ND-fan

I don’t think any quarterback will pass the grade here on this board. Yes, Romfo has had difficulty at passing but After first couple games he didn’t have arm throw ball deep then he hit several deep balls but nobody gave him credit for that. Then it has been bouncing the pass but from my observations some of that has been he was pulling the pass from possible pick and likely pick 6. The truth is he is learning from new offensive coordinator and learning his reads on defensive coverages. I think from what I see coaches haven’t lost faith and I haven’t seen it from the team. Jerry may have resume, but evidently he is not ready to be starting quarterback and everyone forgets he is red shirt freshman that was fourth last year on depth chart who would not got a lot reps until this past spring and fall practices and was still 3 on depth chart. If Trey had stayed Jerry still would still be 3 on the depth chart. But getting back coaches are ones the people making decisions and they know where players are at if they’re ready to play we need to accept this. The quarterback play is also dependent on offense working at all phases which has not happened.

Valley conference the top 3 look to be class of FCS football and would not be surprised two of the 3 will be in Frisco. Und and Illinois state appear to be slightly behind but for FCS football would be class of number FCS conferences. Montana State right now seems to be in conversation with the 3 of the Valley. The Valley and Big Sky are dominating FcS football. If this continues you will see other FCS schools will want to lower scholarships and put in other restriction to balance power in FCS. The top teams in Big Sky and Valley are coming to point if they want to stay at this level of competition they will need to move to FBS but there is not many openings or willingness of conferences from absorbing these schools by expanding existing conferences. I think time is coming instead of some top teams thinking they will be able jump ship by themselves they need to work as group to put new conference for FBS together. I know I am only one promoting this but I believe this is as critical to future for the program is as all things people are worried about the program now. Otherwise it’s division II football all over again and maybe we still be allowed at division I level for all other sport maybe. Only other way mean dropping football to stay at division I level.

My previous post I never intended to mean we’re staying at mediocre or status quo because I think Bubba has made great improvements in his tenure here as coach and contrary to number posters his teams are coached well just look at few penalties they have as team usually. When he has changed coaches there have been up grades. Like fighting Sioux 4 life said facility improvement will make difference in the future. My point is thetime line getting to championship level may be at different pace than a lot of the posters on this forum want. Also I want to respond to comments on Fargo achieving their success ahead of UND. There have been number of things to make this happen. First that Fargo went first to division I football and it was different time basically they were only competing for recruits in Minnesota, South Dakota State, and Wisconsin that were Division I and other major areas of country were not recruiting here. There competition was UofM, Wisconsin, and South Dakota State the two big 10 schools were not looking at kids that had great potential and South Dakota State was clearly second choice at that time. This great advantage in stock piling talent plus there success fed it even more on recruiting. Second Fargo puts way more money into football and has enough resources left to keep other program funded to compete. Now compare UND we have hockey that sucks up available resources and now only recently we have been putting more resources to football. This is not to mention other Und sports have not been funded like top teams in the conference so we are desperate need to find resources for these sports. This has also reflected in coaching salaries and resources for athletes to play here. Even Fargo is now having difficulty gathering resources to maintain quality of players coming into there program. Second Fargo has come to realize our demographics and location doesn’t make us desirable prospect for large FBS conferences. To get to FBS level Dakota schools and Montana Schools are going to have create FBS conference with other teams of their conference liked the Montana schools and Iowa did when they moved up toFCs level back 40 some years ago. The last factor is media is now controlled in Fargo and this made it much more difficult get media presence to large number people and recruits to grow the program. The times have changed now in last four years to where the movement of teams and players changed FCs football where.top teams FcS football reside in valley and Big Sky conferences. The reason for this other power FCS schools have moved up to FBS level of football and traditional upper Midwest teams remain locked into FCS football. This is same scenario, we had nearly 20 years ago in division II football. The problem is schools here are facing two big hurdles cost and distance to move another conference in FBS and second we don’t have demographics for tv to generate enough revenue to be wanted by other conferences. This has been scenario of anything in upper Midwest to get rest of the country to invest here. This why we need to build our own conference and build our own media outlet designed for the upper Midwest to fund this conference. The local media people keep thinking Fargo can escape because of their success but this is not happening. These people need to start promoting what I have proposed this how we have come this far now because we had build it ourselves but it going to take all these universities and regions these schools represented to get behind this or we will have come full circle back to where we were 20 to 40 years ago.

