UND08

I think Fruechte has a bright future...but at this point I think we need a reboot.

I agree with all of this.

Agree with everyone's take on this. And honestly...does Saturday even matter? Kinda feels like the damage has been done...

Well I might have taken a few liberties to make my point...haha! That said...how many players have seen the field on defense this year? How many coaches have been involved in the defensive gameplan? How many support staff have assisted the defensive coaches in film sessions and what not? That combined number might be close to 40!

You're right...it absolutely doesn't have to! But we are not FBS...transfer portal can make a huge difference...I'm not sure we can do it that quickly here. One thing I do know...is if Bubba is the one leading the correction...it absolutely WON'T be overnight (and likely very little will change)!

I agree that this isn't a "snap your fingers and everything is fine situation"...it's going to take awhile to get things going the right direction...likely multiple seasons. That said...the question is WHO do we want to lead the charge of getting things going in the right direction. Bubba's had eons of time...Chaves too...I'd prefer to roll the dice on someone else in both roles.

1 - The athletic department had the ability to make the change at a much more affordable cost but instead chose to tack on $750k+ last spring. Why is there no accountability for that decision? 2 - The reason for the change that you speak of is still employed by the University and has been for over a decade. The thought of giving said person more time to "fix" things rings awfully hollow to me when I compare our program to our immediate peers at the FCS level. I mean...Bob Nielson was on the hot seat two years ago...and since then has put his team into position to have back-to-back top 8 seeds into the FCS playoffs, while doing so with fewer resources than we have in Grand Forks. That's the kind of "fix" we needed a couple of years ago. Is the standard tough to live up to? Yes...but that's life in NDSU/SDSU's back yard. The Bubba defenders had to know this discussion was coming after last year. I maintained a positive outlook throughout this season until the back-to-back losses at YSU/ISU(b). Couple that with the UNI debacle last year and it's readily apparent to me that this program will never be ready for the next step as it is currently constituted. If the Bubba defenders want to throw enough influence around to keep this going...that's their right (and apparently, they're quite good at it) ...but good luck filling the Alerus next year with Bo gone and a continuously porous defense (from a defensive head coach). I listened to the SDSU game on the radio (vs watching on TV or attending) and Mike Berg was very frank in his assessment of this team lacking speed and talent (especially on defense). That was honestly refreshing to me...since it's been readily apparent for awhile now. Any AD worth his weight in salt would be concerned...but oh well we got a hockey game in Austin TX to get ready for!

I mean...I'm with you on the defense...but I'm not going to sit here and pretend that Simon Romfo will ever be anything more than a middle of the pack MVFC QB that lags behind the upper echelon. Great story...no doubt...but he's had one game all year where I really felt like he was in command (YSU), and his coach trusted him so much that he took him OFF the field for the biggest play of the game. But to your point...there's 348 other deficiencies with this team...Simon doesn't rank in the top 40 of them.

How much is Arch Manning being paid in NIL money to stay at Texas? I mean they have Lamborghinis at the stadium for recruits to drive when they visit...haha! At the FCS level...the idea of waiting to see the field when playing is how you monetize your ability is a bad financial decision. When I heard that Gronowski at SDSU turned down a $1.2 million NIL deal to come back to SDSU my first thought was "he's an idiot"...

They didn’t fire him…all done under the table…and because he’s a good enough coach (hence the 60-11 record) he had options. But what NDSU tends to do really well is listen to their stakeholders. I’m not saying they’re perfect…but again somebody has to sell the vision. I’m no longer contributing toward the program if Bubba is leading it. I’m sorry that hurts the feelings of the old guard but that’s not a worthwhile investment to me. I’ve had 10+ years of track record to make that decision. If the vision is there…it’s a different story.

The last two pages of this discussion shows me why UND will seemingly NEVER get to the upper echelon! NDSU fans and boosters ran a coach out of town who had a 60-11 record and two titles because they didn’t like the trajectory the program was on. And now they’re cruising… Meanwhile we extend Bubba multiple times with much more mediocre results and to some it’s “water under the bridge”… This is D1 folks…wake me up when we want to look the part!

