AJS

Starting off this post like my last, this was a 9-2 team that shared the conference title and was awarded a seed. Looking at the depth chart, they bring back a lot of all conference players, plus a great quality of depth (beyond the 2 deep chart). Although they had a great record, they had a very favorable schedule which played into their record. Not only who they played, but getting the tougher opponents at home. They had trouble putting away teams and playing complete games. I'm not trying to take anything away from this team, but want to look at what needs to be done for this team to take the next step. Might not be regular season record wise next year, but a team that is better overall. My question is what areas do they need to improve in next year to be better? Where did the struggle this year? A couple I've thought of O-line play: This group improved throughout the year, they had to replace 4 starters last year and was the main reason for a sluggish start. Next year they return 9 of 10 on the depth chart. DBs: Improved this year, lead the nation in INTs, but still were shaky. It seemed most teams could throw at will on them whenever they wanted. They return everyone including Reyes and Harris. Is the answer Hunt and Holm just need another year under their belt? Same with Arnell? QB Depth - Do they have anyone besides Keaton who can come in and play well if needed? JUCO transfer to backup? Special Teams: Worst in FCS, will improved depth help out, new coach? Outside of their linebacker core, they don't have a position where they need a wholesale change like O-line was this year (harder group to replace). What's exciting is each year there seems to be less and less major holes on the team. With what they have returning, I truly believe they'll have what it takes to be a Top 5 team in the country and a legitimate title contender. *How in the hell is their Bye week the last week of the season again?

The only offensive play call of the night, given what was happening that didn't make sense was the reverse, other than that I thought he called a good game. Any offensive troubles tonight could be placed solely on the WRs. As a group they had by far their worst game of the season. Stanley, Toivanen and Wanzek couldn't catch anything. Everything that happened tonight would have been negated if UND didn't have the worst special teams at the FCS level. It cost them their first game as well as their last. I'll never be able to wrap my head around why they brought pressure on the punt they had interference on. I can live with a defensive break down, or a questionable offensive call, but what can't be accepted is what took place on that play.

http://www.undsports.com/pdf9/5116807.pdf Page 14

The way the season ended hurts, they lost a game they shouldn't have, but man should next year be fun. This was a 9-2 team that won a share of the Big Sky title and was a seed in the playoffs that brings 7 players recognized by the Big Sky back. QB - Studsrud (SR) Heidelbaugh (SO): All eyes on Heidelbaugh, he needs to become a reliable backup. RB - Everyone returns OL - 9 of the 10 players on the 2 deep return. Losing Coe hurts, but you can't ask for much more with depth returning WR - Georges is the big ?, they return their top 4 receivers in Stanley, Toivanen, Wanzek and Mercer. Georges would make this a very, very good corps TE - Lose Mathewson, but will be a much better unit with Cloyd getting a year of experience, he's going to be very good Overall, this should be a very good unit. I'd like to see them try to get a JUCO backup if they don't think Heidelbaugh can take the reigns if Keaton gets hurt. Depth at every other position will not be a problem. They lose 4 of 23 players on the last two deep chart (includes Bartles, Reed) DL- Lose Noah Johnson, but return a very deep group that was one of the best in FCS LB - This is the position hit hardest, but still have O'Brien, and really liked what Rodgers and Lawrence brought as Freshman DB - Return their starting 4 which include two Big Sky all First teamers, one being the Big Sky DPOY. Hunt and Holm will only grow as they both played huge minutes as Freshman Lose 5 of 22 players on the last two deep chart On paper next year should be the best team UND has had. Any redshirt freshman that should make impacts next year?

Agree with all of this besides Keaton, I actually think he played pretty well, besides Mercer and Fiedler nobody else could catch the ball. Toivonen, Stanley and Wanzek are as sure handed as FCS receivers get and they couldn't catch anything tonight. They all dropped easy receptions over and over. The problems UND has had the entire year ended up all coming to bite them at the end. Bubba needs to make changes with the Special teams unit. Them bringing pressure in that situation is unthinkable with anyone that has two brain cells to rub together. The blocked punt was a mess, multiple Richmond players could have blocked that one. On offense you are running the ball down their throats, but decide to do a reverse which made no sense and that ended up losing 7 yards, costing the team at least 3 points. The secondary also needs to get better, too many big plays. I hate calling for coaches jobs, but Rudolph and the Special Teams coordinator need to go.

The Herald's numbers definitely make sense now, after seeing basically the entire section of 202 open up as well as a lot of 203. Current count - 3032 tickets available = 7129 non-student tickets

Final update for the night, currently 2829 available tickets on Tickemaster (now include opposing seats in 217) 12,283 Capacity, take away students 2122 and 2829 still available, puts it at 7332 non student tickets sold. W/ question being lower 202.

