Fighting Hawks Can Wait

St Paul Pioneer Press sports writer Bob Sansevere interviewed UND forward Brock Boeser after the Frozen Four. One of the things that and one of the things that caught my eye was this. Boeser hits on something that has been a topic of discussion since UND picked Fighting Hawks as their official nickname. I’ve also had a few interesting conversations about the Fighting Hawks and Fighting Sioux nicknames.

Sansevere: There was a lot of controversy about North Dakota being called the Fighting Sioux. Do you like the Fighting Hawks nickname?

Boeser: It’s something not a lot of people like down here. Most people would have preferred the University of North Dakota with no nickname.

Sansevere: Fans were chanting “Let’s go Sioux” and “Sioux forever” in the championship game. Did you hear them?

Boeser: They’ll never change that. All the fans love the team, and there are die-hard Sioux fans.

During the nickname selection debacle, we were told that not having a nickname would be like continuing to use the Fighting Sioux nickname. If UND picked a nickname, the fans would get behind the new nickname. Yeah, that hasn't happened for the UND hockey fans. Some of the other programs have had a smoother transition to the new nickname.

So, this past weekend, the anti-no nickname crowd's theory was shot all to hell. Thousands of UND fans dressed in Fighting Sioux garb chanted "Let's Go Sioux" and "Sioux Forever". I didn't hear one "Let’s Go Hawks" cheer, you probably won't for a very long time.

Even the national media, for the most part still refers to UND as the Fighting Sioux. I am wondering how long before this goes away. It doesn't appear that it's going to happen anytime soon. Let's be clear, I am not suggesting that UND transition back to the Fighting Sioux nickname. It's not going to happen, ever. I am also not a member of the move on crowd either. I have bought two new Fighting Sioux Jersey's in the last year.

Let's not forget, UND wouldn't be able to host an NCAA regional in Fargo, ND if they still under NCAA sanctions and had the Fighting Sioux nickname. Don't forget, UND will again host another regional next season in Fargo. I also think that UND's other programs will eventually benefit from being able to not being under NCAA sanctions.

I am also surprised I haven't seen an editorial in the Grand Forks Herald complaining about the pro-Fighting Sioux nickname crowd chanting "Let's Go Sioux" and "Sioux Forever." And no, UND has a new nickname and the NCAA isn't going to sanction them because their fans are chanting the old nickname. If fans want to cheer Fighting Sioux and wear the old jersey's that protected under the first amendment. That's a line of bull s***.

In conclusion, I also find some irony that immediately after UND selected a new nickname, they went out and won an NCAA title with the new nickname. I don't know what to make of this? I just don't expect the new nickname to catch fire anytime soon. I also think the move on crowd can back off just a bit. I also think it's silly to boo your team every time you hear Fighting Hawks. Some day we might find some middle ground. But for now, all I can say is Fighting Hawks can wait.