Univ. of North Dakota President Robert Kelley yesterday announced that the school’s "new athletic nickname, effective immediately, will be the Fighting Hawks," marking the culmination of "decades of debate and turmoil," according to a front-page piece by Anna Burleson of the GRAND FORKS HERALD. The results of an online vote "showed of 27,378 total votes cast," Fighting Hawks received 57%, "beating out Roughriders." The winning name "comes after more than a year of work by committees and three public votes." The school has "played simply as UND or North Dakota since retiring its Fighting Sioux name" in '12. Plans are in place to "hire a design company to create a Fighting Hawks logo and while the new nickname will be used immediately," full implementation "could take as long as three years." UND AD Brian Faison said, "Some things will go quicker than others. It’s like uniforms. We can do some things next year, no problem, but others are more problematic." Burleson notes UND will "officially release a request for proposals in the next few days seeking a design firm to create a logo." UND VP/University & Public Affairs Susan Walton said that the logo will be "created by midsummer" with implementation for fall '16. Ralph Engelstad Arena GM Jody Hodgson said that he "doesn’t know what will happen with the UND’s athletic arena as the university rebrands ... but the existing Fighting Sioux logos will remain in place because they’re allowed in the terms of the amended settlement agreement with the NCAA." Burleson notes UND entities including the Champions Club, NoDak Nation and Dacotah Legacy Collection, "will retain their names, as will the Alumni Association and Foundation’s annual Sioux Awards." Kelley and Hodgson have both said that they "won’t censor what fans wear on campus or at games" (GRAND FORKS HERALD, 11/19).
CHANGE IS TOUGH: In Grand Forks, Brad Elliott Schlossman reports UND "won’t overload its fans with the use of the new nickname initially." Game notes, press releases and PA announcements "will be the first changes" (GRAND FORKS HERALD, 11/19). Also in Grand Forks, Miller & Schlossman note UND coaches and players had "varied support" for the new nickname. UND hockey F Nick Schmaltz said, "I’m sure over the years everyone will adjust; it’s just a transition period. Nothing will compare to being the Fighting Sioux." UND football coach Kyle Schweigert said, "At some point, we’ll embrace this name" (GRAND FORKS HERALD, 11/19). CBSSPORTS.com's Jerry Hinnen wrote as Ole Miss' experience with retiring its former mascot, Colonel Reb, illustrates, there "will always be UND fans who'll continue to cling to -- and vocally support -- the restoration of the 'Fighting Sioux' nickname." But for many, yesterday will "mark the end of the controversy and the chance to move forward" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/18).
FACE OF THE FRANCHISE: In Grand Forks, Wayne Nelson writes no UND sport is "tied more closely to the former Fighting Sioux nickname and logo than men’s hockey." Its fan base is "beyond passionate about the Fighting Sioux nickname and many in the program’s fan base have no intention of recognizing the new nickname." But UND coach Brad Berry's comment about the new nickname "says a lot about how his program -- the face of UND athletics -- will move forward." Berry: "We want to make sure our culture remains strong with this process going forward. It’s a name we have. We’re North Dakota and now we’re the Fighting Hawks" (GRAND FORKS HERALD, 11/19).
RUNNIN' AWAY? In Las Vegas, Todd Dewey notes UNLV has "posted an online survey to gauge the community's feelings on the school's mustachioed mascot 'so that a meaningful discussion can be had around this topic' at the December Board of Regents Meeting." U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in June said that Nevada should "reconsider the 'Rebels' nickname and mascot for UNLV." The program's original mascot was "closely connected to the Confederacy, but has long since been changed to depict a mountain man" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/19).
