Showing posts with label University of North Dakota. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of North Dakota. Show all posts

Friday, June 19, 2015

Herald Letter: LETTER: Keep UND’s identity by choosing North Dakota

Here's a letter from a read of the Grand Forks Herald. Thoughts? 


Grand Forks Herald -- The recent poll in the Herald said that people would rather stay North Dakota by a 2 to 1 margin.
 I can be included in that group and the following is the reasoning for doing so:
UND’s identity was unique with the Fighting Sioux, it was never  a mascot but an identity.   Now people are in the process of finding a new something for a mascot which UND never had.  The closest was for years the fan group “The Farce”  had Kermit the Frog, which never appeared on UND letterheads.
Why on earth would UND want to become a re-tread of:
   1.  Another member of the animal kingdom (husky, bear, cougar, colt, a rodent, etc.)
   2. A bird of some type (eagle, cardinal, hawk)
   3. A person (cowboy, minutemen, pirate)
The list of things with which UND could identify was once, in the Herald’s April 4 edition, a thousand names long, now it’s not.  Why would we want to be a “just another” something like  every other university  with overlapping identities for their entire existence. UND was unique with its former identity, keep that uniqueness by not becoming a university with a mascot just like everybody else.
UND represents the entire state of North Dakota, which includes all people of your state.  
UND has the best aerospace studies in the U.S., a four-year med school, and other great academic programs. Why not be the leader in the entire U.S. in this regard by not having a mascot like we have not had?  UND never had a guy riding a horse with  spear like Florida State or Illinois with the guy who danced wildly at their athletic contests, so why start now with some cartoon-like representation.  Be who you are, which is a very proud population represented by the University of North Dakota.
Steve Molvig
Lovelock, Nev.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Weston Dressler Wouldn't Mind UND Being Named the Roughriders

Kim Thue from the Global News had some remarks from former Fighting Sioux football player Weston Dressler. Apparently, Drexler wouldn't mind UND being called the Roughriders.




Monday, June 15, 2015

Tweets from the Nickname Committee Meeting



First, woof. I think that is a broad statement that's a bit shortsighted. There are some, yes. I think some of the nicknames that have emerged are so bad, they would rather stay "North Dakota" instead of adopting a really bad, God awful nickname like Sundogs, Pride or Spirit. I find those nicknames to be unacceptable.



If you want to read her tweets, Anna Burleson from the Grand Forks Herald is at the Nickname Committee Meeting tonight. She's been on top the story from the start.

A couple of things have caught my eye tonight. Also after reading some of the tweets, I am convinced UND is going to get he nickname that Lowell Schweigert wants.



Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Nickname Committee Cuts List of Names to 64

The UND Nickname committee has cut the list of names to 64. One of the names under consideration is "North Dakota". Below is the list of names that are moving forward. Unfortunately, Sundogs and Sundog is on the list. I am disappointed that Green Machine is not on the list.

  1. Aeronauts
  2. Aeros
  3. Arctic Blaze
  4. Arctic Force
  5. Aurora
  6. Aviators
  7. Badlanders
  8. Big Green
  9. Bison Slayers
  10. Blackhawks
  11. BLAZE
  12. BLAZING STARS
  13. BLIZZARD
  14. Blizzard Dogs
  15. Bombardiers
  16. Bombers
  17. Cavalry
  18. Charging Nokota
  19. Drillers
  20. ENERGY
  21. Explorers
  22. Fighting Green
  23. Fighting Greens
  24. Fighting Green Hawks
  25. Fighting Hawks
  26. Fighting Sundogs
  27. Fire
  28. Flame
  29. Flames
  30. Flickertails
  31. Fliers
  32. Force
  33. Force of North
  34. Global Hawks
  35. Green Bombers
  36. GREEN HAWKS
  37. GREEN PRIDE
  38. 'Grey Hawks'
  39. Night Hawks
  40. Night Riders
  41. Nighthawks
  42. Nodak
  43. Nodaks
  44. North Dakota
  45. North Force
  46. North Stars
  47. Northern Lights
  48. Prarie Hawks
  49. Pride
  50. Riders
  51. roughhriders
  52. SNOW DOGS
  53. Snow Leopards
  54. Spirit
  55. STORM
  56. Sundog
  57. Sundogs
  58. Thunder Hawks
  59. Warhawks
  60. Warriors
  61. Warriors of the North
  62. Wings
  63. Wooly Mammoth

Thursday, May 07, 2015

(UPDATED) Herald Poll: Vote for the Two "No Nickname" Options



The Grand Forks Herald has an on-line poll where you can vote for the two no nickname options. North Dakota is winning by a large margin. Update: the vote tally keeps going up. Don't forget to vote.

Monday, May 04, 2015

UND Nickname Suggestion Released

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The UND Nick Name Committee has released its names of that will be up for consideration.
Here are the more popular choices. There are some creative nickname suggestions. 


