Had to raise my eyebrow over a paragraph in Grand Forks Herald story this morning on Rep. Al Carlson and the UND nickname issue:
“(Carlson) also suggested last week that Kelley or others at UND encouraged Big Sky leaders to issue their warning about the potentially dire consequences of allowing the conflict with the NCAA to continue.”
Interesting, and let me take you back to my story on the Summit League and the nickname issue in January of this year, where I sourced the commissioner of the league confirming it was UND that suggested the nickname be an issue for league membership, not the conference.
The school went on a one-day media blitz essentially ripping my credibility as a reporter, even throwing a press conference denial on the school’s website. My reporting was also questioned in print. So now the House majority leader essentially hints at the same thing, without a source. Same story, different conference.
So what’s it going to be? Will the House majority leader get the same state-wide denial treatment as the reporter did in January? Is there going to be a column somewhere ripping Carlson? Just posing the consistency question here.
Jeff – I think the answer to your question, unfortunately, is no. However, it istime to do an open records request and ask for all of Al Carlson’s correspondence with the legislature, REA, SBoHE, UND boosters, and UND in regard to his law. Also, it would be nice to see how much tax payer money is being used on this “will of the people.”
Whether or not there is any truth to UND officials asking that the Big Sky issue the letter, it doesn’t really matter if Kolpack was ripped by UND or the rest of the media. Journalism is a lonely business…. If you’re wrong you get ripped. If you’re right and toot your own horn (which this blog post was essentially about) no one gives a rip.
Jeff… I know it’s tough being you but give me a break. Write something about NDSU athletics. This is no place for your soapbox.
Get over yourself.
Maybe the difference is that you aren’t President Kelley’s boss.
In practice, Robert Kelley reports to Grant Shaft who reports to Al Carlson who reports to the Assistant Zamboni Driver at the REA. From there on up, it gets murky. Al Carlson deserves to be ripped. Grant Shaft should be removed from the State Board of Higher Ed. The REA folks should be reminded that they don’t run higher ed in North Dakota. Unfortunately, none of these things are going to happen.
Jeff, you have a point.
Regardless, how does any of this mess mean Kelly wasn’t looking out for UND? Obviously the nickname, whether approved or denied, is contraversial for UND both now and probably in the future. Some people just need to look ahead… the writing is on the wall.
Looking ahead for these fools would entail the prior extraction of the dark place their head has been inexplicably stuck in.
The most significant news at this time – end of June 2011 – is what two ND kids – Whitney Carlson and Christine (Bruins) Schmaltz did at the U.S. Championships in Track and Field, as even more significantly, what former Bison athlete Amanda (Thieschafer) Smock did at the same meet. This stuff belongs on this blog – let’s talk about more than football, when we have athletes who are deserving of the recognition. These three Bison women deserve it.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
TRUTH
Karma! These pathetic losers will stop at nothing to drag people through the mud. Now the main one Al carlson is trying to take everyone down with him. Take his ndsu diploma away, seriously!
Jeff and I have something that they will never have…..we WINNING!!
everyone should request an open records search on benedict carlson he enjoys doing that to others, plus will someone have the BALLS to.AUDIT the taxpayer money and time spent on all this BS.
ps. Thank you tom douple + mvfc, just say no!
I hear you, funny how mr kolpack & lakes were targets, why are these people so afraid of the truth getting out? something stinks in denmark and it’s grand forks.
Didn’t some of Mr. Carlson’s e-mails already become public record?
Maybe they should take away your NDSU diploma…oh, wait.
So what does any of this have to do with the fact that the Big Sky Conference is on record that they will follow the edict of the NCAA in regard to opposing the nickname until it is changed/dropped? Does it make any difference who brought it to this point? Don’t bet the NCAA will step down, UND needs their blessing more than the NCAA needs the Sioux. At the very least, UND will not be able to host post-season events and at the worst, they will lose their Division 1, conference affiliation.
Al Carlson and all the state representatives that supported this measure , I get where you’re coming from, you’ve made your point, thank you for championing this effort, but you’re up against a organization that isn’t going to back down. For UND as a whole and especially the athletes that attend there, they deserve a chance to fully participate in collegiate athletics.
Mr. Carlson, have the integrity to admit that this is a battle that you can’t win and initiate the actions to have the law repealed.
Amen!
that whackjob will never admit fault, ever, its not in his dna.
Lets just assume that Kelley asked the Summit League and the Big Sky Conference to issue statements that the nickname could prevent UND from joining, even if that wasn’t necessarily the case.
What does it matter?
UND is going back on the NCAA’s black list in Aug. Nothing to do with any conference is going to change that.
Jeff. Good post. Hope Carlson and Kelley will read and find a way to resolve this issue.
Oh wait, im.right, I always am WINNING!! Hitting the lake right now in my boat, send me that pizza davek
Don’t you EVER forget.
who wants to come to UND now , with this hanging over their head.
WOW ! what a mess
Today’s article was 100% spin. They took 1 quote and somehow managed to turn it into a big conspiricy by Kelly. He didn’t ask for a nasty letter. He simply asked if the stance had changed since the law passed. Compete and utter garbage.
One moron can ask questions all day long that a dozen wisemen couldn’t answer. So what’s the purpose?
UND has turned at least once on everyone. You were on top of the story!
