So who is bluffing?

Image via WikipediaHere is a good break down on the latest from the Big Sky Conference and their concerns about UND and the school retaining the Fighting Sioux Nickname by Tom Miller of  the Grand Forks Herald.

Faison also addressed the idea from some nickname supporters that the school’s administration has been misleading in the league affiliation process.

“The Big Sky is a legit concern,” he said. “Whether people want to believe it or not, I can’t help that. I know it. I’ve been in this business 35-plus years, and I’m telling you, we have a problem. And the answers to solve that problem if it goes down are not there. We can’t exist as a Division I independent.

“As far as conspiracy concerns, I leave that with the JFK folks. It’s reality that we are where we are. It’s reality that I’ve talked to Joel Maturi (Minnesota athletic director) and Sean Frazier (Wisconsin deputy athletic director) and we’ve been working on schedules for 2013-14, but that stops because of the nickname and logo. They can’t play us. That’s reality. That’s nothing I’ve made up. That’s been on the books for eight years. We lost a home and home with the University of Iowa in women’s basketball — the opportunity to host a Big Ten team here. This isn’t fiction. This is all real, and we have to deal with reality. That’s my job.”

Faison stressed the importance of competing against men’s hockey rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“I’ve heard from some fans that say it doesn’t matter if we can’t schedule Minnesota,” Faison said. “I look at them incredulously (and say), ‘Really?’ Of course it matters.” [Grand Forks Herald]

The question is who do you want to believe? Personally, call me crazy if you want, but I don't think the Big Sky Conference is bluffing this time, not like some of the pundits claim they are. My first question, how the hell do they know if the Big Sky is bluffing or not? Have they interviewed the presidents of the Big Sky Conference? I would be willing to bet that they haven't.

Time will tell I guess and I  do not want to see the UND athletic department get hurt and suffer. I am alumnus of UND and I have two degrees from this University. I love the Fighting Sioux nickname but the time to fight the NCAA was 2-3 years ago. Where the heck were these people then? Where was Al Carlson back then? Carlson was sitting on his hands doing nothing.

The first team that is going to suffer the wrath of the NCAA is the Women's Hockey team if they end up in the top four. The first round of the NCAA tourney is held at the home arena of the higher seed. UND is close to being in the top four. They win a few more games and you never know where they could end up, they could be right there.

 But who cares right?

How about the fans, players and family members that follow the UND Women's team.

I have to say that I don't want to watch UND play some non nondescript NAIA or Division II school like Sioux Falls College, Minnesota State University, Moorhead or Minnesota Crookston in football, those match-ups don't excite me, when I know we could be watching Eastern Washtington, the University of Montana and or Montana State in football.

Related articles

• Big Sky Conference not Bluffing. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• DQ Cup Redux? (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Minnesota AD Maturi announces plan to retire (espn.go.com)

Doug Fullerton on the Petition – UND can be voted out

Image via WikipediaHere it is straight scoop, this straight from the horses mouth, Big Sky Commissioner Fullerton was on Mike McFeely's show this afternoon and you can listen to what he had to say. 

You can hear Doug Fullerton, commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, words. LISTEN NOW

These are the comments by Fullerton that really caught my attention...

“I would remind them that the NCAA is a club, a voluntary association. If you don’t like the club’s rules, you can leave. But this isn’t a government agency. The NCAA is UND and NDSU. These are colleagues who have made these rules.”

Related articles

• Fighting Sioux nickname supporters file petitions with 17,000 signatures (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• So is the Fighting Sioux nickname on the way back (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• University of North Dakota resumes using Fighting Sioux nickname (foxnews.com)
• Opinion: Big Sky Should Admit North Dakota Mistake, Let Fighting Sioux Go (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Fighing Sioux 1930-2012 R.I.P. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Big Sky Conference not Bluffing.

Image via WikipediaO.K. now the Big Sky Conference has weighed in... Sounds like they are not fooling around and they are concerned about the recent events in North Dakota. It also sounds like the notion that the BSC won't expel UND is not quite true.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- UND’s status within the Big Sky Conference won’t change immediately as a result of this week’s tentative restoration of the university’s Fighting Sioux nickname, Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said today.

