UPDATED: Uninvited Moose Visits Memorial Stadium

Today, an uninvited cow moose visited UND's Memorial Stadium. Stick tap to the Herald's Danielle Podlaski for the great camera work.

University spokesman David Dodds says the moose wandered into Grand Forks overnight and found its way onto old Memorial Stadium on campus Tuesday morning.

UND football is bringing out the big guns for NDSU pic.twitter.com/6z2NAynS1E

— Danielle Podlaski (@dani_podlaski) September 3, 2019

Thank God no one got hurt and hopefully, the animal will be able to safely return to the Wild. It sounds ND Game and Fish officials are trying to get the wild beast out of town after traffic dies down tonight.

 "They are wild animals," Jim Job, a biologist with the North Dakota Department of Game and Fish told the Grand Forks Herald. "Especially if they're in town, they're already going to be a little nervous with all the traffic and people running around already. Definitely, don't want to corner a wild animal or make it feel like it's cornered. Definitely keep your distance because they are very large animals and, if they do feel threatened, they could react."

#MooseUpdate: The moose is laying down taking its typical midday college nap. We are still asking everyone to avoid the area so that the moose doesn’t become stressed or panicked. #BestCopsAround #MooseWatch2019 pic.twitter.com/SsSs5p3BE2

— University of North Dakota Police (@UNDPoliceDept) September 3, 2019

#UNDAlert: Please be aware that there is a moose that has wondered into the @UofNorthDakota Campus area. We are doing our best to get this animal back to the wild. This situation is also currently contained. #BestCopsAround pic.twitter.com/iB46QeALkm

— University of North Dakota Police (@UNDPoliceDept) September 3, 2019

UPDATE: The moose has been returned to the wild.

#MooseUpdate: We are happy to announce that #MrsMoose has been released back into the wild near Grand Forks County. Thank you to everyone who stayed out of the area & to the professionals at the Chahinkapa Zoo for their support & assistance. #BestCopsAround #UNDProud pic.twitter.com/5akYuAx1H8

— University of North Dakota Police (@UNDPoliceDept) September 4, 2019

UND Beats out Moo-U as North Dakota's Best College

Happy Wednesday to you all. I hope this finds you in great health and spirits. I thought I would throw a little chum in the water and see what I can catch. :) Oh course, I was working very hard today, and while I was surfing the net today I found this great news nugget

Over on Forbes, the University of North Dakota was picked as the states best college. I am not sure how old this article is or what the criteria was and they must have missed the latest nickname news.

North Dakota: University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota (Top College No. 444) was established in 1883 and is the oldest university in the state. UND offers courses in over 225 fields of study, but it is best known for its School of Aerospace Sciences, which trains pilots and air controllers. It has the biggest fleet of non-military training aircraft in the world. Students built the first college-designed spacesuit to be tested by NASA. There are over 300 study abroad options in locations ranging from Europe to Australia. UND has 21 varsity teams in NCAA Division I, and the men’s hockey team has skated to seven national championships. In 2012 the school dropped its nickname, the Fighting Sioux, and is in search of a replacement.

Yes, UND Finishes On Top of the Pairwise Rankings

Last night on Twitter, someone asked the question if UND would finish the season on top of the Pairwise Ranking and the final USCHO rankings. That question caught my interest. So I had to take a look. Well, so far, so good. UND did finish the season on top of the rankings. The final USCHO poll "should" come out tomorrow.

Mike McFeely on UND Hockey and NDSU Football

It must be that time of year again. Checking the calendar, it's the month of April and the Bison Football vs. UND hockey comparison is again making the newspapers and blogs. Everyone's favorite Fargo Radio host Mike McFeely has this interesting blog post this morning.

Honestly, I have never really liked UND fans calling NDSU's football program JV. First, let's not forget, UND also has a JV football team and UND third-year head coach Bubba is doing a great job resurrecting a team that was left for dead after the last head coach ran the program into the ground. Now, checking the results the last five years, their JV football team is better than ours.

