North Dakota Fighting Hawks

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks (formerly known as the Flickertails and the Fighting Sioux) are the athletic teams that represent the University of North Dakota (UND), located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level as a member of the Summit League. With 17 varsity teams, North Dakota is best known for its Ice Hockey team and American Football team. North Dakota's main rivalries are with the North Dakota State Bison and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.[2][3]

North Dakota Fighting Hawks
Logo
UniversityUniversity of North Dakota
ConferenceSummit League (primary)
Missouri Valley (football)
NCHC (Men's hockey)
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorBill Chaves
LocationGrand Forks, North Dakota
Varsity teams17
Football stadiumAlerus Center
Basketball arenaBetty Engelstad Sioux Center
Ice hockey arenaRalph Engelstad Arena
Golf courseRay Richards Golf Course
Indoor track and field venueFritz Pollard Athletic Center
Other venuesBronson Field
Memorial Stadium
Hyslop Sports Center
Choice Health & Fitness
Oxford Softball Complex
MascotThe Fighting Hawk
NicknameFighting Hawks
Fighting Sioux (1930–2012)
Fight songIt's For You, North Dakota U
Stand Up and Cheer
ColorsKelly green and white[1]
   
Websitewww.fightinghawks.com
Team NCAA championships
Division I Ice Hockey
1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016
Division II Football
2001
Division II Woman's Basketball
1997, 1998, 1999

Originally in the Division II North Central Conference, UND began transitioning to NCAA's Division I in 2008 with the football program participating in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). North Dakota is a member of the Summit League for most sports, the Missouri Valley Football Conference in football, and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference for men's hockey. The Fighting Hawks competed in the Western Athletic Conference in baseball, plus men's and women's swimming and diving, before dropping all three sports. Baseball was dropped after the 2016 season, and the swimming and diving teams were dropped after the 2016–17 season.[4] Women's ice hockey competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association before also being dropped after the 2016–17 season.[4]

On January 24, 2017, reports stated that North Dakota would leave the Big Sky Conference to join the Summit League in all sports but football beginning in 2019.[5] The school would join the Missouri Valley Football Conference for football in 2020.[6] The rumored changes became official on January 26, when UND, the Summit League, and the MVFC announced the Fighting Hawks' move to the Summit in 2018 (instead of 2019)[7] and the MVFC at the reported 2020 date. During UND's transition to the MVFC, it will continue to play a full Big Sky football schedule due to contractual commitments; while the Fighting Hawks will not be eligible for the Big Sky title, games against them will count in the Big Sky football standings.[8]

Sports sponsored

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Men's sports Women's sports
Basketball Basketball
Cross country Cross country
Football Golf
Golf Soccer
Ice hockey Softball
Tennis Tennis
Track and field Track and field
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

Men's basketball

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The Fighting Hawks Basketball team has appeared in the Division 1 tournament 1 time. The most famous athlete to come from the program is former NBA coach and basketball player Phil Jackson.

Football

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The men's football home games are held in the Alerus Center. The team competes at the FCS Level in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Prior to Joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the team competed in the Big Sky Conference.

Ice hockey (men's)

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Having won eight national championships, the men's hockey team is easily the most recognized of UND teams. A charter member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, the Fighting Hawks play in the $100 million Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Volleyball

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The North Dakota Fighting Hawks volleyball are members of the NCAA Division I Summit League. The program only includes a women's team.

Rivalries

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Hockey

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Football

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Former sports

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The wrestling program was discontinued in 1998.[9] The baseball program dating to 1889 was cancelled at the conclusion of the 2016 season.[10] The women's hockey program was cancelled at the conclusion of the 2016–17 season.[11]

  • Baseball
  • Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving
  • Women's Golf
  • Wrestling
  • Women's Hockey

Athletics hall of fame

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The Letterwinners Hall of Fame recognizes the efforts and achievements of former UND student-athletes, coaches, and other supporters of UND athletics. Inductees are selected by the UND Letterwinners Association and representatives of the UND athletic department. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony, sponsored by the UND Letterwinners Association, is held each fall in conjunction with a football game. The Hall of Fame is located on the upper concourse at the south end of the Ralph Engelstad Arena.[12]

Nickname

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UND's nickname was originally The Flickertails, but was unofficially changed to "The Sioux" in 1930. UND's former athletic logo, revealed in 1999, a Native American figure, was designed by Bennett Brien, a local artist and UND graduate of Ojibwa ethnicity. After more than a decade of controversy, the name and logo were retired in 2012. On November 18, 2015, it was revealed at a press conference held by President Robert Kelley that Fighting Hawks, with 57.24% of the vote, would become the new university nickname.[13][14]

Notable Athletes

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ UND Athletics Brand 22 Media (PDF). April 10, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "'U' Renews Rivalry at UND for Weekend Series".
  3. ^ Wells, Nathan. "Gophers' return to North Dakota mixes old and new for college hockey's best rivalry".
  4. ^ a b "Deep budget cuts force UND to eliminate three varsity sports" (Press release). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. March 29, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  5. ^ "North Dakota to Join Summit League, Missouri Valley Football Conference". ESPN 99.1 – Sioux Falls Sports Leader – Sioux Falls Sports. Archived from the original on 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  6. ^ KSFY. "Sources: UND Set to Join Summit League and MVFC". Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  7. ^ "The Summit League Adds The University of North Dakota" (Press release). The Summit League. January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "UND to Join Missouri Valley Football Conference" (Press release). Missouri Valley Football Conference. January 26, 2017. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  9. ^ "College Programs Dropped Nationally". USA Wrestling-Kansas. February 22, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "North Dakota baseball team being cut plays final home game". USA Today. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  11. ^ Cimini, Kate (5 April 2017). "After program cut, North Dakota women's hockey left reeling". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Hall of Fame Home". fightinghawks.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Fighting Hawks selected as new nickname for the University of North Dakota". University of North Dakota. November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  14. ^ "Fighting Hawks selected as new nickname for the University of North Dakota". North Dakota Fighting Hawks. November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  15. ^ "Pablo Garza UFC Bio". Retrieved August 8, 2014.
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