SOME GOOD NEWS ?

[Sioux-cia]

Every time there is an NCAA DI selection show in baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, etc . . . the Summit name comes up. The WCHA has one regional sport with DI/DII/DIII schools, so your arguement is debatable at best.

WCHA gets loads more attention and fan support than any team in the Summit.

[siouxforeverbaby]

Every time there is an NCAA DI selection show in baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, etc . . . the Summit name comes up. The WCHA has one regional sport with DI/DII/DIII schools, so your arguement is debatable at best.

Funny....cause last time I checked....the WCHA had teams who were all DI in hockey...My bad.....and I dont think the Summit League comes up every time there is a NCAA DI selection show....they don't come up in the hockey one. Which before you go all "I didn't mention hockey" on me, etc...doesn't specify anything so you could essentially put any sport in there.

[Herd]

Funny....cause last time I checked....the WCHA had teams who were all DI in hockey...My bad.....and I dont think the Summit League comes up every time there is a NCAA DI selection show....they don't come up in the hockey one. Which before you go all "I didn't mention hockey" on me, etc...doesn't specify anything so you could essentially put any sport in there.

The Summit League sponsors multiple national sports and its teams compete throughout the country. The WCHA has hockey only with over half of its members from DIII & DII schools that no one has heard of. I would argue that the Summit League is more recognizable nationally than the WCHA. And I'm not talking about hockey rubes in ND, MN and WI . . . nationally. Yes the WCHA has great fan support regionally, but that wasn't the question. It's not a questions that can really be answered anyway, so I won't comment further.

The Big Ten Network could acutally be helping the WCHA, but they are usually referring to . . . Big Ten Hockey when they refer to games between their regular B10 teams.

[rochsioux]

Bison BB is 5th in the Summit; Sioux hockey is 6th in the WCHA . . . so is that oblivion too, or is it a #11 national ranking and free pass to the national tournament. Hockey is unique, I'll give you that.

WCHA hockey = ACC basketball = SEC football

Summit basketball = Atlantic hockey

[siouxforeverbaby]

The Summit League sponsors multiple national sports and its teams compete throughout the country. The WCHA has hockey only with over half of its members from DIII & DII schools that no one has heard of. I would argue that the Summit League is more recognizable nationally than the WCHA. And I'm not talking about hockey rubes in ND, MN and WI . . . nationally. Yes the WCHA has great fan support regionally, but that wasn't the question.

That depends on what fans you are with...I have met people from Maine, from Indiana, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, etc...who have no clue who NDSU is, but know about the WCHA and UND....I am not going to sit here and have a debate about which is more popular...basketball or hockey. Both are popular within their own right and I am a fan of both sports..It all depends on which side of the fence that you sit on.

That being said, can we get this thread back to the UND nickname and not another NDSU/UND disagreement?

[redwing77]

Can anyone answer me this question?

I've watched NHL hockey games and, every now and then, North Dakota gets a mention when referring to a UND alum playing on that team.

For someone who watches the NBA, or any televised basketball game that isn't a Summit League game (meaning it is a pro game and not in association with DI basketball, the Summit League, or anything like that), how often is NDSU mentioned?

Are there any NDSU alum in the NBA? That is an honest question, btw. I don't know.

You are right though. The Summit League and the WCHA are equally recognizable but for different reasons than you are trying to state.

You see, when I walked down the concourse in Washington DC's MCI Arena watching the Capitols play the Red Wings, I didn't go up to everyone and flash the WCHA insignia on my jersey in everyone's face. Nor did anyone approach me and comment to me about the WCHA.

I did have two fans that commented on having watched UND in the Frozen Four earlier (we lost to DU or was it BC? I can't remember in the NC game that year). She said we played great and our fans were a lot of fun to hang out with. I took her word for it because I wasn't there. The others said that my jersey rocked.

Huh. I asked them if they went to UND and they said "nope, but we love the jersey man! Go Sioux!"

Odd.

I should've asked them about NDSU basketball. Maybe they would've said the same about the Bison. I'm guessing that they more than likely would have thought I had too much to drink.

Oh well.

I don't give a damn what conference is sewn onto the jersey. All I care about is the name on the front of the jersey and what it represents.

[The Sicatoka]

Standing Rock does not "deserve" to be given another 9 months when they've been sitting around doing nothing.

That's your opinion based on what you know. But is what you know accurate. I seem to see some action in the last 30 days. I'd allow it to play out.

Hope.

Closure.

