zonadub

Great find Hayduke! +1

OK, I'll play... Nebraska returns to the Big 12 (scenario #3). Big 12 picks up NDSU to round out the conference (scenario #1). Wait! I'm not done. B1G then adds UND as a full member to bolster their hockey conference, but also adds the rest of the sports to fill in for Nebraska leaving. Far-fetched, you say? Impossible? Well, probably. But just as likely as the Big 12 adding NDSU.

The only name that would have a resounding majority would be ... you guessed it ... Fighting Sioux. There is not a name that would please everyone. We can agree that some decent names were summarily dismissed for no good reason, but they would not have had an overwhelming majority support, either. However, we also agree that several/most of the semi-finalists are really bad (wonder if it's a set-up to arrive at the preselected winner) Roughriders has pretty much been the clubhouse leader from the start (polls in the newspaper where you can vote as many time as you can click 'submit' in an evening or two in your mother's basement do not count, nor does asking a few select friends). Wish I could have come up with the ultimate replacement, but it does not exist.

I gotta give you credit... You are persistent.

Personally, I do not care whether the NCAA will allow 'no nickname' or just "North Dakota" or not. In my opinion, that/those option(s) are not in the best interest of UND and the athletic program formerly known as the Fighting Sioux. Whether you like it or not, it is the program formerly known as the Fighting Sioux. The NCAA and the PC crowd has seen to that and in this era of the bleeding heart white man apologist, it will not change. I will admit I do not care for almost all the names still under consideration, but to think going forward with no name is settling the matter is, again in my opinion, shortsighted. Whether UND become the Roughriders, ________ Hawks or even Nodaks, it is still the UND team that I will root for for the rest of my mortal life.

Applications closed a week ago... so is it Shaw?

OK, so I think I have finally figured out how to fix this whole nickname boondoggle... Kelly is retiring, right? UND needs a new President, right? UND/Kelly has done nothing to address the tribal disapproval of the Sioux nickname. Am I right so far? So, the SBOHE should name either Archie Fool Bear or Eunice Davidson as the next President of UND and UND would have an executive with the passion and NA backing to go to the NCAA and the Tribal Councils to approve the name they have passionately supported through this whole circus. The return of the University of North Dakota Sioux is at hand. You're welcome.

Hate the name, but have to admit the concept is intriguing even though I doubt ... Squirrel!

So, when you hear about Weston Dressler and Greg Hardin playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, you think of condoms? That would invoke the same thought process, I guess. Not for me.

Roughriders (or Rough Riders) has always been my first choice after I realized Fighting Sioux was not coming back. If that qualifies as "the sky is falling crowd", maybe it's time for you to remove your head from the clouds. If a bunch of old farts (and I am very probably older, but I might argue that I am being more pragmatic) can't give up the old name because they want to keep calling the team the Sioux, nobody is stopping you. Go ahead and shout Sioux at the end of the national anthem. You may not like Roughriders, but I'm guessing that no nickname (pun intended) will be ok with you other than Sioux. Maybe you should realize that 25% is not really a majority (and asking only your like-minded friends doesn't qualify as one either) and put your support behind a decent nickname so that UND doesn't end up with SunDogs or Green Moths (even though it is a pretty cool looking insect) or something as unimaginative as a shortened version of the state name like Nodaks. North Dakota Nodaks? Really? Weren't you one of the posters that thought Nokotas didn't sound good? At least that is an actual breed of horses. I do not think the sky is falling, but I do not think using North Dakota or Nodaks is the correct outcome. If anyone seems to be running around crying that the sky is falling, it's the people who are afraid that a new official nickname will mean the end of the world as you knew it to be. end rant

To your point, going with just North Dakota or Nodaks would be equally self-depricating, in that UND can't even come up with a real nickname, but can only re-use the state name, or worse yet, can't even use the whole name and have to shorten it to something that will make us look dumb and unimaginative.

I nominate Oxbow to be the proactive ss member and fill in the consultant on the other meaning of sundogging. If the consultant can have the overriding vote on Roughriders, they should be able to veto Sundogs.

Sorry, I'm surfing while trying to work... What I am trying to say here is that Roughriders is a choice of a majority of voters on ss.com. North Dakota is acceptable to half of the voters. Nothing else gets support from half of the people who voted, even if they can vote for more than 1 name (Cavalry, North Stars, or even if you give the Hawks the benefit of doubt over a split vote). Personally, I don't really care if the NCAA will allow North Dakota or not. I just think a nickname should be chosen or, as many have already said, we will be going down this road again soon. Whether in 5 or 10 years doesn't matter. It's been a struggle for too many years already.

I look at the vote a little differently, but get the same impression... Using the ss vote: Roughriders 82 out of 136 voters = 60% North Dakota 69 = 50% Cavalry 58 = 43% North Stars 36 = 29% Hawks (combined total) 40 = 29% Nothing else over a couple straggler votes

The Teredos! Petrified wood. Wow. North Dakota has an official petrified wood. Would have been nice to know that one when we could submit suggestions to the committee a couple of months (or was it years) ago!

Now that's funny. Would stick a finger in the eye of the NCAA better than staying North Dakota would!

And you could nickname the REA the Thunderjug.

Funny you should mention Trailblazers. It was one of the second pair of names I submitted (when the nominations opened).

Best: Roughriders Good: Cavalry (also ok with Calvary ) Could live with: Explorers (though not conducive to cheers) Sundogs (has grown on me in light of available choices. sorry Goon) Not a fan: Fighting Hawks Green Hawks North Stars Kill me now: Blaze Fighting Green(ies) Force Nodaks North Dakota Pride Spirit Thunderhawks

Not sure Jones could handle the 93 Bulls and keep them from just 'ballin. On the other hand, you are not talking about the same level. (Pros vs college, to make things a little more clear)

Boy, this thread has died... What is going on with the committee? Are they on summer break now?

So it really boils down to being able to coach the players you have. If Rocky Hager, or in the case of UND Chris Mussman, have a problem winning because their third choice players are lining up on the other side of the field and beating those coaches, it is not a scholarship issue. Another way to look at it, using the example of Duke having 5 bb scholarships- let's say Brian Jones signed Coach K's top 5 recruits, and Duke went out on the court with their send five, so to speak. Do you think Jones' team, even with Duke's top 5 recruiting targets, would be able to beat Krzyewski's team? It's not only a recruiting/scholarship issue, it's being able to get the production out of the players you put on the field.

If they are all NDSU employees, then the next two questions should be: are any of them enrolled members of either the Spirit Lake or Standing Rock tribe? Or are they just another block of enlightened bleeding heart PC liberals?

Remember, all it took was one yes vote from anyone on the committee to move a name to the next round. Out of the 63 names still on the list, a guess would be that not more than 7 - 10 names on that list make the next round. Hopefully it takes more than one no vote to stop a name. I'm thinking about you, McDonald.

I could not disagree more Now Spirit, Force, Blizzard, etc on the other hand...