UND08

I agree with others that think this is going to be an uphill battle for UND. Key injuries won't help that...and our track record in Vermillion is not pretty. That said, it's a game that would be massive for this team's playoff resume and building toward the next step in the progression of the program! Can we do it...can we win a tough road game?!?! Honestly I'll settle for looking competent in a loss at this point. We have yet to do that so far this year... All that said...do what we do well...Tommy/Eliador/Belquist bring some magic...and we make it a shootout! That's what I'm hoping for!

Good lord why are we talking about Muss today??? Do I even want to know?? He's out of sight out of mind, and should always be. I didn't catch much of the game yesterday...saw we won, offense played well, defense, not so much. Could really use a complete, three phase effort next week against USD. If we get it we'll be cooking with gas...if not..."Selection Sunday" will be a high blood pressure event...

Damn you and your reasonable logic!!! Hahaha… I agree with all this 100%. I find myself saying this way too often (to me anyway)…IT IS PERFECTLY OK TO WANT MORE! This team is good enough to take the next step…if it doesn’t I for one will be extremely disappointed.

I got chastised for saying this a year ago…my beliefs haven’t changed (and neither has the product on the field), but I’m guessing Ira and the good ole boys will get after me for saying that… This program is better than what it’s shown the last two weeks. It’s squandered a metric ton of goodwill from Oct. 14th…I’m not saying anything more…I’m just really disappointed in our response to a program defining win… It’s hard to even think playoffs when we play like this. Thank god we won I guess or it would have gotten really ugly…and the kids don’t deserve that.

It’s over… Nobody gets fired on the spot (wouldn’t have happened anyway)…and it goes in the books as a win (I guess)… That’s all I’ll take from this… And yes, I watched the game! No taking my fan card away from me…hahaha!!! Couple high school playoff games were much more entertaining…

Take it how you want. ISU is bad, and is ALWAYS bad. We are "ok" if not bipolar...the weather sucks...there's a lot going on. It is what it is...

Hahahaha...sorry there are more compelling games going on in my area...and I've really enjoyed watching some of the top FCS games in the country on ESPN+ week in and week out. Ya know...just two weeks ago I would have thought we were in the mix for that...wash rinse repeat year in year out... ISU(blue) is 0-7. We are 4-3. It is what it is. I'm not making the 400+ mile round trip on icy roads for it. This post seems to imply that I need to be blindingly loyal to the program. That's not how I look at it...

You're not wrong...but guess what, UND had everyone united and "shut up" after the NDSU win...and they turned around and squandered it in about the worst way possible. Sad part is that was what I expected. After a decade...you start to get pretty good at calling it like you see it. I don't care if Kelly or Ira calls me an idiot, I just want what's best for this program, and I want to see it get to the top of the ladder! Sometimes to do that we have to look at ourselves in the mirror and make some difficult realizations (while also acknowledging limitations that we probably can't do much about). It feels to me like the pendulum is slowly turning toward UND-FB-FAN's side of this in discussions with actual human beings not on a message board. UND can't ignore that...they just can't! This is a team that easily is capable of going 8-3 and making some noise in the playoffs. That said...we've looked borderline incompetent our last two road games. That doesn't inspire confidence...and should be a major worry for those vested in the program. As for this weekend...I'm not even sure I'll watch the game. Between NDHSAA football playoffs, SDSU/USD and MSU/Idaho there are more compelling games to watch. I expect UND at home to take care of business comfortably...but you just never know what you are going to get from this team week in and week out!

I missed out on all the discussion during the game...but my goodness I've never seen a team that could squander the positive momentum of beating your arch-rival for the first time in 20 years better than this group! That was a putrid, unacceptable performance...and there's no excuse! I don't care about the "trap game" stuff and all that BS...good teams find a way to persevere! UNI is a tough place to play...it's not that we lost that has me so frustrated...but rather its that we looked COMPLETELY inept in doing so! Same with SDSU and frankly Boise (we had our moments there at least). This team has the talent to be great...we've seen it on display against NDSU. I think that makes this even more frustrating! Looking forward...I have zero reason to expect a win at USD. That would leave us 7-4 at best, and on the playoff bubble (good quality loss resume though). This team needed to take a step forward from that spot this year...I don't think it's going to happen, and it's very frustrating and disappointing to me.

I don't disagree. I don't really think Minot and Mary want out of the NSIC either...there's stability in numbers. The schools that are absolutely hosed in all this are Dickinson, VC and Mayville. Dickinson can probably survive in the frontier but that didn't go so well for them last time they tried it. Valley and Mayville have no options. I heard that VCSU offers something like 10-12 football scholarships. That won't get it done in the NSIC or any D2 league...but D3 isn't an option either.

