The Sicatoka

Massey has Portland as a three point favorite.

I said it before here somewhere: NDSU does nothing exceptional in their offense; what NDSU does is execute the offense they run exceptionally. How do you create a defense to beat that? With the same things: Scheme. Discipline. And run it exceptionally. NDSU took the graduation hit this year on the offensive side (line and new QB). They'll be veterans next year. NDSU takes the graduation hit next year on defense. They lose both starting safeties, three key LBs, and their monster DE. Those safeties are key losses in the Tampa 2 NDSU runs. So looking way, way ahead now it looks to be: - UND's progressing and year-more-mature defense on NDSU's mature offense - NDSU's revamped defense on UND's where-will-it-be-then offense

When did you start getting picky about which defensive coordinator to kiss?

What's disheartening is that: - It took a week to identify this person - That Moorhead PD had this and the murder of Mr. Bearson to look into http://www.inforum.com/content/moorhead-police-learn-identity-dead-man-found-river-last-week It's not supposed to be like this in the Red River Valley.

Much of UND's passing game is now play action based under this offensive coordinator. You can't run play action if the defense doesn't believe you will run the ball.

One last appeal ...

Strange hearing you say that ...

After the Montana game 2013: UND just got shellacked (55-17) and is on their way to a shellacking by Montana State (63-20). I was openly calling for Coach Mussman to be moved aside mid-season (as there was a bye week). After the Montana game 2014: UND is angry because, short of a few key controllable errors, they had legitimate opportunity to beat both Montana and Montana State. The differences? Clearly the coaching staff. A realignment to the business of defense. A team that is on the field (sidelines included) focused on the task at hand. (Hey, UND FB Team, we notice and can start to be proud again.) It was pretty dark then. The clouds appear to be breaking. We could use some blue sky and sunshine (i.e. win some big games). That will come ... It'll take continued work on the details. It'll take not losing focus on what is working now. But, that will come too ... Day by day.

Yes, the Mora quote is wholly appropriate. At least we've moved past "moral victories" and going "toe to toe" and have started to remember that ...

This happened in Fargo about two weeks before Mr. Bearson's disappearance. http://www.valleynewslive.com/story/26565526/teen-arrested-in-west-acres-assault-attempted-abduction Assault, attempted abduction, by a teen, of someone who'd be overmatched. Probably unrelated, but interesting that it happened so close in time. There'd never been anything like that before at that mall.

What's this thread about? This is about who ruthlessly murdered an NDSU freshman named Tom Bearson. (Ramsey Co. coroner declared cause of death as "homicidal violence".) Fargo media, Fargo MEDIA, is hinting, running with rumors, pointing out, whatever you want to call it, the problems Fargo Police has admitted to with problems in certain neighborhoods in Fargo, and yes, gangs and drugs. Heck, they ran a story over the weekend that was horrible: nearly 600 police calls to one neighborhood in six months! Was Mr. Bearson involved in any of it? Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time? We don't know. Nature abhors a vacuum and FPD and others have created one (seemingly to the casual observer, and the media as well) by not putting out new information. So, the media is filling it. That should shock no one. What we do know, the little, is that local law enforcement is looking for a phone and a shoe. And, last week, they went from "no threat to the general community" (by Fargo PD) to "urge the community to use caution" (Moorhead PD). That's linked above. And that backtracking is stunning, and should be alarming to FM community. Oh, and we know the police and FBI (crossed state lines so they're involved) haven't said much beyond that backtracking.

Bubba's systems and Muss' recruits ... that bought in and stayed. I'm thinking the mass exodus may have been addition by subtraction.

To the folks upset with UND's play calling yesterday, quite simply, listening to the radio team during the game, they nailed it: UND's passing game right now is play action. You have to get the defense to acknowledge the run for the passing game to be effective. My only wish for the offense is that they'd decide to push a little earlier in the game. The fourth quarter is a touch late (as shown by the last two outcomes.)

This UND fans sees no moral victories in the last two games. I see: - games that were winnable save for controllable mistakes - too many penalties (v Montana) - too many bad snaps (both games) - too many poor throws to open targets (both games) - too many missed assignments (both games) But most importantly, I see: - Progress, day by day This team needs one more piece to the puzzle: They need to win one of these games so they get into an "expect to win" mindset. They've proven to themselves they are capable; they need to close the deal. That too will come ... Day. By. Day. And to our NDSU fans on this site: Keep looking at that outside passenger side mirror, but don't believe the writing on it.

Play for one more snap, on defense, on offense*, and who knows ... *Namely, fix the correctable stuff: too many penalties again yesterday, the center exchange, maintaining possession.

Peacemaker: it won the West.

The Valley tends* to play smash mouth / trench football; the Big Sky tends* to play skill position / finesse football. If Bubba wants to make UND a smash mouth football team in a finesse conference, fine by me. *Yes, yes, broad generalizations ...

UND Grinders

This would save UMKC travel costs versus the WAC.

Let's just make sure our committee doesn't copy that committee's homework.

Between the Minnesota (Timber) Wolves and the SD Coyotes I think Wolves (though not a bad idea) is not workable.

For statistics to be meaningful they must be meaningful statistics. That's a fancy way of saying, "Are the stats really useful at this point?" If one team played four games against the eventual four bottom teams and the other played four games against the eventual four best teams, the comparison of stats between the two teams will probably not tell the whole story. What I know is Montana has played pretty tough on the road twice, against two pretty good teams, already this year and they'll be hungry for a road win.

Mr. Bearson pled guilty to minor in possession, minor consuming alcohol, minor under the influence, minor purchasing alcohol, actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence, and driving under the influence in East Central District Court (Cass County) on September 12, 2014. That's pretty rugged for Fargo PD and City of Fargo to throw all that at him. Seems like piling on, throwing the whole house at him. Why would they do that? I'm surprised he didn't try to make the MIP charges go away in exchange for the guilty plea on the DUI. Instead he took all of it; I wonder if he had representation. Unfortunately, all of that is academic at this point. There's a more serious offender to uncover and adjudicate now.

The media is running with some of the rumor / speculation: http://www.wdaz.com/content/several-theories-rumors-surrounding-bearsons-death-few-answers-0 The gang or drug angle appears and WDAY (original story source) is willing to repeat it.

Another prime time game; another unwatchable mess: Welcome to NFL 2014.