GeauxSioux Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 (edited) Former Sioux football coach Dale Lennon says UND losing recruits already Dale Lennon, head football coach at UND from 1999 to 2007, is the latest Fighting Sioux athletics figure to join in urging retirement of the nickname for the sake of the athletics program’s future. In a letter to be published in Saturday’s Herald, Lennon writes that he has first-hand evidence that the ongoing controversy “is hurting (UND’s) athletic programs in recruiting,” and that “any future NCAA sanctions could be disastrous to the completion of the Division I transition.” Also speaking out today: five members of the UND Athletics Hall of Fame, who warn that NCAA sanctions and likely related consequences “will signal the death knell for UND athletics.” In a letter also to be published in the Herald Saturday, the former athletes — Bruce Smith, Corey Colehour, Dan Martinson, David Williamson and Kelby Klosterman, all football players — write that they “competed proudly as Fighting Sioux football players and we respect the Native American heritage and traditions that have been an important part of this university for 82 years.” There is a definite change in the opinions going on. If the name is retired, Lennon writes “UND athletics would regain control of its own destiny” and “recruit the best student-athletes available and allow them the opportunity of competing at the highest level possible in their division. “As a proud alumnus who wants his alma mater achieving greatness, this is our only option.” Edited February 17, 2012 by GeauxSioux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darell1976 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Former Sioux football coach Dale Lennon says UND losing recruits already There is a definite change in the opinions going on. Now head coach at Southern Illinois University, Lennon writes that he has “asked many athletes who are being recruited by top FCS programs including UND why had they had eliminated UND as a potential option.” Those student athletes’ response, he writes, “was they had a negative perception of UND because of the NCAA sanctions.” And, he adds, “Opposing recruiters will continue to use the NCAA sanctions to their advantage.” That should be a clue to get rid of the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottM Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Obviously, Lennon's contract is up for renewal, and Kelley and Fasion are pressuring him to write those lies ... And those Hall of Shamers don't really support tribal traditions, and they never really played their hearts out for the school. Slackers ... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayduke Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 That should be a clue to get rid of the name. Absolutely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Obviously, Lennon's contract is up for renewal, and Kelley and Fasion are pressuring him to write those lies ... You forgot to list everyone who "outcoached" him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UND92,96 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 So to recap, in the past week we've had prominent former UND letterwinners Tim O'Keefe, Dave Hakstol, Dale Lennon, Bruce Smith, Corey Colehour, Dan Martinson, Dave Williamson and Kelby Klosterman all publicly say the nickname must go for the good of the school and the athletic department. Frank Burggraf is the only former letterwinner I'm aware of on the opposite side. I'm guessing the first group will continue to grow in the coming days and weeks. Will Frank's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayduke Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 So to recap, in the past week we've had prominent former UND letterwinners Tim O'Keefe, Dave Hakstol, Dale Lennon, Bruce Smith, Corey Colehour, Dan Martinson, Dave Williamson and Kelby Klosterman all publicly say the nickname must go for the good of the school and the athletic department. Frank Burggraf is the only former letterwinner I'm aware of on the opposite side. I'm guessing the first group will continue to grow in the coming days and weeks. Will Frank's? I had a couple of classes with Frank. Nice guy. But...let's just say I would go with the other's opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darell1976 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 So to recap, in the past week we've had prominent former UND letterwinners Tim O'Keefe, Dave Hakstol, Dale Lennon, Bruce Smith, Corey Colehour, Dan Martinson, Dave Williamson and Kelby Klosterman all publicly say the nickname must go for the good of the school and the athletic department. Frank Burggraf is the only former letterwinner I'm aware of on the opposite side. I'm guessing the first group will continue to grow in the coming days and weeks. Will Frank's? Tack on Jim Kleinsasser and Phil Jackson to that list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Tim O'Keefe, Dave Hakstol, Dale Lennon, Bruce Smith, Corey Colehour, Dan Martinson, Dave Williamson and Kelby Klosterman ... ... Jim Kleinsasser and Phil Jackson ... To me, still, O'Keefe is the most telling. He's UND through and through. He has a unique perspective. He can see into the inner workings but is beholden to no one in those workings. And he's in contact with key alumni. And he's reached the conclusion that the moniker has moved to the "net negative" category and should go. Lennon straight up stating what he's heard from recruits moves this into a whole new realm of the dangers to UND Athletics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Tack on Jim Kleinsasser and Phil Jackson to that list. LOL...known uber-liberal Phil Jackson, who can't even admit he is from North Dakota, is on the list? Well I'm on-board now, the nickname must go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darell1976 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 LOL...known uber-liberal Phil Jackson, who can't even admit he is from North Dakota, is on the list? Well I'm on-board now, the nickname must go! He admitted the name should go years and years ago, maybe after being away from coaching he will show up in ND. If he can find his way up here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 LOL...known uber-liberal Phil Jackson, who can't even admit he is from North Dakota, is on the list? Well I'm on-board now, the nickname must go! Sure, but there are some pretty conservative folks on that list also. So let's leave politics out of this. This is about looking out for UND or wanting to see it suffer under NCAA sanctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82SiouxGuy Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 He admitted the name should go years and years ago, maybe after being away from coaching he will show up in ND. If he can find his way up here. He made a pretty public appearance at UND a couple of years ago, so he knows the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 He admitted the name should go years and years ago, maybe after being away from coaching he will show up in ND. If he can find his way up here. He might have to dump Jeanie Buss if she doesn't want to come along with him though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagies Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Obviously, Lennon's contract is up for renewal, and Kelley and Fasion are pressuring him to write those lies ... Shoot! You beat me to it. To me, still, O'Keefe is the most telling. He's UND through and through. He has a unique perspective. He can see into the inner workings but is beholden to no one in those workings. And he's in contact with key alumni. And he's reached the conclusion that the moniker has moved to the "net negative" category and should go. Plus, do you really think he wanted to go over to Hakstol's house and say "I'm telling everybody to drop the name" unless he really felt it was the only way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Sure, but there are some pretty conservative folks on that list also. So let's leave politics out of this. This is about looking out for UND or wanting to see it suffer under NCAA sanctions. Politics has a lot to do with this, so I guess we agree to disagree on that point. I probably could have left out the "uber-liberal" comment with respect to Phil, though, so point taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackheart Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Politics has a lot to do with this, so I guess we agree to disagree on that point. I probably could have left out the "uber-liberal" comment with respect to Phil, though, so point taken. Is it ok to call him a dirty hippie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Is it ok to call him a dirty hippie? Only if we can start calling you "Cartman". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillySioux Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/229761/group/homepage/ Mussman Speaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 http://www.grandfork...group/homepage/ Mussman Speaks Surely his contract is up also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillySioux Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Surely his contract is up also. Actually, this upcoming season is the last year of his current deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 So apparently we need Roebuck to speak out to end the contract-leverage conspiracy theories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UND92,96 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Mussman letter: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/229761/group/homepage/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillySioux Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 So apparently we need Roebuck to speak out to end the contract-leverage conspiracy theories. For that we may require a letter from the Engelstad Family Foundation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 For that we may require a letter from the Engelstad Family Foundation That would slam things shut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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