I wanted to add above that South Dakota State built there program with Steigelmeier to the program it has become but it took years to achieve that goal go look up his record you will see how long it took and they had very same discussion we’re having.

Und road record vs. home record points to how team is prepared to play on the road. If team can beat top teams at home but turn around have terrible games on the road I believe it comes down to game plan and how much risk they are willing to do on the road. It has effect on players and their confidence in beating another team. This has been Bubba’s weakness he likes to play percentages and it is conservative he believes if keep things close you have chance to win. In baseball you never go for tie on the road to play extra innings you push to win it. Bubba is going need to change his basic philosphy and this after 40 years of coaching which he may try if he believes he is coming to end coaching career. South Dakota State had Stieglmeier for 25 years very similar record if would look his first ten years his record was worse but they too choose to stay with consistent coach that produced winning record or just above 500 to build a program. This is what we’re trying to achieve too but not at the pace die hart fans want but maybe good enough for general fan wants and way UND has been winning general fan sees a team that wins at home and is fun to watch. Administration is happy attendance is good, program has well liked players and coaches, and they are one top 15 teams in their division. To achieve what some are proposing,it requires more risk and more money if it goes south their jobs are in jeopardy. I think since Bubba has been here we have made improvements in program not all tied to win loss record of the program. Facilities have been upgraded, strength and conditioning has been advanced, donor support seems to have improved, higher quality players and improved academics in team leading conference on that front, and finally community service by players. This is not a lot of what majority of posters want to hear but this is system that is here and unless you can create general consensus for change it is what we have. It also mirrors how North Dakota is as state and how it has been built.

Little to nothing about our women’s basketball program after they are preparing for the regular season. I did see on Instagram some clips and pictures of the team working out. It looks like Hurst has lost weight and looks to be better physical condition should help have more complete game. The new training people look to be making difference in all the programs. Athletic department needs to do more promoting men’s and women’s basketball I see NDSU is advertising there programs and trying to sell tickets plus there coaches are making there rounds to the media. To not knock hockey we’re promoting it everywhere but rest of the programs seem to be after thought and women’s basketball which is growing nationally but here we’re not even trying to get on band wagon to also grow the support.

The game went the way. I expected with opening drives where we came out with standard run up the middle for first two plays setting up Bison defense having to just fill the gaps to stop us and then playing a good pass defense keep everyone in front of them denying pass 7 to 9 yards. I don’t know why we didn’t come out with Romfo rolling out with pass option and if not with running ball or option to back to run the ball. This would have spread SU defense and it would have been something they would have not been totally prepared. Second we hit Quincy for nice gain but never came back to our tight ends and this has been happening all year. I still think we need another option at receiver like Deng to help Bo and Dennis get open. Even if he doesn’t get open his speed and size would require defense have to cover him and if they don’t he could be wide open for deep threat. Und reasons for loosing on the road so much is we put together game plan only plays to our strengths but is predictable and teams prepare for to stop. This is Bubbas down fall he needs to take some risk on the road especially when he is playing top valley conference this is why we only have road wins bottom of the conference. I can think of several games like this like USD game last year where we got up but played so conservative where we final lost game with not doing anything second half. Bubba likes to play percentages if controll the ball and don’t make any mistakes you should win the game. It’s. Like the NFL when teams go into prevent defense and teams start moving ball game gets close and they loose instead of what got them lead and be in position of winning game easily. This has been UND’s weakenes and I believe Bubba believes if he took higher risks would maybe lead to his dismissal instead he maintains consistent record year after year but will he ever climb mountain that is big question. SDSU coach steglemeier finally put together team that won it all both of them come from same school of thought and retired after that both him and Bubba built programs from ground up and also worked on facilities and getting support for the programs.