This is my mindset: I’ll happily pitch in for the buyout if Chaves is sent packing with Bubba. The entire reason behind the buyout figure being where it’s at is the foolish extension that Chaves executed without the blessing of alums/boosters. At this point not ponying up a penny if Chaves gets to have any input in how it’s spent. I can appreciate the mindset of Ira (not meaning to pick on you) and the like…but this isn’t D2 anymore. You watch the other Dakota schools and it’s apparent we don’t fit in. We were there as of Oct. 14, 2023…but since then the fall off the cliff has been dramatic. Winning matters…probably more than it should but that’s life. We need someone who can sell the vision…sell a plan to execute the vision. Right now we don’t have that…and until we do the program isn’t going anywhere (but backward).

Had this same idea (at least on the D1 level). One day doubleheader with the 4 D1 schools in ND/MT. Could alternate hosting each year between Bismarck and Billings.

I mean in theory I agree with what you're saying... But that ship has sailed... This program is what it is...and if Bubba isn't going anywhere next year they're going to have a heck of a time selling tickets or drumming up any excitement for the program. Whatever it takes to drive change...I'm there. I hate that it affects human beings...but it is what it is at this point as a D1 program. There's no joy in any of this... Ideally Bubba moves to fundraising (to reflect his loyalty to the University) and Chaves is sent packing in my book. I doubt that happens...but until it does my interest in the program is very casual...

The "fans" wanted this to happen when the buyout effectively would have been $0. Chaves made sure that wasn't the case. If I've learned one thing about running an athletic dept. from all of this it's that if you aren't willing to EXTEND, then you have to be willing to END! The timeline of events surrounding UND football in the first 3 months of 2024 may damn the program for the rest of time...given what's going on in the landscape around us. We needed to be all hands-on deck...instead we've been "asleep at the wheel" (apparently literally). That's as much of a Chaves problem as it is a Schweigert problem in my book...

And who's fault is it that we have to raise that much money?!? I'm as frustrated as anyone with Bubba and where we are at as a football program...but everything that's occurred since last winter is AD malpractice in my book. If Bubba goes...Chaves should go with him imo...and at this point sooner rather than later.

Yeah I’m done!

Not so different… New year…same garbage…

I have nothing concrete to back this up...so take it for what it's worth (not much...but this is a message board afterall, haha)... My thoughts are that Romfo got the nod because Feeney and Kaminski weren't that far ahead of him, and the new offensive staff didn't feel good about ANY of our QBs being the guy in the future, and maybe they felt Romfo's running ability came closest to what they're looking for, while also knowing that the PWO is most likely to embrace a short term role with a stacked competition next year. At this point I do not think QB1 for 2025 is currently on the roster...

Outside of Belquist our wideouts are quite mediocre...it seems to me we always have 1-2 guys that the Herald/UNDFB360 pump up to no end...and then they're just absolute duds when the bright lights are on. This year is no different. If it wasn't for Belquist we'd be hosed. Back in 2016 we had Wanzek/Toivenen/Santiago/Oliviera on the same team...outside of Belquist I don't think we have anyone at that talent level (Ziebarth is close but I'd take Oliviera over just about any back that's ever suited up for UND)...and Studsrud > Romfo...what wasted years with incompetent offensive coaching! Also sidenote...does any one player ever take more of a beating in every ounce of contact he receives then Caden Dennis?!? My god every time that guy is tackled he gets destroyed. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he still looks like a HS receiver...

