Signs/Cheers/Chants for North Dakota

OK gang. With Harvard/Dartmouth now off our focus, it's time. This is one of those roadtrips you dream of, so let's get our creativity juices flowing. I believe the visitor tickets that UND provided CU are for the third, yes the THIRD deck. Unlike the MSG game last year, our red will stand out in green.

There should be a good amount of material to be found. Some of it depends on how you want to handle the whole nickname controversy.

I was thinking of a big sign that says "BRAVE" to counteract and correct the ND fans screaming "SIOUX!!" to complete "and the home of the..." in the Anthem. "Brave" could also refer to us as a section.

Some horrible ideas of mine that would suck as cheers:
"The only way our logo is controversial is that it's lame." (Huggy Bear)
"James M. Lynah was never a nazi sympathizer."

We could bring a roll of electrical tape to cover all the Fighting Sioux logos on our seats (which is what they would have to do if they want to host an NCAA regional.)

And kudos to Kate for this:
"Ralph means vo-mit!" clap clap clapclapclap...

Oh, just go look at this: [www.theralph.com]

Or this: [en.wikipedia.org]

Something about having to ditch the logo in a couple years? Something about Engelstad enforcing racism with the power of the dollar? I dunno, I'm finding the whole thing doesn't really lend itself to punchy chants. Or maybe I'm just not clever enough.

"Our nickname doesn't hate us"? (To the tune of "Princeton's in New Jersey"...)

This is just funny.

Of course, it also means they have an annoying horn, just like Clarkson.

People live in North Dakota?

How about, "You want Hostile and Abusive? Come to Lynah Rink!"

We get to leave!

At least South Dakota has Mt. Rushmore

South Dakota (Canada, Montana, etc.) called, and they said you suck (you're boring?)

There could also be a play on the (Big)Red River that runs through Grand Forks.

Any good material from Fargo? I know the name Fargo was about all North Dakota contributed to that movie, but there's got to be something in there.

One thing to avoid -- don't try to make comments related to the river flooding. Downtown Grand Forks burned to the ground in 1997 and there's still a lot of hurt there. Wrong comments would be ungracious of us as visitors.

Hey [Goalie], I find your goaltending skills to be hostile and abusive.

With a small number of us in the third deck of an arena holding over 10,000 of them, I think at some point an ironic "we can't hear you" may be humorous.

Don't forget that the election results once again showed that

North Dakota is a RED state!

If you like obscure, Brad Miller is a senior forward for ND. His last team was the Green Bay Gamblers, then coached by Mark Mazzoleni.

There's also the potential to make fun of the Notre Dame/North Dakota UND logo thing. I get the sense they are sensitive about that out there.

ETA: They've got a guy named Blood. That's a little too easy. Plus one of their d-men is listed at 6'7"! Yikes. Of course the rest of the team is like 5'9". ANd there's Mario Lamareux... not to be confused with, though perhaps named after, Mario Lemieux. There's also a guy from Manhattan Beach, Rich. The roster is really a gold mine.

Chris '03
There's also the potential to make fun of the Notre Dame/North Dakota UND logo thing. I get the sense they are sensitive about that out there.

Heh - I kinda like that. Make ALL the signs refer to Notre Dame... NoDak? Who's that? Never heard of 'em.

KenP
Downtown Grand Forks burned to the ground in 1997

Wow. Both buildings?

JDeafv
This is just sad.

FYP

Chris '03
Plus one of their d-men is listed at 6'7"! Yikes.

The giant defenseman, Joe Finley, has missed all but two of UND's games so far this year; the feeling among Sioux fans on USCHO seems to be that this is a big reason (along with the graduation of Lamoreux) why they've given up so many goals (3.33 per game vs. 1.86 per game last year).

Edit: And yes, mostly midgets otherwise, though they seem to be more of the 5'10" or 5'11" variety other than one 5'6" (though, granted, the one 5'6" guy won the Hobey two years ago).

Edit again: UND forward Brett Hextall, pointed out for being from Manhattan Beach, is also notable because he's the son of longtime NHL goalie Ron Hextall. There's definitely a chant (well, more of a drone, I suppose) that goes with his name.

Chris '03
There's also the potential to make fun of the Notre Dame/North Dakota UND logo thing. I get the sense they are sensitive about that out there.

As I understand it, they actually have a licensing arrangement with Notre Dame to let them use the logo.

"North Dakota, Home of ________"

"You're not even a safety school!" also sung to the tune of "Princeton's in New Jersey!"

University of
Nothing to
Do

I'm not sure what you could possibly do with this, but UND has a kick-ass aviation program. Perhaps a fight (Cornell)/flight (UND) joke?

Thanks for the link, Rich. The description of the arena is just embarassing; it looks like it was written by an overeager junior college student.

"In its inaugural season (2001-02) in the new Ralph Engelstad Arena, Fighting Sioux Hockey attendance erupted into an all time high."