But he said “it’s absolutely not true” that UND could not be dropped from the league, as some nickname supporters have said in seeking to dismiss concerns about consequences if the fight over the name continues.

“Our concern, as before, is not that they are the Fighting Sioux,” Fullerton said, “but rather whether they can be an effective Division I program and a benefit to our conference.”

UND’s membership status is still probationary, he said. “But even a full-fledged member can be removed from the league at any time by a vote of the presidents.” Such a vote, he said, would have to be unanimous.

Fullerton said he’s concerned about another example of what he called “misrepresentation” by nickname supporters, a suggestion “that we need UND more than UND needs us,” which would seem to counter concerns expressed by university and other officials that keeping the nickname could cost UND conference membership and Division I status.

Fighting Sioux nickname supporters file petitions with 17,000 signatures

Image via Wikipedia
Just when you think that the nickname is dead and gone, there is another event that resurrects it and brings back the Fighting Sioux nickname.

This is going to be interesting going forward, and maybe not in a good way. I am not sure anyone knows what will happen and there will be some anxiety as we wait to see what happens this week and in the future. Contrary to what some say about the Big Sky Conference, there is a very real possibility that UND’s membership could be in jeopardy.

That threat is very real and not something to be taken lightly, I don’t care what some have gleaned out of the letters that they received through the freedom of information act. Most of us know that the NCAA isn’t going to take this laying down and they are going to be behind the scenes pulling strings. You can count on it. The NCAA is an out of control organization. But we have to play by their rules if we want to be in Division I sports. Do I like it not one bit.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- After a last, celebratory campaign for signatures at a Bismarck Century-Bismarck High hockey game and from an RV parked outside the Capitol, Fighting Sioux nickname supporters delivered petitions to the secretary of state’s office Tuesday night to force a statewide vote on the long-running and controversial issue.

Members of the sponsoring committee, including members of the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes, delivered 604 petitions they said contained about 17,000 signatures, well more than the 13,452 required to make the June 12 primary election ballot.

“It’s still a long way to go, but I’m really pleased today,” said Reed Soderstrom, the Minot attorney who has helped to lead the petition drive, as he was about to enter the Capitol about 10 p.m.

Like I said before, I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and I think it’s "the best" logo in all of college sports and nothing will ever be able to replace it. I also find it interesting that the NCAA is telling UND that the Fighting Sioux nickname is hostile and abusive and then you see two Native Americans representatives from the two tribes handing in petitions last night at the dead line. What does that tell you?

UND President Robert O. Kelley has said that UND will again be called the Fighting Sioux.

Kelley said the action was taken “in keeping with state law” and direction from Shaft.

“I want to reaffirm our respect for the laws of the state and the processes guaranteed under the North Dakota Constitution,” Kelley said.

Related articles

• Organizers have petitions to restore Fighting Sioux (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• Fighting Sioux backers say had in petitions (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Supporters move to restore Fighting Sioux name (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• Fighting Sioux Nickname Could Be Up for a Vote (nytimes.com)
• So is the Fighting Sioux nickname on the way back (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Fighting Sioux backers finish petition work (sfgate.com)
• Organizers say they have enough signatures to restore University of South Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname (foxnews.com)
• Fighting Sioux backers get 16,000 to sign petition (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• Spirit Lake Sioux to sue the NCAA. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

The Big Sky is Coming to Root Sports

I found this video on line and this should get you in the mood for Big Sky Football coming this fall.  It’s going to be nice watching the teams in the Big Sky foes coming to the Alerus Center as opposed to watching the University of Sioux Falls or some other NAIA or Divsion II school. 

Related articles

• Opinion: Big Sky Should Admit North Dakota Mistake, Let Fighting Sioux Go (mvn.com)

Opinion: Big Sky Should Admit North Dakota Mistake, Let Fighting Sioux Go

Image via WikipediaIf you haven't seen this, it's worth a read.

Bill Bradley, SacStateSports.com ---- The problem is UND’s entry to the Big Sky hasn’t gone as planned – at all. From its botched entry in the league to its continued controversy over the Fighting Sioux nickname, UND has transitioned into the Big Sky like a child going kicking and screaming.

