UND08

If that's the case then, respectfully speaking...WTF?!?

Somebody called "Professor Chaos" posted this on Bisonville and I think he hit the nail on the head. The MVFC has a bunch of middling teams that, according to the eye test, would probably win 6-8 games this year playing in the Big Sky or the SoCon (depending on who they drew for their conference schedule), but they beat themselves up during MVFC play. Hence the solid non-conference record against FCS opponents...that should help the conference in a big way come selection Sunday (we'll see if it does). This year there just happens to be a lot of teams with inferior competition that happened to (or will likely) get to 8 wins. We'll see how the selection committee looks at that...I'm not holding my breath for a good result (so just win baby!).

If you think the FCS is bad, go look at D2...and how many "SILO" conferences there are (no non-conference games of any kind). I can think of at least three (GAC/MIAA/NSIC). How in the heck do they evaluate the relative strength of teams in a regional playoff when they haven't played any competition outside of their conference? We may or may not like the committee's decision come Sunday (win Saturday and we don't have to worry about it...wink wink!)...but I think the lesson here is that you can't have an off week against anyone that's not FBS or a team ending in the words "Dakota State". There were excuses about back to back road trips when we lost to SIU...but the fact of the matter is we didn't play well and we'd really like to have that one back. That being said...we have as strong of a resume as any of the other 7 win teams (even with a loss). Also (just my opinion), none of the 7 win teams are going to threaten to win it all...so they should just put the teams in that can bid big to host a game and make some money for the NCAA.

They might be done with him after this year the way it sounds on the USD board. Lots of debate on the topic down there. I will say this: Bob Nielson is as classy of a coach as I've seen at this level...and he's a proven winner at every NCAA level of the sport he's been. He's responsible for the only two FCS playoff appearances in USD history. I've always liked the way he runs a program, and if he is let go at USD, some NSIC program would be lucky to have him should he chose to coach again, and an FCS program could certainly do worse. The difference between how his team carried itself on the field and the sidelines vs SDSU was striking to me. He's got a young squad down in Vermillion, and that Bouman could be a very good QB in the MVFC for the next three years. Unfortunately for Bob, college football is a business, and a lot of good coaches lose their jobs. Also, I believe Bob hired Bubba at UMD when he was the AD there...I'm guessing they are fairly close (don't know that for sure though).

I think it helps that they played the Bison at home... Also...NDSU seems to play down to their competition at times...as do we. I have no idea what to expect Saturday...but I do know this: If we go into the "let's play it close to the vest/first to double digits" mindset that we tend to go to against NDSU, we will lose by 7-10 points. I would actually feel more comfortable in a high scoring, shootout type of affair. If we go out, play loose and let it fly offensively...well then we might get it done imo! I'm hopeful the latter comes true...but until I see it...it hasn't happened.

I'll gladly take this bracket if the committee just wants to copy it on Sunday!

Their win over Idaho was their first "good" win of the year in my mind...and it is good! But NoCo/Idaho State/Poly/NAU are not very good teams. They've got some "quality losses" though! Wish we had beat NAU by more...but that's a team that's much different to play in your house vs Flagstaff (ask Brent Vigen). I'm not very trusting of Sac State...but hopefully they can get it done and bury the Aggies on Saturday (it's a rivalry game so you never know unfortunately).

Easier said than done...until we actually accomplish this, I won't hold my breath! Sounds like the Bison threw it a bunch against ISU the week before. If you don't have to throw, why would you? “There are only three things that can happen on a pass, and two of them are bad!" ~ Woody Hayes.

We need to put our defenders in a position to make plays. If we're going to run an aggressive 3-4 scheme where we will be disguising blitzes and bringing pressure on most down/distances, then we need to make sure we have the guys in place to get home, otherwise you're putting a ton of pressure on your back 4 to hold up. This year we don't seem to have the ability to get home on the pass rush like we have in the past, and I'm sure it's contributing to our issues in pass defense (disclaimer: I am not an esteemed football mind). Is that Xs and Os or Jimmy's and Joe's? I'm not sure. This is just an opinion, so take it for what it's worth. In my view, to run a 3-4 scheme effectively, you need a stud NG to command a double team and very good linebackers to step into the hole and make plays. I tend to believe that really good NGs are very hard to find/develop, and our linebacking play has taken a step back in some regards (sacks). I'd prefer to be a 4-3 defense at this point, because I believe it's easier to recruit players to...but again that's just my opinion. If we can't find the personnel to run this defense effectively, then I think we need to change it up.

Rule change this year...and after Saturday I'm not sure I like it...

Man when did the MVFC get so damned soft?!?! I was in the heart of it...Never heard one bad thing said...just what I consider to be normal smack talk! SDSU bench talked it back after they were winning (as is their right in my book - if you're gonna dish it you better be able to take it). Spaulding caught some crap for the ejection AND more specifically the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty...that comes with the territory in my opinion! Classic deflection to attempt to put it on the fans. The smack talk is normal...the actions on the field were pretty poor optics, and it would seem to be a good teaching moment for Coach Stig.