I'm going to try and take a bit of a deep breath here and likely piss off both sides of this proverbial dead horse beatdown... We are 4-2, and I think if you'd asked most sane fans prior to the season starting if they'd be happy being 4-2 going into the bye week that answer would have been a unanimous yes! Does UND still control its own destiny? 100%! Assuming we handle the teams we are supposed to handle between now and Nov. 9th (a not insignificant assumption)...we will find out a lot about our program (honestly everything about our program) the last three weeks of the year. We get both SD schools at home back-to-back weeks (we are 3 tds better in the Alerus than we are on any other football field on the planet) and then what could set up to be a massive road game at ISU-Red to end the season (ISU currently 4-2 with a very similar resume to us but they avoid both SD schools). Win 1 of those 3 games and we are in the playoffs at 8-4 in a 12-game year. Win 2 of 3 and we may be in contention for a seed. Win all 3 and we'll definitely be seeded. It's all still there for the taking. That said...here's the rest of the story the way I see it... Did we look scared/shell shocked/crappy in yet another bigtime road game (at NDSU)? Yes...at some point even the most ardent of Bubba supporters have to look themselves in the mirror and realize that this is a problem that won't ever be fixed without wholesale changes. What we are doing with the QB position is killing me. The Romfo story is a feel-good tale no doubt...but my eyes just tell me he's not the guy! Are we really going to run out a former MN and WI HS player of the year for this?!?! Because it sure seems that we are good with that. Coaches aren't idiots...and I have to remember that this offensive staff didn't recruit any of these guys...but this is D1 football...at some point you need to see what you have in Kaminsky. I get that Romfo won the job in practice...but how you play in games needs to matter. He got his completion percentage up on Saturday...but to turn it over the first play of the second half was just a killer. I just want a QB that can let it rip, stand in the pocket and hit open receivers (like Miller did all day)...is that too much to ask?? That said...our defense might kill me first. Zero pressure...receivers running wide open. It's time to adopt a new scheme...because what we are doing now clearly isn't working. This is not the first time I've said that on this forum. I sure as hell hope we go 10-2 and I eat these words...but, like Saturday, I have very little confidence that we do better than 8-4. And we'll need to do at least that well...because unless they figure something out in Missoula our Montana win will lose a fair amount of luster between now and November. I just lack confidence in this program to go out and take what's there for the taking based on all the let downs of the prior decade. It bothers me...but apparently doesn't bother those who are in charge. Somehow Bubba and company still have the ability to go out and change the narrative on this. They're lucky to have the patient superiors they do. I hope they find a way to take advantage of it.

Not seeing much “different” so far…

I keep hearing this. We'll find out Saturday. We're 4-1 thanks in large part to a good crowd for a Bobby Hauck brain fart and a stretch of soft competition. A lot of that is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered for a team with newcomers at key positions on the field and on the sidelines. Have they gelled enough to find a way in Fargo? I have my doubts...but they have a great opportunity to change my mind! Need steady QB play...great run blocking to chew up clock...and the d has to find ways to get off the field and at least make NDSU earn their points. Until we actually go into the Dome and win in the D1 era I'll never be confident...but this team is fully capable! Unfortunately in my objective mind it's also capable of being rolled too... Either way...let's flip the script and kick the snot out of em!

I mean...all of this is well and good...but remember San Diego is a non-scholarship FCS program on par with Drake. A 17 point win against them at home is not particularly impressive. I know teams can't play well every week and I get that...at least we were able to adjust well enough to win it going away. That said...we can't let one receiver pick us apart like they did. Those assignments are only going to get harder as we get into the meat of conference play. Also, through 4 games our starting QB is completing passes at a 55% clip with more picks than TDs (38.5% this weekend). Unless we are going to get in the flexbone and have our QB run for 100 yards a night that's not going to get it done for us. What's troubling is his deep ball is apparently the most accurate pass he can throw. That screams mechanical issues...which is ironic because the Spring Ball beat reports from Tom Miller indicated Simon was executing at the highest level of the 3 QBs (and he ultimately won the job). We have a solid running game and a good stable of backs. If this is how we are going to play then we need to run Simon more and utilize vertical playaction like we did in the 2nd half. I'm just not sure it's going to be enough against the SDSUs and NDSUs of the world when we are on the road (although apparently NDSUs run defense isn't very good so who knows)... Here's to hoping to see progress in the passing game next week against Murray!

I don't care what his other offers are (I think he'd been in conversations with SDSU/U of M, etc too)...this is a good get for us imo.