[Knickball2]

Minneapolis/Bison it continues to be obvious that you know absolutely nothing about tribal government or the politics related to tribal

government. Whether you acknowledge it or not the nickname/logo issue is a sensitive issue on both the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake

reservations, although I believe the opposition is a minority of the minority, it remains a sensitive issue and the Native Americans will

decide on their time, not the SBoHE, not the Summit League or not on your time. And again, if UND waits until 2012 to get in a conference, they'll

find one, Summit or not...

[Blackheart]

Can anyone answer me this question?

I've watched NHL hockey games and, every now and then, North Dakota gets a mention when referring to a UND alum playing on that team.

For someone who watches the NBA, or any televised basketball game that isn't a Summit League game (meaning it is a pro game and not in association with DI basketball, the Summit League, or anything like that), how often is NDSU mentioned?

Are there any NDSU alum in the NBA? That is an honest question, btw. I don't know.

You are right though. The Summit League and the WCHA are equally recognizable but for different reasons than you are trying to state.

You see, when I walked down the concourse in Washington DC's MCI Arena watching the Capitols play the Red Wings, I didn't go up to everyone and flash the WCHA insignia on my jersey in everyone's face. Nor did anyone approach me and comment to me about the WCHA.

I did have two fans that commented on having watched UND in the Frozen Four earlier (we lost to DU or was it BC? I can't remember in the NC game that year). She said we played great and our fans were a lot of fun to hang out with. I took her word for it because I wasn't there. The others said that my jersey rocked.

Huh. I asked them if they went to UND and they said "nope, but we love the jersey man! Go Sioux!"

Odd.

I should've asked them about NDSU basketball. Maybe they would've said the same about the Bison. I'm guessing that they more than likely would have thought I had too much to drink.

Oh well.

I don't give a damn what conference is sewn onto the jersey. All I care about is the name on the front of the jersey and what it represents.

I love watching the Sioux down here in Minneapolis on Fox Sports or FSSN or the NHL Channel. Can anyone tell me what public access channel the Bison hoops game is on? Redwing, you the man...

[darell1976]

I'm not saying otherwise.

What I'm saying is that if you surveyed the nation as to the last college sports team from ND that they recall watching on TV, you're going to get a very large percentage that say they've never seen one followed next by people who remember the story of NDSU bball team from last march madness.

The fact that NDSU was the first team ever to make the tournament in their first year of eligibility and then hugely because of the promo that was done on the NDSU bball team helping out with the floods in Fargo, gave that team more national exposure than any other ND college sports team ever.

There's no reason to be angry because of that fact. It is what it is: march madness is hugely popular in the country while college hockey has a small following.

But there's absolutely no reason that can't be UND's bball team too! Unless, of course, they don't get into an auto-bid bball conference.

Actually with UND on FCS i would say either Sioux hockey, Sioux basketball or Sioux football. NDSU was on tv for 2 hrs way back in March that was 11 months ago!!

[Bison Dan]

Actually with UND on FCS i would say either Sioux hockey, Sioux basketball or Sioux football. NDSU was on tv for 2 hrs way back in March that was 11 months ago!!

I wonder how many years it will take for all people watching any UND games on FCS to equal that ONE game back in March. Do you really think that anyone watches UND BB outside of Sioux fans (maybe) and if they do what do you think they think of it?

[The Sicatoka]

We're those folks watching NDSU or watching the opening Friday of the NCAA March event?

[LB#11]

I wonder how many years it will take for all people watching any UND games on FCS to equal that ONE game back in March. Do you really think that anyone watches UND BB outside of Sioux fans (maybe) and if they do what do you think they think of it?

The Sioux hockey team had a larger crowd(at the game) than the Bison basketball team did in their game with Kansas the same day last March. I believe the Metrodome can hold more than the Excel Center.

[homer]

I wonder how many years it will take for all people watching any UND games on FCS to equal that ONE game back in March. Do you really think that anyone watches UND BB outside of Sioux fans (maybe) and if they do what do you think they think of it?

Danno, if you walked into any sports bar or casino outside of the 3 state area this March on the opening day of the tournament and asked every person in the bar who Kansas beat in the opening round of the tournament last year how many do you think would answer correctly. After they got beat out NDSU was just another 15 seed to get knocked out of the tournament. To be remembered you gotta win a game or two or make it to the tournamet a few years in a row. Also, CBS shows a lot of those games regionally and maybe cut into the Kansas-NDSU game a few times during the game. Your NCAA tournament apperance is a nice feather in the hat regionally but thats about it. The same people who still care about it are the same people that watch UND BB on FCS and the same people who watch UND hockey every other weekend on FCS every other weekend. So to answer your question its pretty irrelevant how many people watched that game on CBS since about 98% of them don't remember it.

