It's Time to Move on from "Fighting Sioux"

By Zach Hawkins -- For roughly 80 years, the University of North Dakota embraced the nickname of "Fighting Sioux" for their athletics program as a tribute and an honor to all of the Sioux tribes as the university saw them as great warriors and strong willed people.

Four years ago, the NCAA made serious threats to the university stating that if the nickname of Fighting Sioux was not retired, or honored by all three Sioux tribes in North and South Dakota, then severe consequences would be taken against the athletics department which would ultimately diminish the competitive nature of it.

With the University making the transition then to become full division one President Robert Kelley and Athletic Director Brian Faison had no choice but be the "bad guys" and retire the Sioux name as of January 1st, 2012. However, at the same time, the North Dakota legislature was in the process of making a state law where the university could not drop the nickname and logo. So with being just the University of North Dakota for three weeks at the start of 2012, the Fighting Sioux name was back, or so all of us thought.

With the NCAA implying many sanctions against the university's athletics program if they did not change the name, it simply needed to be done. If the Fighting Sioux name was to continue to be recognized, the university would not be able to grant any athletic scholarships to any athlete playing for, or coming into the university. Along with that, this year's NCAA men's hockey regional in Fargo would never be able to happen. The NCAA would not allow UND to participate in any NCAA sanction tournaments or host any NCAA sanctioned events like this year's regional in Fargo.

It wasn't until the NCAA tournament that year where losing the name became a reality. New hockey jerseys were unveiled, which are the team's current jerseys right now. From that point on, it was simply the University of North Dakota. It was an ear sore for everyone at first, but as I look around the Ralph and many other places I see UND fans, they have accepted this and realize that the

university is still the university and they are still the same athletic teams on the ice, field, and court. It is still the Kelly Green and White we are all used to seeing every weekend, every game, every season. Just because there isn't a name or a logo anymore, doesn't mean the history and tradition of it is dead.
You can hear that during the end of the National Anthem at every home hockey game.

Fans for many generations will be upset about everything that happened with the name and logo, but these fans should be happy that they had the greatest name and logo in college sports and that they are fortunate enough to watch these great teams play, or for the athletes, play for these great teams.

As for now, it is in the best interest of the university to move on from the nickname and logo, but do not jump to find a new one just because the sanctions have finally been lifted. Simply being the University of North Dakota is probably the only thing that will ever be accepted and I think it is time for the university to realize that.

Grand Forks Herald, 'UND moving gingerly toward a new nickname'

#111873018 / gettyimages.com

I would have commented on this story earlier, but I have been on vacation and I just finished up a project that I was working on.

So it begins. We knew that this day was coming. I am leery, and I am also worried that my favorite college teams are going to end up with a stupid nickname that none of us can really embrace. My head is going to explode "if" UND becomes the Sun Dogs.

Anna Burleson, Grand Forks Herald -- UND is allowed by law to pick a new moniker after January 2015, but after several racially charged incidents on campus, President Robert Kelley has been pressured to take concrete steps and move away from the Fighting Sioux nickname.

“In the minds of many, many people it’s still an issue, it’s still problematic, and I understand that,” Kelley said in May. “I’m not blind to it and I get it. But it is retired officially, so now we’ve got the next step.”

This next step will mean consulting with stakeholders — students, children, residents, faculty, staff and alumni — and laying out the steps the university will take in picking a new nickname.

“We don’t have a process yet but what we’re doing is preparing to create a process,” UND spokesman Peter Johnson said.

I also don’t know if the legislature will be able to extend the deadline to 2017, that will be a story all by itself. If UND can’t be the Fighting Sioux, which they can't, I would rather have no nickname at all. The past season, having no nickname, at all, kind of grew on me. I do like the fact the alumni are going to be part of the process in picking the new nickname. Now, lets just hope the right alumni are selected.

Related articles

• NDSU won't play UND until nickname situation is resolved
• UND alumni groups plan campaign for nickname retirement
• Letter from the NCAA to UND

Altru Health System, UND Announce Sports Medicine Partnership

Official Press Release

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Altru Health System has pledged a $10 million gift to the University of North Dakota through the UND Foundation in support of a sports medicine partnership between Altru and UND. According to UND President Robert Kelley, $9 million will serve as the leadership gift for a new UND Athletics Complex, an indoor practice and competition facility on campus.

