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)

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.”

Related articles

• Fighting Sioux Controversy Continues (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• Students file lawsuit over ND school's nickname (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Students sue to alter North Dakota's nickname (espn.go.com)
• Al Carlson on the law suit... (mvn.com)

Al Carlson on the law suit...

Image via Wikipedia
This article by ESPN is worth a read if you haven't seen it. As mentioned earlier, no one has a clue on who is paying for this law suit, it's hardly unlikely the students mention are paying for this lawsuit. It would be nice to have some transparency and know who is footing the bill on this lawsuit. I am sure that information will come out in the near future.

ESPN.COM --- Some state leaders and UND President Robert Kelley are scheduled to meet with NCAA executives Friday in Indianapolis. Republican House Majority Leader Al Carlson, of Fargo, questioned the timing of the lawsuit and said it represents a handful of people with out-of-state interests.

"You've got a New York attorney. It was nice of them to keep it local," Carlson said. "We understand why it was done. It's a small group. My job is to represent the majority of North Dakotans.

"I think there has been a lot of discussion already and tomorrow we are going to make the case why we think the Fighting Sioux nickname should be retained," he said of Friday's meeting.

Fredericks said the timing of the lawsuit is related to the fact that the settlement agreement dictated that the nickname be officially retired Monday, and not because of the meeting with NCAA officials.

"The meeting that is happening on Friday is because of the Monday deadline," she said.