UND's record isn't even .500 and the Bison have won back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back NCAA FCS championships. That's pretty impressive in any league. While I don't care for the NDSU football team, I must tip my hat to them. They're a powerhouse in FCS football. I suspect that Bubba will have UND's football team playing at an elite level in the not too distant future.

During the football season, UND hockey fans derisively refer to the Bison as a junior varsity or “JV” team because they compete in the Football Championship Subdivision of NCAA Division I, not the highest level of Football Bowl Subdivision. FBS is home of big-time conferences like the Big Ten, Big 12, Southeastern Conference, etc. (McFeely)

On the flip side of the coin, we have this argument.

During the hockey season, Bison fans belittle UND hockey as a team competing in a low-profile sport relatively few Americans care about. They point to dismal attendance at NCAA regional sites, low TV ratings and the small number of Division I hockey programs and say, “Hockey is a regional niche sport that few outside passionate hockey towns care about. UND is a big fish in a really small pond.”

Let's face facts, hockey is a unique sport, it's the one sport where a division III school can beat the big boys. Rarely if ever, does this happen in FBS college football. I am not sure that NDSU would ever beat Michigan in football, but UND did so in hockey.

Two weeks ago, while wearing a Fighting Sioux jersey at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, I had many Jets fans come up and complement my jersey. I doubt that few Canadians know who the NDSU Bison are. I wonder if we should just go to our corners and agree to disagree? I don't think we will ever move on until we do.

UND is Going to the Birds

As most of you know, UND is going to be picking a new logo in the near future. I know, I know, not everyone is thrilled with the process.

Cue the boos. Right?

Without relitigating the nickname selection process all over again, What happens next is very crucial if UND fans are going to get behind the Fighting Hawks nickname. If they blow the new logo design, they're going to turn off a bunch of people. You don't want a bunch of unhappy donors and alumni.

The ball is in the University's court and they really need to step up and do the right thing. No half measures here. Let's be bold.

While there are half a million universities and colleges using some variation of the Hawks nickname. That being said, the Hawks nickname has possibilities. Hawks are a bird of prey and they are a majestic bird. They also like to hunt rodents. In my opinion, Hawks are bad ass.

Let's not forget, the Fighting Hawks tend to kick the Miami RedHawks ass.

But I digress, Hawks fly together.

Of course, I am cynical. I am very afraid that UND will end up with a silly, stupid variation of a Hawk that will offend no one or intimidate anyone. I am not saying I want the next logo to be offensive, but I am sick and tired of political correctness. It's making us a bunch of sniveling cry babies. What next? Some group will find the nickname Huskies or Bison offensive.

I think that the new logo has to be mean and intimidating. Not some stupid cartoonish character. UND has already made the NCAA happy by retiring the Fighting Sioux nickname. If UND was smart, Ben Brien would be designing the next logo for the University of North Dakota.

I also like the Angry Birds theme. No, not this one. Although my eight-year-old daughter would probably like that one.

Finally, I am an  Alumnus of the University of North Dakota. I will always support the University. But I have to admit that I am very nervous right now. I imagine there're others that feel the same way I do. This whole process has been a drawn out mess. This process needs to end well, so we can heal as a fan base and move on. Blow this and it will fester for years. 

One last point, if you look at the picture you will see that Hawks do in fact have feathers. This is a true statement. 

The FNHawks Are Given The Bird

Duluth fans think .@UNDmhockey is #1 !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/fy2UiievyY

— Eric Nelson (@ericpnelson) December 13, 2015

A couple of funny things from last night. Apparently, UMD fans like to wave with one finger and The FNHawks swept UMD this past weekend and all they got was the Bird from UMD fans. LOL!

Duluth fans think .@UNDmhockey is #1 !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/fy2UiievyY

— Eric Nelson (@ericpnelson) December 13, 2015

I don't know if I am the only one that thought this was funny, but I think it's funny. I think before this year over, you're going to be hearing the FNHawks quite a bit.

