Showing posts with label University of North Dakota. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of North Dakota. Show all posts

Idalski - Recruits' concern real.

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athl...
University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Next Tuesday "North Dakota" voters will go to the polls to vote on four ballot measures one of the measures is the Fighting Sioux nickname ballot measure 4. My advice to you is to vote with your conscience but there are a few things to remember going forward.

Do not believe the false rhetoric that the sanctions from the NCAA are minimal and or overblown. If the Fighting Sioux nickname is not retired the first team to suffer from the NCAA Sanctions will be the UND Women's Hockey team.

The Fighting Sioux women's team is going to be one of the top teams in Division I hockey during the 2012-13 season - the UND Women have a legitimate chance of winning their first NCAA title based on who is returning to Idalski's squad - they will be hard pressed to make the Women's Frozen Four if they have to travel instead of hosting a quarter final series. The sanctions have more teeth than some want to believe.
Marino Eccher, INFORUM --- They said they wanted to speak out to counter claims by nickname supporters that the consequences of keeping the nickname are overblown.

Idalski said the consequences of the sanctions hit home for him when they came up while recruiting a blue-chip recruit from Canada.

“Her family called me and asked, what does this mean for us?” he said. “Their concerns were very real.”
Before you think about attacking Brian Idalski, or think that he has been told to get in line by the UND Administration, think again, Idalski was speaking out about the NCAA sanctions before the Measure 4 movement became hot and heated -  Idalski has discussed this issue before at the Wednesday press conferences and he voiced his concerns about the consequences of the NCAA sanctions and what they meant to his team. As long as UND is known as the Fighting Sioux UND will never be able to host an NCAA tourney event in anything.

That being said, Idalski has been consistent on this issue - the woman's head coach is a realist - he knows that his team will suffer very soon if the name if the Fighting Sioux nickname is not dropped. This isn't a scare tactic or some over blown pontification.

For the record; all of UND's teams were conforming with the settlement  and the woman's team was in was the first UND hockey team to wear the new jersey's that said "NORTH DAKOTA" on the front of them, the men's hockey team had to wait a little longer and received their new jerseys right before the West Regional.

None of us want to have to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname - but the cost to the University is good big - teams will not play UND as long as they are under NCAA sanctions. Contrary to what some politicians think, the NCAA is not going to budge from their opinion - the NCAA doesn't care how Sioux Country is going to vote - the NCAA has a signed settlement that was signed by the Attorney General of North Dakota. Al Carlson is clueless if he thinks other wise - before you try to call me a democrat or a liberal think again,  think again, I am life long registered republican and I wouldn't vote for Al Carlson, under an circumstances, even if it meant the house or senate would turn from blue to red. I would vote for the Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck instead. My question is; where were this people five years ago when we could have saved the Fighting Sioux nickname?

Here is the Ballot measure again.

The measure as it appears on the ballot reads: This referendum measure concerns Senate Bill 2370 as passed by the Legislative Assembly in the November 2011 special session (Session Laws, Chapter 580). Senate Bill 2370 repealed section 15-10-46 of the North Dakota Century Code, which required the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

YES – means you approve Senate Bill 2370, the effect of which would allow the University of North Dakota to discontinue the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

NO – means you reject Senate Bill 2370, and would require the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.
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Tim O’Keefe, Grand Forks, letter: Facts explain Alumni Association’s choice

Former Fighting Hockey player Tim O’Keefe and current executive vice president and CEO of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation had this to say today in the Grand Forks, Herald.
GRAND FORKS — There has been conjecture and criticism of the unanimous decision by the management and board of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation to lead the effort to educate North Dakota voters about the importance of voting “yes” on Measure 4, which would let UND to retire the Fighting Sioux name.

The decision came after considerable discussion and due process and was based on these factors:
** Election laws prevent UND personnel from advocating a position in a political vote, rendering the university defenseless in a situation threatening the future for its students.

** Student Senate, Staff Senate, Faculty Senate, UND administration, the Athletic Department and all 17 head coaches, along with the UND Alumni Association and Foundation, are unanimous in their support of “Yes” on Measure 4.

The strength of unanimity in our group is a powerful answer to those who have questioned our integrity and credibility.

** Student-athlete recruiting is a cutthroat business, and negative recruiting is a reality. [Read the rest of the letter]
Since Tim O’keefe has kicked off his campaign to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname, Okeefe has taken a beating from some. O’keefe has been called a sell out and others have said that he was forced to come out against the nickname by the University of North Dakota administration.  
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Earl Strinden, Grand Forks, letter: ‘Yes’ on 4 to protect UND

One of UND’s most prominent Alumni Earl Strinden had this to say today on Measure 4. For those that don’t know Strinden – he is the former President of the of North Dakota Alumni Association and one of the heavy hitters around everything UND.  So when Earl talks people listen.
GRAND FORKS — I have admiration and great respect for the members of the Committee of Understanding and Respect and the Spirit Lake citizens who voted their support for the UND Fighting Sioux name and logo, as well as for those at the Standing Rock reservation who worked to give their members a vote.
The long debate and controversy on this issue has evolved to a situation where I believe it is in North Dakota’s best interest for there to be a “yes” vote on Measure 4 supporting the Legislature’s action returning control of this issue to UND.

