AJS

Given the timing, this most likely the most logical reason for it. Lots of talent at that CB position.

@shep if the 2nd DB you mentioned was Odom, I believe they moved him to WR a few years back. @siouxfan512 it sounds harsh, but from a roster construction standpoint, the Odom transfer is very helpful. I'm with you about not only it bothering me, but I think it's an overall plus. The Robertson one from the surface level does bother me. Someone who was on the 2-Deep as a RS-Freshman. What I don't know and those in the know, I would be really interested to hear, is how real are these end of the year conversations? Could this actually be, we see X, Y, Z moving ahead of you? This one doesn't sit well with me.

What would you have rated the O-Line this year vs Spring season? 5 vs 7? 6 vs 8? They appeared to me to be average or slightly above average.

Embarrassing loss.

Really curious what everyone's thoughts are on the strategy around the "5th" year guys the next few years. Originally, my thought was you want to be very strategic. Hand pick the top four or five guys and go that route. Keep that "5th" year class relatively small. Last year my thought would have been keep either Boltmann or Maag, but not both. Now, it's keep anyone on the 2-Deep if they'll come back. I'll give this coaching staff a lot of credit, I thought they did an incredible job with the roster construction. Start with the RS-Junior class and really evaluate. By that time they are four years in the program, you know where they stand. Unfortunately, if you don't see them as working their way onto the depth chart, then start there. I know the Senior day gave us educated guesses on some. Here's my "5th" year rankings. A Players (Season expectation changing players. Very hard replace) Morrison Larson Krzanowski Waletzko B Players (Starters / Easier Time replacing - Still add a lot to team) Boltmann Maag Seguin Peterson * Hinders * I hope they all come back. * Specialists, which I look at differently. Not taking anyone else's scholarship $. As far as I'm aware there is not a punter / LS in next years recruiting class. What's others opinons on the "5th year", the more that stay the better, or keep it to truly impact players in positions that lack depth, or somewhere in-between?

I forgot who said it, or which thread it was in, but I really liked the take. The highs for this program seem to be getting higher and the lows aren't as low. Nobody will think this year was successful. The players, coaches or fans. Each MVFC game (outside of Western) was within a touch down. They are there right now, or very close is probably the more appropriate saying. It's weird with how this year played out to be this confident about next year, but I think they are going to be really good. That does it for the 2021 season, we'll see everyone in the 2022 thread.

This was a fitting way for this season to end. It's hard for me to get worked up though, played with SDSU till the very end. Punch for punch. The stats weren't great, but against SDSU on the road, I was actually pretty impressed with this offense. I thought this was one of Tommy's best games of the Fall. Really not much more to say. Flip a coin in this one and like more times than not this year, came up wrong.

I would love a reporter to ask Sandelin / James about the dive. I’ve never understood it. Having that reputation you think would be embarrassing.

Can’t get swept at home. Thinking back to Saturday night at Q. No doubt Duluth was the better team, but I also didn’t think it was jump off the page difference. Driscoll made some great saves, but the three goals Duluth had were (1) Fortunate bounce, right place right time (2) Weak (3) Ferner looking like the first time he’s laced skates. Three was fair amount to give up, but I didn’t get the feeling like they could have had five or six. Saturday, Driscoll and Special Teams. Penalty kill was good, the PP until the last one was embarrassing. Go +1 instead of -1 tonight, they got a shot.

After the first week I quit looking at the participation page. Doesn’t appear to be 100% accurate would be putting it kind. It could have gotten better and I hope it did, but it was not accurate after the ISU game.

I look at this as a very important outside perception game. It's the finishing 4-4 in the conference and being compared to SDSU / UNI or finishing 3-5 and being more comparable to the bottom teams. Think pre-season rankings, potential recruiting ramifications.

Odom to the transfer portal. With the extra Covid year, that Junior class is really going to have the spotlight on it.

Since one of the two schools already has that date filled, I think we can safely assume this wasn't UND's idea.

