AFMSGT

Okay, now we have a winning team that's clearly stocked with talented and exciting players... the people who live within driving distance of Grand Forks need to pack the house next season. If you live within 100-200 miles there is no reason not to show up on Saturday when people are coming from out of state to attend games.

I believe winning is a process. How many times have we seen pro teams in the NFL, NBA etc. get close before they break through and when they do, its with a loud bang. I see UND in that same process now. This playoff snub is disappointing but its also a test to find out how bad do the players and coaches really want it? If they grind this offseason with the talent on this roster, good things are coming by the truckload for this program. Its all in how we handle it over the next 8 months.

I agree, we should be in ahead of a few other teams. This team was primed for a run in the playoffs. Maybe the committee saw that too and chose not to invite us. But, the best way to eliminate the politics is to win the winnable games and destroy the outclassed teams...show no mercy. We surerly got hosed, but we left the door open to get hosed. I don't think it will happen next year.

Or, we can hit the film room, weight room and field and prepare to dominate the BSC next year. Let's just focus our business and be ready for them to ring the bell in 2016. But I agree, we would have stunned some teams in the playoffs this year with the execution and confidence we played with the past few weeks.

If we win just one of those games, we are in the playoffs. Period.

Impressive win last night at Poly. We all knew that even with a win the playoffs were a longshot. However, glad the guys went out on a good note for the seniors and had a happy late night plane ride home. For the seniors, who some will never wear a football uniform, I say thank you for leaving us with great memories of 2015 UND football. To be able to say you won the last three games in dominant fashion, that you ever played in, will stay with you for life. You leave behind a strong legacy and have laid the foundation for the future. Time to take it to the next level in 2016, underclassmen. Continue to grow, get ready, and stay ready. Go Hawks!

You make some valid points. The QB gets charged with taking care of the ball. That comes with playing the position. Bartels did get turn it over at key points in the game but he also accounted for 14 of the 24 points we scored with his arm. But the recipe for a loss usually includes many factors. We even missed a short field goal in that game which would've been the difference since we only lost by one. The good news is, in the past few weeks, the defense has played better, the kicking game has been serviceable and the offense has found the end zone in the 4th qtr. Let's hope the trend continues this weekend.7-4 sounds really good whether we get a playoff spot or not. I hear they are announcing the nickname at 10am today. Go Hawks!!

If you look at the first few games of the season....the offense didn't do much in the 4th Qtr against WYO, Drake, NDSU (at all), UC Davis and that was with Keaton playing the whole game. In all of those games we squandered big leads or lost. I will say being their watching the Weber State game unfold, WSU gained momentum with huge pass plays that energized their fan base and defense. The #3 was a beast in the second half; he had two long receptions that flipped the field on us that lead to scores. Our running game had stalled because in my opinion Santiago was a little tired in late third and 4th qtr. If you add it all up, to include some curious play calling, Bartels' play was a sympton of larger problems. He was 9 fo 20 with 1 int int that game with two TDs, which had us in contention. The sack strip fumble was the back breaker before the INT. WSU had all the momentum so all we could do was milk the clock with 5:42 left, like a trainer protecting his fighter in the later rounds of a prize fight. If someone told you/me Bartels would throw two TDs against Cal Poly this week, I think all of us would take that in a heartbeat! I know I would. I just can't that loss all on him, sorry.

I will say this though, a student athlete should hold him or herself to a higher standard and act accordingly on and off campus. Especially, football players who are fighting for relevancy and respect in the Big Sky and on campus. They shouldn't need to be told by by other students to do the right thing. If the accusations are remotely true, C'mon guys do better and be good citizens in the UND community.

Geaux Sioux, let me explain my rationale. I was at both games: ISU and Weber State. In both games the offense handed the defense a lead well into the 4th quarter and the defense couldnt make it stand up. To be specific, Bartels had a couple of TD passes at Weber St , if I rember correctly and the we had a 5 point lead with the ball 1st and 10, at our 40 yard line with 5:42 on the clock late in the game. Coming off of a 1st down conversion we should have run the ball on first down to get the clock moving (they only had two timeouts) but we attempted a pass with a full blitz on which lead to a sack strip fumble. He didnt play great in relief but he played good enough. In both games, the defense didnt rise up when needed. At the ISU game he made a few plays with his feet to extend drives and pick up 1st downs in the 4th. We couldnt stop their passing game. That's not any QBs fault. But as I agreed earlier, Keaton is the best option we have at QB. Thats not to slam Bartels in anyway. Keaton is better than I ever was and so is Bartels.

