It’s been two years since the University of North Dakota unveiled its new Fighting Hawks logo that put it in good standing with the
NCAA
Da'Ron Payne Jersey Redskins , but a familiar cheer at its hockey games shows what many students and alumni still think of the switch: ”Let’s go Sioux!”
Administrators knew it would be a tough sell getting fans to let go of the Fighting Sioux nickname deemed offensive by the NCAA and a local American Indian
tribe. But emails between the university’s president and one of its biggest
benefactors show just how difficult it continues to be.
The emails between school president Mark Kennedy and Engelstad Family Foundation trustee Kris Engelstad McGarry, whose late father donated money for a
$110 million hockey arena, reveal Kennedy’s frustration over the foundation’s
resistance to a plan to feature the green and white Fighting Hawks logo at
center court in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, where UND’s basketball and
volleyball teams play. The foundation would prefer just the words ”North Dakota”
instead.
McGarry told The Associated Press that the foundation only opposes featuring the Fighting Hawks emblem at center court because it believes there are longtime
fans and supporters who ”do not identify with Fighting Hawks as the Hawks’
presence has been” since the logo was unveiled.
”So as to not alienate that side, we elected to put Fighting Hawks on the side of the court and to put the University of North Dakota logo on the center
court,” McGarry said. ”We believe that the community should make their own
decisions and that the change should happen more organically, over time, rather
than have it pushed.”
The issue burst into public view earlier this month when McGarry told the Grand Forks Herald editorial board that Kennedy had been ”very passive
aggressive” and ”quite hostile at times” in discussions about the university’s
operating agreement with the foundation and said it could lead to fewer
donations. McGarry recently backed out of a $14 million pledge to the University
of Nevada-Las Vegas medical school over a leadership change.
Kennedy declined an interview request. University spokesman Peter Johnson said in a statement that the school hopes to reach a ”mutually beneficial”
agreement.
Ralph Engelstad, a Minnesota native who played goaltender for UND before building a fortune as a real estate mogul and Las Vegas casino and hotel owner,
was vehemently opposed to dropping the Fighting Sioux nickname, which the
Standing Rock Sioux tribe refused to endorse. At one point
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Color Rush Jersey , Engelstad threatened to stop construction of the hockey arena if it was discontinued.
McGarry said her spat with Kennedy isn’t tied to the Fighting Sioux logo and that her family doesn’t share her father’s passionate views about the
nickname.
The Ralph Engelstad Arena is currently owned and operated independently from the school and won’t be turned over to UND control until 2030. Under that 2000
agreement, the arena manager is tasked with running the facility ”in a manner
that best serves UND’s needs” and cooperating with school representatives in
”furthering the interests” of the college. School officials say placing the
Fighting Hawks logo at center court would do just that, by promoting the name
and helping the sale of merchandise.
The Engelstad Family Foundation was created in 2002, the year Ralph Engelstad died. The nonprofit has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various
causes in several states, focusing on education, health care and childhood
issues. Besides donating money for the sports facilities, the Engelstad family
has given a $20 million endowment and numerous other donations to UND, including
papers of Gen. George S. Patton and portraits of U.S. Supreme Court Justices
valued at nearly $127.5 million.
Kennedy also wants to update the operating agreement for the arenas, including revenue sharing. University figures show the school received less than
half of the roughly $8 million profit generated by hockey, basketball, football
and volleyball between 2010 and 2017.
Erik Hanson
Brandon McCarthy Jersey , who is set to take over as student body president, said he grew up in Grand Forks as a Fighting Sioux fan. But he said
brand identity is important and the Fighting Hawks should be displayed now.
”At this point, I have to look out for the next generation of students and the students of today,” he said. ”All of the student-athletes who are going to
play in that arena have been Fighting Hawks from the day they stepped on
campus.”
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Richard Sherman spent seven years tormenting the San Francisco 49ers with his lockdown coverage, colorful trash talk and celebratory turkey eating at
midfield.
