North Dakota Wins.... Developing

So, were told by some folks that simply being "North Dakota" isn't a popular option, and should be squashed.

Apparently, that's not the truth, at least with current UND students. Based on the results, I think that President Robert O. Kelley has no choice but to include the option North Dakota as a choice for UND's new nickname.

Per the Grand Forks Herald and Say Anything Blog:

Results released by Student Body President Matt Kopp show when asked if they wanted UND/North Dakota included in the vote, 68 percent said yes, 24 percent said no and 7 percent said they were “not sure.”

The survey was sent out Tuesday and drew 3,262 responses over the two days it was open which, using enrollment data from the 2014-2015 school year, is 22 percent of the student body.

Since the NCAA threatened sanctions and the old Fighting Sioux nickname was retired at UND in late 2012, the school has played simply using an interlocking “UND” logo, going by either UND or North Dakota.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. Thoughts?

Students want 'North Dakota' as UND nickname option, survey says http://t.co/jrDqNEq2pH #UNDnickname @myUND pic.twitter.com/jQEZRw2UdC

— Grand Forks Herald (@gfherald) August 13, 2015

UMN Hockey: Lou Nanne wants to make a name for himself

British Columbia Hockey League (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This was a story that of broke on twitter tonight. I was at the football game when these tweets hit twitter. Sounds like University of Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey recruit is wanting to make a name for himself and doesn't want live in the shadows of his Grand Father former Minnesota North Stars great Lou Nanne. Personally, I see nothing wrong with that, and more power to him.

According to Jason Gonzalez, beat writer for the Star and Tribune who covers the Minnesota Gophers; Nanne has decommited from the University of Minnesota and will again explore  and ponder his options on where he will play his college hockey.

Spoke to Louie Nanne, who said he's ready to create his own identity away from MN & without #Gophers. Story: http://t.co/1ViMg0UZDe #Edina
— Jason Gonzalez (@JGonStrib) September 8, 2013

This Lou Nanne is grandson of the older MN hockey legend. Played 2012-13 in BCHL. Full Twitter statement: pic.twitter.com/4UinVBPZLY #Gophers
— Jason Gonzalez (@JGonStrib) September 7, 2013

Mike Modano to the Wild?

Having grown up in Minnesota during my youth and being a rabid Minnesota North Stars fans until Norm “Greed” Green up and moved the team to Dallas; I would welcome a return of Mike Modano to the Minnesota Wild. From reading the rumor mill on line it would appear that Modano is also being courted by the Detroit Redwings and San Jose Sharks; Modano being from Livonia, Michigan would also make the Redwings a logical place to finish his hockey career, if he didn't sign with the Minnesota Wild.

The door has officially been opened for future Hall of Famer Mike Modano to perhaps finish his NHL career in the place it started.

Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said Friday that he spoke with Modano this week about the Wild's interest in signing the former North Stars center to a free-agent contract.

"We're interested in speaking to Mike about his future plans," Fletcher said. "We obviously have interest in doing anything that will make our team better, and we just want to sit down with him and see if there's a mutual fit." [Red Star and Sickle]

I think Modano would bring leadership to the Wild locker room as well as add speed and needed points to the Wild’s unimpressive line up. What do you think? Do you like the idea of the Wild attempting to get Modano to end his career in Minnesota?