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UND Cuts List Of Potential Nicknames Down Further

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The University of North Dakota has trimmed the list of potential new nicknames down from 15 to seven, as the school replaces their controversial Fighting Sioux moniker.

Nearly 1,200 names were submitted by the public, and that list was cut down to just 15 last week. A public vote to declare the ultimate winner still looms, though there may be more cuts coming.

The seven remaining contenders, in descending order of how many points the school's nickname committee gave them, were:

  • Roughriders
  • North Stars
  • Sundogs
  • Nodaks
  • North Dakota
  • Fighting Hawks
  • Green Hawks

The Grand Forks Herald reported that even though Roughriders was the highest-scoring nickname of the bunch, some consultants pointed out the potential it leaves open for an inappropriate double entendre.

Also, the University could still choose to just keep going by "North Dakota" instead of picking a nickname.

The other contenders that didn't survive the most recent cut were:

  • Blaze
  • Cavalry
  • Explorers
  • Fighting Green
  • Force
  • Pride
  • Spirit
  • Thunder Hawks

WEB EXTRA: Full List Of Nicknames Originally Under Consideration

Some of the more popular nicknames that got excluded from contention early on were Flickertails, Warhawks and Aviators. The original list of nicknames included suggestions like "Barn Cats," ''Flying Monkeys" and "Sugar Beatles."

WEB EXTRA: Full List Of Initially Rejected Nicknames [NOTE: Strong language.]

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