 “This is an important first step toward building a world-class sports medicine program,” Kelley said. “When completed, the indoor training facility will include space for academic and clinical studies on human performance and conditioning, which will greatly enhance the University’s and Altru’s roles in sports medicine.” The remaining $1 million is directed to support the replacement of the football turf at the Alerus Center.

 ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

President Kelley said the gift promotes an ongoing partnership between two of the region’s largest organizations, both of which are responsible for stewarding their resources in ways that improve our communities. Specifically, Altru Health System has been the University’s sports medicine provider for more than 20 years. 

“The indoor athletics complex will be an asset for the entire University and will impact health and wellness for the campus, the community, and the region. Together, we are implementing our missions to improve the health and enrich the lives of people in our region,” Kelley said.

“This partnership is part of a much larger initiative to improve the health of our entire community,” said Dave Molmen, Altru’s Chief Executive Officer. “This investment extends our educational partnership and provides a state-of-the-art educational laboratory for UND’s students to gain necessary experience in the field of sports medicine and thus, help feed our community with needed health professionals. In addition to training sports medicine professionals, the partnership will conduct research that will advance sports medicine knowledge and techniques. As we like to say, by working together, we all get better.”

Dr. Casey Ryan, Altru’s President, said that “The University plays a vital role in educating future health care professionals. This gift creates an opportunity to improve the university experience for the students, who we rely on as our future leaders to continue our mission of improving health and enriching life.” Altru and UND see this gift as an investment in training the best for the community.

 ABOUT THE GIFT

“This $10 million gift from Altru is one of the largest made in support of North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND, which strives to raise $300 million for UND’s passionate students, inspirational educators, innovative programs and extraordinary places like the new athletics complex,” said President Kelley. It will be paid over 30 years.

Altru’s gift to UND is the most recent example of Altru Health System’s fulfillment of its mission by strengthening ties to other organizations. Last year, Altru became the first member in the nation of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. The relationship brings Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise to Grand Forks by providing access to systems previously available only within Mayo Clinic. In 2010, Altru announced a gift of $6.5 million to the Grand Forks Park District and YMCA to enable them to replace and remodel fitness facilities.

“This gift will help build a transformational facility that is the essence of the North Dakota Spirit Campaign,” said Tim O’Keefe, Executive Vice President and CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. “This gift provides immediate excitement as well as the necessary momentum to raise the remaining $26 million of the $300 million goal.” Learn more about the campaign at spirit.und.edu.

 ABOUT THE FACILITY

The UND Athletics Complex will provide a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning area, a student-athlete academic center and sports medicine space for all UND Athletics teams. Additionally, it will provide a practice and training facility for the football, track and field and soccer teams. The facility will serve the community by offering a host site for youth athletics camps and college and youth track and field meets.

 “Our mission is to build champions, and this facility will play a key role in doing exactly that. As UND Athletics has made the commitment to excellence in Division I competition, the need for an indoor practice and competition facility on campus has become clear,” said UND Director of Athletics Brian Faison. “This is a game changer for UND Athletics.”

Spirit Lake Tribe To Make “Major Announcement” on Fighting Sioux nickname

Sounds like something big coming down the pike from the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, I am guessing that the NCAA, UND and or the Big Sky is going to be party to a law suit. SayAnythingBlog.com and Plains Daily also has picked up on the story as well. I have no idea where this is going.

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald ---- Fighting Sioux nickname champions at Spirit Lake say they will make “a major announcement” Tuesday in their campaign to thwart retirement of the name and logo.

Members of the Committee for Understanding and Respect, acting with the blessing of the Spirit Lake Tribal Council, have scheduled a news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Spirit Lake Tribal Headquarters in Fort Totten, N.D.

Frank Black Cloud, the designated spokesman for the committee, said today that members of the committee, their attorneys and perhaps a Tribal Council representative would make statements, but he could not comment on the nature of the announcement. A news release issued today by the group provided no other details.