Which is why the Big Sky Conference needs to say, “No thanks. We made a mistake. Thanks for playing. Go find another conference.” The premier league in the Football Championship Subdivision and a competitive mid-major group in basketball doesn’t need the long road trips and headaches UND will bring.North Dakota was supposed to join with South Dakota as a package deal. It was all set to make the Big Sky a 14-team league, Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said this fall. However, at the last minute South Dakota got a better offer from a more geographic-friendly league, the Missouri Valley Conference.

That made sense, but the Big Sky, which also wanted UND because of its reputation as a research institute, didn’t withdraw the invite to the Fighting Sioux, which were making the transition from Division II to Division I FCS. The UND regents accepted, making UND the only member of the Big Sky in the Central time zone.

I posted his on Sioux Sports. I love the Fighting Sioux nickname, and there is no way that the school will ever be able to replace the Fighting Sioux nickname with anything that I consider to be acceptable, but I don't see any way UND can keep the name "unless" the Spirit Lake Tribe wins it's law suit against the NCAA. I also would love nothing more than to see the NCAA lose their law suit, I think they deserved to have that happen to them because I think they are a bunch of hypocrites. I am not holding my breath but I hope the Tribe wins. That being said I think it's time to move on before we end up on the outside looking in. Do we really want to call the Big Sky's bluff?

Related articles

• Petitions to retain Fighting Sioux nickname for UND begin circulating (mvn.com)
• Time; NCAA Blunder: Changing North Dakota's Tribal Nickname (mvn.com)
• Merry Christmas from Goon's World (mvn.com)
• Fate of Fighting Sioux Still Unclear (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)

Petitions to retain Fighting Sioux nickname for UND begin circulating

Image via WikipediaIs the North Dakota State board of Higher Education on a collision course with the Fighting Sioux nickname supporters? The big question pending is; if the nickname law goes back into effect, what would the ND Board of Higher Education do?

Board could act

If the repeal bill is suspended and the earlier nickname law goes back into effect, “the question then is, ‘What would the State Board of Higher Education do?’ ” Stenehjem said.

Several people argued during the legislative debates that the nickname mandate authored by House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, violated the state Constitution, which grants governing authority over the state’s colleges to the board.

If the requirement that UND keep the nickname goes into effect again, “the board will have to decide what if anything it wants to do,” Stenehjem said.

UND is in the midst of retiring the nickname and logo with a transition that is to be substantially completed by Dec. 31, by state board directive. Board members and UND officials have expressed concern that a continuing fight over the nickname could jeopardize the university’s transition to Division I athletics and its planned affiliation next year with the Big Sky Conference.

Grant Shaft, president of the state board, said on Tuesday that the board has not discussed what it might do in the event referral petitions are filed and the keep-the-nickname law is temporarily reinstated. [Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald]

UND to join the Big Sky...

For those fans that were worrying about the Big Sky conference not accepting UND because of the three year cooling off period that requires UND to adopt no nickname or logo before January 2015. Those fears were all for not as it doesn’t seem to be an issue at all with the Big Sky Conference.

Wayne Nelson, Grand Forks Herald --- Currently, there are only four Division I Football Championship Subdivision programs that do not have a conference home. And three of those independents are headed for conference affiliation in the future.

Scheduling football games as an independent virtually would have been impossible, according to school officials.

UND football has competed in the Great West Conference since 2008. But the five-team league will disband after this season, with UC Davis, Cal Poly and Southern Utah all moving to the Big Sky. South Dakota, the fifth school, is headed to the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

With Dalrymple’s signature, the priority at the UND athletic department now focuses on the school’s future in the Big Sky.

“It’s bittersweet,” UND athletic director Brian Faison said of Wednesday’s developments. “This allows us to move on.”

The Big Sky has been following the North Dakota Legislature. UND President Robert Kelley was in contact with the league office after Dalyrmple’s signature.

UND will join the league without a nickname.

“We are North Dakota,” Faison said. “That’s who we will be.”

Doug Fullerton Interview.

Image via WikipediaThis is an interview that someone posted over on Sioux Sports and it's worth a look; its a Sacramento State Sports Question and Answer session with Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton. [click to read the whole article]

There has been a lot of controversy surround one of the new members, North Dakota. Some of it has involved you. What do you think about North Dakota’s logo controversy?

