AJS

I said it back during that possession, but that was the ball game. Everything that happens after doesn't matter. Game was over when NDSU was down 10-7.

Only a team that has a truly great defense will be able to beat NDSU in the playoffs. SDSU doesn't even have close to that. NDSU might not win by 30, but SDSU is bleeding out right now and has no chance to stop it. Today, it could be 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 25, doesn't matter, they'll get the first down.

Down 10-7 in the 2nd and you can already turn it off. The reason NDSU will win this one and march to #6 is coaching. I'm at a loss for words for how poor SDSU's game plan is on defense. Someone explain why on 3rd and 25 you only rush 3 and then have the rest of your guys 50 yards down field.

NYC is a destination, Sioux Falls is Sioux Falls. I'm going to concede this discussion since we won't know until it happens. My original statement was I preferred Fargo over Sioux Falls, because I thought it offered a better home ice advantage. I think financially, it's tough for a lot of people to make 3 possible trips in a row work. The Frozen Faceoff is well attended by UND fans, then a lot would attend the Frozen Four if UND makes it. The regional works well in Fargo, since it's a non-hotel trip for most who will attend. I could be wrong and 10K show up, I'm just not as optimistic as others and would put it at 5K.

When the time comes there won't be close to 10K UND fans at the Sioux Falls regional if they are the host school. I guess we'll have to wait a few years and see.

I think you are strongly overestimating the amount of UND fans that would show up in Sioux Falls for the regional. This is based on every Regional that has ever been in St. Paul (same distance) that UND has been in (Sioux / Gophers could barely sell out the lower bowl and that was to go to the Frozen Four). The attendance isn't great and that's in one of the largest alumni centers for UND. Regionals being in-between the Frozen Faceoff and Frozen Four (which are well attended) hurt attendance. I'd say more 5000 UND fans (100% capacity) compared to 5 / 6K fans (maybe 70% capacity w/ opposing fans).

When it comes to UND bidding on a regional, I would prefer Fargo over Sioux Falls every time. Makes for a much tougher ticket, but gives them a better home ice advantage.

As far as this weekend goes, UND at 8-5-3 is at this point where they need to really start putting some separation between their W's and L's. 10-5-3 going into Christmas break looks a lot better than 9-6-3. Need a home sweep this weekend.

Didn't Chicago offer to sign Luke Johnson after his sophomore year, which was very middle of the road. He signed after his Junior year and he wasn't close from being a star at the college level at that time either. Teams are willing to sign players to an ELC just to get them in their system and see if they have what it takes (most of them don't). I wouldn't doubt that the three BroncoHeard mentioned could sign if they wanted to. It's far from a guarantee that they'll make the show. Both the player and the teams might think they could develop better in the minors.

Same question on the SRO. Wouldn't that be nice this time around if they only sold enough for the risers and those had numbers on them. My guess it'll be the same as last time though.

Why don't they do a home / home with SDSU or USD also?

https://millersports.areavoices.com/2016/12/07/und-football-turns-the-page-to-2017/ "Schweigert said the main areas of improvement he wants to see this offseason are at quarterback, offensive line and defensive back". No doubt, these were 3 of the main areas that held back UND from being a good to a very good / great team. QB - I think a JUCO backup QB should be the #1 priority this offseason. A guy that can play next year if needed, but can be sold on him being the guy the year following. Studsrud was inconsistent this year, but I think improved OL play will help Studsrud as much as it'll help the RB's OL - Went from very bad the first 4 games, to average. Starting the season with 4 new starters and really only a couple with experience, was tough. They improved a lot over the year. With 4 starters returning (plus 2 more that started), this group should really improve and should go from average to Good next year (Possibly Very Good, if Freshman really make a push for playing time) DB - Agree they need to work on the big play. Arnell returning would be big. I really like the secondary, who returns everyone. Holm / Hunt are extremely talented and I thought played well for Freshman this year. One thing I love about Bubba is how he just seems to get it, when it comes to pointing out the obvious and breaking down what they need to work on. I bring this up, because for years I've been frustrated with the way you can never really get any information out of the hockey coaches. Their power play is always embarrassing and you don't hear a word about it. We all notice something that needs to be worked on and Bubba brings it up, it's just really refreshing.

They were 6-5 last year.

UND played a stock FCS highlight video before the team was announced. The same one that NDSU will have to play this weekend. No team specific one that would pump up the crowd.