Eunice Davidson, a leader of the effort to preserve the Fighting Sioux name at UND, also declined to comment.

In a statement released Oct. 13, the committee denounced remarks by UND President Robert Kelley and Grant Shaft, president of the State Board of Higher Education, both of whom have urged repeal of a state law ordering UND to retain the nickname.

Nickname retirement may cost $750,000

Here is the latest on the Fighting Sioux nickname, $750,000.00 that's a lot of money and that isn't including "the costs" of removing the logos from the REA. My next question is, who is going to pay for this?

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- UND officials have estimated the cost of retiring the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo at nearly $750,000, not counting the cost of changes that may occur at the privately-held Ralph Engelstad Arena.

University President Robert Kelley sent the estimates last week to a budget analyst and auditor with the North Dakota Legislative Council, in response to a request made by Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England.

Schatz, who has declared that he will not support an attempt in next month’s special legislative session to clear the way for retirement of the name and logo, said he asked for the cost information so he could attach a fiscal note to any bill contemplating that action.

“I wanted all the legislators to know the figures that the president estimated it would cost,” Schatz said Tuesday. “I think that’s been left out of the conversation so far.”

Breaking the ice at the Ice Breaker, chat and links.

Today the 2011-2012 season kicks off with the Ice Breaker Tourney at the Ralph Englestad Arena. I will be hosting a chat during the first game of the Ice Breaker tourney between Boston College and Michigan State University, feel free to stop by if you would like. In the Evening game the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux take on the Air Force Academy Falcons at 7:37 pm.

Links for the tourney.

Notes from the Wednesday Press Conference. [Click to link]

Pre Gaming, Ice Breaker edition! [Tim Boger]

ICE BREAKER INVITATIONAL: Get to know the teams [Grand Forks Herald]

ICE BREAKER INVITATIONAL: Coachs' paths cross again [Grand Forks Herald]

UND President Robert Kelley, Grand Forks, letter: Engelstads made a 'priceless' gift [Grand Forks Herald]

In case anyone cares, the Don Lucia Radio show [click to listen]


Listen to Goon's World favorite Gopher homer Ryan Cardinal on KFAN radio with Paul Allen. This interview took place on October 5th, 2011 . Ryan talked with Paul Allen about the Gophers, the Ice Breaker, Notre Dame vs. UMD.

Carlson: Pre-special session resumption of Sioux nickname transition 'slap in face' of N.D. Legislature

Image via WikipediaThis is the news of the day on the Fighting Sioux logo retirement. I woke up this morning to find this news story in the Daily Plains, apparently Fargo Republican/ Representative and Former NDSU Graduate Al Carlson has told UND to stand down on the Fighting Sioux logo retirement and not retire the Fighting Sioux logo until the law has been repealed.

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, has written to UND President Robert Kelley and the president of the State Board of Higher Education, objecting to the board’s action Aug. 15 directing Kelley to have the anticipated transition from the Fighting Sioux nickname “substantially complete” by the end of the year.

Carlson, the House majority leader and author of a law that says UND’s athletic teams shall be known as the Fighting Sioux, called the board’s action “a slap in the face” of the Legislature.

“When we pass a law, you’re supposed to abide by the law until it’s changed,” he said Monday.

Here is a copy of the Al Carlson letter in question. You can also click on this link to read the letter as well.

Related articles

• Couple of Fighting Sioux nickname issues... (mvn.com)
• NCAA "Willing to Reconsider" Settlement Demands for Refitting Ralph Engelstad Fighting Sioux Arena. (mvn.com)
• Fighting Sioux logo links... (mvn.com)
• Representative Al Carlson will not sponsor reversal of nickname decision (mvn.com)

NCAA Ice hockey panel clarifies rules

Image via WikipediaThis was tweeted over on twitter. The NCAA Ice Hockey Committee looked to clarify the rule regarding head shots. It’s good that the NCAA is going to look at this rule more closely. I do see one problem with this clarification though; it’s going to take more legal hitting out of the college hockey game. This could in essence take a lot of the open ice hits out of the game of college hockey, I would be willing to bet we will see shoulder to shoulder contact penalized.

