Use of the Fighting Sioux logo by the University of North Dakota has been deemed abusive and hostile by the NCAA.

Is it just me or doesn't it sound a little strange to you that the Gophers won't play the University of North Dakota in any sport except hockey? Don't get me wrong, I still have little pity for that school up north that we (NDSU) used to lock horns with on the gridiron.

Douglas Hartman, chairman of the University of Minnesota advisory committee on athletics, said the group would not address changing the policy until UND changes its Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, which the NCAA had labeled abusive and hostile. Based on this logic, the Gophers should eliminate the Florida State "Seminoles", Central Michigan "Chippewas" and Illinois "Fighting Illini" from future schedules as well, but I doubt if that's in their future plans.

The NCAA has given North Dakota a three-year grace period so they can secure approval from the areas Sioux Tribes. It's not likely to happen anytime soon because tribal council chairman Ron His Horse is Thunder said at a news conference recently that attempts to get approval for the nickname would be a waste of time. Indian students overwhelmingly opposed the nickname and did not view it as honoring them.

Why would the U of M only consider playing the Sioux in hockey - could it be money? That must be it - M-O-N-E-Y - because if the nickname is offensive to one, it should be to all. Sioux hockey coach Dave Haksol said, "The Fighting Sioux mascot and logo best represents the state and university".

My good friends and Sioux hockey fans Dale and Pat Hinkle of Cavalier and Maynard and Jeanette Satrom of Oriska report that the Minnesota vs. North Dakota hockey battles are huge SRO events in Grand Forks. The Gophers lead the series 130-121-11. It puts money in the bank for both schools!

UND has been called "Fighting Sioux" since 1930 after being called Flickertails prior to that. The Sioux were selected as mascots because they were known as brave warriors and that area of the Dakotas was once a part of the Sioux Nation. The university was founded six years before North Dakota became a state in 1883.

So it has to be a case of economics more than any other consideration, otherwise the "Seminoles" and "Chippewas" would also draw the NCAA's ire. I can sum up UND's refusal to toss out the mascot in two words - Ralph Engelstad, a former Sioux reserve hockey goalie.

Engelstad, made a fortune while owning the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. He loved the hockey team, the university and the Sioux nickname and rewarded them all when he built the magnificent hockey arena that bears his name. The building is nearly impossible to describe adequately, with its 100,000 square feet covered in granite, with 3.2 miles of brass inlay, $150 leather seats with cherry wood arm rest and the 300 TV sets for the enjoyment of 11,000 fans. Don't forget, it has two sheets of ice, 14 locker rooms, a $2 million Daktronic scoreboard and 2,300 Sioux head logos.

Before he started building he had in his possession an eye popping giant statue of a Sioux Warrior mounted on a horse. The story goes that he needed a place to put his statue and that led to his building of the arena. In case you think that he was only partial to men's sports, he built a state of the art women's UND sports complex - complete with 4,000 seats and 500 Sioux logos - named for his wife Betty Engelstad.

Karen and I visited both facilities last year and were dazzled by the marble mosaic Sioux logos. We can see why UND remains firm in its desire to keep its mascot. The NCAA is insisting that the Sioux logos be removed from the arena. Estimates range between 1 and 1.5 million dollars to comply. A settlement reached between the University of North Dakota and the NCAA says that if the two Sioux tribes do not give approval in three years, they should find a replacement for the mascot. Bison is all ready taken!

If being the subject of a mascot is offensive to a group of people then it should be changed. I don't understand what negotiating has to do with it. It's either insulting or it isn't! I hope money isn't changing hands on this deal.

It won't be long before Notre Dame will be fighting with the "Fighting Irish", Augustana will fight to remain "Vikings" and what about those "Dutchmen" at Melrose High School? Geez we can expect protests from the Macalester "Scots", St. Olaf "Oles", Wake Forest "Demon Deacons", Indiana "Hoosiers", Oklahoma "Sooners" and Utah State "Aggies". These mascots might be seen through the eyes of the NCAA to be offensive to some people down the road. That's OK, but please no exemptions for hockey.

Mail call

Greetings to the Prep Bowl Team,

Congratulations on producing a tremendous Prep Bowl 2007! And, thank you for bringing these games to life and showcasing high school football in Minnesota. The game production was first class and we could not be more proud of your work.

We really appreciate the extra effort that you each gave to make this event the very best that it can be. You might be pleased to know that the preliminary rating for the 5A game on Friday night was a 6.1 rating with a 12 share. And, the other games all had respectable numbers.

Thank you again for being part of our team.

All the best,

Susan Wenz

Station Manager

KSTC.TV, Channel 45

In the huddle

After watching hockey for ten lustrums, I still can't get over how players can ever see that tiny puck much less skate with it. I took in the Pony-Bears game on Thursday and followed that up with a trip to Mariucci a day later to see the Gophers rip Wayne State 4-1. I'm convinced that I could never master the game even in my prime. I can't skate, either, because we just didn't do that in California.... Taylor Stippel has picked up the Pony girl cagers (5-8) and has emerged as a bona fide scoring threat by averaging 19 points over the past seven games.... Former Pony football and basketball player John Nolde '91 has been named a partner in the firm of Winthrop and Weinstine where he practices real Estate Law. Nolde was captain of the 1991 SAHS cage team and lives in Stillwater with his lovely wife Angela, daughter Catherine, 5, and son Andrew, 5 months.... Participation in high school sponsored sports should be inclusive, not exclusive.... There is a lot of interesting stuff in "Pony Tales - From the Sidelines to the Stands" edited by Bob McGarry, Dick Olsen and Lori Martin. Former Pony athletics director Connie Knoche says, "Pony Tales captures the timeless, indomitable spirit of the Stillwater sports program and the devotion of athlete, coach, parent, and administrator in the stands over the years".... Kelly Juhl Osland '81, former Pony gymnastics and track athlete, is the head gymnastics coach at Monticello High School where she teaches physical education. Kelly's sister, Heidi Juhl Schmidt '88, former Pony record setting 300 low hurdler, is a housewife with two children living in Eau Claire, Wis.... Sorry to see the passing of Iva Jean Junker at age 98. Everybody that I ever knew was at the gathering of friends for the matriarch of the Junker family at the Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center on Wednesday.... Don't Tread On Me.... Finis

Today's rumination #342

Ethical behavior, dignity and respect are non-negotiable.

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George Thole retired as head football coach at Stillwater after the 1999 season. He ranks among Minnesota's top coaches in history with a 285-69-2 record (.805 winning percentage), including four state titles and two state runner-up finishes among 22 championship seasons. He co-authored (with Jerry Foley) "From Veer to Eternity - Coaching a Football Dynasty." His column appears Thursdays in the Gazette. To contact the hall of fame coach e-mail: gthole@pressenter.com