That’s a tough one because they didn’t have the controversy when we got them in the league. They already had signed on. I think our presidents have a real concern about the action taken by the (North Dakota) legislature (to keep the Fighting Sioux logo). We did not and will not get into the fight. I know they tried to get us into the fight. Whether or not the logo is appropriate or inappropriate – what we worry about is the NCAA had a deal with them and now they were forced to back out of that deal. If they are in violation and the NCAA sanctions remain in place, we’re afraid of what the outcome of those sanctions will create at the University of North Dakota in two ways. No. 1, the pure NCAA sanctions of not being able to host a postseason event will really hurt their ability to be successful in football. That’s one of the things that we really think is important. But more important, as long as the NCAA has those sanctions, we’re starting to see a grass roots protest against the University of North Dakota. We know that they’ve lost scheduled games. We know there have been mini demonstrations when they travel. If those kind of things grow, then their use to us as a solid Division I program in the Big Sky begins to diminish. At that point in time, then it could affect if we want them as members. People try to drag us into this fight whether the Sioux nickname is appropriate or not appropriate. That’s the not where our presidents are. They are engaged in the second part of that conversation.

Spirit Lake tribe's warns UND, NCAA, SBoHE and Big Sky

The Fighting Sioux nickname issues just got more and more interesting. I guess Frank Black Cloud wasn't kidding when he said, "watch the paper you going to see a big wave coming from this way" during an interview with Scott Hennen back on August 15th, 2011. 

Here is the latest development in the on going saga with the Fighting Sioux nickname. The Tribe from Spirit Lake is fighting to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname and they are unamused with the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference. The Spirit Lake Tribe also wrote a three page letter to the  University of North Dakota, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, the Big Sky Conference, and the National Collegiate Athletic Administration. Here is a link to the letter. 

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- In a statement released by the Committee for Understanding and Respect, which has been authorized by the Spirit Lake Tribal Council to speak for the tribe on the nickname issue, the committee warned UND, the state board, the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference to stop acting “against our honorable name as given to UND by our ancestors.”

If those organizations don’t stop working to retire the name, they should expect consequences “far more severe than any sanctions UND claims will exist by keeping our name,” according to the statement.

The committee also said Kelley and Shaft should resign their positions for failing in leadership.

Frank Black Cloud, a committee spokesman, said he was “not at liberty to say” what the “more severe” consequences might be.

It looks like the Spirit Lake Tribe "could" end up suing UND, NCAA the NDSBoHE and the Big Sky conference if the Fighting Sioux nickname is retired.

Higher Education Board President Says Notre Dame Joined Hockey East Because of the Sioux Name

Someone wake Grant up and tell him that it was about the TV deal.




This guy gives buffoons a bag name.

In addition to the risk of losing affiliation with the Big Sky and potential scheduling and recruitment problems, Shaft said he believes that Notre Dame’s recent decision to affiliate with Hockey East — and not the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference that includes UND — was due in part to UND's being on sanctions because of the " ongoing nickname fight. It doesn't take an MBA degree to realize this decision has more to do with business than public opinion."

Actually Grant it was the TV deal that our new division wouldn't work with them on.

College Hockey News: Notre Dame had a preference for the NCHC because of its Western footprint, but the NCHC ultimately decided it didn't want to accept Notre Dame with its TV deal in tow.

You really have to be arrogant or stupid to interject the Sioux nickname controversy into the Notre Dame decision. But then that's what we get from the higher education in this state. They don't care what the public thinks. All we are is a flock of sheep for them to fleece to benefit those that work for the University system.

On a related topic, UND President Kelley urged the legislature to let the drop the nickname in it's upcoming session. Considering the fact that the Big Sky Conference said they'd blackball us if we kept the name that's not an unreasonable position. However in his speech it seems that he failed to acknowledge our friends and neighbors of the Spirit Lake Tribe that want us to keep the name.

That really irks me that Kelley sitting in his ivory tower clearly has contempt for the opinions of those on the reservation. As far as I can tell he's refused every offer to meet with actual Indians that are supposedly to be saved by the anti Indian rules of the NCAA. Certainly he failed to invite them as he flew down to Bismarck on the University's luxury plane to testify against the name. He also seems to have not insisted that members of the Tribe be brought along to the meeting with the NCAA.