Adams now in the USHL point lead (5th PPG) and Kawaguchi 2nd BCHL (4th PPG)

The only changes I would make is putting both @USD and EWU at 50/50. USD was very competitive with NDSU and SDSU down the stretch and like UND return a lot, plus are at home. EWU on the other hand brings back their All-Conference QB, but lose their top 3 WR's who all had over 1,000 yards receiving and combined for over 3,500 yards.

Correct, but I'd agree Stockwell is a lock too on the left side. That would really say something about one of the freshman if they could beat Stockwell out as starting LT.

I think he was more getting at the competition for starting spots will be fierce in the Spring and Fall with Tobin, Mortel and Nguon all ready to compete for starting sports with the starters from last year. This is great news if the young guys can push starters for a spot in the starting lineup. The offensive line improved immensely throughout the year and with four starters returning (6 starting at least a game), plus 3 more pushing for starting spots, we will be in a very good place with the OL next year. Having a true 2-deep with possible little drop off from starters to back ups for the first time.

This was posted in the other 2017 thread, but is relevant in this one as well. http://millersports.areavoices.com/2016/12/05/und-football-what-returns-in-2017/ "There are some strong reports on the redshirting freshmen hogs, especially guard Ryan Tobin, tackle Noah Mortel and center/guard Nathan Nguon" We'll be following closely how these three develop over the Spring and Summer into Fall ball. Hopefully all three can push the starters and add quality depth. Miller wrote about the 4 biggest needs being OL, LB, Safety (Arnell redshirt being a big ?) and back up QB. It appears this might be the first year since Bubba has been here that unless a true freshman is too good not to play, that there won't be a need to burn multiple red shirts, because of depth issues. This is where UND wants to be at.

This is how I read it as well, he looked at the areas where UND will need to improve the most, given what they are losing / areas that were weaknesses this year. This is the information I'm most interested in as well. It's not as much fun to talk about as the 7 all-returning players, ect, but it's just as important. Couple things: Positive: "There are some strong reports on the redshirting freshmen hogs, especially guard Ryan Tobin, tackle Noah Mortel and center/guard Nathan Nguon." Negative: Arnell hardship. Isn't he back next year? Wouldn't that have been decided last year? I'm really confused. I noticed this year that sometimes he was listed as SR, others JR.

This is based off the Playoff edition game notes. Seniors as well as any duplicates (couple OL that were backing up more than one position) were removed, so nobody is on twice. The only change I made was put Stockwell in at starting LT, since he was not listed on that 2 deep and did start at that position for that game. 2016 was such a successful campaign which brought UND a 9-2 record, Co Big Sky Championship and #7 Seed. Looking it at objectively, I think they were a little overrated. They won games yes, but some in dramatic come back fashion and others by closer margins than they should have. They had major depth issues and injuries piled up. I still think they were a sure fire Top 15 team, which is why next year should be their best year by far at the FCS level. I don't ever remember so many players on the 2 deep returning. Off the list below, they need to fill 5 spots Offensively and 6 Defensively. What needs to happen for this team to be a Top 5 team next year? Who will be filling the vacancies?

The running into the punter was the most significant play of the game, in terms of momentum, and is the reason they lost. I agree that they could have made plays down the stretch that they didn't, that could have turned things around, but it didn't happen. None of those would have had to happen if 52 doesn't bull rush the punter for god knows what reason.

This. (Captain obvious statement coming up) Each year a player will progress, get stronger in the offseason, get more comfortable with different situations and the game slows down for them. Offensively this team had 1/2 of the core groups (OL, WR) that were basically seeing the field for the first time. With injuries, depth was spread very at times, this caused close games and inconsistency at time. All those players return (except Coe) with a year under their belts. They'll start next year with not only experience at every offensive position, but depth. This years team was good, next years team will be really good with the chance to be great (i.e. healthy Georges). They will be a team that should beat the average / above average teams by a couple TDs. Talent wise, they'll be Top 5 in the country.

It's all situational. The definitely were good enough on the drive you were talking about, the were getting 7 yards running up the middle every single first down. They were in field goal range on first down when the call was made. I agree if running up the middle wasn't working, but it was.

This. Cloyd is possibly the best player of last years class and they burned a year playing him on Special Teams and running a couple routes a game. Did he even have 5 catches on the year? Awful decision by the coaching staff.