What's the subject of this sentence? Can attendance "erupt"?

"Since opening its doors on October 5, 2001, the Ralph Engelstad Arena has played host too many big attractions"

I'm sure that there was two much excitement too fully describe.

A "restrained" cheer:

"Go-pher rejects!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

A "nasty" cheer, since NoDak fans will have plenty:

"You love Na-zis!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

djk26
A "nasty" cheer, since NoDak fans will have plenty:

"You love Na-zis!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

Wow, I was trying to come up with a tactful way to get at that, but you really just went right for it, didn't you?

Josh '99

djk26
A "nasty" cheer, since NoDak fans will have plenty:

"You love Na-zis!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

Wow, I was trying to come up with a tactful way to get at that, but you really just went right for it, didn't you?

Yeah, um... hopefully nobody goes there. Pretty much a beating offense.

Trotsky

Josh '99

djk26
A "nasty" cheer, since NoDak fans will have plenty:

"You love Na-zis!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

Wow, I was trying to come up with a tactful way to get at that, but you really just went right for it, didn't you?

Yeah, um... hopefully nobody goes there. Pretty much a beating offense.

No, I definitely think we need to go there, since their pretty new arena was paid for by and named for a noted Nazy sympathizer, I just think we need to be funny about it! I'm OK with a cheer that will horrify the UND fans, as long as it makes them laugh at the same time.

(But then, I also thought making fun of Tyler Hirsch for being crazy was fair game if he played against us.)

Jeff Hopkins '82
sung to the tune of "Princeton's in New Jersey!"

"North Dakota's in North Dakota!"

The "You love Nazis" cheer should only be used if the NoDak fans get really offensive towards our fans. Even then, I know that it probably shouldn't be used at all. It's probably less effective, since the average fan likely does not know the background of Mr. Engelstad.

"Go-pher rejects" works much better. I know very little about the WCHA, but I know that if you can find a way to claim that Minnesota is better than your opponent, then your opponent's fans will have a Pavlovian negative response.

how many cornell fans are even going to be in attendence? 50? 75?

"Hey UND, you spent $100 million and you're hockey team STILL SUCKS." -- Also from Kate.

If Cornell is up at the end of the game: "Ralph is rolling." clap-clap-clapclapclap

Kate and I will be there, that's 2!

French Rage

Jeff Hopkins '82
sung to the tune of "Princeton's in New Jersey!"

"North Dakota's in North Dakota!"

My favorite one so far.

JDeafv
"Hey UND, you spent $100 million and you're hockey team STILL SUCKS." -- Also from Kate.

If Cornell is up at the end of the game: "Ralph is rolling." clap-clap-clapclapclap

Kate and I will be there, that's 2!

Alternate version: "Ralph is ashamed" a la "Hobey is ashamed".

Might be a stretch, but: "Life ain't easy for a team named "Sioux"" a la Johnny Cash.

KateWithThe8
Might be a stretch, but: "Life ain't easy for a team named "Sioux"" a la Johnny Cash.

Badger, or Gopher, any damn thing but Sioux!

How about, to the tune of "goalie / sieve" and "winning team / losing team": "Real America! / Real hockey!"

Sioux for peace?

Josh '99

Trotsky

Josh '99

djk26
A "nasty" cheer, since NoDak fans will have plenty:

"You love Na-zis!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

Wow, I was trying to come up with a tactful way to get at that, but you really just went right for it, didn't you?

Yeah, um... hopefully nobody goes there. Pretty much a beating offense.

No, I definitely think we need to go there, since their pretty new arena was paid for by and named for a noted Nazy sympathizer, I just think we need to be funny about it! I'm OK with a cheer that will horrify the UND fans, as long as it makes them laugh at the same time.

(But then, I also thought making fun of Tyler Hirsch for being crazy was fair game if he played against us.)

Welcome to Lynah East ... Germany.

ugarte
Welcome to Lynah East ... Germany.

Isn't that JTW's place?

Josh '99

Trotsky

Josh '99

djk26
A "nasty" cheer, since NoDak fans will have plenty:

"You love Na-zis!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

Wow, I was trying to come up with a tactful way to get at that, but you really just went right for it, didn't you?

Yeah, um... hopefully nobody goes there. Pretty much a beating offense.

No, I definitely think we need to go there, since their pretty new arena was paid for by and named for a noted Nazy sympathizer, I just think we need to be funny about it! I'm OK with a cheer that will horrify the UND fans, as long as it makes them laugh at the same time.

(But then, I also thought making fun of Tyler Hirsch for being crazy was fair game if he played against us.)

I think making fun of a student's mental illness is uncool, because it's not his fault, but a university benefactor's nefarious sympathies, like players' misdeeds, are fair game.