Kelley and Shaft, drop your superiority complexes and actually listen to the people of the Tribe. You might actually learn something.

This was cross posted from my home on SayAnythingBlog.com.

This guy gives buffoons a bag name.

Related articles

• Hockey East Weekly: 11/21/11 (insidehockey.com)

Spirit Lake nickname supporters again contact Big Sky

Image via WikipediaThis issue doesn't seem to be going away and time soon and it appears that it's going to linger on for some time to come. The only thing that is going to sway the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference is if Standing Rock Tribe gives UND permission to use the Fighting Sioux nickname. The NCAA and the Big Sky Conference do no care if the Spirit Lake Sioux approve of the name or not.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- Fighting Sioux nickname supporters at the Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation have again contacted the Big Sky Conference commissioner to underscore their commitment to seeing UND continue using the name.

In a letter dated Sept. 30, leaders of the Committee for Understanding and Respect reminded Commissioner Doug Fullerton that they speak for the tribe, citing a resolution adopted by the Tribal Council on Sept. 2.

The resolution, adopted unanimously, noted that the council and an earlier tribal referendum “affirmatively approved and supported UND’s use of the name and imagery of the Fighting Sioux.”

With the “overwhelming support of the people of this tribe,” the resolution continued, the tribe “entrusted UND with the responsibility of working with the tribe to increase the number of Native American graduates from Spirit Lake and create a Native American program on the UND campus which would bring respect and understanding amongst all students, faculty and staff at UND.”

Like I have said in the past, I think it's funny that the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference are unmoved by the efforts of the Group from Spirit Lake to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname, this is not a group from Ralph Englestad Arena, Grand Forks or Fargo, ND. This an actual group from the Spirit Lake Nation, and this group represents this wishes of the Spirit Lake Tribe. The NCAA claims the nickname is hostile and abusive but the Spirit Lake Tribe disagrees with the NCAA. Without the approval of the Standing Rock Sioux the point is mute and the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference will continue to be unmoved.

Fullerton doesn't care if Sioux Indians want to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname

Image via WikipediaWhile Fullerton doesn't come out and say it, this is what his comments really say. The Big Sky has it's marching orders from the NCAA and they will only take the University of North Dakota "if" they are no longer called the Fighting Sioux or if they get the Standing Rock Tribe to agree to let UND use the Fighting Sioux nickname. Seriously, this argument is over, the Big Sky Conference doesn't  care and they are unmoved if the Spirit Lake Sioux wants UND to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname or not.

In my opinion UND can't afford to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname or they will get ostracized by the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference. That's what the crux of this argument is, if the name is not gone soon UND's invitation to the Big Sky could be.

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- The Big Sky Conference continues to watch with concern as debate persists over whether UND can or should retain its Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton said today.

“I don’t want to get into the debate itself over what’s happening in the state of North Dakota,” Fullerton said. “What I’m concerned about is that the University of North Dakota is going to become a marginalized Division I program” if the dispute over the nickname continues.

“Already I’m aware of schools that will not play UND” because of the name dispute, he said.. “Their ability to schedule already is being limited, and the longer this stays an issue the worse it will be.

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• Fighitng Sioux nickname: New Senate leader sees repeal of law (mvn.com)
• Fighting Sioux nickname meeting with NCAA rescheduled for Aug. 12 (mvn.com)
• Fighting Sioux logo links... (mvn.com)
• ND Attorney General Seeking Dismissal of UND Students' Nickname Lawsuit (mvn.com)

Fighitng Sioux nickname: New Senate leader sees repeal of law

Image via WikipediaHere is the latest in the saga that is the Fighting Sioux nickname...

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald ---- The newly elected majority leader in the North Dakota Senate said today that the state law requiring UND to retain its Fighting Sioux nickname and logo should be repealed during the November special legislative session.

“I’ve been involved with sports and coaching out here at Dickinson State, and I think we need to rescind our action on that law because it really puts UND in a bad light,” Sen. Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said.

Wardner, who was elected by his Senate Republican caucus Tuesday night to succeed the late Sen. Bob Stenehjem, voted for the nickname bill authored by Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, the House majority leader.

