ericpnelson

Roughriders technically fits the work put out by the first committee, which if I'm not mistaken, was actually more expensive than this second committee. Fighting Hawks is a complete disregard to that time/money investment. If you think that first committee was fruitless though, then I wouldn't argue with you for scrapping their results as to not double down on wasted effort. I actually think that first committee took in a ton of stakeholder input though, and it's efforts shouldn't be thrown out wholesale. If Roughriders doesn't come through, I'd prefer no nickname. I don't like having the neighboring state's logo. I think sundogs is terrible. I already discussed fighting hawks, and I'm lukewarm on Nodaks at best. I think Nokota merited inclusion into this final list, and it's an egregious error for it to have been omitted the way it was. A significant rebranding would be necessary to make it work, in my opinion. I am concerned of the NCAA boogeyman's response to it. I have nothing to back it up. I won't try to come at this with hard evidence; my trepidation is all speculative. I am also worried about chants and branding efforts. I haven't seen a ton of creativity in the past 3 years, and that could be because it wasn't given as much effort as possible due to the belief it was a temporary situation. I honestly just don't love the merchandise that's been put out since the absence of a nickname (not saying that could change), and I honestly believe in game atmosphere has been affected by the current situation. I can not argue with the merits of North Dakota. I think it's important to honor the state, and I like the idea of paying homage to a lost name, which many of us cherished. I don't think it's wise to use it as a placeholder for the name to come back. I think all hard evidence in that manner points to a very high improbability, at best. My arguments against the no nickname option are logistical, not philosophical. I don't think you don't care if you disagree with me. I understand where you are coming, as I once held the same opinion. I respect your opinion, and I hope you have a chance to voice it. My hope would be, that if that is your opinion, it is held for the right reasons, and that you could don't feel the necessity to tear down possible other nicknames we may all end up cheering for (except for Sundogs, rip away).

The crowd noise at an average hockey game was lacked from my perspective (admittedly, I'm not carrying around a decibel meter or anything). I think part of it has to do with not having a go-to chant. The ol' Let's Go Sioux never gets the traction it did in the past. I really think that Fargo regional was the exception and not the rule, and I have decent sample size with having made most of the available treks from Williston to Grand Forks for football and hockey games. It's a minor deal and not something that the whole situation should hang on (before I get accused of basing this decision on this minor detail), I just thought it was worth mentioning. I think the air has been slowing sneaking out of the Ralph this past few years, despite having great teams to watch. This isn't the end all be all, but it doesn't help the atmosphere. I remember big moments a few years ago when the Let's Go Sioux chant would get almost spooky loud. Now, half the crowd won't get into it (save the regional), and it kinda sucks.

It's not a good quote at all. It is reflective of times though and context matters. Looking at everything through today's lens is convenient and easy, not noncomprehensive at best. I actually thought the Dennis article in the Herald was great on this topic. We can't honor anyone anymore if we don't expect human errors from humans.

maybe he wants to be a air traffic controller

When I went to college, I didn't need fancy architecture and designs in my Wilkerson dining hall. All I needed was old pictures, weird colors, and the largest cereal bar I've ever seen in my life.

This is the post I've been waiting for

Revisionist history out of context is great isn't it.

I'm a fan of the Roughrider name, but that has no influence in this comment (as in, I'm not suggesting you're not a real fan), but when I first saw your moniker, I thought it was a visitor from Portland State on the board. Your posts gave me the crooked confused dog look until I figured out that out that you weren't.

couldn't tell

that damn Edmund Morris

Billings County wasn't it?

I think debate has played out all usefulness. I've never felt more ready for a vote on the matter.

Williston has a couple pole stars.

second

Thanks, I submitted it to the Tribune and Herald, but I have concerns about an abbreviated version being released.