They already offer a few four year degree options... As for their future ambitions... The Next Big Milestone: BSC pursues four-year polytechnic mission | Bismarck State College UMary is looking to leave the Bowl and return football to campus. The Bowl is pretty much on the BSC campus...and as far as a new arena...their students just approved this...

There is potential for some major movement on the local small college landscape. Could you see a league that looks like this at some point? Mary Minot Jamestown Hills Mines Chadron Dickinson (it's either this or the Frontier) Valley City (It's either this or the Frontier...which would be even worse for VC than Dicky) Dakota State (D2 ambitions) MSU Billings (Cut Travel - no football) BSC - (See new arena renderings and 4 year college ambitions) This would put Mayville in a very bad spot, but I don't think they could swing a move up. Heck, I'm very unsure that VC and even Dicky could. But this is workable from a travel standpoint. It'll be interesting to see if something like this happens or if the NSIC goes back to 16. I'm not sure the Mankato's and Duluth's of the world will want to be in a conference with UJ.

I remember him being deceptively mobile last year...not the quickest on his feet but tough to bring down because of his size. Gotta get home on pressures and do a good job of disguising coverages to force mistakes and picks.

SERVE ME MY CROW ALL NIGHT LONG!!! I’ve never been so f-ing happy to eat a big plate of it in all my life! Best 60 minutes by a UND football team in 20+ years…so happy for all the players and coaches that were a part of making it happen! Tip of the cap to all of them from me!

There's a sense of urgency for both teams in this one: 1 - NDSU loses and they'll be on the road at some point in the playoffs (barring upsets) 2 - UND loses and not only is the entire fanbase crushed yet again, but they will have a tough road to even make the playoffs (my opinion). Look...if we lose and go to 3-3, we'll have tough road games with UNI (who will likely be fighting for their playoff lives like we will be) and USD (who is much improved). We flat out suck in Vermillion recently...and who's to say it'll go better at UNI. Lose them both and you are out. Lose 1 and you are on the bubble...and whichever game we win will be our only quality win. That's not a good spot to be in. Also, we get ISU(red) at home...they're also 3-2...their schedule is weaker...but they could also get to 7-8 wins, so beating us will be a must for them. Bottom line...we need to win this game...badly! I'm not confident that we will...at all...but I sure as hell hope I'm wrong!

What's the best way to go about doing that? My opinion for what it's worth (and that's often not much): 1 - We run the ball and win the time of possession battle - the best way to stop NDSU's running attack is to keep it on the sideline. That means running the football, attacking the perimeter with our quick passing game, and grinding out drives will be huge! Can we do this? If NDSU is smart they'll know we struggle over the top, so they'll keep their defenders close to the line of scrimmage to challenge us to beat them over the top. Can we do it enough to soften them up? Big question mark in my book (and that's putting it kindly tbh). 2 - We will likely need to stack the box. I'm not sure our front 7 is stout enough to stop a power run game with a guy like Cole Payton. They haven't shown it to me yet anyway. If we do this, we'll have to pick our poison and our DBs will have to play very well to have a shot. Cam Miller has completed over 70% of his passes every game this year, and only thrown 1 pick, and is also running for 5 yards per carry. Any talk of him being a poor QB is bull...he's the most efficient QB in the nation if I remember right. He might not have every tool in the tool belt...but he's dang good at using what he has. And if his OC and head coach would fully unleash him he'd be even more dangerous IMO. 3 - We need to bend but not break. Force them into field goals, make them grind out long drives where they can make a mistake and get behind schedule. To do this we have to be assignment sharp! No breakdowns in the secondary...or poor run fits. I saw enough of that at SDSU to last me a year! I'm emotionally hedging here....NDSU 34 UND 20. Until UND shows otherwise I don't have much confidence in their big game ability. I can't tell you all how much I'm craving a heaping plate of crow though!

Are we really railing on Tommy for one throw in a...checks notes...55-7 victory against Drake?!? Big game performance history is fair...heck I've come around to accepting the limitations for the program with him under center (and personally would like to see Feeney get a shot at some meaningful snaps)...but shoot even the best quarterbacks make one-off bad throws! This is maybe the most ridiculous take of all the ridiculous UND football message board takes I've seen in awhile! By the way Tommy had an 85% completion percentage against Drake...10 yards per attempt and 3 scores...that's about as good of a day as a college football QB can have! And yet from that game we chose to remember one bad throw early in the first game of the year...like I said ridiculous...