Is there a maximum number of games you can play? Using the link above is @The Sicatoka post, just a quick look at FBS Independent schools, New Mexico State has both Oct. 8th and Oct. 15th open. They do currently have 11 games, but 1st game is Saturday Aug. 27th. Seems like the best option, try to get whatever $ you can to go down there and play.

I'm with you, this seems really problematic.

Bad assumption on my part about the Dixie State game being a buy game. Shoot, kind of your ideal FCS home / home deal really. Anything but a D2 buy game at this point and I'll be happy.

That is a good point. At least you do have two dates to work with, but this could really change the complexion of next years schedule. How many FCS schools would really fall into the "buy game" category that Dixie State was in? Could we see another FBS game, where the Hawks collect a paycheck? A home and home where UND gets the front end.

Just noticed the October 29, 2022 home game against Dixie State is no longer on the schedule (Dixie State is now playing @ Tarleton that day). This is a some what recent development as I looked not too long ago and it was on there. Seems like potentially a pretty big issue. Currently only 10 games on the schedule, no home non-conference games. The mid-season non-conference game probably throws a bigger wrench into it as well.

Definite yes to Calder / Ferner. Listed as Juniors on the UND Roster, have another year of eligibility. Jandric though is very interesting. He's only played three years of college hockey, but accelerated to graduate early (Schlossman wrote an article a month or so back) and therefore is in Graduate school. I do think he returns and I guess is just listed as Gr again next year? The short is I do think all three return next year.

NLI signing season, so far I've seen three on social media. Blake, James, Strinden. All Forwards. Anyone else we know signed? I really don't see any Forwards leaving early, outside of potential transfer out type of situation, we might be looking at just 3 Forward spots for next year.

Correct. How every school is doing it, is counting that extra year on the backend. I'm guessing it's following their actual academic standing. When it comes to that extra year, how it's classified seems to depend on your actual class status. Duluth for example has players listed as either 5th year or Graduate Student. Western, all classified as Graduate Senior. St. Cloud uses RS-Senior, Graduate Senior.

Yes that is. If I were to put players on a tier, he would be Tier 1, with Waletzko, Larson, Morrison. Some very good players not on that Tier I really hope come back, but those four I see as game changing type of guys.

With the (at least to me) unexpected results last weekend, this weekend in a way has extra importance. What are this years expectations? I think we'll find out a lot this weekend. Has UND ever gotten both games in Oxford? If they have, I know it's relatively rare. Being realistic, this weekend has split written all over it. Speaking of extra importance, I know my expectations will be adjusted IF they happen to get 5 or 6 points.

I look at two things. (1) UND (2) Everyone else. Two weeks, there are so many results that it's not really worth getting into the everyone else category. My question has to do with UND and the next week. I wanted to wait until the polls came out, because I think they do play a factor. UND is not under the 'Other Receiving votes' category for either STATS or coaches poll. The question I have, is let's say UND beats Illinois State this Saturday, does them at 5-5 work themselves into the 'Other Receiving votes' territory entering the last week? I don't think it does. The next question is there a viable scenario where you go from not in the playoff topic going into the last week into making the playoffs? I would think that depending on what happens the last two weeks, there's this chance that a 6-5 UND team would have an argument for one of the last spots. From strictly a resume aspect. It seems completely out of the picture given they are nowhere to be found in the polls / playoff conversation with two weeks left. Just win this weekend and see if the discussion has shifted this time next week.

I look at two things. (1) UND (2) Everyone else. Two weeks, there are so many results that it's not really worth getting into the everyone else category. My question has to do with UND and the next week. I wanted to wait until the polls came out, because I think they do play a factor. UND is not under the 'Other Receiving votes' category for either STATS or coaches poll. The question I have, is let's say UND beats Illinois State this Saturday, does them at 5-5 work themselves into the 'Other Receiving votes' territory entering the last week? I don't think it does. The next question is there a viable scenario where you go from not in the playoff topic going into the last week into making the playoffs? I would think that depending on what happens the last two weeks, there's this chance that a 6-5 UND team would have an argument for one of the last spots. It seems completely out of the picture given they are nowhere to be found in the polls / playoff conversation with two weeks left. Just win this weekend and see if the discussion has shifted this time next week.