The Sicatoka

Goon: Your homework for today is to learn and understand the phrase "tongue-in-cheek".

Hate on it? No, just ... (wait for it) ... grouse about it. I'd prefer to not be prey.

Iowa struggled yesterday with Northern Iowa. Gene Taylor is now at Iowa and knows NDSU. Would Iowa have the nerve to buy out the 2016 game against NDSU?

I know some (NDSU fans) will take great and deep offense at this, but I do sincerely mean this as a great compliment: NDSU does not run anything exceptional; but, they run everything they run exceptionally. - NDSU's blocking schemes are not revolutionary; their guys run them to precision every time, and it's actually surprising when they miss an assignment or a block - NDSU's plays are not revolutionary either; but, again they run them to precise perfection. - NDSU's defense is a base Tampa Two. Nothing earth-shattering there, but again, every player is assignment sharp and makes the tackle that needs to be made. NDSU is playing crisp, assignment sharp, precision football. There's nothing there that can not be replicated ... if a culture where that is the expectation is put in place. NDSU has that culture. Their battle is maintaining it as complacency (and injury) are the enemy. UND has to create that culture and climb that climb. I know that would never have happened under Mussman. I believe it is more possible under Schweigert. One more observation about NDSU: Their guys did not fatigue against Iowa State. They didn't against Kansas State last year either. NDSU's guys seem stronger and fresher at the end of the game. They seem better conditioned. (That was a big part of Dean Blais' UND hockey teams' success: they were fresh late in games.) UND's Football CEO needs to address strength and conditioning as I believe I can correlate that to the present state of the program as well.

A team just doesn't "move up" under the present NCAA rules. To move FCS --> FBS you must have an invitation from an FBS conference. The options aren't great in this region. The nearest FBS conferences are the MAC (and they seem to look east and have closer options like Youngstown State), the Big Ten or Big Twelve (but those two want television sets for cable revenue), or the Mountain West (which has become very southwest, with the closest schools to ND being Wyoming and Boise State). This is where SiouxVolley's theory comes into play.

I look forward to Bubba recruiting players, specifically offensive and defensive linemen, to and for the system he wants to play.

C'mon Fetch ... there's this minor league baseball team in Fargo ... you have to think just a little bit.

Trapper? Hawkeye? Cam Johnson is stuck being "Major Frank Burns"?

Dixon Ward remains UND's only 100-100 guy (110G, 109A, 219 points). The way things are going with scoring in college hockey, that one is going to stand for quite a while. Ed Belfour was playing a different game than everyone else on the ice. This has me thinking about an all-time 20-man line-up card (12F, 6D, 2G). That's brutal ...

YouRube videos. <yawn> A couple of you need to borrow my needle nose pliers to get that bait hook out of the corner of your mouth.

You probably stand on the wrong side of a golf ball as well.

I'll say it again: For a guy who was a lineman, Mussman didn't understand where the game is played and won --> the lines. He has left Bubba very little to work with. I trust the coaches to be willing to maximize what they have. Until the offensive line can push for a yard on third and one or pick up a blitz, I'm reserving judgment on other aspects of the offensive game. Same story for the defensive side: If you're not getting push and pressure from the defensive line (and linebackers), the DBs are exposed. What I will say is this: - A Mussman team would've folded up like a cheap tent at 21-0; this team came out and responded -- that's coaching, pure and simple - Left-footed kickers always make me nervous; for a true freshman, hitting from 42 on his first attempt in that situation* was outstanding - And he kicked to the end zone on the following kick off, not out of bounds, not shanked, but end zone -- that #4 guy, left-footed or not gets a + - The team looked like deer in the head lights at the start -- can you say true freshmen and inexperience - I'm interested in seeing what this team does with this experience *He misses that and the game goes really, really bad momentum-wise

SJSU in the Moutain West is an FBS team. If the moon and stars align they have a shot (a puncher's chance) at a BCS bowl game (like any FBS team does).

Before the ellipsis (that I added) is my hope; after is my expectation.

I'm surprised only one NDSU fan has chimed in so far. I'd think they'd be lining up to pick the over (on their own).

We were told: "Go Sioux!" = "Sitting Bull sucks" by the anti crowd. So "Go Cavalry!" must mean "Custer sucks" ... right? Dead gun-totin' white-guy sucks. Nobody can be against that. <Anybody know how to get that much sarcasm off a keyboard?>

That's why it's so perfect: We're told that "Sioux" is hostile and abusive to Native Americans. So why not go the total opposite direction from Sioux. That has to be the opposite of "hostile and abusive", right?

Anyone have lines on those? If Montana is getting points I'd take them. I'd take Poly and any points I could get also. I'd give all the points and take Utah and Arizona State.

I'd take Cavalry in a heartbeat (because of what it would *not* be). Aero School? Air Cav! And we'd all get cool Stetsons! https://www.google.com/search?q=cavalry+stetson&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=hFX_U5CRPNCnggTo6oLIDA&ved=0CB0QsAQ&biw=1442&bih=747

I have no recollections of any such events. Today's word of the day is ... After thought: UND hit a bottom about that time. And NDSU went on a DII roll (1985, 86, 88, 90). I recall something similar of late ...

3? Almost 3? 5th grade? 4th grade? Walsh Hall, ... boys.

I do not believe "has a chance" and "has the same" carry quite the same meaning. Game Thoughts: If someone's giving 24.5 points, I'm taking the points.

Mentioning "UND Sports Extra": http://www.midcosn.com/schedule/originalprogramming/undsportsextra/

I'm struggling ... but I'm going against the grain: UNDER. I can see NDSU 10-2 and one playoff win: 11 (maybe just 10 if it's 9-3). But now I need UND at 4 or 5 wins. OK. Reasonable. Really easy in that to say "over". But then I start to see, new coaching staffs, new personnel, and think about how one slip-up or key injury (UND or NDSU) and it's back "under" that fast.

Read my signature. Remember who said it. I suspect your concern will not be an issue.