This couldn’t possibly be more enjoyable, it’s like watching two things I hate strangle each other slowly.
What a mess! Do these people realize what they are doing to UND athletics? If they get the boot from the Big Sky where will they go? The truth is probably the Northern Sun. “I Love It” is right what athlete is going to want to go to a university in this situation. The Bison are rolling in many Division I sports and the Sioux are sinking in quicksand. It is kind of ironic that the Sioux name that they all cherish so much could be the undoing of what has been a very successful athletic department! Go Bison!
Jeff Kolpack,
If the Forum doesn’t write about the cost of this trip to Indianapolis and the rest of the nonsense, they are not being responsible to their readers.
Great point. I’d like to see a report on all the costs associated with this trip.
Very well-put, Road.
This. 10000x this.
Does the Forum actually have the guts to do it? Stay tuned.
Well, so far we have our answer. *crickets chirping*
Thanks for your good journalism, Jeff.
We can count on you and Dom.
The Grand Forks Herald would’ve never written the reports you did.
The Herald doesn’t have the journalistic integrity to do so.
Keep up the good work, Jeff
It’s kind of lonely being a good journalist, isn’t it?
We need to keep the pressure on for reporting on the costs and maybe what this whole mess has cost the ND taxpayer over the years.
They should send the bill to Carlson for this wild goose chase to the NCAA meeting.
The NCAA will see the light and the nickname will remain. Are they going to want UND to break state law? Of course not! They will get in the Big Sky too.
Let me set down my crack pipe now.
Coughing
Und is screwed!
If UND is looking for a new nickname, “Arrogant Bastards” is fitting given the way they have handled the name issue since the early ’90′s. Of course, Stone Brewing, the brewers of Arrogant Bastard ale are likely to sue (no pun intended) UND because they don’t want their brand associated with such incompetency.
I understand why you wrote the story but this is the Bison Media Blog. Who gives a crap about other state school.
My advice is for UND to do what they have always done. They should fight. Fight the NCAA, fight the Big Sky, fight anybody or any organization that tries to tell them what to do. They should fight no matter what the cost. They have that play anybody anytime mentality, except when the quit playing NDSU, and they should stick by their guns and fight this thing, fight fight fight! Don’t humiliate North Dakota again and settle for another moral victory! Play this game to win just like the Bison!!!
don’t give up UND , fight until nobody wants to come up there
Carlson has to bribe, beg or plead the NCAA into giving him something, anything to take back to North Dakota so he can tell his constituents that he rode in on his horse and saved the day.
The Governor public ran away from the issue after realizing that the NCAA isn’t likely to move off their position and it will look very bad for every ND politician who makes the trip to Indy.
The best thing that can come out of the meeting is if the NCAA relaxes the requirements on removing Sioux logos from the hockey arena. I don’t see any real reason that those logos should have to be replaced any faster than when they wear out and are replaced by normal maintenance. Especially not when the NCAA hosts post-season events in the same area that displays Chicago Blackhawks logos.
I have no dog in this fight other than being a proud, born and raised North Dakotan. But as an Iraq and Afghanistan vet I am told the reasoning for being sent to those countries was, among other things: (a) protection or our country as well as others, (b) to insure individual freedoms and (c) to spread democracy. (Remember the catch phrase: “Freedom on the march?â€) Yet, here at home, a group of people (members of Standing Rock) are denied the right to vote on the Fighting Sioux issue. I quote Thomas Jefferson: “The right to a free vote supersedes any and all other rights.†Whether it be the U.S. Constitution or Tribal Nation there seems to be a horrible double standard.
Any issue that involves the Summit League also involves NDSU, so therefore is
pertinent to this blog.
Jeff, I wouldn’t waste my time trying to reason with some of these people…
It does seem a little hard to believe that UND has the power over the Summit and Big Sky commissioners to get them to go along with the conspiracy. The fact that apparently you think that since Carlson suggested the same conspiracy with the Big Sky that it legitimizes your story is a little far fetched. Carlson doesn’t seem to have a lot of credibility with anyone any more. The bottomline is the it doesn’t really matter. The nickname is a story that needs to go away and if your theory is right and I don’t think it is, I wouldn’t blame anybody for trying to do it
It seems to me that Carlson has a power trip and the only way to rein him in is to NOT VOTE for him. This clown made a mess of the legislative session this year. The only real issue is how did Fargo keep him as the voice of the people so long? I am a long time die hard bison fan and am embarrassed by his actions. UND can fold up and close as far as I care, lets get on the business of supporting NDSU and not power hungry politicians.
this will be the down fall of Carlson
Bye bye al, we wont miss ya
i guess you’ll have to find another politician to threaten and consequently get yourself questioned by the police. LOL!
Anti keep hatin….im on big island bitch!! Hate hate hate, NDSU ROCKS. I am winning!!
UND must Fight, Fight, Fight and Damn the Torpedoes!
Keep up the good work Lakes!
This is the reason that this nickname crap WILL NEVER GO AWAY because of this:
Hayduke
Posted 03 July 2011 – 10:48 PM
We’ll always wear our Fighting Sioux gear to the games. We’ll always yell “Sioux” at the end of the national anthem. When I”m 90 and only one of a few wearing the Fighting Sioux gear and croaking out “Sioux” at the end of our national anthem” fight fight fight because I have nothing else in my sad life.