Ty Halpin; NCAA.org ---- The committee did approve several items of guidance for officials to build on the successful implementation of its rules for contact to the head.

“Progress was certainly made this season,” said Ed McLaughlin, athletics director at Niagara University and chair of the committee. “We are adding some additional guidance to support what is already in our rules in the hope that players, coaches and officials can better understand expectations with this rule.”

In some cases, officials were hesitant to enforce the contact to the head because they were unsure if a player had clearly “targeted” an opponent. The committee reinforced that targeting is not a prerequisite for this rule to be used.

Added to the examples of the type of play the committee hopes to remove are players who are reckless, players who are about to receive a pass and direct contact to the head or neck area from any direction. This additional guidance joins several other bullet points already printed in the rules book.

The committee also points the hockey community to language that already appears in the rules book: “A player delivering a check to an unsuspecting and vulnerable player puts themselves in jeopardy of being penalized under this rule.”

“We believe our rule is the most robust and aggressive in ice hockey,” McLaughlin said. “What we saw this year was a good start. We’re trying to take any doubt out of this call and help officials who have only one game-speed view of a play to determine how to officiate this play. We realize this is a big penalty and a serious one, but this approach has worked with hitting from behind and we believe it will work here to adjust player behavior.”

Also from the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Comittee, elbellishmet is also going to be another area of emphasis, I applaud that decision, “Diving and embellishment erode the integrity of our game and must be eliminated.” I say right on! Hockey in North America is starting to look like European Soccer with all of the diving, if you think I am off the mark, go back and re-watch the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs again, there was so much diving in the games that the refs got to a point where they couldn’t tell if a player was diving or not and many times failed to call a penalty. Also, not to points fingers but the players of Garrett Roe and Jacob Cepis' ilk, you're on notice, the refs are going to be watching you… Diving is ruining hockey of all levels. Seriously, real hockey players aren't frauds and they don't dive.

Embellishment/diving

In addition to the contact to the head and general emphasis on player safety, the committee received feedback from the coaching community that embellishment/diving seems to be a growing issue. The committee voted to make this a point of emphasis for the upcoming season and plans to include several video examples during preseason clinics.

“Diving and embellishment erode the integrity of our game and must be eliminated,” McLaughlin said. “Trying to deceive officials is unethical and unsporting. This has to be a collaborative effort to make progress.”

The committee decided to provide guidance regarding obstruction along the boards, where the defensive tactic of pressing and releasing an opponent should be allowed, but impeding is not. Again, additional video examples will be used to encourage consistent application of these rules.

Finally, the group points attention again to rules that deal with facewashing, which typically occurs after a stoppage in play. Continued and stringent enforcement of these rules is needed to improve the image of the game.

In case you’re one of the ten people that hasn’t seen it, here is the official press release from the NC$$ on the Fighting Sioux nickname. As you can see the NCAA is not budging and they will probably not change their mind.

NCAA statement on North Dakota mascot issueThe NCAA’s Native American mascot policy remains in effect, and we stand ready to assist the University of North Dakota with its implementation of the policy.

The Big Sky Conference’s position related to the university's Fighting Sioux nickname and logo is consistent with the spirit and intent of the settlement agreement the NCAA reached with the university to retire the nickname and logo.

We have made clear to both the conference and the university that the NCAA has no intention of changing its position.

If the University of North Dakota continues to use the nickname and logo past the August 15 deadline due to state law, it will be subject to the parameters of the policy. This means the university could not host any championships or use the nickname and logo at any championship events.

If you have read this blog for any length of time you will know that I am a big time supporter of the Fighting Sioux nickname. In the future, I plan on getting a Fighting Sioux logo permanently tattooed to my body… It’s the opinion of this writer that the University of North Dakota will never be able to replace this great logo with anything remotely cool. I also believe that we are destined to replace the Fighting Sioux logo with some stupid moniker that will be in essence a capitulation to the people that were offended by the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname.

