Wall Street Journal: North Dakota Needs a Nickname

 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.

ASU Adding Hockey College Hockey, Good or Bad?

I saw the comment above in the Grand Forks Herald chat and I had to include it in my blog post.

First, I think with the announcement that Arizona State University adding hockey is grounds for celebration. Hey, the more the merrier. I don't look at it as gloom and doom. After college hockey blew up a few summers ago with re-alignment many people were predicting that gloom and doom. I don't think that's the case. If you look at the USCHO poll, the top-20 teams are mostly Division II schools and mid majors. Gone from the top-20, traditional powers like Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Think about this, Union College won the NCAA title last year, they're a Division III school. So I don't believe that adding another Big-Five school is going to ruin college hockey.

Jeff Cox, SBNCollegeHockey --- However, college hockey has always been a niche sport in the colder regions of the country. It has thrived with smaller schools playing up and having success such as 2014 NCAA Champion Union College and Minnesota-Duluth in 2011. Little-known schools nationally such as Northern Michigan, Lake Superior, RPI and Bowling Green won national titles in the 80s and 90s. The current No. 1 team in the nation and winner of three national titles, Michigan Tech, is a small school located in the upper peninsula that certainly wouldn't even sniff such success in football or basketball.

When Penn State elevated its successful club program to the NCAA level a few years ago, we saw the dismantlement of the CCHA and the fraction of the WCHA into the Big Ten, NCHC and a revamped WCHA. Depending on which rumor you believe, the Sun Devils seem destined for the NCHC or WCHA, both could be argued as logical choices for the newest member of college hockey's fraternity.

None of this is a knock on Penn State or Arizona State. Both, rightfully so, are entitled to look out for their best interests. No school, big or large, is necessarily tasked with looking out for the interests of any other institution outside of their own. But, college hockey is a small fraternity and one that needs to keep all its members to ensure future success. The small schools with a rich hockey history have been vital to the sport. Going forward it is imperative that College Hockey Inc. and other powers that be in the sport maintain balance in expansion with keeping the glorious history of the sport alive.

Related articles

• ASU to Add Division I Hockey(ndgoon.blogspot.com)

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• The Student Section: Regular Season Episode #6(hockeywilderness.com)

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Grand Forks Herald: UND, NDSU to play in 2015, 2019, ending 12-year hiatus

Good times have come our way... Finally, the North Dakota State University and North Dakota will resume their rivalry in football. It’s a start, and it’s also a step in the right direction. Seriously, the Bison didn’t have to play us and while some UND fans aren’t happy that the games will only played in Fargo for now, the series will eventually return to Grand Forks, ND. I would bet on it.

Now if you want some comical, thoughtful analysis on the resumption of the historic rivalry, head over to Belligerentville aka Bisonville.

One final note, according to Dom Izzo and Tom Miller, the two teams will “not” play for the Nickle Trophy.

Brad Elliott Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald -- The UND-NDSU football rivalry is back.

The schools will play in games in Fargo on Sept. 19, 2015, and Sept. 7, 2019, ending a 12-year hiatus that began after the 2003 contest when NDSU moved to NCAA Division I status.

“I want our football players to have the full experience of being a UND football player and, to me, that includes playing North Dakota State," UND coach Bubba Schweigert said. "True rivalry games are a big part of college football. You see Iowa State playing Iowa, Michigan State playing Michigan, Auburn playing Alabama and so on. There is no reason North Dakota and North Dakota State should not be playing.

“As I traveled around the region talking to some of our football alums, one of their fondest memories is playing against our rival North Dakota State. Too many young men have missed out on that opportunity over the last 11 years.”

This also means no FBS/BCS game for #NDSU in 2015; at Montana, home vs. Weber State and #UND
— Dom Izzo (@DomIzzoWDAY) August 22, 2014

Former #NDSU AD Gene Taylor outlined deal for games with #UND according to release, 500 tickets go to #UND as well
— Dom Izzo (@DomIzzoWDAY) August 22, 2014

In contract; #UND will receive 125K for the 2015 game and 140K for the 2019 game with #NDSU #FCSFootball
— Dom Izzo (@DomIzzoWDAY) August 22, 2014

Unfortunate. Such a great part of the rivalry "@gfherald: UND-NDSU won't play for Nickel Trophy in renewed rivalry http://t.co/ziNKP4AvMu”
— Tom Miller (@tommillergf) August 22, 2014

Denver's Peg Bradley-Doppes on the Big Five

University of Denver Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation Peg Bradley-Doppes had this to say about the big five conference rules. Obliviously, DU is a small school in the Summit League, but is considered a big school in division I hockey and lacrosse.

