UND men's hockey coach Dave Hakstol felt it was time for him to speak out in favor of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo - and to encourage a stronger relationship-building effort with the tribes.
"We associate a great degree of pride - we talk about history, we talk about tradition - when we talk about Fighting Sioux hockey, Fighting Sioux athletics, and the name Sioux and the logo that goes with it," Hakstol said Wednesday during his regular weekly session with the media.
"Right now I feel I'm part of what I consider the silent majority, a silent majority that I believe strongly supports the nickname and the logo. And for whatever reason to this point, I've been quiet. And I feel like maybe the silent majority has been quiet. I don't feel we can be quiet anymore."
Hakstol made it clear he wants to keep the nickname and logo, and believes they can be kept, through better dialogue.
"I think so many good, positive things can come from it, and we need to focus on those, how do we build on those, how we get better as an athletics program," he said. "How do we do a better job in educating our people here on campus? How do we do a better job in communicating and interacting with those who are on reservations? We all have to do a better job."
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UND must gain the support of the two Sioux tribes in the state to use the nickname and logo within three years or must retire the nickname and logo, according to terms of a lawsuit settlement announced this fall between UND and the NCAA.
"Quite simply, I think it's time for us to very respectfully, very constructively, try to start talking about some of the positives of continuing the strength of the Sioux nickname and the logo," Hakstol said. "I think this is something we all need to take responsibility for and be part of.
"I think it's an extremely important discussion that we can bring to the table, all of the great positives and strengths that we can build on when it comes to relationships, when it comes to education, when it comes to many different areas in regards to strongly continuing the tradition of Fighting Sioux athletics and the name and logo that go with it."
The Sioux host their biggest rival, Minnesota, on Friday and Saturday in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
"We're going to ask our team this week to do what we do every weekend, to go out and play with pride and passion, pride and passion that is suitable to the Sioux name, to Sioux hockey and everybody that's associated with it," Hakstol said. "Quite simply put, before we go out and play, we say, 'Let's go play Sioux hockey.'"
Hakstol said he wants to build relationships.
"Let's not tear things apart," he said. "That's my personal feeling. I'm speaking from my own personal viewpoint in that regard, but I feel very strongly about it."
Hakstol said it means something when hockey fans see that the Sioux are coming to town.
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"People associate competitiveness, pride, all of those great things, with the nickname," he said. "It really becomes something you're part of, but certainly it becomes part of you."
Reach Fee at 780-1127, (800) 477-6572 ext. 127 or kfee@gfherald.com . Read his blog at www.areavoices.com/fee .