Moving forward, I also don’t have any faith in the current president of the University of North Dakota, President Robert Kelley is part of the problem, he is a hand wringing liberal elite from the University of Berkley in California who wants to shove his political correctness and beliefs down our throat. That being said I do believe this is the end of the Fighting Sioux nickname, I see no way that it stays past this season.

Related articles

• NCAA: No policy change on Indian nicknames (sports.espn.go.com)
• NCAA: No change in policy against Indian nicknames (cbssports.com)

UND's Kelley: Time to change nickname, logo, 'move beyond' issue

Image via WikipediaI have two questions for University of Fighting Sioux sports fans; is UND president Dr. Robert Kelley a puppet of the NCAA? In looking at the events surrounding the Big Sky's announcement that the Fighting Sioux nickname could be a problem, it's just seems a little fishy to me... My next question is did Dr. Kelley pressure the Big Sky Conference to  come out against UND's use of the Fighting Sioux nickname? 

Herald Staff; Grand Forks Herald --- Kelley, speaking via telephone on KFGO Radio's "News and Views" program, says he believes the North Dakota Legislature should use a planned November special session for legislative redistricting to also reconsider its new law mandating the Sioux nickname and logo, KFGO's website reported. The law is set to take effect in mid-August.

"You know, I think the events of the last few days clearly show that, as we move out more and more onto a national stage, both through the NCAA Division I (and) as we work with other universities out-of-state in Big Sky conferencing, very clearly we have to listen to their concerns," Kelley said on the air. He was responding to program host Joel Heitkamp's question about whether the president believes the nickname has to change.

"So, yes," Kelley continued, "I'm going to come right out and say that it's time now for us to move beyond the name and logo issue for the success of the university and for the success of our student athletes."

UND and state leaders are going ahead with plans to meet with the NCAA this summer, possibly in late July, even though the NCAA last week restated it has "no intention of changing its position" about ending the UND's Sioux nickname and logo. Sanctions will apply if the name and logo are in use after Aug. 15," as required in a settlement

Kelley said then he was "not surprised" by the NCAA's statement because that organization has been consistent on its position.

Related articles

• NCAA: No change in policy against Indian nicknames (cbssports.com)
• NCAA: No policy change on Indian nicknames (sports.espn.go.com)
• N.C.A.A. Says No Go on Fighting Sioux Law (nytimes.com)
• APNewsBreak: NCAA says no go on Fighting Sioux law (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• NCAA: Despite state law, Fighting Sioux nickname will cost school (cbssports.com)

NCAA reaffirms: Policy on nicknames unchanged

Image via WikipediaHere is the latest on the Fighting Sioux nickname, the NCAA is unwavering and re-affirmed their opposition to the Fighting Sioux nickname.

I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and I bleed green and white but I am also fed up with political correctness run a muck, none-the-less,  I don't see any way that the University of North Dakota can keep the Fighting Sioux nickname without jeopardizing their Big Sky Conference affiliation and short of the Team North Dakota (Berg, Conrad, Hoeven) getting involved, they have shown no interest what so ever getting involved in the fight, I think the transition away from the Fighting Sioux nickname is a done deal.

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- UND and state leaders will go ahead with plans to meet with the NCAA this summer despite the NCAA’s rather forceful restating of its position Friday concerning UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname.

The NCAA declared that it has “no intention of changing its position” and sanctions will apply if the name and logo are still in use after Aug. 15. But the association also has indicated to UND that NCAA leaders would receive a North Dakota delegation to discuss the impasse and provided two possible dates for a meeting in Indianapolis in late July.

UND President Robert Kelley, who confirmed that the NCAA had provided his office with the possible meeting dates, said he was “not surprised by the statement, as the NCAA is consistent in their position.”

“I think the issue now is to get our legislative and executive leaders to talk with the NCAA and see if there’s any final opportunity to turn the NCAA in another direction,” Kelley said.

“They’re trying to be as helpful as they can,” he said, “and they understand the difficulty” of UND’s position, caught between a legal settlement requiring that the nickname be dropped and a state law directing that it be retained.

Citing concerns expressed last week by leaders of the Big Sky Conference, which UND hopes to enter next year, the NCAA statement noted that the conference presidents’ position “is consistent with the spirit and intent of the settlement agreement the NCAA reached with the university (in 2007) to retire the nickname and logo.”

