UND-FB-FAN

-2024 schedule is promising, but 2013-like disaster very possible. -Better players are crucial, especially after the transfer losses, but the coaches recruit/retain; falls back onto coaches. -Extending Bubba maintains status quo, no playoff success. -Passive change is only way UND improves to new level; that is, Bubba retirement only way things change. Bubba with apparent lifetime contract. Would like to see someone else get a chance at this point, maybe new OC ascends and Bubba allows him to have the job? Bubba's friends favor him over actual UND football results. Good for Bubba that he has made a lot of friends. -Bubba lacks leadership ability to compete regionally with big boys (NDSU, SDSU, Montana, Montana State)

New facilities are a positive, and will help, but the current coaching will continue to limit the overall success. The ceiling is set. The current coach's inability to lead UND football to a championship, despite his love and connections, is perpetuated by supporters prioritizing friendship over team success, hindering UND’s performance in big games.

UND leadership's job security isn't tied to football performance but to hockey, a focus set by major donor Ralph Engelstad and his foundation. This priority, and the resultant funding discrepancy, has been noticed by student-athletes and coaches, leading to their departure to better-funded regional rivals. Despite hollow conversations with UND leaders, new football facilities offer some hope for talent improvement, although inadequate coaching decisions will remain a problem.

Ironically, the much criticized and publicized UND deal with REA, Inc. suggests that precedent has already been set. Ultimately, actions always speak louder than words. Been a lot of words lately (as usual). Been a few actions, also. I don’t agree with many of the actions. Time will tell if everything works out, but history suggests it won’t.

That is because it hasn’t been proven wrong yet. The current football coaching situation, despite lacking in high-end skills for recruitment, retention, and coaching strategy for championship success, is favored by the leadership for its cost-effectiveness, compliance, and affable personality.

Within the grand scheme, if this is the approach, then therein lies the problem with UND athletics. Sitting around and waiting for all those 7-8 figure donations has really been going well, hasn’t it? These type of financial gaps (https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/miller-coaching-exits-not-about-the-financial-gap-and-all-about-the-financial-gap) wouldn’t exist if the “only the big boys and girls get invited to the table” approach was gone

In this day and age, 6 to 7 figures minimum. See recent Sanford gift (https://blogs.und.edu/und-today/2024/04/und-announces-6-5-million-gift-from-sanford-health/). As we sit at present, UND leaders prefer cost-effective, comfortable football coaching options and a hockey focus over perhaps more risky coaching enhancements, while sentiment-driven football donors unknowingly accept third (or fourth) place.

Bubba ball and Chaves coordinating … Ridiculous. Influential donors need to start demanding results/wins, not nice guy hand-shakes.

Hey, look, right again. So easy predicting the actions of this wandering-in-the-dark lost program. Good job Chaves.

Nepotism, Corruption and Mediocrity continues at UND! No surprise … it’s easier just accepting apathy at this point. Good luck folks with your mediocrity. Hard to be too proud of my alma mater at this point. I’ll direct my dollars and investments elsewhere. Can’t believe I’ve put in as much $ as I have … stupidity! Pile on, I admit it! I screwed up supporting this program, but I’ll still be around a bit. The local traditions and culture around NE North Dakota and western Minnesota (with the exception apparently being Fargo, which is unsurprisingly booming) continues to astonish me.

Jeez. So predictable. F UND athletics. Hockey will choke it away too

Solid win vs USD. I worry UND will drop the first round game vs ORU. Hopefully they have a solid tourney showing. Would love to see some exposure in the championship game or, better yet, in the national tournament!

Why would you “hope” for that?

Laziness? Incompetence?

Awesome progress this year out of mbb program. Need to finish well; this will make the remainder of the season fun and worth watching!