To prove a point walk into a Fargo sports bar and ask people who UNC beat last year in the first round of the tournament. Maybe you'll get one correct answer from a Carolina fan. Without you looking it up I bet you can't even answer it right now.

[star2city]

To prove a point walk into a Fargo sports bar and ask people who UNC beat last year in the first round of the tournament. Maybe you'll get one correct answer from a Carolina fan. Without you looking it up I bet you can't even answer it right now.

Good point. I was in Greensboro Coliseum for that game and it took a few seconds of thought for the answer. Radford.

[VMeister]

They had 4 games in that time slot. So a fourth of the nation would be seeing NDSU-Kansas while the rest would be aware of the game via the ticker and in-game updates.

But the game itself is not really what got NDSU the attention. The team was hyped in pre-game due to being the first team to make the tournament its first year being eligible and then because of the promo done on the team helping with the Fargo floods. That was seen by everyone in the nation.

So, would that exposure be about similar to what Bemidji State got for going to the Frozen 4? They were also featured in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc.

No wait, I guess their game was televised to the entire country.

[MplsBison]

Ok. Trying to convince UND hockey fans that college hockey has a small, regional following compared to college basketball is like trying to herd cats. Pointless.

Forget I ever said it.

The point was simple enough: UND basketball has a huge potential to bring the state and the school a ton of national attention. That's a simple fact that can not be denied.

However, this is never going to happen unless UND gets into an auto-bid conference!

P.S. - Just because a college hockey game is televised on a national cable network does not mean anyone tuned in to watch! They have these things called "ratings"...

[Sioux-cia]

I love watching the Sioux down here in Minneapolis on Fox Sports or FSSN or the NHL Channel. Can anyone tell me what public access channel the Bison hoops game is on? Redwing, you the man...

How many NDSU athletes have been in the Olympics? I can only think of one. Compare that with the many, many UND grads, students and potential students who have been iand are in the Olympics. Not only does UND get more national attention but we also get more International attention and MENTION!

[Risky]

Even more important than viewing your teams on National TV is the access it gives to potential recruits and alumnae(donations). NDSU fans can't figure that out. Keeping alumnae excited about donating money is very important. Telling potentail recruits they can watch some of our games during the year on National TV is important.

[homer]

Ok. Trying to convince UND hockey fans that college hockey has a small, regional following compared to college basketball is like trying to herd cats. Pointless.

Forget I ever said it.

The point was simple enough: UND basketball has a huge potential to bring the state and the school a ton of national attention. That's a simple fact that can not be denied.

However, this is never going to happen unless UND gets into an auto-bid conference!

P.S. - Just because a college hockey game is televised on a national cable network does not mean anyone tuned in to watch! They have these things called "ratings"...

I don't think that anyone here is denying that hockey is a niche sport. Everyone knows it is. I think everyone is trying to get it through your and other Bison fans thick heads that having sporting events on a network that is broadcast nationwide is a huge deal. You guys can downplay it all you want but the bottom line is people can tune in and watch. Is it ESPN absolutely not but its still on. I have watched teams that I could absolutely give two shits about play on that channel so what makes you think that other sports fans don't do the same thing. What would you rather have and answer honest?

One game in maybe four or five years on CBS where you happen to get beat?

or

A game every other weekend on a smaller nationwide channel thrown in with 2 or 3 appearance on ESPN or ESPN2 every five years?

Both are pretty good but option 2 sounds a little better. And honestly, without looking it up tell me who Michigan St. lost to last year in the first round. Thats about how people outside of ND, SD, MN, and maybe NE remember NDSU. I'm not downplaying it at all and would love for UND to be in the same boat as I was actually at the Kansas-ndsu game last year but if your an underdog you better win a game or two to be remembered. If not your just another 15 or 16 seed.

[JLP157]

Ok. Trying to convince UND hockey fans that college hockey has a small, regional following compared to college basketball is like trying to herd cats. Pointless.

Forget I ever said it.

The point was simple enough: UND basketball has a huge potential to bring the state and the school a ton of national attention. That's a simple fact that can not be denied.

However, this is never going to happen unless UND gets into an auto-bid conference!

P.S. - Just because a college hockey game is televised on a national cable network does not mean anyone tuned in to watch! They have these things called "ratings"...

