AJS

This is a winnable game IF UND plays a true three phase game. How much confidence was gained playing them close last year? Based on past performances in the Dome, I'm not optimistic. Prove myself and most everyone else wrong. Change the narrative. The opportunity is there. What if this is the game where UND plays its absolute best regular season game?

Coaches: 23rd STATS: 16th Athlon: 15th Massey: 11th I've been so hyper focused on what has happened in the MVFC the last few weeks, where for UND everything has kind of broken correctly. Going into the last week from a national perspective, they can do no worse than 3rd in the make the playoffs pecking order. Can someone explain what has happened where being a 3rd ranked MVFC team with at worse a 7-4 overall record (7-3 FCS) doesn't leave them as a lock? Non-conference records. SDSU (2-0 FCS), NDSU (2-0 FCS), UND (2-0 FCS), Youngstown (2-0 Non-FBS), Illinois State (2-0 FCS), Missouri State (2-0 FCS), USD (1-1 FCS), UNI (1-1 FCS / Loss #2 Sac State), ISU-Blue (1-1 FCS), SIU (0-2 FCS / FBS win), Western Illinois (0-2 FCS). By my total that's 15-7 overall. Two of those losses (UNI / SIU were to current Top 5 teams). Is this all about SIU losing to SEMO? Were none of the 15 wins quality? Just so strange.

They didn't elaborate, Shannon had the list of who was walking, and he listed them. They talked about who wasn't on there and who surprised them (ex: Zavalney). Didn't get into too much detail.

The 360 podcast dropped the list of players that will be walking on Senior day. Bolded if they are Juniors on the current roster. Christian: OL Cooper: OLB Fenelon: K Hoosman: RB J. Johnson: DL Keech: DL Kimball: LB Krzanowski: ILB Maag: WR Morrison: DL Peterson: Punter Steckler: TE Stevens: K MVJ: OLB Ventrelli: OL White: ILB Zavalney: TE Those that are Seniors that are not walking on Senior day. Buckner Kauppinen Mullin Ogbu Skokna Siegel

NLI's can be signed today. We should see over the next few days who has signed. So far, I've only seen Strathmann.

Completely agree. This has absolutely nothing to do with any of their commentary on this week / UND at all. Every once and a while check out that site and you'll pick up on why @UND1983 says that. It's really fascinating.

Is this going to be a situation where we start to see commitments come in waves? Correct me if I'm wrong, but has there really only been three commitments (non-transfer portal) in 2022? That could be the lowest number in the country. I'm a big proponent in getting a key guy from the portal, I just really hope the strategy isn't to have that become the key focus of recruiting for this staff.

Digging into the safety position a bit. If you look overall, Kauppinen leads that group / the team in tackles (48). My question is, has anyone noticed them rotating more the last few weeks? Buckner appears to be playing more. Is Ball? The stats aren't as lopsided as they were through the SDSU game. ACU Coley: 3 Tackles Kauppinen: 3 Tackles / 1 INT Ball: 3 Tackles Buckner: 1 Tackle / 1 INT ISU Ball: 3 Tackles Coley: 2 Tackles Kauppinen: 2 Tackles Buckner: 1 Tackle / 1 Fumble Recovery

The Coaches Poll is almost universally disliked, but I do think it's noteworthy that UND was T-37 last week and 28th this week. I'm shocked at that jump. Sam Herder had a few general bullet points showing how ridiculous it is but looking at UND specifically. At least they are now somewhat in the same stratosphere as the other polls.

UND is coming off by far their best performance of the year @ Indiana State. Of course, just win, but could there be a bit of a narrative shift for this team? Like last week, I'm focusing on the ST/Defensive combo. They completely outperformed what I expected last week. This week, I'm setting USD's points @ 21. Let's hope again they outperform my expectations. It just might be me, but last week was a shot in the arm. I'm really excited for the game on Saturday. Playoff game. Win and I think they're in.

I would say a little bit of both would be accurate. Ultimately where I fall is giving up 7 points against any scholarship FCS program is impressive.

What a great three phase win. Winning by that margin, gives at least me and extra level of excitement for next week. Is a dominant performance going to give the defense confidence? Can they follow up their best performance with an equally impressive effort against USD? I cannot wait.

1 point against an awful team, not great.

These refs stink

More likely they are playing at the same time.

Berry needs to get this guy. Need to add high end offensive talent to next years class.

Let's call it four. I would think although early, that the coaches have communicated if a player is likely to come in next year or if they feel another year will be needed. Possible they felt Dunbar needed (or lost the #'s game) for next year. I wouldn't fault him for wanting to go somewhere next year over playing Juniors again.

Very interesting. With Ausmus just recently having surgery, let's scratch him for next year. Eligible: Strathmann - '05: Lock Benoit - '02: Lock Wiebe - '03: Lock Livanavage - '04: Lock Will that be enough?

This is not true at all. We need to have the Rizzo misinformation pinned. Rizzo was announced as part of the 2020 class, but decommitted right after that. This took place the summer of 2020, see the article below. Former UND commit Massimo Rizzo to re-open recruitment - Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, East Grand Forks news, weather & sports

The corner opposite of Siegel doesn’t appear to be a glaring issue anymore. Over the past few weeks it’s appeared the opposition has thrown to #3’s side as much if not more. Not calling CB a strength, but they definitely aren’t favoring the opposite side anymore.

I believe this is the biggest issue facing the defense.

If this is the case, then Kostich deserves every ounce of criticism he got on Saturday. I did bold this part, because to me it's completely situation then almost. I don't care how good you feel about your kick-off coverage, after a TD put the opponents on the 25 every single time. Last weekend was not the first time where UND gave up a huge return following a TD that completely changed momentum.

I just mentioned complementary football in all three phases, but I'm ok for the rest of the season to leave the offense out and strictly handcuff the defense and special teams together. 24. That would be my goal this week for points given up. It'll start by not giving up large chunks on kickoffs or punt returns. At the same time, if the punt team pins ISU-Blue back inside the ten. Get a 3 and out. 24. Giving up only that much will not only win the game but will allow some positive momentum for this team defensively.

I think another issue is for a non-Frozen Four destination game, there are only two cities where you could get 15K people to go. Nashville and Vegas. Would you see less people each time you go back to those spots? I realize that wasn't the case for Vegas this time, but I think it would be moving forward. I cannot see over 10K going to any other location.

8 games into an 11-game season and all logic tells you this team is what it is at this point. I'm having trouble accepting that though. In four of their wins this season, their inability to seize momentum and truly put teams away has made the final scores closer than they could have been. They have put a few 1/2s of games together, but never a full game. It's not that they aren't close. I'm talking one stop when they are up 10 and then going back down the field and scoring. The great news is they are sitting at 5-3 (3-2). I'm still convinced 7-4 will get you into the playoffs. They will be favored in two of their last three. Yes, just win. No game will ever be perfect, but what I want to see this weekend is a complete game. All eyes for me are on Special Teams. Cannot have another performance like that this season.