AJS

Isn’t that going to be the case for 100% of the schools that opt-in?

Very fair, we all know the perception of those that do and those that don’t. Seems like most of the top Big Sky are.

Chaves has an opportunity to not only have UND be the leader of the Dakota schools by opting in, but he would also put NDSU in an uncomfortable situation. I really hope UND opts in.

We really aren’t talking that much $, with the right contacts. Hope there’s enough urgency to secure the funds w/in the athletic department. They should be “quietly fundraising” now. What I find so frustrating is coaching is the final piece of the puzzle for Basketball & Hockey. It will be a night and day difference in Football. That will happen with the other sports as well. At the very least, no extensions. Who cares about recruiting when you have those coaching staffs in basketball and hockey. Chaves just has to put lofty goals. Berry, Frozen Four & you’ll get an extension. If not, we’re going a different direction. Sather, make the NCAA tournament or we’re going another direction.

What’s so disappointing is Berry had a real chance to change the direction by sitting Kunz that Saturday night. Win or lose that sends a message. I cannot wait until Berry & this coaching staff is gone.

Loss by loss! In one 6 month stretch, we can see turnover of Bubba, Sather and Berry! Believe!

13 offers (could be missing a few) before the first Junior day of the year, Feb. 1st. How many more before the 2nd Junior day in March? Under Bubba you rarely had offers before the first Junior day, few at Junior day, really the first flood of offers wasn’t until after the Lindenwood camp. Clearly a very different philosophy Schmidt and his staff have. It’s early, but everything seems to be so much more deliberate and it just makes sense under Schmidt. Recruiting - being early, cannot hurt. Having that many offered, before Junior day, could really pay dividends. Going to be fun to follow, especially these early ones. How many offers come after, etc.

Too busy giving the media their talking points on how to justify what’s happening.

EMU offer.

Offer from last July. Montana recently offered.

Iowa State offer

But, what does every other collegiate program do? The only way to not pay would be (1) Coach leaves for another job (2) Retires. How often do coaching changes result because of one of those two? Let’s stop acting like a poverty program.

Is it just me, or do others also feel it's a possibility that key players start to look to the portal? Two examples. McLaughlin - @Oxbow6 has been beating this drum. Why I could see it is personal development. It's clear playing wing does not match up with his skill set. Everyone seems to notice this, except for the coaches. There were concerns about this strength and faceoff win % at the end of last year. How about the coaches practice / coach / develop those parts of this game? They had all off-season to work on it. Boisvert - Ultimate competitor. Does he feel this is an unserious program? Lack of accountability that the coaches hold to some players. If Berry is extended, will key players leave? Who knows. I could be completely off. I would have never thought in previous seasons that was a possibility. Wouldn't say the there's a zero percent chance after what we've seen this year. For every program, in every sport, there seems to be a turning point. Where you feel the direction of the program is cemented. We're close, Berry has two months to change it.

A lot of what's happening this year from a coaching / roster management perspective is the same old. A handful of guys that seem to be immune of repercussions for their play. That's not new. I never before though questioned the effort of those guys. Let's use Schmaltz as an example last year, played a Top 6 role for half the year, Top 9 basically until playoffs. Power play time. Couldn't score. He always gave effort though. I could be frustrated for some guy's roles given their production, but they tried. This year it feels different. The consistent effort doesn't seem to be there for some guys who are wearing letters. It's not just Kunz, but there was a real opportunity I felt for Berry to sit him on Saturday. Not only was that penalty completely lazy and cost them on Friday, but he's also looked disinterested for weeks. Since there's zero foresight from the athletic department, if this team rallies this year or wins the conference championship, Berry will get extended. I still think it's a real possibility that if they miss the tournament, he's gone. Using the word feel again. It does feel like unless something drastic happens, that this program is in a bad spot. I never before thought that somebody would transfer from this program that wasn't playing time related. Miss the NCAAs, plus Berry stays. Could we see some key players enter? I think it's possible. Berry needs to figure things out, quickly.

Btw if there is no lineup change or it’s Littler out and Croal in, the players that are actually giving effort deserve so much better than this coaching staff.

There’s a first time for everything. Was the timing of the penalty so bad, combined with his play last night where Kunz sits tonight? Kunz out, Croal in. Imo, that would actually light a spark.

Does have the feeling that this is the first true must win of the season*. *From having a realistic chance at making a run at an at large bid standpoint.

Call it recency bias, but I’m putting a lot of stock in what happened with Bubba and the similarities between the two programs. IMO Berry’s seat is hot. My prediction is this teams makes the NCAA tournament, he gets an extension. They miss the NCAA tournament, he’s out. I know what scenario is best for the program.

@yzerman19 is right on. Collegiate athletics are completely different in 2025 than they were even 5 years ago. Coaching & recruiting included. Adapt or die. I asked, already knowing the answer about NIL and if the hockey coaching staff is actively campaigning like the new football staff if. They aren’t. This will hurt some feelings, but UND is not a current tier 1 / elite program. They just aren’t. Until they get a new staff, they won’t have a chance to get back either.

Agreed and then roll three lines. Could you imagine how awful a Kunz / Schmaltz / Jammer line would be?