NCAA Not A Fan Of New North Dakota State Law

The University of North Dakota was among a group of 18 schools singled out for using allegedly disparaging nicknames, logos and mascots when the NCAA first announced in 2005 that they were encouraging member schools to ditch them.

But last month, the governor of North Dakota signed a bill that was written to order the school to use their logos in defiance of the NCAA- unless both the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes both agree it's cool...

Standing Rock has always been against the nickname and show no sign of changing their mind on the matter...

If UND keeps the Sioux, the school will be barred from hosting NCAA postseason sporting events, and its teams will not be able to wear the nickname and logo on its uniforms in postseason contests. Other Big 10/11/12 schools that are nearby have already said that they won't even play UND if the Sioux stays around...

The HQ is still a fan of one of the coolest sweaters around...
((HT: SaveOurSuhaki))

North Dakota Blows Up Fighting Sioux Nickname

((HT: KFYR-TV Fargo))

A North Dakota state Supreme Court ruling and a subsequent Board of Higher Education decision have retired the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname after four years in the court system.

The court ruled that the board had the authority to dump the nickname at any time. The court rejected an appeal that sought to delay action.

So, they blew up the nickname once and for all...

The NCAA considers the "Sioux" nickname "hostile and offensive" and said UND cannot host postseason events without approval from the state's two Sioux tribes. Under the settlement, the board and UND agreed to begin retiring the nickname if they couldn't obtain permission from the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes by November 30.

Neil Carlson has the details from the meeting...


Not everyone is going with the idea full-bore...

KVLY-TV interviewed the GM of the privately-owned Ralph Engelstad Arena on the UND campus. He says he is saddened by the retirement of the school's Fighting Sioux nickname.

Jody Hodgson says he will consult with the board of directors, but if he has his way, the arena with an estimated 3,000 Sioux logos will not change.

The arena was paid for by the late Ralph Engelstad, a UND alumnus and benefactor and a staunch supporter of the nickname.

It is not known whether the NCAA would grant the arena postseason tournaments if the logos stay. Hodgson says he "could care less."

The HQ thinks this is far from over...

Another Vicious Hockey Hit

((HT: PuckDaddy/HockeyWebcast))

And another question as to when vicious is "too vicious...?"

WCHA first-round playoff series between Minnesota and North Dakota...

The Sioux's Matt Frattin levels the Gophers' Kevin Wehrs... Frattin gets a five-minute major while Wehrs gets knocked out and knocked out of the game. Frattin's last 12 months have been a real blast to watch: a disturbing the peace incident that got him a suspended sentence and probation, and a DUI that got him kicked off the team- only to be reinstated just before New Year's...

Frattin now is the proud owner of a one-game suspension...

So, the HQ asks the "Goldilocks" question: too hard, too soft, or just right...?

Here's the shot, thanks again to HockeyWebcast and FSND...

UND Caves: "Fighting Sioux" Days Numbered

((HT: KXMB-TV 12))

The fight over the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname may be over...and soon...could be history.

In a unanimous 8-nothing vote, North Dakota's Board of Higher Education agreed to retire the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

Athletic director Brian Faison says the decision helps UND's efforts in joining the Summit League: "It is pretty much where we were, but it does accelierate the timeline a little, so that will be helpful and so, I have said all along since I came on board that it was important to get this resolved as quickly as we could and again, this will helpfully help facilitate that process yet again, but for obviously, it doesn't change much as this point."

The Summit League will "not" consider UND for membership until the situation is settled.Both the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux have until October First of this year to give U-N-D tribal approval to use of the nickname and logo for the next 30 years or it will be retired.

Supporters in Standing Rock are trying to get the question on their election ballot.

Dale Wetzel for GlobeSports continues:

"...tribal officials say that possibility is remote. Unless the name and logo receive tribal endorsement, they will be retired for good on Aug. 1, 2010.

UND President Robert Kelley began making plans for replacements.

"This has been a long-standing tradition at UND, and I think the board action now instructs the university to develop new traditions," he said.

Board member Grant Shaft, who is chairman of a committee that has been studying the issue, said the move may help UND's likely application to join the Summit League, an 11-member NCAA Division I conference that is seeking a 12th school.

Tom Douple, the Summit League's commissioner, has said the University of North Dakota won't be considered for membership as long as the nickname and logo dispute festered.

The education board's action doesn't suggest any blueprint for UND to follow in choosing a new nickname and logo.

Richie Smith, the president of the Board of Higher Education, said the issue would be left to the campus, and jokingly suggested "Moose" as a new nickname.

Kelley said a transition team will be appointed to oversee the process.

"What this permits the University of North Dakota to do is to start a marketing initiative," Kelley said. "Over time, I think we would see enhancement of our revenue structure for athletic programs.

"I think we would see the enhancement of fan interest."

UND sports teams have been known as the Fighting Sioux since 1930, when the moniker replaced Flickertails.

Arguments against the nickname's racial origins have flared regularly for decades.

Its supporters say the name is intended to honour North Dakota's Sioux tribes, while critics say it's demeaning and fosters racial tension on the university's campus in Grand Forks, in northeastern North Dakota.

The debate came to a head in September 2005, when the NCAA declared Fighting Sioux as "hostile and abusive" to American Indians and said UND would be barred from hosting NCAA postseason tournaments if the school continued using it.

The Board of Higher Education then sued the NCAA, arguing the organization had not followed its own rules in issuing its edict.

The lawsuit was settled in October 2007; its terms gave the University of North Dakota permission to continue using the nickname and logo if the school could get approval from the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake tribes by November 2010.

Ron His Horse Is Thunder, the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and a fervent opponent of the nickname and logo, cheered the board's decision.

"It's not an easy step," His Horse Is Thunder said. "And it is full of controversy. But I think every great step in this country was filled with controversy. The civil rights movements in the '60s didn't happen with a whimper."

American Indian backers of the nickname, who have been campaigning on the reserves to garner support for it, asked the Board of Higher Education before Thursday's vote to back the nickname and logo.

Many residents of both reserves take pride in "Fighting Sioux," they said.

Coverage from KXMB-TV12 and Dan Williamson is in black...

KFYR-TV's coverage is here as well...