NCAA “Willing to Reconsider” Settlement Demands for Refitting Ralph Engelstad Fighting Sioux Arena

GRAND FORKS, ND – “I was of the belief that we would be able to convince the NCAA to amend their position,” shared Ralph Engelstad Arena General Manager Jody Hodgson of the Aug.12 meeting on the Fighting Sioux nickname in Indianapolis.

“I thought that we had more information than others maybe had; I thought that we could say it differently; I thought that we could present it differently; I thought that we could argue for our position more passionately than others had,” Hodgson told radio host Scott Hennen this afternoon. “I really thought we could have a greater impact than we did.”

But despite the fact that the NCAA would not budge on its stance to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, Hodgson said they did agree to reconsider requests for amending the settlement’s demands for retrofitting the arena to meet the NCAA’s design standards.

“I don’t think anybody in the issue has won,” said Hodgson, “and I personally don’t believe anyone benefits if we further complicate the issue by defacing the building and all of the issues that would come with that, the least of which is not the financial considerations.”

Changes to the facility have been estimated at over $1 million to meet the settlement’s specifications.

Hodgson, a passionate Fighting Sioux supporter, said that reality of the NCAA’s demands did not fully hit him until he was walking out of the NCAA meeting. Many nickname supporters are now pushing the position that no new nickname be adopted, even if the Fighting Sioux must be retired.

“This has been a very passionate and emotional issue for a lot of people. I think the most appropriate way to handle it is to not complicate the matter further by trying try to re-label or re-brand the program at this point,” said Hodgson, voicing his agreement.

This week on Thursday and Friday, from noon until 8:00 pm, there will be a “Fire Sale” held at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Sales will include markdowns of 40% on every item that was in the REA Sioux Shop on July 3, when the area experienced a fire causing soot and smoke damage.

Written by: Kate Bommarito on August 23, 2011.

Anonymous

Great leadership at the Ralph. Too bad the NCAA is a racist bias monopoly.
greenglass4

As I told Jody yesterday on KNOX he should get a bus together and visit the reservation ! Simple solution to a simple problem!
Gwen Anderson24

I agree with siouxman, the NCAA has shown their true colors, they are nothing but racist and they don’t care what the Native Americans say, they showed that by not letting them in the meeting that was held. They should be ashamed of themselves, and now they are going to make the restrictions
worse if we keep the name, isn’t that going back on the agreement that was made, I think so and if the Native Americans want to do something about it there must be an alumni that is a lawyer that could sue the NCAA for going back on their origanal agreement. As far as I’m concerned the UND will always be the fighting sioux and when I go to games I’ll be the first one to yell, ( lets go SIOUX ) FIGHTING SIOUX FOREVER, THE NCAA CAN’T CHANGE THE WAY WE FEEL OR WHAT WE SAY OR WHAT WE WEAR SO THEY REALLY HAVEN’T WON AT ALL

greenglass4

Tell REA to take a bus to the reservations and get them on board! Simple solution to simple problem!

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NCAA “Willing to Reconsider” Settlement Demands for Refitting Ralph Engelstad Fighting Sioux Arena

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