The fallout of the limited NCAA sanctions is contagious as other universities such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa are boycotting UND athletic teams for athletic competition. A few weeks ago, the UND track team was disallowed from a prestigious track meet in Iowa. My low regard for this individual university action is irrelevant. We must deal with reality.

We carried this fight as far as we could without doing damage to UND, North Dakota and the Sioux people [Read the rest of Earl's letter]
Election day is June 12th - The measure as it appears on the ballot reads:  
This referendum measure concerns Senate Bill 2370 as passed by the Legislative Assembly in the November 2011 special session (Session Laws, Chapter 580). Senate Bill 2370 repealed section 15-10-46 of the North Dakota Century Code, which required the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.
YES – means you approve Senate Bill 2370, the effect of which would allow the University of North Dakota to discontinue the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.
NO – means you reject Senate Bill 2370, and would require the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.
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Gothberg and Schmaltz make All-USHL First Team

Two UND Fighting Sioux incoming freshman recruits Zane Gothberg and Jordan Schmaltz have made the All-USHL first team.
All-USHL First Team

Zane Gothberg (G), Fargo Force

The goaltender from Thief River Falls, Minnesota posted a 26-16-4 record with USHL best .921 SV%. His 2.22 GAA was the second best mark in the League. Gothberg led the USHL with seven shutouts which shattered the Fargo Force season record held by Mike Lee (2008-09). The 19-year-old put together a nine-game winning streak from December 30th to January 21st, compiling a 1.43 GAA and .947 SV% with two shutouts over that stretch. Gothberg was the co-winner of the USHL Goaltender of the Year. He is a 2010 NHL Draft pick of the Boston Bruins and will play hockey next season at the University of North Dakota.

USHL stats - Zane Gothberg

Jordan Schmaltz (D), Green Bay Gamblers

The 18-year-old from Verona, Wisconsin tied for second in scoring among all USHL defensemen with 41 points (10g, 31a) in 55 regular season games. After starting the season with the Sioux City Musketeers, he was acquired by the Gamblers and put up 35 points (7g, 28a) and a plus-15 rating in 46 games. He added seven points (2g, 5a) and a plus-10 rating in 12 playoff games. Schmaltz is the first player since the 1994-95 season (Scott Swanson, Omaha Lancers) to be named All-USHL First Team in consecutive seasons. A top prospect for the 2012 NHL Draft, the defenseman is committed to the University of North Dakota.

USHL stats - Jordan Schmaltz
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NDSU won’t play UND until nickname situation is resolved

NDSU won’t play UND until the Nickname issue is resolved… Small price to pay right, just like the NCAA sanctions being “manageable.” Wait, what? Someone must have gotten to NDSU, this can't be.

Really it’s a small price for keeping the Fighting Sioux nickname – screw them right! Who needs NDSU, they can go play someone else. Right! It’s really just a marginal and minor cost for keeping the Fighting Sioux nickname.

I am sure that some will say that Gene Taylor is lying – he can’t be telling the truth. I suppose others will accuse Taylor of folding and changing his view to appease Robert O. Kelley and Brian Faison. I suppose we will also have someone file a FOIA request to see what Gene Taylor knows and when he knew it… I can’t wait to read through all of Taylor’s email when they are posted on a blog somewhere in North Dakota. I can only imagine what else will be said.
Jeff Kolpack,Fargo Forum --- Not so fast, says the NDSU athletic director.

“No details have been worked out,” Gene Taylor said.

Taylor said the schools have dates that would work in both years and that he and Faison talked by phone earlier this week about resuming the game. Taylor said both sides talked a few months ago on a few occasions, but communication stopped until UND could get its nickname situation resolved, he said.

“We don’t have a solid contract,” Taylor said.

I want to address a couple of issue that has come up on line a few times.
First off, no one from the University of North Dakota has ever asked me to write against the Fighting Sioux nickname. No one! It has never happened; not once. No one has ever asked me to change my stance on the Fighting Sioux nickname issue. Seriously! If the President of the United States of America is allowed to evolve on an issue, what can’t others?

No one from the University of North Dakota has ever dangled my press pass in front of me and said if you don’t parrot the University Line against the Fighting Sioux nickname, I would have that press pass pulled. UND has been great and nothing but professional with me.

I have also developed relationships with some at the University of North Dakota and they have been nothing but accommodating and personable, they go out of their way to help people from the press, media and writers. UND is a first class organization that I am proud to be an alumnus of (1996, 1999). I find it mind numbing that some people that don’t have all the information calling reputable alumni, coaches and great people liars and toadies.

Lastly, I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and I think it’s the best logo in all of college sports or professional sports – nothing that they replace the Fighting Sioux nickname with will ever be good enough in my opinion. I have never wavered from that opinion, but like other Alumni that have actually attended class at the University of North Dakota, I know that UND can’t go on forever with the Fighting Sioux nickname and I don’t want to see the University hurt by the sanctions.

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