Now he has decided to join the enemy, signing a three-year contract with the 49ers almost immediately after being let go by the Seattle Seahawks last
Friday.
”It’s a little odd to put on a different jersey. I’m sure it will take some getting used to for me,” Sherman said Monday. ”I’ve spent a lot of time wearing
a red jersey in the Bay so I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out.”
The former Stanford star has returned to the Bay Area since he wanted to stay on the West Coast to be close to his parents in Los Angeles and his soon-to-be
wife’s family in Seattle.
Getting the chance to stay in the NFC West and play the Seahawks twice each year was an added bonus.
”It definitely had a part of it,” he said. ”I’d love to get to play in that stadium again in different colors. I’m going to try my best to ruin their day. I
do want a chance to show what I can do out there.”
Sherman, who turns 30 later this month, is coming off an Achilles tendon injury that cost him half of the 2017 season. Sherman also had a cleanup surgery
on his opposite ankle during the offseason. That led to Seattle’s decision that
he wasn’t worth his $13 million salary for 2018.
Sherman became a star in Seattle, bringing a brash attitude and willingness to speak out on any topic to go along with his stellar play. His best seasons
came in 2013 and 2014 when Seattle made two Super Bowl appearances.
Sherman still was one of the better cornerbacks the past three seasons
Falcons Justin Bethel Jersey , ranking second in the NFL by allowing just 49.2 percent of passes against him to be caught, according to Pro Football
Focus.
Getting cut only adds fuel to Sherman.
”It kind of reignited that gasoline fire that I always had burning,” he said. ”It just threw a lot more gas on it and I appreciate that and I’m thankful for
this motivation and inspiration. I have a lot of people to show. I’m excited
about those prospects.”
That fire was always evident against the 49ers, most notably when he went on a postgame interview tirade after sealing the NFC championship in January 2014
by deflecting a pass that turned a potential game-winning touchdown for the
49ers into an interception for the Seahawks.
The following season Sherman celebrated a Thanksgiving night win at Levi’s Stadium by eating a turkey leg at midfield, although he said that was prompted
by NBC producers who told him to ”eat the turkey” during the interview.
”You’re excited after the game. You’re winning. We weren’t thinking anything else honestly. We were just enjoying the moment,” he said. ”We played pretty
well that game. I honestly didn’t think it was disrespectful. But people can
take it any way they want to.”
Sherman, who negotiated his own contract, described the few days after being released by Seattle as ”chaos.” He was at the NFLPA meetings in Las Vegas when
the Seahawks gave him the news and he heard from 49ers general manager John
Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan almost as soon as the transaction hit the waiver
wire.
Sherman then flew to the Bay Area, where he had dinner with Shanahan on Friday night and met with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, a former assistant
in Seattle.
He underwent medical tests Saturday before going to the 49ers facility for five hours of negotiations. After coming to an agreement, Sherman called
Seahawks general manager John Schneider to give him a chance to match. Schneider
declined but told him it was a solid deal
Authentic John Tavares Jersey , although he might want to tinker with the roster bonuses.
Sherman also called the Raiders and Lions to tell them he had made his decision and then signed the deal.
”Neither side wanted to walk away without a deal because we felt like there was a great relationship and great understanding and something both sides could
benefit from,” he said. ”We came to an agreement and it was awesome.”
Pro Football Talk reported that Sherman will get a $3 million signing bonus, a $2 million roster bonus if he passes a physical the first day of training camp
and a $2 million salary for 2018. He also has $2 million in per-game roster
bonuses, a $1 million bonus if he plays 90 percent of the defensive snaps, a $1
million incentive for making the Pro Bowl, and $2 million for being an AP
All-Pro.
He has a $7 million base salary in the final two years of the deal, which goes to $8 million if he makes the Pro Bowl the previous year. He also has
per-game roster bonuses, playing time incentives and incentives for the Pro Bowl
and All-Pro in those seasons.
NOTES: The 49ers also signed P Jeff Locke to a one-year deal. … RB Raheem Mostert signed his one-year exclusive rights tender.
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