Disagree on the tailgating...I was there on Saturday...it was pretty good. Throw in the fact that it was on campus and not in a parking lot overlooking the interstate and it felt like a better environment. Just my opinion though I guess... Also...I significantly disagree on the building. Other than Montana I'm not sure I've been to a nicer setup. Dykhouse Stadium might not have all the bells and whistles, but I thought it was well laid out and great for watching football (sightlines and what not). Also...the fact that they have their stadium/lockerroom/practice facility basically connected is a game changer that we won't have. If they catch lightning in a bottle and decide to go the FBS route someday (not saying they will)...they could easily (physically speaking...it still costs money of course) have a 27k facility that would be G5 ready with a simple expansion of the visitor side. They are the ONLY Dakota school that could make that happen. And yes...I get the downside of outdoor football. Going G5 would in theory help that situation though. I might be old school...but I'd take their facilities over ours any day of the week. Your last point I am in 100% agreement with though! It's all in what we want to be. Do we want a great football program? Or do we just want to be top 25% of FCS and behind our closest peers? I'd honestly would like to know an actual (not implied) answer to that question...I'll give us some credit on facilities...and acknowledge that the "want" comes with a steep price tag that somebody has to pay...but it can be done...if we want it bad enough imo...

Maybe so...but Saturday was my first time in Brookings for a football game in 20 years. That setup is closer to "big time" than any of the 4 Dakota schools! From the game experience, to the fans selling it out, to the students, to the band, to the tailgating, to the facility...it felt totally different than the experience I see at UND games. Kudos to SDSU for doing it right.

A fire is exactly what's needed... Case in point...we force a fumble on Saturday but it's called back for an inadvertent whistle. While atrocious from the stripes...it wasn't going to change the outcome...but it was a PERFECT opportunity for a coach to light up the officials and show that fire that we so desperately needed. Did that happen? Nope...then we gave up a long return and ultimately another score. It felt like the perfect microcosm of what ails UND football to me. I appreciate the class it took to not do that...but sometimes it's needed.

You know what's fun? Lining up across from your opponent and kicking their you know what until the whistle...then getting up and doing it again. When they start to adjust you hit them on the edges or over the top. Always staying one step ahead and imposing your will. Over-reliance on trick plays is for teams that aren't as talented as their opponent. It doesn't matter if we do it in the I formation with 22 personnel or some shotgun formation spreading the field...at some level football is football! I love the inside zone running game we seem to be having some success with using Ziebarth and Skokna to spell...if you can get 4-5 yards a pop running that...then lean on it!

I'll be in Brookings on Saturday...forecast is mid 80s...gross! I'm built for 55-65 in the fall...haha! This is a big one for UND...lose it and look bad doing it and the restless voices start to amplify considerably...and NDSU becomes a "must win"... Play well and all the good things we all want for this team is possible. It's hard to be confident in that given our past performances in "big" games under Bubba...but I remain optimistic nonetheless! Run the football...make plays on the edge and in space...limit big plays, and play clean on special teams and we'll be fine! We just need to see it done in a game of this magnitude!

Yeah the Mussman era is completely flushed from my memory...I want nothing to do with any of those days...and I don't care if the talent was better...the product was atrocious...

I'm not saying this because I want to move on from any coaches at this point (I'm also not saying that I don't want to move on for what it's worth)...but we don't have a single coaching staff member who has been a full-time coach at a D1 program other than Western (woof) and Southern Illinois. Pawlak at least spent some time in a big program...and he's been solid! That lack of diversity leads to a feel of "inbreeding" in the coaching staff. I know it's not a cure-all or a guarantee of success...a lot of coaches at lower levels can flat out coach, and a lot of your lower level position coaches are pretty green. But it is hard to find a lot of new ideas to bring to the table if you've never been anywhere to see things done a different way. At least Kirkwood played for the Gophers and Pawlak won a MAC championship at NIU. Compare that to Idaho (mentioned here) Eck - played at Wisconsin, coached at 8 different D1 schools Schleusner - Coached at 3 d1 schools (WIU when they were good, UND, SDSU) Aurich - USD and NSIC (least diverse resume I saw) Ford (RB and ST) - UW Sutton (TE/Recruiting) - San Diego OC Booth (OL) - Temple/BC/CSU Lose (DL) - Portland State/Wash St. Franks (DB) - Wash St./ISU Linehan (WR) - San Diego St.

I would hardly call Idaho the flagship in the state of Idaho when it comes to football recruiting! Look at the 300 mile radius... 72 miles to Cheney, WA 9.4 miles to Pullman, WA 242 miles to Missoula, MT 295 miles to Boise, ID Arguably more competitive than UND's D1 landscape. 81 miles to Fargo, ND 265 miles to Brookings, SD