UND Hawk Talk

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Today is a big day for the University of North Dakota Sports teams. First, the Fighting Hawks take on the Richmond Spiders in the second round of the FCS football playoffs at the Alerus Center. Talk about cool nicknames, Spiders is something that I would classify as interesting and unique.

Today’s game is historic, it’s the Fighting Hawks first-ever FCS playoff game. So, if you’re in town and looking for something to do, get your but down to the Alerus Center.  Ticket prices are reasonable. If you live out of the area, the game is on DirecTV channel 789.

Tonight, in the Battle of the Birds, the Fighting Hawks take on the Boston College Eagles at Madison Square Garden in the College Hockey Showdown. Tonight’s game will be the season debut for CBS Sports Network’s college hockey coverage. The Big Show returns for the fourth season of National Collegiate Hockey Conference hockey. Please note there will be no webcast for tonight’s game.

This is a rivalry game and the series record between the two teams stands at 11-11-1. Lately, this is series has been a house of horrors for UND. In the last 10 games against the Eagles, UND has a 2-8-0 (.312) record. Four of the last six games against the Eagles have been in the NCAA playoffs and the Eagles hold a 3-1 advantage. Ironically, this will be the first matchup between the Eagles and the Hawks. This a game that UND wants to win.

This has to be one of the silliest things that I have read to date. This is a snippet from a letter to the editor from Seth Hagen from Minot, ND. If you make your way around the Ralph, the new logo is starting to show up more and more.

Want evidence? Look at the teams that have embraced the new name and new culture around it. The football and volleyball teams are having historic seasons.

New helmets and stickers, new jerseys, new chants and just a general acceptance and implementation: These have helped create team spirit and a community mentality that have shown themselves in success and winning.

Now look at the hockey program. It still has players saying Sioux. This has to come down from the top leadership; the head coach was notably not on stage with football coach Bubba Schweigert and everyone else to show unity at the logo unveiling.

All these actions show an arrogance bordering on entitlement. Add them up, and you reap what you sow (historic losing streaks, inconsistent play).

I love the Sioux nickname, but I’ve moved on and now fly the Hawk flag at my house. I think it’s time for this team—UND’s flagship program—to also embrace the new and let the past lie.

Thoughts on this letter by Hagen? Does he have a point?

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