and every other mascot in the Big Sky and Summit League conferences

I didn't know where to post (or if I should post this), but in light of this thread, I found it appropriate. Sorry for the book, but enclosed is an email I sent to Karl Goehring (who I am told by UND PR is gateway to the committee). I never received response or any indication that he had a chance to read it (sent yesterday so possibly not enough, and I imagine his inbox is flooded of late), but the nickname is something I care about, whether that be a merit or demerit to my personal state/character. In light of recent events I did not want to let the proceedings go by without saying my peace, into which I put a significant amount of thought and tried to comprehensive in respect for any readers. Once again, I sorry for the length, but I felt brevity was not of higher priority to completeness of thought in light of this matter. Jim, let me know if I am spamming your website too much with this post. The Case for Rough Riders To the Nickname Committee and UND Stateholders, I urge you to push Rough Riders forward as you continue the important assignment in which you have been tasked. To all UND stakeholders, allow me to present the case for Rough Riders to be the symbol of our university. If we view the inclusive process of the first nickname task force to be representative of the collective conscious of UND stakeholders, I think the criterion set out by that task force is a good format off of which to operate. The characteristics determined by those efforts are the frame in which I will present my rationale. Representative of the State: There are many real and symbolic ties to the Rough Riders and the great state of North Dakota. The last surviving member of the group, Jesse Langdon, was a North Dakotan. The state flag of North Dakota is mimicked off of regimental flags carried by infantry units and the Rough Riders in the Spanish American war (and the Philippine Insurrection). The state goes by the unofficial slogan of “The Roughrider State”, and our state’s highest civilian honor is the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider award. Finally and perhaps most significantly, North Dakota shares a special connection with the leader of the Rough Riders, Colonel Roosevelt. North Dakotan natives are well versed that Roosevelt claimed that he would not have been President without his time here. As President, he said of North Dakota, “Here, the great romance of my life began”. He was an active citizen during his time in Dakota Territory, as he was chairman of the Stockmen’s Association and a Billings County Deputy Sheriff. He gave “his first great national speech” at the first ever Independence Day celebration in Dickinson where he spoke very strongly of the merits of ‘the great state of Dakota’. Before he left his cattle business, there was much rumor that he would be the first senator when North Dakota was granted statehood. However brief his time here was the connection with Colonel Roosevelt and North Dakota is real and significant. In the highest office in the land, the Colonel was our state’s biggest advocate. I think it’s fitting to reciprocate those honors. Pride, Strength, Fierceness, and Passion: The name Rough Riders epitomizes these qualities. They showed ferocity in charging across open ground to an uphill fortified enemy position. Their strength allowed them to take Kettle Hill and siege Santiago. The passion of the Rough Riders is evident as the Rough Riders were a volunteer regiment. The pride of the Rough Riders lasted throughout their lifetime as they held annual reunions. Sense of community: The Rough Riders were a collection of many elements of American society at the time: cowboys, prospectors, hunters, gamblers, Native Americans, Ivy League athletes, police officers, and veterans. They came together across their many differences to achieve great victory and help thrust their country into a world power. This coming together of different backgrounds is a goal of American communities. Honor the past/Look to the future: This name directly honors the past, as the exploits of the Rough Riders date more than a century again. The name also looks to the future when one thinks of the state’s Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award. This award is given to North Dakotans of the highest achievement reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens, leaving a lasting impact and legacy for those to come. Uniquely Recognizable to North Dakota: It is true that other athletic teams have used the name Rough Riders; however, at the Division 1 collegiate level, Rough Riders would be unique to the University of North Dakota. I believe that the University of North Dakota using the name would be particularly recognizable as North Dakotan with the unofficial state slogan and the Rough Rider Award given by the North Dakota Governor’s office. The first task force also identified other qualities deemed important such as formidable, strength/power, unique, honor, intimidation, representative, and beauty. Expanding on how Rough Riders hits the mark on these additional qualifiers would be repetitive to what was already been stated. The fact that Rough Riders hits the mark on all the standards provided by the input of multiple stakeholders across UND’s community, and in often cases exemplifies the stated criteria, leads to an objective conclusion that this the name we have set out to find. I urge those who would not have UND be the Rough Riders, due to its adoption by a Grand Forks high school, to look past this detail. If the only reservation to Rough Riders you hold is the presence of Red River High School’s nickname, and I hope you can momentarily ignore that fact and review the merits of Rough Riders without that biases and realize that the scope of the University and its proud athletic programs go beyond the circumstances of this coincidence. The name Rough Riders comes through on all aspects set out by the Task Force. It demonstrably personifies many of those characteristics. Rough Riders is a name which has provided immense pride across the great State of North Dakota. It is a name that can provide great pride for that same great state’s flagship university. Eric P. Nelson, UND 2012

I hope there isn't a double entendre here. I wouldn't want to see any one rubbed the wrong way.

Sames. I have bumper to bumper basement brew chills everytime I hear it

This seems like an outlet for a deep Garth Brooks passion.

Does anyone have the list of criteria that developed by the first committee?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

As someone who made a living hurling awful statements at the opposing teams bench at the Alerus, there isn't a nickname on the list that can't be contrived in some awful way. If the connotation legitimately is bothersome, it's not a case of finding a name which that can't be done to, but predicting how it will be done and choosing the least evil, which puts a lot of control into the hands of our enemies. It also discredits the possibility of unforeseen manipulations of any nickname.

I've made the case for a few nicknames already but I'm hitching my final wagon to rough riders. Our state flag is unadulterated plagerism of the Rough rider flag. It's not their fault their horses were left. That failure lives above and beyond their control. Teddy Roosevelt may not be ND's son, but he's our nephew then. He is often quoted that he wouldn't have been President without his time in ND, but I've been more moved by when he said North Dakota was a great romance of his life in his memoirs. He was a deputy in North Dakota. There was talk he would have been our first senator. He was involved in the community when he was here. He's connection with the state isn't fleeting. That doesn't even speak to the unit. It took a fortified hill from an enemy over open ground.

About damn time. I'm sure they'll take their sweet time reviewing the rest of it, but that's fine. In the meantime, the railroad industry has shown repeatedly they can handle the volume of product being transported across rail .