Aviators
BLIZZARD
Cavalry
Explorers
Flames
Nodaks
North Dakota (by far the most popular)
North Stars
Tsunami
Warriors


Wednesday, April 08, 2015

Speaking of Bad Nickname Ideas; Las Vegas Flamingos?

The University of North Dakota is going through the process of picking a new nickname, and many of us are worried that the university is going to pick a really bad nickname.

Looking at this suggestion by Craig Custance, Flamingos would take the cake for a horrible nickname. I can't imagine that anyone would allow this to happen.

That being said, I do like the Outlaws nickname that Tim Kavanaugh included in the linked article.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

UND Gets a Commitment from Grant Mismash

Another great pickup for the University of North Dakota on the recruiting front. Today, Grant Mismash from Shattuck St. Mary's committed to the University of North Dakota. Here's the link to his Elite Prospects page.


Thursday, March 26, 2015

Wall Street Journal: North Dakota Needs a Nickname

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 like many UND fans know that the nickname is gone and never coming back. I also didn't know that UND could become the first Division I team to win a title without a nickname.
Matthew Futterman, Wall Street Journal -- In 2012, North Dakota dropped its old nickname, the Fighting Sioux, after a long legislative and legal battle. The NCAA had threatened to not allow North Dakota to host postseason games if it continued to use the name and display its Native American head logo. In a statewide referendum, 67% of voters supported getting rid of them.

But in the process, a cooling-off period was imposed until 2015 before the school could pick a new name. So as North Dakota begins play Friday in the 16-team hockey tournament—it is hosting the West regional in Fargo, about 80 miles from its Grand Forks campus—there is another crucial piece of business at hand: replacing the beloved Fighting Sioux name.

“It is a very emotional issue,” said Lowell Schweigert, a North Dakota alumnus and booster who was a quarterback and a pitcher for the Fighting Sioux in the 1970s.

n January, Schweigert began serving on a committee charged with facilitating the selection of a new nickname this year. The committee only came into being as the end of the cooling-off period loomed. “Our charge now is to have something done by May,” said Schweigert, a financial consultant in Grand Forks. “That is a pretty ambitious goal.”

Relief is on the way. On Wednesday, the committee on the new nickname announced it will accept suggestions from the public through April. Suggestions must be 25 characters or less. The committee will choose three finalists for a public vote as soon as May.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Friday before the Storm Links

It's crunch time, the final push to the NCAA playoffs. Selection Sunday, the regionals... Some college hockey teams are fighting for their playoff lives. This is is the best time o the year.








Thursday, February 12, 2015

UND Gets Highly Sought Recruit Brock Boeser

Today, the University of North Dakota got some very good news on the recruiting front. Brock Boeser from Minnesota has committed to UND. Boeser is a highly sought recruit and was also considering Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota. (Elite Prospects)


Thursday, February 05, 2015

UND WHKY: Border battle

Grand Forks, N.D. -- Rewind to Nov. 21 of last year and the North Dakota women's hockey was on a eight-game winless skid. The team was swept by the Minnesota Gopher powerhouse and the newly revitalized Bemidji State program. They had a loss and a tie against Wisconsin.

Nothing seemed to be going right at that point in the season. But since Dec. 12, the team has gone 8-1-1. Most recently tallying back-to-back sweeps of Ohio State and BSU. Last weekend North Dakota was able to pull off a in and tie against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

The games that North Dakota has won as of late haven't been high scoring or glamorous, but the program has done enough of the right things to claw themselves back from sixth place in the WCHA to fourth.

The keys to UND's success have been the defense and being backstopped by junior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie. Amsley-Benzie has allowed only four goals in the last six games and has three shutouts against nationally ranked opponents. She has also been named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week twice since the beginning of 2015.

Currently North Dakota trails Minnesota Duluth in the WCHA standings by three points and is ranked 10th in the Pairwise with only six games remaining in the regular season.

This weekend North Dakota will face rival Minnesota on Friday at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday at 4:07 p.m.. The Gophers are 17-1-4 with the lone loss to Bemidji in Nov. of last year. If UND plans to be successful this weekend against the Gophers they will need carry momentum from the past three weeks and have exceptional goaltending and defense.

UND is hoping to pack The Ralph and break last year's attendance record. Attendees will receive one of these ridiculously fun(ny) foam stick hats. Tickets are available for $1 at The Ralph box office.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Collin Adams Committs to UND

Collin Adams a 16-year old forward from Brighton, MI, has committed to play for UND. Below, is his Elite Prospects page.


Saturday, January 24, 2015

UND 2 C.C. 1 (UND goals)



The University of North Dakota improved to 17-5-2 with the 2-1 win against the Colorado College Tigers on Friday night.

Last night, UND also scored its nation-leading 9th shorthanded goal of the year. Four players have two shorthanded goals. Also, four of those shorthanded goals have been game-winning goals.

NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Mark MacMillan (12) (Michael Parks/16, Andrew Panzarella/3) 16:23
NDK 2 - 1 5x6 SH GW LL Michael Parks (9) (unassisted)

Monday, January 12, 2015

WHKY: North Dakota splits with Syracuse

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- North Dakota came out of winter break in non-convference action against Syracuse University. By the final buzzer on Sunday afternoon UND earned a split on the weekend.

It took the first 20 minutes of Saturdays's game for North Dakota to work out the rust from break. With tired 'Cuse players on the ice, Gracen Hirshy scored the first goal of the game.

During the second period UND was able to hold the Orange to four shots on goal. North Dakota maintained the lead and dictate the majority of play for the remainder of the game.

Former Warroad Warriors teammates Layla Marvin and Kayla Gardner both found the scoresheet. This included a two-goal game for Marvin who potted an empty net goal with under a minute remaining in the game.

North Dakota got off to a strong start on Sunday, but ended the first period with a one-goal deficit when The Orange scored on the power play at the 6:42 mark. There were no shortage of chances in the form of odd-player rushes and open nets, but UND was never able to capitalize.

The lone goal for North Dakota came after they were able to tire Syracuse after a power play in the second. As time dwindled on the clock during the third period the pressure mounted. "Kids started gripping their sticks and it was brutal," head coach Brian Idalski said.

North Dakota will resume WCHA conference play when they meet with the WCHA third-ranked, Ohio State Buckeyes this coming weekend. OSU left the weekend with a sweep over the St. Cloud State Huskies.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

UND Adds Two More Recruits

UND has added two more recruits. Today, UND recieved verbal commitments from Jackson Keane Manitoba, Canada and Joel Janatuinen of Finland. One has to wonder if Michelle Karvinen had anything to do with Janatuinen signing here?

Jackson Keane is the son of former NHLer Mike Keane.


Friday, January 09, 2015

WHKY Weekend Preview: Green & White meets Orange

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- UND women's hockey returns to play against Syracuse this weekend at the Ralph Engelstad Arena for an afternoon Saturday-Sunday series. The non-conference series will be the first time the teams have met in program history.

UND heads into second-half action after a road sweep of RIT.  "We finished stronger than we started. Hopefully we can carry that and be stronger when the play-offs come around," Andrea Dalen said.

This weekend they will focus on containing Syracuse Orange's leading scorers Stephanie Grossi and, fellow freshman, Alysha Burriss. Prior to Saturday's series opener, the Orange are coming off of a 2-0 loss to Colgate.

Look for North Dakota to attempt to carry some momentum and building blocks from the first half of the season. "We want to see a lot more wins, obviously," head coach Brian Idalski said. "I think structurally we're much better. Talent wise, development of some of our younger kids being comfortable within their role."

North Dakota gets underway tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.. Live audio can be heard (free) at UND Sports Tickets are available at the REA box office: adults $7, youth $5 and UND students free with student ID.

Friday, January 02, 2015

UND Hockey: Max Gerlach Committs to UND

Another day, and another highly-sought recruit commits to UND. This time, UND picks up Max Gerlach who has committed to UND for the 2016-17 season. According to his Elite Prospects Page, Gerlach is from Texas and plays for the Colorado Thunderbirds. He's also a Fargo Force draftee.

 According to Brad E. Schlossman, Gerlach, 16, is a draft pick of the Fargo Force in the USHL. He was actually born in Minnesota, but moved to Texas when he was four months old.



Thursday, January 01, 2015

UND Adds a Goalie Recruit Matej Tomek

Well, it's been a busy day. Add Topeka RoadRunners goalie Matej Tomek to the list of incoming recruits.

Brad Schlossman had said that UND would probably add a goalie commitment very soon. Potentially, UND could have a log jam at the goalie position if Zane McIyntre doesn't turn pro after his junior season. Here's the link to Tomek's Elite Prospects page.
Official Release -- The Topeka RoadRunners, a member of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are pleased to announce goaltender Matej Tomek has committed to play his Division I college hockey at the University of North Dakota beginning in the fall of 2015.

Tomek is from Bratislava, Slovakia and is listed on NHL Central Scouting's B list (meaning he's a projected early round draft pick) and he has been scouted and recruited heavily throughout the season. Having several options on the table made for a challenging decision, but North Dakota seemed like the right fit for the 17-year old netminder.

"It was a very tough decision for me, but I chose UND because I feel they will best help me grow both as a player and as a person." His major is undecided at this time, but he certainly has plenty of time for that.

Monday, December 08, 2014

President Kelly Praised for His Stand on Retiring Logo in Performance Rating

s/t to Rob Port of sayanythingblog.com -- Here's UND President, Rob Kelly's most recent performance evaluation . Check out the comments by his evaluator, North Dakota Chancellor, Larry Skogen. These comments will definitely rub some UND fans the wrong way. 

You can find the whole evaluation at this link.



Doesn't look like the leadership is looking at the no nickname option.


Again, most of us realize that the Fighting Sioux nickname is gone and that it's not coming back. But a lot of people in high places of higher education are out of touch with reality and these comments smack of elitism.  Feel free to argue if you want.