Marc Tracy, New York Times -- The new model would codify the college sports world as one “much more, perhaps, of haves and have-nots,” said Peg Bradley-Doppes, the vice chancellor for athletics at the University of Denver, which is not in a Big 5 conference. “It may make the competitive experience more challenging.”

Both supporters and detractors of the new model see the vote as pivotal, even as outside developments threaten to force more drastic reform.

“This is a game-changer,” Ms. Bradley-Doppes, of the University of Denver, said.

And I think you can see a theme starting to emerge here. If the Big Five doesn't get their way, these big schools are going to leave the NCAA. This is why N.C.A.A. President Mark Emmert is behind this move. The NCAA doesn't want to lose the big money that the big five conference schools generate.

If the board rejects the model, it could prompt a more severe break. Big 5 commissioners have suggested that in that event, they would consider much more drastic measures: departing from the N.C.A.A. and taking their teams — and the billions in revenue they produce — to a so-called Division IV.

N.C.A.A. President Mark Emmert, the former president of Washington and chancellor of Louisiana State — both Big 5 universities — has appeared to support autonomy. In 2011, he pushed for a proposal to allow Division I colleges to offer athletes additional $2,000 stipends. (The board passed the proposal, but the membership overrode it.)

The No. 1 reason the NCAA voted to give greater autonomy to the Big Five conferences today: http://t.co/AfwEVE5pi4 pic.twitter.com/66l8m2jwHP
— Jim Pagels (@jimpagels) August 7, 2014

Related articles

• N.C.A.A.'s Rich Poised to Get Richer, With More Athlete Benefits
• N.C.A.A. May Let Its Top Conferences Play by Their Own Rules
• Four-year college athletic scholarships could be wave of future
• For Wealthy NCAA Programs, Autonomy Is Not a Panacea

NCAA settles concussion lawsuit that includes former UMaine hockey player

#121579163 / gettyimages.com

Earlier today, I posted a blog post on the NCAA concussion lawsuit and whether this lawsuit would have any effect on NCAA Division I Hockey. Apparently, it does.

Mary Wisniewski, Reuters --- Former University of Maine ice hockey player Kyle Solomon joined the lawsuit in 2013.

Solomon, who suffered four concussions while at UMaine, said in February 2013 that Berman’s law firm told him it wanted to “change the NCAA’s return-to-play policy and thought my situation at UMaine would be a good example. It wasn’t that [my concussions] weren’t treated. But they weren’t treated as seriously as they should have been because the NCAA didn’t have a [strong enough] rule in place.”

“This is nothing against … Maine hockey,” he said. “It was an honor to play for Maine. I loved playing for them. It was a shame it had to stop.”

Related articles

• NCAA reaches $75 million settlement in concussion lawsuit
• NCAA settles head-injury suit, will change rules
• NCAA settles concussion lawsuit with $70m fund for college athletes

NCAA Hockey: Early Departures

Jaycob Megna, defense, UNO, junior, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Josh Manson, defense, NE, junior, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Ryan Faragher, goalie, SCSU, junior, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Nic Kerdiles, forward, UW, sophomore, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Gustav Olofsson, defense, C.C., freshman, Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Kevin Czuczman, defense, LSSU, junior, NY Islanders (NHL)
Caleb Herbert, forward, UMD, junior, Washington Capitals (NHL)
Phil Di Giuseppe, forward, UM, junior, Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Alex Guptill, forward, UM, junior, Dallas Stars (NHL)
Ryan Dzingel, forward, OSU, junior, Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Bryce Van Brabant, forward, QU, Junior, Calgary Flames (NHL)
Ryan Haggerty, forward, RPI, Jr. NY Rangers (NHL)
Mike Zalewski, forward, RPI, sophomore, Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Matt Carey, forward, SLU, freshman, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Trevor van Riemdsyk, defense, UNH, junior, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Josh Archibald, freshman, forward, UNO, junior, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Christian Folin, defense, UML, sophomore, Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Connor Hellebuyck, goalie, UML, sophomore, Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Scott Wilson, forward, UML, junior, Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Pheonix Copley, goalie, MTU, sophomore, Washington capitals (NHL)
Jake McCabe, defense, UW, junior, Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Jordan Oesterl, defense, WMU, junior, Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
Ryan Carpenter, forward, BGSU, junior, Worcester Sharks (AHL)

Breakdown of early Departures

UMD: 1
UW: 1
RPI: 2
UNO: 2
OSU: 1
UMICH: 2
BGSU: 1
NU: 1
WMU: 1
UNH: 1
C.C.: 1
SLU: 1

SCSU: 1
UML: 3
MTU: 1
QU: 1
LSSU:1

UND vs. SDSU on FCS

@siouxhockey78 @GreenWhiteGear @UNDsports @MidcoSN Also on Fox College Sports Pacific and DirecTV 623.
— NorthDakota Football (@UNDfootball) September 7, 2013

Good news for fans that can't make the game tonight. The game will be on Fox College Sports.