Like I have said in the past; you won't find a bigger fan/supporter of the Fighting Sioux nickname than me, I don't want to change the name and I am sick and tired of political correctness, however, there is no way we can win in this instance. There is no guarantee the NCAA would back down even if the group from Spirit Lake was able to get standing in Federal Court. The NCAA has a lot of money and high priced lawyers to wait out the people from Spirit Lake... If anything an injunction might jeopardize UND's chances of getting into the Big Sky Conference.

The time to stand and fight for the Fighting Sioux nickname was 3-4 years ago and our elected leaders did nothing. If our elected congressional leaders had actually been proactive they might have been able to get the NCAA to back down, instead our elected leaders sat on their hands and did nothing.

If the University of North Dakota keeps the Fighting Sioux they will jeopardize their application for membership in the Big Sky Conference.  I like most people don't want to see the UND football team continue to play teams like University of Sioux Falls in football or New Jersey Tech in Basketball.

Related articles

• Couple of Fighting Sioux nickname issues... (mvn.com)
• Carlson: Pre-special session resumption of Sioux nickname transition 'slap in face' of N.D. Legislature (mvn.com)
• Fighting Sioux Nickname One Step Closer To Being Retired (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• Fighting Sioux nickname meeting with NCAA rescheduled for Aug. 12 (mvn.com)
• Fighting Sioux logo links... (mvn.com)
• NCAA "Willing to Reconsider" Settlement Demands for Refitting Ralph Engelstad Fighting Sioux Arena. (mvn.com)

Couple of Fighting Sioux nickname issues...

The Grand Forks Herald made mention of this L.A. Times article in today's paper and it's worth a look... My personal opinion of the article was that the L.A. Times oped comes off as being condescending, elitist and down right rude.

L.A. Times ---- Unlike 19th century U.S. officials, the North Dakota Board of Higher Education knows how to honor an agreement. It decided to retire the Fighting Sioux mascot. But then the North Dakota Legislature upset that amicable resolution by passing a law mandating that the university keep the old mascot. As a result, the university's athletics program faces various NCAA sanctions and might be excluded from the Big Sky Conference, which it had planned to join.

This is a 21st century conflict, so of course there also are lawsuits. Some members of the Spirit Lake tribe sued to keep the mascot, but their case was thrown out of court. A group of Native American students at the university sued to get rid of the name and accompanying logo of a young Sioux man. Written into the new state law is a provision that calls for suing the NCAA if it imposes any penalties.

Many of the legislators are alumni who understandably cling to this symbol of their college years, but reason should come before sentiment, and the law should be repealed. Lawmakers should have gotten more out of their college experience than the "fighting" part.

ND State Representative Mike Schatz (R-New England) was on with Rob Port on KNOX on Friday 8-26-11 and Rob and Mike Schatz spoke on the Fighting Sioux issue... [Click to listen]

Related articles

• Fighting Sioux logo links... (mvn.com)
• Former Sioux football players Jim Kleinsasser weighs in... (mvn.com)
• NCAA "Willing to Reconsider" Settlement Demands for Refitting Ralph Engelstad Fighting Sioux Arena. (mvn.com)

Representative Al Carlson will not sponsor reversal of nickname decision

Image via WikipediaThis is breaking news on the Fighting Sioux nickname... Carlson won't introduce legislation that would repeal his law that required the University of North Dakota to be called the Fighting Sioux, on the other hand Carlson will not obstruct anyone that decides to introduce legislation to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname either.

Fargo Forum --- When asked this week if he would introduce legislation to undo the law, Carlson said he wouldn’t.

“I’m principled enough to know that I’m not going to do that,” said Carlson, who sponsored the controversial law that took effect this month.

However, Carlson said he also won’t discourage anyone else from submitting legislation to amend or repeal the law and said he would go along with what must be done.

“I’m not here to obstruct the process or to hurt UND,” he said. “We’re not going to damage the university.”

So does UND need to select a new nickname?

As UND moves away from the Fighting Sioux nickname one of the first questions that is often asked,  "can UND just be "North Dakota or UND?" In my opinion that would be the best option instead of picking another nickname that will no way ever match the Fighting Sioux Nickname. It would appear from the settlement agreement that was signed by the Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem that UND is going to have to select a new nickname in the future or face possible NCAA sanctions.