Shouldn't you be busy trying to dig up proof for some of those other ridiculous claims you have been making? It must be tough looking for proof for things that don't exist.... I didn't think you could become even more boring and tiresome, yet you have. I admit it. See, it's not so difficult to admit when you're wrong. I just did it. You should give it a try.

[Shawn-O]

I don't think that anyone here is denying that hockey is a niche sport. Everyone knows it is. I think everyone is trying to get it through your and other Bison fans thick heads that having sporting events on a network that is broadcast nationwide is a huge deal. You guys can downplay it all you want but the bottom line is people can tune in and watch. Is it ESPN absolutely not but its still on. I have watched teams that I could absolutely give two shits about play on that channel so what makes you think that other sports fans don't do the same thing. What would you rather have and answer honest?

The Jackrabbits basketball game was on the other night at Oral Roberts!

[redwing77]

Sicatoka is right.

How can you gauge which team the fans tuned in for? Kansas isn't exactly a puny team. I'd bet most of those who tuned in were Jayhawk fans.

As for ratings, I'd certainly hope the NCAA basketball tourney is better rated than a regular season hockey game. After all:

1. It's the playoffs

2. With 2000 teams involved and national tv for most of the games, there has to be the numbers that can overwhelm any non-playoff hockey event and even, to a certain extent, playoff hockey.

3. Name brand recognition on at least one side of the court. Folks, if it was NDSU vs. Radford, would this game even have been televised? Would almost 16,000 people even showed up? NDSU fans travel pretty well regionally. I loved their performance vs. UMN in football both times. However, if it was a nobody team NDSU was playing (nobody vs. nobody which, outside of this region, sorry guys, NDSU is a nobody), I can't believe it would have been this well attended.

Look, I'm not going to sit here saying how UND BB is going to be as good or better than NDSU. I don't think UND is "there" yet. They might be sooner or later. They might not. Who knows?

But I'm not going to continue getting into a pissing match comparing apples to oranges. UND Hockey is nationally known. You can call hockey a niche sport and you'd be right, but nationally known is nationally known.

NDSU was, even to the bloggers that covered the game, a "Cinderella" story. More news because of getting there in their first year of eligibility than because of their skill.

And for the record, they acquitted themselves pretty well. They only lost by 10. And you can look back through this message board and you'll find me congratulating NDSU on the accomplishment.

But you're not going to make headway trying to explain how one NCAA appearance for a newly DI basketball team is going to be superior in any way to a perrenially nationally ranked hockey team that has about 18 alum in the NHL or minor leagues or coaching ranks.

One might also be remiss in stating that UND also holds one alum among the NBA coaching ranks. Quite the feather.

[VMeister]

P.S. - Just because a college hockey game is televised on a national cable network does not mean anyone tuned in to watch! They have these things called "ratings"...

Mpls, I know that you wouldn't accept this statement from anyone else without proof, so I'm asking you for proof of the ratings. What were the ratings for the early Thursday NCAA game the Bison played with vs. the Bemidji State Frozen Four semifinal.

[MplsBison]

I don't think that anyone here is denying that hockey is a niche sport. Everyone knows it is. I think everyone is trying to get it through your and other Bison fans thick heads that having sporting events on a network that is broadcast nationwide is a huge deal. You guys can downplay it all you want but the bottom line is people can tune in and watch. Is it ESPN absolutely not but its still on. I have watched teams that I could absolutely give two shits about play on that channel so what makes you think that other sports fans don't do the same thing. What would you rather have and answer honest?

One game in maybe four or five years on CBS where you happen to get beat?

or

A game every other weekend on a smaller nationwide channel thrown in with 2 or 3 appearance on ESPN or ESPN2 every five years?

Both are pretty good but option 2 sounds a little better. And honestly, without looking it up tell me who Michigan St. lost to last year in the first round. Thats about how people outside of ND, SD, MN, and maybe NE remember NDSU. I'm not downplaying it at all and would love for UND to be in the same boat as I was actually at the Kansas-ndsu game last year but if your an underdog you better win a game or two to be remembered. If not your just another 15 or 16 seed.

How many times do I have to tell you that it wasn't necessarily the game that got NDSU the national attention? It was the pre-game show hype that everyone saw and more importantly the promo done on the team helping out with the Fargo floods, again everyone who was tuned into the March Madness pre-game show saw that. You can not buy that type of ratings exposure with a cable network!

But once again, it's pointless to get in a pissing match.

The point is that UND bball has huge potential to bring national exposure to North Dakota and UND. Denying them that opportunity for a nickname? Childish and selfish.