I can’t believe some people here, we are 3-1 with the qb won the fall competition. We lost one qb after this because he wanted to play more and I suspect we will be seeing him playing at top division II next year. Our highly recruited qb that so many love who hasn’t even played quarter is one so many want playing even coaches determined wasn’t ready yet to play. I don’t think this is unusual he is redshirt freshman still learning to play at this. Level besides learning offense. This is quite often path most quarterbacks usually go through to become a starter. Everyone so worried about leaving but if he goes he probably will start over to get playing time and he will need learn new offense with little playing time he is not going to get commitment to start with top FCs or FBs program. Second this is why we have coaches and this there job and if don’t win enough other people will replace them. Let people do there job and judge them after how they have done.if not then see if you can get hired see how you do and be prepared for people that think they know more than you do when you have all the facts.

I don’t know much about details of football when it comes to attacking the opposition but this years team seem to be making adjustments because we’re getting beat at times but then we’re dominating at times to comeback and win football games. I look at the top teams in the valley they are doing the same and they have been struggling to win games. The bottom line is we’re winning games. I have followed this forum since end of last season with everyone bitching about coaching staff and number of players to where I quit looking for a while. I even had doubts when we lost certain players but I think this has been good now because it looks like we now have team bought into coaching staff and staff bought into the players. we may still have poor year but so far this has not happened and still a lot of same people here are not satisfied and seem to want it to happen . I am happy for team, coaches, and looking forward to rest of the season this could be special season and so far very well prepared team.

I agree with how good we can be this coming year, but my hope is group of young players develop and look like they could contend in coming years. We need for some young players step forward and become leaders of this team. The second thing how much longer does Mallory get if we see no progress and were one of the bottom 3 in this conference. I suspect that both of the South Dakota schools return to top of the conference this year. South Dakota State is loaded with talent I believe their bench probable win handily against us. South Dakota new coach I believe will turn the program around and by end of year will be positioned to take second in conference. Oral Roberts is going to continue improve and NDSU will be there by the end of season. KC, Denver, and Omaha will be fighting for the 5 through 7 spots and I believe we will be fighting to stay out the cellar. Only thing makes me think not this core of players Pemberton, Ibrahim, Demers, Schiller and maybe Beal if this is the year she lives up recruiting potential. Several other of the freshman could surprise us but it usually takes year before they contribute. Hurst will be mentioned but unless she develops game playing defense as well as offense, I see no future, but Mallory probably will continue to believe in her. I think there is talent here enough to be 500 team as it stands now and could improve but question will be if Mallory can change her coaching pattern of past few years my guess is no.

By this forum there is zero interest in women’s basketball not single post in three months and very little if any promotion of the program in the media. What is athletic administration doing when it is not promoting one major winter sports I see other Summit league schools have few press releases and few tv spots of players etc. I get feeling they two think this going to bad season and Mallory has been keeping low profile as well it can’t be to long until full time practice begins. If they are to get fans interested need to start promoting this team and give fans something to want to come out see this team. I think they have some exciting players that could surprise a lot of people and adding of new coaches could help turn this program around in developing inside and outside game plus improve their defense.

What I saw in Saturday's game we were getting very little separation by receivers from the defenders and safeties and corners were playing very tight coverages to me this means they had no respect for receivers in deeper patterns of escaping from them to be open. Some of you will think it's the quarterback but I also think it's the receivers you need breakaway speed that allows enough time for the quarterback to be able deliver the football. I guess it's scenario of what's first chicken or the egg. There are things they can do open up passing game and plays to Romfo strengths he is not going to be traditional big quarterback in the pocket, but he has other abilities to stretch the field both vertical and horizontal opening up for big plays. He makes the offensive line be more effective and reduces number of sacks that would happen under traditional quarterback how the season plays out is still to be determined but he has been winner including up to now and let's face he went out won this job it was given to him.

