, and that Frozen Four in Anaheim, ... did they draw 100 people for that?

Looks like it drew about 57k, which is way down from any other year. But still a decent draw. I'd expect Florida to be similar. Attendance will be okay as usual but certainly won't be setting any records.

[Frozen Four 2012]

It is pretty ridiculous that the "host" team is 650 miles north of the games they're hosting.

Hey, at least we won't have to see all those filthy "M"'s splattered all around the rink.

Was wondering when someone would take a lame cheap shot like that.

Anyways, it has happened before. Alaska Anchorage hosted once in California so it is not unprecedented. Odd and a lame attempt to extend the appeal of college hockey. But I'm sure it will still be well attended anyways.

What about holding it in the same location every year like the college world series? I would think the X should be a good place. Sioux fans traveled pretty well there and it will never draw a better crowd anywhere else. Plus many top notch teams are nearby.

[Frozen Four 2012]

I thought it was really funny to hear Florida get booed at the game when they announced the location. But I'm sure there will be enough fans making the trip that it will still be quite well attended.