Denver Broncos Fining Players for Passing Gas In Meetings

First, this isn't hockey related at all, but I did find this story amusing. Apparently, the Denver Broncos are fining players who pass gas in team meetings.

Von Miller said the Broncos have a fine system for, um, flatulence in meetings. Said he thinks he's been fined the most. — Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) June 3, 2015

Since I've received numerous inquires about the Broncos' Fart Tax, I'm gonna let Von explain. NFL dieting ain't easy. pic.twitter.com/OTAAaI8t82 — Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) June 3, 2015

According to Men's Health, it's bad for your to hold your flatulence in.

If you’re sitting in an all-day meeting, don’t resist letting one loose: Gas is air trapped in your body, so it has to come out sooner or later, says Dr. Bechtold. And while the odor itself isn’t like milk spoiling—growing stronger with time—holding back one fart now may lead to you letting three rip at once. (And that includes not only the power of three, but also the smell.) To top it all off, trying to hold gas in can cause significant bloating and discomfort in your stomach, says Dr. Bechtold. So do yourself a favor, and let it slide when you first feel it. It may be uncomfortable for a minute, but it’ll be a lot more awkward when the whole meeting comes to a pause from smelling your 3-hour buildup.

Sifting Through the Nickname Recommendations

The's 63 nicknames to choose from. Some of them are down right horrible. In breaking down the names that are still on the list, I find very few that are acceptable.
Aeronauts - I say not.
Aeros - I find this acceptable.
Arctic Blaze - where not in the Arctic.
Arctic Force - Redundant, - where not in the Arctic.
Aurora - This is just as bad as Sundogs.
Aviators - Yep, works for me. Favorite of RWD.
Badlanders - Meh!
Big Green - Hum. That one could work.
Bison Slayers - Ha! I find this one amusing.
Blackhawks - We already play Chelsea Dagger when UND scores. I guess we could take their name, too.
BLAZE - Blaze up eh.
BLAZING STARS - How about Blazing Saddles? Nope.
BLIZZARD - Okay.
Blizzard Dogs - Checking goggle.com, there's already  a Newfoundland Blizzard Dogs
Bombardiers -- bomb, bomb, bomb. Could have possibilities.
Bombers - Okay, works for me.
Cavalry - I wonder if this would fly?
Charging Nokota - A Nokota Horse could be an acceptable mascot for me.
Drillers - Yeah, one has to think of the warped possibilities. I am going with not. 
ENERGY - Boring.
Explorers - Meh.
Fighting Green - Why not just go with Gang Green?
Fighting Greens - Yuck!
Fighting Green Hawks - What's with the Hawks.
Fighting Hawks - Of the Hawks suggestions, the one is probably the most acceptable. That and Blackhawk.
Fighting Sundogs - I want to put an  EF-Bomb here.
Fire - Nix!
Flame - Nine!
Flames - Nay! This should be obvious. We would be copying the Calgary Flames.
Flickertails - I just threw up in my mouth a bit.
Fliers - Whatever.
Force - We already have the Fargo Force.
Force of North - I could live with this.
Global Hawks - Catchy, named after the drones.
Green Bombers - Whatever floats your boat.
GREEN HAWKS - I suppose we could come up with a badass logo for that. Or not.
GREEN PRIDE - Horrible idea.
'Grey Hawks' - What's with all the hawk names?
 Night Hawks - Another nickname with hawk in it.
Nighthawk- We could use a ____ as the mascot?
Nighthawks - Is there such a thing? There is.
Nodak - Again, whatever.
Nodaks - Like Charlie from Hockey Bias said, this could be clumsy.
North Dakota - My first, second and third choice. ******
North Force - This is kind of clumsy, too.
North Stars - I could get behind this one.
Northern Lights - This doesn't do it for me.
Prarie Hawks - Okay.. Whatever.
Pride -  Yuck! And hell no!
Riders - There's already a high school in town that's named Rider or Roughriders.
roughriders - Same thing applies here.
SNOW DOGS - Yuck! Again, another bad name. What's the mascot going to be?
Snow Leopards - Only cats we have in ND is a Mountain Lion.
Spirit - No THANK YOU!  Next.
STORM - Better than Sundogs and Flickertails.
Sundog - Oh hell no.
Sundogs  - I just threw up in my mouth a bit more.
Thunder Hawks WTF?
Warhawks - There's some possibility with this one.
Warriors  - I am surprised this one made the list.
Warriors of the North - In honor of the men and women from GFAB.
Wings - Green Wings?
 Wooly Mammoth - This one is amusing.