If UND follows the new state law and continues to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and Indian-head logo after Aug. 15, sanctions will be imposed, according to the statement.

Grant Shaft, the newly installed president of the State Board of Higher Education, said the language of the statement “is pretty black and white,” but he also said efforts to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the NCAA will continue.

“This really isn’t a change in what we’ve perceived the NCAA position to be all along,” Shaft said. “Shortly after the legislation (on keeping the name) was passed, their comment was they didn’t think the legislation changed their policy. They now make a more formal statement.

“I still think a meeting will take place between the NCAA officials and the North Dakota contingent because the North Dakota legislative leadership believes very strongly that a face-to-face meeting with the NCAA could change their position.

“However, this statement indicates that possibility is pretty narrow.”

Big Sky: ‘UND, we have a problem’

Image via WikipediaI have been out of pocket for the weekend while I was getting gas in Cando, ND yesterday I found this predictable article on the front of the Grand Forks Herald. Personally, I would've guessed that this article and the letter from the Big Sky would have come earlier.... This is why I think the Fighting Sioux nickname will never make it past next year.

Grand Forks Herald --- Leaders of the Big Sky Conference told UND President Robert Kelley this week that continued use of the Fighting Sioux name and logo as mandated by a new state law has become a “concern” for them and could jeopardize UND’s joining the conference next year.

Furthermore, the ongoing controversy “has the possibility of destroying Division I athletics at the University of North Dakota.”

Writing earlier this week on behalf of the presidents of Big Sky member schools, league Commissioner Douglas Fullerton told Kelley that the presidents “are forced to consider the ramifications of continued use of the ‘Fighting Sioux’ name” and imagery.

“When the University of North Dakota was considered and accepted for membership (on Nov. 1, 2010), this issue was (considered) ‘settled,’ ” Fullerton wrote. “The institution had reached an agreement with the NCAA and the conference accepted that agreement.

“Obviously, today there is a new reality, and the question has to be asked: Could this lead to a time when league play and possibly league membership itself could be affected?”

In a telephone interview Friday, Fullerton said the presidents “were very intense” in discussing UND’s nickname issue with Kelley June 1 and 2 at the Big Sky Conference spring meetings in Park City, Utah.

If the NCAA maintains scheduled sanctions against the school and UND loses its “ability to be a viable NCAA institution, they don’t do us much good as a conference member,” he said.

In his letter, sent Tuesday and received at UND Wednesday, Fullerton also noted that all the other Big Sky schools have relationships with Native American tribes in their regions, “and the presidents feel strongly that if forced to choose, they would support the wishes of the Sioux tribes in this dispute.”

He underscored the point in the telephone interview.

“Our schools have great relationships with tribes in their respective regions,” he said. “There is no way we cannot support the positions of the Native American tribes.”

He was asked whether the continuing controversy could cause the presidents ultimately to reject UND as a Big Sky member.

“Very easily,” Fullerton said.

While I am one of the biggest fans of the Fighting Sioux nickname and I do not want to see the University change the Fighting Sioux nickname; however, I see no way how the University of North Dakota can keep the Fighting Sioux nickname past 2012, the university's of North Dakota's other athletic programs need to have a stable athletic conference they can call a home, if not it would be the same as being a death sentence.

Unless the State of North Dakota can go back and sue the NCAA in court, which is doubtful, I don't see how the NCAA is not going to change their minds on the Fighting Sioux nickname, the organization is run by like minded goody two shoes that have long since decided that if we want to play on their play ground we have to play by these hand wringing liberals' rules. 

Related articles

• APNewsBreak: NCAA says no go on Fighting Sioux law (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• N.C.A.A. Says No Go on Fighting Sioux Law (nytimes.com)
• NCAA to Punish North Dakota Over 'Fighting Sioux' Name (newser.com)
• NCAA: Despite state law, Fighting Sioux nickname will cost school (cbssports.com)
• NCAA to penalize North Dakota if it follows Fighting Sioux law (sports.espn.go.com)