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.