Pitt's Season Ticket Campaign

This is an interesting way to sell season tickets. Apparently, the school is using the firing of their AD Steve Peterson as a way to sell season tickets.

ESPN.com -- Steve Pederson deftly guided Pittsburgh through conference realignment from the crumbling Big East to the rebuilt ACC. The longtime athletic director could never find stability for the football program.

When Paul Chryst left for Wisconsin on Wednesday to send the Panthers into their fourth coaching search in four years, it cost Pederson his job.

The school parted ways with Pederson in what chancellor Patrick Gallagher called a mutual decision but one necessary for Pitt to move forward following the latest setback for a football program stuck in neutral. Pederson had nearly four years remaining on a contract that ran through 2018.

Hakstol Has His Game Face on Already

Miami vs. UND

Can you spot this mistake! @goon48 pic.twitter.com/1wvKkDl52L
— Mikey Pete (@mikeypete329) August 16, 2014

Lol! Looks like a typo.

NHL Hockey: Most Hated Team...

These maps have been making it's way around the internet, is there really any question who the fans hate? My question is, how are the Detroit Red Wings so hated in the West? There's no question who the fans in Canada hate.

Sharks sign Road Cone John Scott

#483142281 / gettyimages.com

Western Conference team beware, especially if you're one of those players that skates with their head down. The San Jose Sharks have signed UFA road cone John Scott. The former Michigan Tech Husky inked a one year deal worth 750 thousand dollars.

One thing Scott will never be accused of is being dumb. Anyone that is this bad of a hockey players, and has been able to get paid this much money to play hockey in the best league in the world, has to be a genius.

Scott who has no redeeming quality other than he can fight, has played in 236 NHL games and scored a minuscule (2g-4a—6pts) and racked up an impressive 430 penalty minutes. In his second to last game of the season, Scott was assessed 24 minutes in penalties. Good thing that the Mr. Anger Management has a degree from MTU to fall back on when he's done with hockey.

SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed free agent forward John Scott to a one-year contract. Scott, 31, ranked 13th in the NHL with 125 penalty minutes in 56 games during the 2013-14 campaign, leading the Buffalo Sabres in that category."John brings a physical, no-nonsense element to our lineup," said Wilson. "As we integrate more younger players to our team, John's presence alone can act as a deterrent and help keep teams and opposing players honest."

Saint Cloud State releases secondary logo

s/t tap to Drunk Hockey Guy. If you're unhappy with picture, you can troll his twitter feed by clicking on the link about. Feel free to give him your thoughts. DHG does have a point though.  Anyone see a similarity? I sure do. Looks very similar.

Humor: Simpson's NHL Hockey

Accurate depiction of the NHL officials in tonight's game

This picture couldn't be more accurate.

Golf is a dangerous sport

Good morning, and happy Good Friday. I know this isn't funny, but I couldn't help myself. You have to be careful where you walk on a golf course.

Humor: Caption this

Let's keep it clean...

NHL Humor: Backes Streit Boyes

Karma? B1G

#epicfail RT "@Joh02051: @B1GHockey already collapsed. @GopherPuckLive @GopherHole @B1GIceHockey pic.twitter.com/QOVWZnDEUE”
— Beth Burger (@bethburjack) March 21, 2014

I like this one, it came across my twitter feed yesterday.