I'm not an esteemed football mind, but I'm willing to guess that this play (and many many others) are schemed up to be blocked differently based on defensive alignment. The kid may have missed a signal or misread the defense, and that breakdown caused what should have been a routine "run game extension" type of play to be a pick 6. Unfortunate...but those things happen and you have to bounce back.

Had zero to do with Trump for me...I simply asked "Why would any school in the MWC vote to split the conference revenue pie by one more piece to bring on a school that is tough to get to for a volleyball team on a Tuesday night, would not bring the types of tv ratings conferences want, and would kick their asses in their "marquee" sport? in response to one of his NDSU needs to join the MWC tweets.

I'm proud to say I've been blocked by McFooly for over a year now!

They do??? I was one of those donors in that mid to upper tier of the dollar range you stated...and you could have fooled me...never once got so much as a phone call or a card to say thanks over the last 5 years as a booster. I'm still a fan of the program...but there are causes closer to where I now live that sure appreciate the money more...and put it to better use than UND football has over that timeframe. Does that sound egotistical? Maybe so...but I'm not made of money...and a little appreciation sure goes a long ways.

Sorry...but the "Red River Rifle" will never NOT be Joe Wilson to me!!!

Well if we are routinely burying more significant baggage than what Otis brought to the table...then we better win more! There...I said it...haha!

I think the fact that he didn't have to go through a trial for sexual assault should be considered second chance enough. I'm a big "innocent until proven guilty" guy...but I also have zero tolerance for that kind of behavior. The guy fit one good season into a sandwich of off the field issues...football obviously wasn't a priority, and playing the game is a privilege, not a right. I'm sad that a school would take a flyer on a guy with that kind of MO...but like the tweet author said...it doesn't surprise me that someone would.

Again...we agree...100% What could UND actually accomplished if all of its stakeholders would row the boat in the same direction??? It's a question I ask myself a lot unfortunately...

Too similar to our west river cohorts...Although I will add that DSU has some solid football helmets IMO!

Agree...I think Skokna is a model teammate and by all accounts an asset to the team...but more depth equals more competition and the cream rises to the top. It used to be we seemed to prioritize experience to the point it would have taken us 6 weeks to work Red Wilson into the lineup...seems to me that maybe that's gone by the wayside a bit, which would be a good thing in my book! Get your best players on the field...

I don't think you and I have ever agreed on this much concerning UND football...ever! Haha... Agree on Skokna and I'm not dogging him at all as a person...he's a solid special teams asset (a role that is losing value due to rule changes and emphasis)..but we seem to have others that can fill his role (Red Wilson...also where has Creighton Mitchell gone?). I just never saw Skokna take that next step as a player over the course of his career here...

On a somewhat related note...if I have to see the "GOOOOOOD MOOORRRNNING North Dakota fans" video one more time...I might lose it...

If you can't stretch the field then defenses are going to cheat and press our receivers and stack the box, which puts more pressure on our OL and running game. It seems like sometimes we start games off quick and then stall out more as teams adjust to our lack of ability to stretch the field. It's also harder to get receivers in space in the quick game when defensive backs don't have to honor the deep ball because we can't hit any of them. We seemed to do better at this in 2020 (Maag averaged 20 yards per reception vs 12 last year when he was dinged up). A lot of this snowballed last year, but in my mind if we don't have a guy who can absolutely take the top off of a defense vertically, then we need to be able to run the ball better downhill to set up the play-action passing game (hard hitting analysis I know), while mixing in the quick hitting and quirky stuff to keep defenses honest. At some point though smoke and mirrors doesn't put points on the board...and I think we saw that play out last year...and I don't want to see it continue this year. The good news is I saw enough last week from the running game to have some optimism toward our running game for the rest of the year. I know everyone likes the "flash" of modern offensive football...but I wouldn't hate a few 300 yard rushing games and 15-20 for 185 yards and 2 td passing games...haha!

I've been a "Tommy guy" for a long time here...but 5.45 yards per completion just simply isn't good enough (and I know that's not exactly an emerging issue with our offense). I used to think that was on Danny, but watching the game we missed on a shot play early on the first drive (changed the trajectory of things), and any time we tried to go downfield after that either we couldn't connect or Tommy checked down. He didn't look comfortable in the pocket to me at all, and looked much sharper in what I'd call the "quick game." Now I'm going to give us the benefit of the doubt and chalk that up to an FBS opponent with Big 10 level talent in their front seven. I hope to see us look a lot more explosive this weekend. UNI got gashed up front (albeit by one of the most potent rushing offenses in the FBS), but we need to establish the run and then pop a couple big plays over the top. If we can find a way to do that consistently, we'll be "cooking with gas" in my book...