My idea from a potential regionals trip was to cover the little Sioux logos with swastika labels, but that would probably get you an ass-whupping.

jtwcornell91

Josh '99

Trotsky

Josh '99

djk26
A "nasty" cheer, since NoDak fans will have plenty:

"You love Na-zis!" (clap clap clapclapclap)

Wow, I was trying to come up with a tactful way to get at that, but you really just went right for it, didn't you?

Yeah, um... hopefully nobody goes there. Pretty much a beating offense.

No, I definitely think we need to go there, since their pretty new arena was paid for by and named for a noted Nazy sympathizer, I just think we need to be funny about it! I'm OK with a cheer that will horrify the UND fans, as long as it makes them laugh at the same time.

(But then, I also thought making fun of Tyler Hirsch for being crazy was fair game if he played against us.)

I think making fun of a student's mental illness is uncool, because it's not his fault, but a university benefactor's nefarious sympathies, like players' misdeeds, are fair game.

My idea from a potential regionals trip was to cover the little Sioux logos with swastika labels, but that would probably get you an ass-whupping.

Yeah, that would go over very poorly with anyone who didn't get it.

JDeafv
This is just funny.

Of course, it also means they have an annoying horn, just like Clarkson.

The Ralph also fires off fire works type explosions after a goal.

Goon

JDeafv
This is just funny.

Of course, it also means they have an annoying horn, just like Clarkson.

The Ralph also fires off fire works type explosions after a goal.

Oh yeah? Well Harvard sacrifices a small puppy every time they score at home...top that.

sah67

Goon

JDeafv
This is just funny.

Of course, it also means they have an annoying horn, just like Clarkson.

The Ralph also fires off fire works type explosions after a goal.

Oh yeah? Well Harvard sacrifices a small puppy every time they score at home...top that.

What Goon forgot to mention is that there's a puppy stapled to the aforementioned fireworks.

Even easier: "You live in North Dakoooota!"

sah67

Goon

JDeafv
This is just funny.

Of course, it also means they have an annoying horn, just like Clarkson.

The Ralph also fires off fire works type explosions after a goal.

Oh yeah? Well Harvard sacrifices a small puppy every time they score at home...top that.

Probably because puppies are easier to find than fans.

Goon

JDeafv
This is just funny.

Of course, it also means they have an annoying horn, just like Clarkson.

The Ralph also fires off fire works type explosions after a goal.

Honestly? Why? Do fans not cheer without the sound of explosives?

ftyuv

sah67

Goon

JDeafv
This is just funny.

Of course, it also means they have an annoying horn, just like Clarkson.

The Ralph also fires off fire works type explosions after a goal.

Oh yeah? Well Harvard sacrifices a small puppy every time they score at home...top that.

What Goon forgot to mention is that there's a puppy stapled to the aforementioned fireworks.

Guess who just thought of a way to make July 4th even more awesome?

If they're actually such a dirty team:
"Ivy League! Bush league!"

Anybody have plans for a meeting location for food before the game or drinks after?

French Rage

Jeff Hopkins '82
sung to the tune of "Princeton's in New Jersey!"

"North Dakota's in North Dakota!"

OK. That's funny.

djk26
The "You love Nazis" cheer should only be used if the NoDak fans get really offensive towards our fans. Even then, I know that it probably shouldn't be used at all. It's probably less effective, since the average fan likely does not know the background of Mr. Engelstad.

Right. It would be about the same, in taste and effectiveness, as them coming to Lynah and chanting "9-11 clap, clap, clap clap clap" because the attack was in NY. Just dumb.

Trotsky

djk26
The "You love Nazis" cheer should only be used if the NoDak fans get really offensive towards our fans. Even then, I know that it probably shouldn't be used at all. It's probably less effective, since the average fan likely does not know the background of Mr. Engelstad.

Right. It would be about the same, in taste and effectiveness, as them coming to Lynah and chanting "9-11 clap, clap, clap clap clap" because the attack was in NY. Just dumb.

You mean like this Seahawks fan?

[deadspin.com]

Ronald '09

Trotsky

djk26
The "You love Nazis" cheer should only be used if the NoDak fans get really offensive towards our fans. Even then, I know that it probably shouldn't be used at all. It's probably less effective, since the average fan likely does not know the background of Mr. Engelstad.

Right. It would be about the same, in taste and effectiveness, as them coming to Lynah and chanting "9-11 clap, clap, clap clap clap" because the attack was in NY. Just dumb.

You mean like this Seahawks fan?

[deadspin.com]

In light of that, you'd think that Giants fans wouldn't chant "Katrina" at visiting Saints fans. You would be wrong. There are assholes everywhere.

Obviously the "Nazi" stuff is of a different sort - the jibes wouldn't be mocking the victims - but there is no way that a bunch of Ivy League snots can walk into a North Dakota arena with Nazi paraphernalia and not get the shit kicked out of them while security intentionally looks away.