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Big Ten 2015-2016

SJHovey said:
I wonder how many times this was posted by MN posters about UND when Mn and UND were in the WCHA together? But don't worry. You can already feel that Michigan-Minnesota hate growing.
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Gophers vs. UND was a toxic rivalry that always brought out the absolute worst behavior in fans (on both sides) and sometimes players (Joe Finley, Ben Blood). Minnesota/Michigan is a much better rivalry based on competitiveness within the context of teams/fans sharing mutual respect for each other. Essentially it is a case of good sportsmanship > poor sportsmanship.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

alfablue said:
If fans stop coming because you are playing MSU, OSU, PSU, and Michigan instead of Tech, North Dakota, Minnesota State, etc- that's fine with me.

Just as I'm ok with any Michigan fan going away because we are playing Minnesota, Wisconsin, and now PSU instead of Western, Miami, Ferris, etc...

To me, that's a weak reason to stop watching. And have no reason to try to get them back.

Fans leaving because of high prices or bad play- that should be fixed.

I will admit one thing- Minnesota and Wisconsin have a lot more history with Tech, CC, Denver, ND than we do with Ferris, OSU, etc. But we actually have the same history with those teams. As does State.
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The history plays a role, but it is much more nuanced than just that. Proximity of teams, presence of a number of different fan bases within the Twin Cities Metro and all that carries with it, the ability to watch a number of Minnesota kids (kids you have followed and watched through high school or who grew up down the block from you) on both benches, the dismantling of what many Gopher fans perceived as the greatest conference (for many of the reasons just stated) in all of college sports...

It's not JUST the lack of interest in teams like Ohio St, Penn St, Mi St. There were schools that carried little interest within the WCHA, too.
No. There is a sense of betrayal and atrocity in taking a wrecking ball to something so many people loved, I think, that is not easily gotten over.


You are certainly entitled to your opinion that fans who want to leave aren't worth your time. Unfortunately, there are A LOT of fans who have chosen to do so, and simply writing them off or ignoring/misunderstanding the reasons why they left isn't going to make anything better.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

Speed Kills said:
Gophers vs. UND was a toxic rivalry that always brought out the absolute worst behavior in fans (on both sides) and sometimes players (Joe Finley, Ben Blood). Minnesota/Michigan is a much better rivalry based on competitiveness within the context of teams/fans sharing mutual respect for each other. Essentially it is a case of good sportsmanship > poor sportsmanship.
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Speedy, you are obviously far far too young to have much of an understanding of the historical rivalry between UMinn and UND. If you aren't extremely young, you lack in maturity what you do not lack in years. You are eager, that much is obvious; beyond that, you have little to say.

That said, the Big Ten will be fine. UW will be back, and the other teams will improve over time as well.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I was taken aback at the TV ad they were running the inaugural season of the Big Ten conference. It highlighted "Tradition". My thought was are you clueless or are you mocking us? I assumed the former, but I wouldn't discount the later.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

burd said:
Speedy, you are obviously far far too young to have much of an understanding of the historical rivalry between UMinn and UND. If you aren't extremely young, you lack in maturity what you do not lack in years. You are eager, that much is obvious; beyond that, you have little to say.

That said, the Big Ten will be fine. UW will be back, and the other teams will improve over time as well.
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I'm 45 years old, burd. I grew up in Grand Forks. Trust me, I know from firsthand experience what I'm talking about when I say it was a toxic rivalry. I understand and appreciate the significance of the product on the ice going all the way back to the Herb Brooks and Gino Gasparini years, but the boorish behavior by fans on both sides had escalated from generation to generation to the point where I am glad that they no longer play regularly.
 
RedFreak said:
I was taken aback at the TV ad they were running the inaugural season of the Big Ten conference. It highlighted "Tradition". My thought was are you clueless or are you mocking us? I assumed the former, but I wouldn't discount the later.
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Well obviously they were referring to the 23 (or so) national titles shared between the schools.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

Speed Kills said:
I'm 45 years old, burd. I grew up in Grand Forks. Trust me, I know from firsthand experience what I'm talking about when I say it was a toxic rivalry. I understand and appreciate the significance of the product on the ice going all the way back to the Herb Brooks and Gino Gasparini years, but the boorish behavior by fans on both sides had escalated from generation to generation to the point where I am glad that they no longer play regularly.
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There were pockets, sure, but overall, I didn't see too much. There were a couple Hawk fans that visited the Gopher tailgate on a regular basis a few years ago. Even the infamous Mullet Man of UND is actually a really nice guy.
 
Brenthoven said:
There were pockets, sure, but overall, I didn't see too much. There were a couple Hawk fans that visited the Gopher tailgate on a regular basis a few years ago. Even the infamous Mullet Man of UND is actually a really nice guy.
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I miss the rivalry big time. I have many friends who are Gopher fans. We get along just fine and rib each other all the time. It's all good. Looking forward to the annual series again.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

icehawk said:
I miss the rivalry big time. I have many friends who are Gopher fans. We get along just fine and rib each other all the time. It's all good. Looking forward to the annual series again.
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I'll *ing rip you a new one pre-game and during the game, but after the game? I'll buy you a beer to make it all better. ;)

Actually met a Hawk fan I hadn't met before (Mafia Man on GPL, I assume he's on SS) this past weekend. Kind of shady, but for a Hawk fan, he's okay. ;)
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I didn't find it toxic at all - maybe acerbic though. ;)

Yes, UND players crossed the line here and there, but doesn't that make beating them all the more sweet? Just like they think UM is full of pretty boys that they love to stomp on. It's what makes a rivalry. It wasn't Celtic-Rangers dangerous and I got plenty of laughs seeing Halo Fans try to convince themselves they're superior. :D
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

Brenthoven said:
There were pockets, sure, but overall, I didn't see too much. There were a couple Hawk fans that visited the Gopher tailgate on a regular basis a few years ago. Even the infamous Mullet Man of UND is actually a really nice guy.
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Is the infamous "mullet man" the dude with glasses and a mullet consisting of dark curly locks who every Final Five would get up for DanceMania and do this sad little "twirl" with both index fingers?

If so that's fricken hilarious, because he always sat about 3 rows directly in front of us and I always referred to him as "mullet man" myself....

I miss him :(
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I did not find the rivalry to be toxic in the least. Do I hate gopher fans? Not at all. I mean, it was a little difficult at times tolerating their somewhat uncivil behavior. And the gopher players' tendency to hook, hold, spear, and elbow then taunt from behind the safety of the ref. And the rude remarks from their smelly, dumb-as-dirt, ugly, drooling, slope-headed, goat-fugging, nose-picking, buttcrack-showing, incestuous bunch of good-for-nothing fans.

But they were kind of like family to me, so no, not toxic.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

Stauber1 said:
Is the infamous "mullet man" the dude with glasses and a mullet consisting of dark curly locks who every Final Five would get up for DanceMania and do this sad little "twirl" with both index fingers?

If so that's fricken hilarious, because he always sat about 3 rows directly in front of us and I always referred to him as "mullet man" myself....

I miss him :(
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Oh no. Mullet Man had the mullet of all mullets, and a black leather Whioux jacket. He is a pretty big dude, too.
 
Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

Well, I was wrong. I figured ND would never happen given past events.

I suppose this also means they couldn't find another Big Ten school willing to add hockey in the near future.
 
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