UND football game on FCS! pic.twitter.com/MZeJ5Q83nn
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) September 7, 2013

Related articles

• UND Football: Dexter Albrecht explains '30 Minutes or Less' (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Top Stories Surrounding New League (thehockeywriters.com)

Gwoz not in the running for UAH coaching job

George Gwozdecky says Huntsville could be a "gem,'' but won't be coaching there. "The way my career has evolved, it wasn't the right fit.''
— Andy Baggot (@AndyBaggotWSJ) June 21, 2013

According to Andy Baggot from the Madison.com, former DU head coach George Gwozdecky is no longer in the running for the UAH head coaching position. This is disappointing, because it would have been interesting to see what a high profile coach like George Gwozdecky would've done with a program like UAH. Given the right support, I do think Huntsville can be a winner in the new look WCHA.

Madison.com -- Gwozdecky had an opportunity to get back into the mix this week, but said Friday he's no longer a candidate for the opening at Alabama-Huntsville, which is the only school among the 59 in NCAA Division I looking for a coach.

"The way my career has evolved, it wasn't the right fit,'' Gwozdecky said.

That's not to say the opportunity at the newest Western Collegiate Hockey Association member lacked appeal. He and his wife, Bonnie, flew to Alabama and met with Huntsville athletic director E.J. Brophy this week. The school is looking to replace Kurt Kleinendorst, who resigned last month to pursue opportunities in the pro ranks.

"I was really impressed,'' Gwozdecky said of the school and the city. "It could be a real gem.''

I do think that Gwozdecky would be an interesting choice for the WCHA Commissioner as well. That would be interesting as well. Thoughts on that?

Related articles

• Gwoz to Huntsville? (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Friday Links.

Good morning from snowy Grand Forks, ND. The holiday season is upon us and soon UND men’s and women’s hockey will be getting ready for the stretch drive.

As some of you know, Brandon Veale of the Mining Gazette put his moronic spin on the formation of the NCHC.  In my opinion, I believe that that article was really unnecessary, and basically give the Houghton newspaper a black eye... If you watched the video of the Wednesday press conference you will see that

UND head coach Dave Hakstol was very complimentary of MTU and I also think that UND will continue to play the teams like BSU, MSUM and MTU after UND leaves the WCHA for the NCHC. 

With the formation of the NCHC and the B1G there are some teams in the new WCHA that are already starting to see the pinch finically. Jack Hittnger of the Bemidji Pioneer lays out BSU’s problems that the Bemidji State is currently experiencing.

As most you would expect Chris Dilks of Western College Hockey goes down the same road as Brandon Veal of the Mining Gazette. I guess he feels if he insults UND fans that we will flock to his blog. I am disappointed because UND has done a lot to help out the small market teams, UND traveled to Bemidji before they were a member of the WCHA and they will continue to play BSU after they leave for the NCHC.

Chad from A Tradition of Excellence has his links up this morning.

Here are my series notes from the Hockey Writers Combine; UND vs. Michigan Tech.

Joe Paisley and Tyler Buckentine from USCHO have their weekly picks up.

Stephen Anderson of the Mining Gazette has his series preview.

I am glad that this guy de-committed from UND to play in the OHL.

According to Joe Paisley, Altitude Sports is going to broadcast Saturdays C.C. game. That game should be on 681 on DirecTV.

Bison Football players making national news for voter fraud

The North Dakota State University football team is getting some unwanted scrutiny and press after it was revealed to the media and fans that eight NDSU football players – four of which are starters have been caught in a voter fraud case. That story has now hit the national media and the NCAA site as well.

CBSSports.com --- Eight North Dakota State University football players, including four starters, are among 11 people charged with faking petition signatures in a scheme that will keep two well-funded initiatives off the November ballot.

Bison coach Craig Bohl said the players will be eligible to play this weekend against Colorado State and any team discipline would wait until after the criminal case was resolved.

The players were hired, at $9 an hour, to gather signatures for two citizen initiatives, one to set up a state conservation fund and the other to make marijuana legal for medical treatments. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Tuesday that many of the petition signatures were copied from phone books or fabricated.

North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger said he was told petition circulators had to get at least 50 signatures each day and those that collected at least 80 names received bonuses. Workers who fell short of those goals would have had an incentive to add names, he said.

Those charged include starting running back Samuel Ojuri, defensive backs Marcus Williams and Brendin Pierre, and offensive lineman Josh Colville. Backup defensive backs Bryan Shepherd and Aireal Boyd, reserve middle linebacker Antonio Rodgers and Demitrius Gray, a freshman wide receiver, also face charges. Gray is a redshirt and does not travel with the team.

