UND08

I had to give myself an hour and a half to recover after that one...not pretty but a win is a win...especially on the road in conference! My first thought on the game is this...some of you need to quit expecting this team to go from 0 to NDSU overnight...as much as we'd all like it to happen...it's not going to. This game was ugly for sure...but things aren't as bleak as a few posters here would make them out to be. Look at the stats...UND ran for 227 yards at almost 5 yards a pop. I know 60 came on one play...but when you pound the rock repeatedly I'd hope that would happen. This line has the ability to move guys around and allow UND to control the clock (which we did reasonably well today...winning the TOP battle by over 7 minutes). I also think having Olivera as the bell cow helped the boys up front today. He's more patient than Santiago and got the offense into 3rd and manageable. Studsrud also did a decent job today...no major mistakes (we won the game on turnovers)...he's still missing too many throws, but only one of his receivers was even on this team last year...that doesn't help. I'm not all pixie dust and sprinkles though. Santiago needs to develop some patience if he's going to be our primary back. Teams aren't going to let him bounce things outside with ease this year. Ball security is also an issue that...if not corrected soon may limit his touches. The offense desperately needs to get him the ball in space...I think we will get there...but we've got receivers that are still learning terminology and where to line up...these things don't happen overnight. Also...the penalties/lack of discipline are inexcusable! Last week's taunting penalty on Hunt and this week's penalty on Stockwell should have sunk us twice...we were lucky to overcome both. It's gotta stop...along with the cut blocking, which seems to cost us 30 yards of penalties a week. Finally special teams needs to step it up in my opinion. Three missed field goals in two weeks from a veteran kicker is disappointing. The onside kick was well executed by MSU...but our guy needs to make that play! Very lucky it didn't cost us... All in all a win is a win...make the two field goals and we win by 8...take out the Stockwell penalty and score on it and we win 27-15..if this offense can get to 25 points a game...I like our odds with our "D"...I'm lookin forward to watchin our "D" line up against the Cal Poly triple option...hopefully we have a good home field advantage next weekend!

I don't think UND is anywhere close to at the stage of "relying on transfers"...but when you inherit a talent deficient roster it doesn't hurt to take a few flyers to get some immediate help and depth. Some have worked out...some have not...however I would agree I hope to see the trend decrease to the point where you are only taking them on in unique cases (like a running back you recruit that tries to play at a higher level and then comes back when the writing is on the wall...aka King Frazier). NDSU, while not historically relying on them, has more transfers on the team than one would think...although they tend to draw transfers from lower-division programs. I personally don't like this trend...as it treats North Star and NSIC schools as de facto junior colleges...however most of these kids are walk-ons drawn to NDSU's success...so I can't fault your program for it at all.

I see what you did there...haha In all seriousness I don't think it's a serious problem in the program at this point...suspend them and zero tolerance going forward for these two...

It's been a couple of days, and while it still stings...it's time to move on. We come off as whiny to the rest of the country, and after the conclusion of the Poly game, we knew this could happen based on our body of work, politics and lack of name recognition in the FCS world. I am confident the players and coaches will use these events as motivation, and as a lesson to not leave things up to a group of suits. No matter what, I believe the future is showing brighter all the time for UND football, and next year has the potential to be really fun. Only 284 agonizingly long days until Stony Brook!

This is exhibit "A" as to why the coaching staff rolls with Studsrud...you guys that want him benched obviously have short memories...

Good job by the hogs to give Studs the time to be patient and make a good decision...time to force a 3 and out and get back after them again!

Working capital shortage on the farm?? I'll give you $20 a piece and a case of Schlitz...

Maybe they should just let Carson wear the red "non-contact" jersey for the next couple of games...or better yet just give him a belt and two flags! It's freaking football...if a 6'6" 230 pound stud athlete is out on the field with a bum wheel...well that's probably the best place to hit a guy in order to take him down (especially someone difficult to tackle like Wentz). Any further aggravation of his injury is on the coaching staff for putting him out there not at 100% in my opinion...especially if he's going to be carrying the ball 10-15 times per game. Where else is a linebacker or defensive back supposed to hit a guy that's bigger than them?!? As long as it's before the whistle chances are the hit is legal. It reminds me of when Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb had broken ribs...I seem to remember them taking shots to the midsection quite a bit during those days...and you know what, they were the risk you take when you put your pads on and hit the field! C'mon man...act like you at least know something about the game...you're embarrassing the rest of your graduating class!