zonadub

While we may debate the ups and downs of FBS football, UND does not come up often in other (outside) board conversations as a possibility for moving up. This was on the Idaho Vandals board yesterday:

A few observations and questions: The Big Sky has definitely turned into a blessing for the UND athletic department. When the dust settles, the Summit will still be a transitional conference and UND would still be looking for a permanent home if the Big Sky had not stepped up and offered UND a conference home last year. With Oral Roberts gone and Oakland and/or IUPUI looking like they may be on the way out it is reassuring that the Big Sky is not losing members. It is sad to see the demise of such a storied conference as the WAC. Looks like the Mountain West is going to keep Idaho and New Mexico State hanging until Boise and San Diego see the light that joining the Big East will not help their programs in the long run. When Boise & San Diego decide not to leave the MWC, Idaho and New Mexico State will really be stuck. Will they be willing to join the Big Sky? Will NMSU be interested or will the Sun Belt invite them? Idaho would make it a nice even number at 12/14 but NMSU would again tip the numbers into an uneven count. If that happens, will the Fighting Sioux nickname problem come back to haunt UND? The Big Sky could also add Denver and Seattle as Olympic sports members and make it 14 teams in all sports. Sixteen teams is a bit unwieldy, but if both Idaho and New Mexico State joined the Big Sky, would someone else step in as a travel partner for UND? Yeah, talking about NDSU; they seem happy with their Summit/MVFC arrangement, but the Summit is having issues and the Missouri Valley (non-football) Conference appears to be as stable as the Big Sky and does not seem predisposed to adding any of the Dakota schools at the present time. The South Dakota schools are definitely closer geographically, but NDSU's national recognition would probably be more highly desired as a full MVC member. I do not claim to have any knowledge of the inner workings of the inner circle of Missouri Valley Conference presidents circle, but in the face of what is happening, maybe NDSU would be interested in joining the Big Sky... Which gets to these questions: With the present situation in the WAC, if Idaho ends up being the last remaining football member, could they add several FCS teams, such as UND, NDSU, Montana, MSU, Idaho State, etc and get a short term waiver of the FBS attendance rules and give the schools a few years to build up to FBS levels of scholarships, Title 9, etc? Would the NCAA continue to work with a 50 year old conference to give it a lifeline? I understand that the WAC is not on anyone's list of preferred conferences at the moment, but with the right vision and NCAA waivers, could it be saved as a football conference?

but will Detroit accept Oakland?

prefer it would be Flickertails in a great conference like the Big Sky than Fighting Sioux in independent quicksand. go Prairie Dawgs!

how about a countdown clock? to the first Big Sky conference games? first conference game in any sport? first conference football game? ... etc maybe even a countdown to the first NCHC game?

Really do not think that the NCAA would expand the sanctions to all NCAA institutions in the state, like NORTH DAKOTA STATE University, but... when we think about the doors of all the NORTH DAKOTA STATE Highway Patrol cars and the NORTH DAKOTA STATE Highway signs and then, to top it all off, we refuse to change the name of the state and continue to insist that we live in a state named after the DAKOTA indians... these depictions of an indian profile logo are certainly more widely sanctioned around the state of North DAKOTA by the state government than a single flag in a state veteran's cemetery. Oh, and one more thing, remember that people (football poll voters, for example) keep getting the two schools confused with each other.

Everyone knew it was an uphill battle to win again this weekend at the X. UND has been on the road and played 5 games in 10 days with a shorthanded squad. The gophers have been home every night for about a month and only played 3 games in the last 2 weeks. The Sioux put up a valiant fight and played their hearts out this season, but it was a long road and no easy games. This team was given up for dead 3 weeks into the conference schedule, and look where they ended up! Kudos to Coach Hakstol, Captain Lammy and the rest of the team and coaches for a very entertaining hockey season.

Look for UND to even the season series 3-3

Wow! Denver, Michigan State, Miami & Michigan all lose in the first round! Tough day for the big(ger) name teams.

yep, Cornell keeps this up... 0 for the night

Can't imagine that a well thought-out and well written first post like yours would upset many here. Your sentiments are reflected in many, many posts. We want to keep the name, but the NCAA is making it impossible to keep it without huge risks. Life will go on. Many of us will always think of UND's athletic teams as the Sioux, no matter what the new name ends up being. We also still have hope that the Spirit Lake lawsuit will have the right outcome (against insurmountable odds). Welcome, Tex.

Probably what they want. Nondescript. Not controversial.

Weren't they already playing in the NFL by the time the sanctions were imposed? Who of that level has Alcorn State recruited since they were placed on sanctions?

Thank you, 82SiouxGuy. to you, Fetch, I was not good enough to play collegiately in D-II, but I tried. so I sure could not compete on a D-I level. I am pretty confident these young men and women have spent many years training to get an opportunity to earn a national championship ring. I am in no position to ask them to throw it away for a nickname. You are still avoiding the question, Fetch. what is your investment into the skills it takes to compete collegiately in athletics that you would be so willing to give up an opportunity to win a national championship? With that... back to our regular programming.

No, the question is: what is your investment into the skills it takes to compete at a DI collegiate athletic level. Not: are you willing to not fly a flag with a logo for a weekend or two (which we all know you are, and by the way, since you are a fan, you can still display the logo). Have you put the blood sweat and tears it takes to get to a national stage with your athletic ability to say that it is worth giving up what may be your only chance to win a national championship?

Bison or not, he speaks the truth. don't trust the NCAA not to use the transition to DI as leverage.

easy for you to say. what is your investment into skating, being tackled, shooting a ball thru a hoop that you are so willing to give up?

... or Barak?

Picture removed Sorry, thought I was being funny... Did not mean to be taken seriously

This is the type of young man who earns respect. Well said, Mr Matson.

Actually more of a distraction for the fans (especially the ones on this board) than for the players. Not having to answer a million questions about whether they like they new jerseys or not is probably a good thing before the first game. Maybe they will have to deal with it at the press conference afterwards, but they will be insulated from all the questions while the players are on the ice during warmups and the game. Put me in the "The Right Thing to Do" column. On the other hand, I am curious.

just a question because I do not know the answer... Does the Team Bus say "Fighting Sioux" on it?

Wow! What a concept! Don't think I would have the cojones to make a statement like that, but what a bold move it would be. If there would be any way to call national attention to the hypocrisy of the NCAA, this would be it. To have the Sioux skate out on to the ice in their traditional logo jerseys and then have the NCAA call off the game before the puck even drops. Intriguing idea, Ira, but crazy consequences. By the way, yes, I realize you are being at least a little sarcastic, but just crazy enough to be thought-provoking.

Agreed. Well done ladies!

I would like to witness Fetch, Dave and the rest of them looking these hard working ladies in the eye and telling them that this is all worth it to be able to be called the Fighting Sioux (sometimes). To not have your picture in the NCAA Championship program - something they will probably keep for the rest of their lives - - is this really the lesser of two evils, DaveK?