School officials said Tuesday that players would be available only to talk about football matters and not the court case. Bohl said he did not expect the charges to be a distraction to the defending Football Championship Subdivision champions.

Yesterday NDSU football coach Craig Bohl said he had known about the ongoing investigation for some time now and none of the players that are involved in the voter fraud scandal will be suspended until after they get their day in court – if ever – honestly, I wouldn't count on any disciplinary action coming from this coaching staff. Of course most of us know, this will probably never hit the court room while the Thundering Herd is playing during the 2012 season, so basically this will be brushed under the table.

If the four are starters – junior running back Samuel Ojuri, junior defensive backs Marcus Williams and Brendin Pierre, and junior offensive lineman Josh Colville are to suffer any consequences they will be minor and come during the offseason when no one is paying attention.

Links to the Story

NDSU football has 8 players under voter fraud investigation - Detroit Lakes on-line

Charges against 8 Bison football players expected in voter fraud case that kills two ballot measures - Fargo Forum

Eight NDSU football players facing fraud charges - StarTribune

Eight NDSU football players face petition fraud charges - Argus Leader

Voter Fraud: Bison players among 11 facing voter fraud charges - Jamestown Sun

Bohl: All eight Bison players charged with voting fraud still on team, will have their day in court - Dickenson Press

8 NDSU football players charged in petition fraud - Minot Daily News

8 NDSU players charged with petition fraud - Yahoo Sports

Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Academic concerns could relax DI recruiting rules

It would be interesting to see what kind of an effect this rule will have on Division I college hockey. 

I don’t know if I am all that thrilled about coaches talking to eighth graders about their colleges and or universities. I would rather have the kid worrying being a junior high student and being a kid.

Michelle Brutlag-Hosick, NCAA.org --- Division I is considering loosening some recruiting rules to allow coaches to communicate in writing with prospects as young as eighth grade – but only on the subject of the new academic standards for DI student-athletes.

Incoming Division I student-athletes are not required to meet the higher academic standards until 2016. But because of the nature of some of the changes, prospective student-athletes starting high school this fall need to be aware of the new expectations so they can decide which high school courses they need to take.

Communicating with prospects has always been a challenge. The membership adopted recruiting rules to protect high school students and help them focus on academics instead of college athletics. However, some of the rules have had the opposite effect, pulling college coaches out of living rooms and preventing them from imparting the message that academic success is crucial for college student-athletes.

Recognizing that dichotomy, the Division I Committee on Academic Performance began exploring different ways to communicate with prospective student-athletes about the new expectations. One possible solution is to allow coaches greater access to young people, not to recruit them but to help them understand the new standards.

“In suggesting the loosening of rules, the committee put recruiting concerns aside and came together as educators for the good of all student-athletes,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for academic and membership affairs. “Of course, some parameters will be in place. The committee wants to make as many student-athletes as possible aware of what’s expected of them. The earlier these students know the expectations, the more prepared they can be academically and the more successful they can be in college.”

The committee is interested in allowing coaches to immediately provide any and all academic information to prospects in eighth grade or older. The information could be provided both in hard copy and electronically in some format that is standard to all schools.

Just like any other rule – I am sure there will be coaches that will become masters at using this rule to exploit it to the max. This will be done other the guise of wink, wink, wink, I was explaining the benefits of my college or university’s education package and we didn’t talk about the ___________ team one bit. I guess anything to get the coach in the student athlete’s living room earlier.

In college hockey its seems like once a kid reaches the tenth grade, if that kid is tearing it up, someone is watching that kid to see if it’s a player that they would like to recruit and have them come to their college/university. College hockey is already getting commitments from young players – do we want to go any younger?

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)

Really Jack...

Image via WikipediaWow! Jack Campbell doesn't like the new NCAA rule that allows colleges and universities to pay a $2,000.00-per-year stipend to their athletes. That money is a drop in the barrel, it's chicken feed. I am not sure why Campbell would be opposed to it?

Jim Parker, Yahoo Sports --- Long an opponent to paying athletes, the most notable change will see the NCAA allow conferences the option to pay athletes a $2,000-per-year stipend to cover incidental costs of college. That’s over an above the money paid out for scholarships, which can cover tuition, fees and books as well as room and board.

“I’m a little disappointed the NCAA felt they had to do that,” Spitfires goaltender Jack Campbell said. “You go to school because you want an education.”

NCAA president Mark Emmert said the move isn’t meant as a pay-for-play, but rather a recognition that athletes train year round and because of that cannot get a part-time job to cover some costs.

“Two thousand (dollars) will buy a nice laptop, but it doesn’t matter,” the 19-year-old Campbell said.