I was thinking family members in the lower section of 202 and I think that's the case. There hasn't been any available the entire time. I don't know why that would be counted differently, but I don't think those totals (or Richmonds allotment) were in the Heralds 7500. *There was just a ticket dump in lower 217, so it appears all Richmond didn't sell are now available. They sold 216 which isn't bad.

Is the lower section of 202 reserved for anyone? If it is and none of those are sold than the Heralds numbers would make a little more sense.

Interesting, I really wasn't even close with my math last night. With the student totals he has in the article, I would have thought 8,000 currently. What's the deal with opposing fan tickets? When do the ones they don't use usually get released?

3115 as of 11/29 2780 left currently (not counting student / opposing team tickets), if sales continue, by tomorrow night another 300 would empty everything left in sections 202-208. Capacity - 12,283 (Per Wiki) Since we don't know student totals, let's just count them for 0 (2122 seats), Opposing section 0 (437 total lower 217), Remaining 2780. It looks like they have sold 6944 non-student / opposing fan tickets so far.

I like the overall point of your message, I just think the post you quoted doesn't make any sense. I don't really think there's an argument to be made that the hockey team being in NYC is going to have an adverse effect on ticket sales, that's just a fact. There would be a considerable amount (500/1000) that would have attended the Football game this weekend if it weren't for the hockey team being in NYC.

3115 Currently Left, 646 sold in just over two days. If ticket sales remain steady, we should be looking at not much available for all sections not in the end zone come game time. Leaving only student / opposing team seats left to question.

Definitely, if they are out handing them out, then I agree. With these playoff tickets the students have to go pick them up, so there's at least some effort involved. You aren't going to go out of your way (even a little) to just pick up a ticket you aren't going to use. If somebody has them when you walk into the Union and asks if you want one, then yes, those most likely wouldn't be used.

How are student tickets counted into the regular season attendance? Is it number actually picked up and scanned? Or since they are free, they just count them all, even if lets say the student section is half full?

One week ago we were around 2K, so based on that alone I'm also pretty optimistic with those numbers with 4 days left. The main thing that stuck out to me was that only 738 student tickets have been sold. That's only 1/3 of the student section. that needs to change big time come Saturday.

600 down, about 1500 to go. It was mentioned before that the Athletic Department should think a little outside the box and go to the people, not have the people come to them. That philosophy should also be used for the students. I get the Ralph is basically on campus, but sadly, I bet that's a chore for some. I don't understand why they don't take a couple hundred tickets, set up a table at Gamble Hall and sell them for a couple hours. There are thousands of students that go through Gamble every day. Make it convenient for them to buy them on the way to and from class. Seems like a no-brainer. All it would take is a folding table, a couple signs and one intern to sell them.

It's game week, below is the current chart. Obviously, there are a lot of seats remaining. Let's break it down into three different sections: Season ticket sections (202-208, 215, 216) - 1000 Remaining Student / Opposing team (212-214, 217) - 1900 Remaining Other (209-211, 201, 218) - 2500 Remaining Give or take there's around 5,400 tickets available. What's everyone's guess on how many are sold out of each of the 3 groups over the next week? My guess: Season Ticket sections - 700 (300 Remaining) Student / Opposing - 800 (1100 Remaining) Other - 0 (2500 Remaining) My guess is pretty middle of the road, so I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised. I hope the University really brings it with marketing this week.

To claim their seats, the public can buy any none season ticket holders seat right now.

I retract this, looking at 2017 season tickets you can buy, most in the sections inside the 10 are season tickets. Yikes, I agree, only 2000, counting everything so far.

I agree that it would make the most sense to count season ticket holders in the current count, but only 2,000 doesn't make sense if you were including them. Each section has around 730 seats (4 at end are less), below is what it currently looks like. Student tickets / Season ticket holders are already blocked off and we won't know until tomorrow how many season ticket holders claim the same seats. We know 600 student tickets have been bought, I'm also assuming that nobody has season tickets in the sections inside the 10 yard line. Tickets sold inside those 4 sections comes to over 1.300. Include that with the student tickets you get to around 2,000. Basically, not a single season ticket holder in sections 203 - 207 and 215 & 216 would renew for this playoff game if those were in the count. Based on that, it appears more likely that season ticket holders aren't in that current count.

That would be my assumption as well.

Less than 200 free tickets left for students, after that they'll have to pay $5. So, appears to be a lot of student tickets left.

Is that a good number? Bad? Anyone familiar with the trend of student tickets? Is there usually a big pop the first day, then nothing, or since it isn't a tough ticket to get, is there a more steady flow? Student section seats around 2200, only about 20% after today. I have a feeling it will pick up the closer we get to game day and the hype starts to build.

I am too, will be interesting to see how many season ticket holders tickets are released come Thursday. Like others have said, everyone has to get the word out and really try to get people to come that wouldn't have otherwise. Love the people that are buying tickets for the students, we need that section sold out!