Monday, May 22, 2006

The Alaska Nanooks

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks are "rebranding" themselves apparently. Hence, they are to be known as the Alaska Nanooks. Cool. They're much more of a school dependent on enrollment from places other than Squarebanks; No doubt in this day and age they have all sorts of educational outreach programs throughout the bush. If not now in the future they'd seem certain to expand the number of resident students from that part of the states population. So it's not a school that has the majority of it's students from its locale. Alaska Nanooks makes more sense in my mind. Folks in Fairbanks may take it as a bit of a slap in the face but the school is branding itself for the next 20 years and they obviously know where enrollment will come from during that time.

Now that's said; I've gotta add that I'd like to see some sort of movement in the local community to change UAA's name. My suggestion would be Anchorage State University. UAA's enrollment must certainly be overwhelmingly from Anchorage. UAA's identity is ill-served by its current name. I know it sucks that the UAF folks beat us to this idea but what the hell else do they have to do up there in all that darkness and cold but think up PR stuff. I'd normally be inclined by nature to rail against them just because it's Fairbanks but in this case I say lets jump on the bandwagon.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its seems obvious that one program in your state is pulling away from the other. UAA is no longer the premier hockey program in your state and by the looks of what the Aces are doing, UAA is second fiddle in their own city! OUCH...

Donald Dunlop said...

Where's your boyfriend? Didn't bring him with you on this trolling expedition?

Anonymous said...

First to the dumbass anon there is a pretty big reason the premier hockey program in Anchorage are the aces and not UAA. UAA a COLLEGE team, the Aces are an ADULT (you know the big boys that don't talk to you) league. Of course a college team in a city of 280,000 is not going to get the majority of attention. I mean really, don't more people pay attention to the Minnesota Wild rather than the Golden Gophers? Also, UAA's season ended WEEKS ago, and the Aces are still fighting for the Kelly Cup.

UAF is not the premier hockey program, in their league they are doing fine but UAA athletics has much more behind it than UAF (even is UAF gets the majority of the money.) You my fair anonymous pansy have no grasp on reality.

Anonymous said...

Somebody can't count to five, here I'll help you. One,Two,Three, Four, Five. Six will be next. Face it UAF has dominated your sorry ass for so long now. A name change is just the exclamation point. The last time your piss ass progarm had a winning season was 1992-1993. To put it another way,your incoming recruits were just starting kindergarten. Accept it and move on, please!

Donald Dunlop said...

In a time period of change and instability (since 98-99) UAA has gone 13-14-3 against UAF (yes ... that includes the season where UAA only won a single game all season -- against UAF of course...). What is that ... um ... almost .500? All time UAA leads the series 73-47-9. UAF has a long way to go ...

dggoddard said...

Good article and interesting idea to change the name.

As an outsider, if you were to change the name, I would think the University of Anchorage would be better than Alaska State. "State" universities are perceived to be agricultural and less affluent with the exception of Ohio State.

Anchorage is a city known throughout the world and I think the university would benefit from a easier to remember name.

The University of Denver is currently undergoing a Branding Initiative that is looking at the Logo, School Image and other related areas.

Donald Dunlop said...

dg:
I figure that since it's a state funded university that they'd have to keep either "Alaska" or "State" in their name which is how I arrived at Anchorage State U vs. just Anchorage U or U of Anchorage. Whatever the case though "Anchorage" should appear prominently since the school really is more closely tied to the local community than our counterparts in shitbanks.

Anonymous said...

Does UAA offer an PHD programs? I heard that they don't. If this is true than how in the hell can you be a flagship school. Sounds more like a junior college. Correct me if I'm wrong!

DC said...

Dear Anonymous:

A "university" offers graduate degrees, by definition. And it is very EASY to discover that UAA does, indeed, offer both masters and phd degrees. I won't tell you how to find this info, but even with your 8th grade education (and you're extra-smart because you had 8th grade TWICE!), you could find out.

RWD

Dear Justafan,

More people care about the Gophers than care about American Idol. Duh.

RWD

Donald Dunlop said...

runningwiththedogs:
Is "love you" too strong?

Anonymous said...

Really! What PHD programs does UAA offer? I can't seem to find that info on their website. Its looking more and more like a Junior College.

Donald Dunlop said...

Who here called UAA the "flagship" school? Nobody but your anonymous ass used the word "flagship". Because "your" school is changing it's name is no reason to get your panties all bunched up.

Flagship Status
UAF = 1 pt
UAA = 0 pts

Hockey Status
UAA 73 wins
UAF 47 wins

Thanks for coming by.

DC said...

DTP,

I understand it's platonic.

RWD

DC said...

Anonymous,

I guess I overestimated your intelligence. I'll keep you guessing as to where this information is available, but UAA offers PhD programs in Biology, Marine Biology, Molecular Biology, Nursing, and Psychology.

RWD

Donald Dunlop said...

It was Blogtonic

Anonymous said...

Walsky gone, Hamilton gone and more to come

Donald Dunlop said...

And your point is? That College Hockey programs lose players? Or are you just here because you perceive that the UAA program will face many challenges this year or does it just make your limp dick hard to post stupid comments so I'll insult you? If you google "losing sports teams" you'll find lots of places where you can share your unfortunately not so unique lack of class.

Anonymous said...

Players leaving and the ACES winning it all.UAA is in some world of hurt with the program over there.

Anonymous said...

UAA is in the tank and it is not getting better. 10th here they come.

DC said...

DTP,

Better go hang yourself, obviously.

RWD

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that UAF lost some key players last year as well. ALL schools deal with this, get over it. UAA will be just fine.

Suze

Anonymous said...

Hamilton and Walsky managed a whopping 6 goals between them last year. Boy, UAA is really gonna miss those two pure goal scorers!!

Anonymous said...

Yup remember Shyiak saying there were a half dozen players he wanted to replace? Maybe HE didn't want these guys. Time will tell, but I think Dave has the team on the right track.

Suze

Anonymous said...

ACES win!!!! this should bode well for no one showing up for the seawolves 10th place finish next season.

Anonymous said...

You would do well to remember that if not for the Seawolves, your beloved Aces would probably not even exist. The early Aces were made up mostly of ex UAA players, and they continue to play a major role in the Aces success. It is very easy for you to add your annonymous comments, you coward.

Suze

DC said...

I've certainly never had this many comments on my blog. Clearly you've got some big fans! I enjoy it here: I come for the hockey talk and stay for the controversy.

Anonymous said...

mmm to think that UAF is even a better team or better school then UAA gets me pissed off. I have gone to squarebanks the last few years to watch the games yeah dead bears might have won but i can tell you that the hand full of fans that went up there for UAA had more fun in the stands then any UAF fan we enjoyed the game and we started all the noise unless we started a good old UAA chant or pounded on the glass when our boys did something UAF fans sat on there ass's then they could only copy us we were very original and they just changed the a to an f what the hell is that also one of us got away with stripping in your own stadum wow way to protect your home turf fuck squarebanks nannok on a rope.

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