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even better confirmation.

Rucker back is a cornerstone for the defense.

My only concern is unnecessarily negative hypotheticals

From Coach Rucker

Michigan is very good and nobody would be surprised if they beat UND. You said they would “destroy” UND as if it is a fact. People pointed out they have lost to teams already that aren’t at the same level UND is currently at. That’s not losing your mind.

Maybe, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We did that with the Jerry FB nonsense. I think there is a good chance they play as true freshman but they will be playing against a lot of men who are bigger and have 2-3 yrs of experience. My hope is for them to develop into guys who get a chance to play Sundays but we need them to excel on Saturday’s first. I think they will. Then we need to keep them here for 4 yrs.

Schlossman and Herald reporting that Rucker is coming back. Official announcement coming soon. Whoop, whoop https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/star-pass-rusher-lance-rucker-to-return-to-und-for-senior-season?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

Repping 4 plates plus is rarefied air. For reference, Aaron Donald had a 500lb max and was considered the strongest guy in the league at his peak. 435 for 5 is likely more than anyone on our team by a lot. The equivalent max bench based on that rep count at that weight is 500lbs. Based on look I would’ve guessed Oligbaju had a big bench but I would be surprised if it was this level. For a hs senior 435 for 1 rep is nuts let alone 5.

One or both will play on Sundays. They are men playing against boys. Any fears of losses on the DL will be forgotten shortly.

So now its a quadruple reverse? Man these fish stories just keep getting bigger lol. I do agree there was some angst with Danny sometimes though. If I recall there was a game at USD where we're moving it on the ground and then he gave up on that. I think Danny would have had a much better call on 4th and 1 against SU that got blown up. That one huge 4th down play...I think it was against Cap Poly was a thing of beauty. Danny's offense definitely had to overcome having a subpar defense.

Zellers should be top 6 on this team. Nothing can convince me otherwise. Mooney on top pp did nothing but hold pucks way too long. He’s skilled, but again, doesn’t really play a team game.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/ethan-mackenzie-is-a-big-story-in-canada-how-did-und-land-him-early

Honestly, that might be a top 5 game I’ve been to at the Betty. Just everything that happened made it quite the experience.

Absolutely MASSIVE!! He and Vig are going to be a force (again) next year!

Seriously, just like with Philadelphia, Seattle hasn’t done near as well since Hakstol left, and both teams have way more pieces to the puzzle that Hakstol didn’t have.

Only a matter of time until they get over the hump. Watch out for Wisconsin as Hastings gets going. We should have 2 big ten teams in our non-conference every year.

Hopefully Coach Win will get this program Nguyening again.

crazy to me to love a nickname more than your school but to each their own i suppose

Interesting, I didn't think the position was ever advertised. Maybe they don't need to advertise? Was the hockey HC position actually listed in UND Human Resources page? Regardless, we have a coach. He'll be here for spring ball, in plenty of time to determine potential of the current group. And hopefully in time to be able to recruit as needed from the portal. I don't know enough about the other coaches at UND to speculate too much, but I think we all felt Tupac was a good hire at time, so can we just let that go? It didn't work, but no one brought up any red flags at the time. And I'm still not convinced they won't do well at their next stop. I like that this is an experienced HC and not their first time in the big chair. I suspect it's different in ways no one can imagine until you get there. And he's had success, so he's got that going for him, which is nice. I have to believe that Derek has some connection to this, likely just saying, hey, if you are looking for a new job UND is going to be/is hiring (depending upon the timing 🙂). Anything beyond that is just being silly. FD is basically a suburb of NYC, so maybe hearing about life in GF sounded appealing to a guy with 2 kids. And the cost of living has to be better. Recruiting is selling himself first and then the environment/team/program. This isn't a place where there enough NIL money to make a player overlook too many things they don't like. And no one we recruit is also being considered by a team that could dethrone T A&M next year, so players know what's in store come December. They want a place there they can get an education, play, ideally win, and enjoy (or at least not hate) the process. Recruiting is also identifying talent. That might have been the Tupac's weakness. Nguyen's overseas players (4 Italians, all 6'1"+) speak to having connections to find talent missed by others, so that has potential. No red flags for me. I'm looking forward to getting back to the days of Hardee and Prior, with winning records and lots of butts in the seats.

This hire better work out. To go to the east coast and grab some rando is certainly a decision.

All this from a kid not even initially invited to camp.

We now have the best kicker in the state of MN coming in who just kicked a 51 yard FG at the HS all star game. Everything will be just fine.

FolloW the moves of SDSU and the Montanas. If they are not moving then no reason to be alarmed.

I just combine portal entries with graduating players and still like where UND is at. A majority of both lines back and QB are so important. I still think the hardest player we have to replace is McNeal at LB

Erik Martinson the one who screwed up the Betty and the catwalks at the alwrus

Completely agree, seeing Homer get genuinely pumped up when they announce the starting lineup even when the freshman is getting the start says a lot. About this team and especially about him as a teammate.

And the Beaver boys. Pull them shirts now.

Hell yes…….sky is not falling

Both were on ABC so that excuse rings hollow.

Certainly. And those two constantly talk about the numbers when SU plays on ABC like the only reason people are watching is because the bison are playing

Hilarious. Where are Dom and McFeely’s 20 posts about viewers?! I thought NDSU brought the eyeballs to FCS 🤣 more proof those two are just arms of NDSU Athletics pushing their favorite team.

Yes, and to your point. We played everybody and all of our D1 future projects were only able to score 11 points in the fourth quarter.

While it’d be great to have him playing big minutes for the Mercyhurst series, I’d rather him get the experience and UND get the recruiting exposure at the WJC.

Good things ahead for this program, feel lucky to have the coaching staff in place that we do.

Get well soon. I don’t read all of your blogs but I do enjoy the ones I do read and especially enjoy your enthusiasm. Merry Christmas.

No one is saying to change back to Fighting Sioux, but they can and should sell more merchandise.

He probably needs another year of junior anyway to fully round out his game and dominate offensively in the Dub next year. He'll come in as a young 20 year old, but with plenty of high leverage experience at the junior level, more ready than Brent Johnson ever was when they brought him in too early. This is a quality pickup, most definitely will fill voids left behind by those signing pro after this year or next.

Hopefully but with Cook having a foot out the door who knows. Regardless of what NDSU does, UND needs to be ready, needs to be thinking about a way to do it regionally or with regional teams. Any FCS teams that have had success moving up have tight footprints for conferences a footprint crossing multiple time zones.

I live in the South where football is a religion. When I tell people down here that I went to UND they ask me if that is that D2 school that's really good in football. So yes, they have heard that there is a school in North Dakota that is good at football. They can't tell you which school it is, nor can they tell you what division in which they play.

Play them when you have them. Because money is talking

Motor. They both have it. It’s tough to teach. You can teach scheme and technique.

This isn’t true. Rest assured. UND has a bonafide future professional football player on their roster still (as of now) and it is only a positive. Big things coming … More roster work ongoing. Get behind the collective and contribute. Every bit helps, especially with the match.

Would be a fun trip. Went to Stony Brook a number of years ago for the game. Was a good excuse to see NYC and have a weekend getaway on top of the game.

Halfway through the season, UND's depth and goaltending is paying off big time. Špun will bring Forks to the Vegas buffet.

My point is we’ve seen this movie before and heard this prediction countless times. The amount of times I’ve heard the Big10 conference or a Big 10 team is taking over college hockey and leaving us all behind is getting comical. They split with WMU this year who is currently the 4th best team in the NCHC. Going to need to see more before I anoint them.