Related articles

• University of North Dakota Faces Sanctions (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)

UND to resume planning process for retirement of nickname and logo

Image via WikipediaUND President Robert O. Kelley posted this on the UND Nickname/logo blog today and you can almost feel the glee and excitement in his voice as President Kelley wrote this blog post, but I digress, most of us knew this day would come but it doesn't soften the blow any easier either.

Dear Campus Community:

I want to bring you up to date on recent events related to the nickname and logo. But first let me a take a moment to welcome everyone to the start of a new academic year. I can feel the energy, enthusiasm, and excitement in the air as many return to campus from being gone all summer. We also have the privilege of welcoming our new students and families in the upcoming Welcome Weekend. I encourage you to participate in these events so you can meet some of our new students. A special welcome to our new faculty, as well. We look forward to you joining our community.

As you may know, our university had been directed by the State Board of Higher Education to retire the nickname and logo of our athletic programs by August 15, 2011. The transition was proceeding when the state legislature passed a bill requiring UND to retain the name and logo. After the Governor signed that bill into law, the State Board directed me to suspend any further activities associated with its retirement.

Following a meeting last Friday between North Dakota officials and the leadership of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the State Board of Higher Education held a teleconference meeting today and instructed me to resume the process of planning the retirement of the nickname and logo nickname consistent with prior Board action. The State Board of Higher Education extended the deadline to complete that process through December 2011. I will resume the planning process, mindful of the state law which, as of Aug. 1, directs the University of North Dakota to continue to use our nickname and logo. Gov. Jack Dalrymple has indicated that he will urge the North Dakota Legislature to readdress that law in the special session of the North Dakota Legislature planned for November.

The controversy surrounding the name and logo cannot be permitted to deter us from our core missions of teaching and learning, research, and service. We begin the 2011-2012 academic year as strong as our university has ever been. Our talented and dedicated faculty and staff, supported by our committed alumni and friends, will sustain the momentum that has been generated in recent months around the Exceptional UND initiatives that can establish our position as a world-class institution of higher education.
[Read the rest of the blog post]

Related articles

• Native American Students File Suit to Prevent Use of Fighting Sioux (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• North Dakota expected to finally give up the fight, retire Fighting Sioux nickname (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• NCAA won't budge (mvn.com)

Is there a counter law suit coming?

Image via Wikipedia
This was on Rob Port's sayanything blog last night... As soon as I hear something I will post it up on the blog...

Update: I’m being told by nickname supporters that tribal interests are considering a lawsuit against the NCAA, so it would appear as though this issue is far from over though I don’t have any details to add at this point.

Look I get it, the Fighting Sioux nickname is gone, I think most of us knew that before the ND delegation went to the NCAA office in Indiana. That being said, I would love to see this issue finally go to a court of law where some pasty white judge could tell a person of Native American decent (that supports the Fighting Sioux nickname) that they can’t have to the Fighting Sioux nickname because it’s hostile and abusive. How would they respond to that?

More from the meeting...

Image via WikipediaThis from the Grand Forks Herald, these are some of the sanctions from the NCAA that will happen to UND if they don't change the Fighting Sioux nickname. It's pretty apparent what needs to happen.

Dalrymple noted sanctions against UND, which are to go into effect Monday, would prohibit the university from hosting a post-season tournament and athletes would not be allowed to wear the logo in post-season play.

“Since then, I have learned sanctions also will result in (NCAA) member schools refusing to schedule games with UND, and the university will not be allowed to join the Big Sky Conference.”

“I have come to the conclusion that the consequences of not retiring the Sioux logo are too great.”

He said he will ask legislative leaders to introduce legislation during the special session scheduled for November to delegate the issue back to the state board. He said that legislation “probably will also require an affirmative vote by directors of the UND Alumni Association.” One concession that the NCAA leaders made, according to Dalrymple, was that “they will communicate with members that UND is in the process of retiring the logo, and they should take that into account in any scheduling decisions they make.”

This what Representative Al Carlson from Fargo had to say on the matter today.

Also, “Rep. Carlson, disappointed as he is, said he will not do anything to harm the university.”

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