Don't get me wrong...I said in a previous post that Bartels played well when thrown in against ISU and good enough for us to beat Weber State, but Studs has "it" and we needed him back. On defense, Reyes makes the calls for the rest of the secondary and is a baller. They both have the "it" factor. Offense sells tickets, while defense wins championships. I am biased admittedly toward the defense. But Keaton is the right guy for the job. There is no disputing that.

I see Reyes as an equally important. QB of the secondary. When he came back the defense played better. His first game back against Montana was getting his legs back.

Minn Sioux said at the end...he/she and their immediate circle of friends don't like football and don't care to spend 5 hours of their time attending games to support the team. That's sounds pretty straightforward, honest and fair, I might add. I love football. Always have and always will, so I can't understand how a person is on the comment board that doesn't like or support football. Why even be on here commenting or reading? There are many activities that I have no interest in....thus I don't read about it or comment on it. However, I say go to the game, and have fun with your friends anyway. Last I heard, admission is free for students. I don't like baseball but I go to one game a year just to have a hotdog and beer with my friends. Heck, we don't even know who the visiting team is half the time nor do we care. To use the excuse of not going to games because of the Freshmen seems a bit of hyperbole. If the Freshmen are being rude or crude in the dinning facility...ask them to stop. Its that simple.

Their TE Mike McCauley is the real deal also. Need to bring our A-game. They are a good football team.

I watch with a technical eye when it comes to DB play. I say the future is bright because 1) we have raw talent at the position 2) the kids want to get better and 3) they have shown the ability to be right there on many passes. Just need to clean up the false steps, trust their ability more, understand WR alignment, and what the offensive coordinator is trying to do to them (which comes with experience and film study). They have all taken their lumps but they will be okay. If you go back and review each of their Hudl links, they have "it" in them. Just need to make the mental and technical adjustments.

Dropping those two at home to ISU and on the road at Weber St. still sting, but the guys have a chance to go out with a bang in November, even if they don't make the playoffs. The team showed guts and heart on Saturday against MSU. Hopefully, the defense continues to evolve and cut the points allowed down to the teens or low 20s in the remaining games. Its hard to make a living giving up points in the 30s and puts alot of pressure on your offense. Nice to see Santiago, Georges, and Olivera getting lose, Studs back in the lineup and the DBs contesting deep balls and holding their own all day. Winning the turnover battle will have a direct impact on how the 2015 season wraps up.

I would like to see Cerriteno be targeted more on offense...kid has hands.

This team needs to recogonize its potential and each man becomes self accountable for his offseason preparation and development. What you put in during the offseason working on your craft, reveals itself in the fall. And, each man needs to come back pissed off and ready to fight to defend the proud tradition of UND and the legacy of those that came before them. It comes down to preparation and taking pride in what you do, while being accountable on and off the field.

Don't know specifics, but it appeared to be some type of leg injury at Weber State. Hopefully, nothing long-term. He was a tackling machine on special teams.

I agree, but I don't know if many fans (students in particular) know when to be there and where. I was there for the Drake, UC Davis and Idaho State games and there were only a handful of fans there to greet the team as they walked to the Center.

Geaux Sioux pretty much summed it up. I guess the fact that many feel disappointed in the past three weeks is a good thing. Hopefully, the players and coaches also feel disappointed, but motivated to dig deep the next few weeks and during the offseason to take some more steps forward. Sometimes, its better to have unmet expectations based on potential, than to have no potential and or expectations at all. Playing college football is a reward that comes with risks. Any player that has the guts to step on the field and expose himself to success, and the potential for failure, is a man of courage and worth supporting.

I too hope we play a complete game this week. If we can put a solid 4 qtrs together, force a turnover or two, and avoid turnovers in the second half, I think I we can get a tough win in Utah this weekend. A special teams TD would be nice also.

For the record I have spent months reading the board for info and entertainment purposes just to see whats going on with the UND football team. Some points are valid but some seem to have emotion tied to them, and while I may not always agree with a comment or thought, I do respect it. I just decided to chim in for the first time as I sit in my office at home hoping the injured can get back on the field and the team can find a way to get back in the win column. I don't come on to slander posters or players. I root for all kids on the roster. While I am at it, I honestly think Bartels played well after being thrust into action, last weekend, but I hope Studsrud is able to go real soon. I think we will need all hands on deck in going forward.