I believe Tom Miller had written that Romfo had strong arm in practices but so far this hasn't been shown in the first two games. Und right now is missing big receiver that can stretch the field Dennis is only one that has shown to have some field stretching capabilities. Belquist is great receiver but more the ball control receiver and does things after the catch. I got to believe they have to be looking for someone to step up for stretching the field my guess its Deng Deng he fits the description with size and speed. I wonder if they aren't waiting for the conference season use his redshirt games before they would pull a redshirt. Belquist and other und receiving targets need this to open the passing game and also will make running game that much more successful and not mention to help Romfo in the passing game.

I just hope we can play well enough to not embarrass us and keep the game respectable. The problem is there are so many changes since last year I don’t think this could lead to complete break down if things go wrong. I have feeling new offensive coordinator and line coach are in for rude awaking in making this jump division I. I believe this was reason for loss of Hagen and Borud they were not buying into this new coaching regime and made up their mind after spring practice. I believe Bubba must have known or had inclination of this but hes old school hard for him to understand kids today. I like Bubba but I wonder if he can adapt fast enough to how college sports are changing. His teams have been well coached and he has coaches that have recruited some good talent but they have not been able to stock pile talent to reach the next level. Even with that they have won enough to make playoffs but he has coached in playoffs playing conservative game but not willing to take high risk and going all out to put teams away early. I thought last year we did that in NDSU game but come after that we crawled back into our shell again. I wonder if that wasn’t reasons Freud move on even to SDSU learn how to win post season.

I guees they feel loss of Omot, tsartsidze,Ihenacho,Daniel’s, and Brooks plus few other bench player is to big of loss to overcome. The question remains then they are not impressed with talent returning in this age of transfers. I think we have some very good talent retiring with King at point guard, Eaglestaff at other shooting guard, Kuljuhovic providing inner presence in paint plus we have another in Mathew’s who can play valuable back for him. Mayst which Summit didn’t get to see will provide dynamic teams will have to defend. Finally will be Mara which nobody will know how he has developed. Then we have Sather new recruits which appear to be some young players with big upside and his track record shows he has been able to bring in but keeping for any le

There is one thing that UND does not have that is media presence especially in TV market. Both NDSU and SDSU have big presence for their football programs. This is important to young athletes they want to have media recognition to help them get money either locally or know that they will be wanted by larger universities to get bigger payday. The times have changed having good facilities and scholarship is given for the top athletes' you people keep wanting to recruit but the truth is Grand Forks has not grown enough to keep what they had, and Fargo has become home of Media in the state and they have no interest in promoting UND football but will do so for UND Hockey. I would like to say things were different, but this has changed, and it has happened in less than 5 years and this happening at all levels even University of Minnesota is similar situation with them competing with the Vikings for Media presence. The second thing is the amount of money we are putting into football has improved but we are still distant second meaning were upper tier of FCS but not elite schools of FCS who all are looking to move to next level.

Sam Houston won in 2020 but they also have left FCS and if you go all the way to the 2000 there are only four teams left have won national championships that are still in FCS or not leaving for FBS. Also, there are only eight other teams that have been FCS champions since it was created still in FCS. Missouri Valley conference has 15 championships and Big Sky has 5 championships all rest of remaining schools in FCS has 5 championships in 45 years of FCS football. The last Big Sky championship was 2009 by Eastern Washington then the next was Montanna in 1995. Otherwise, it has been NDSU and SDSU claiming 11 championships out last 13 championships and probably should have 12 out of 13 if NDSU would have played with their fall team in 2020. Like I have said so much of disappointment here is because of our two closest universities and rivals and not having their success. They're going first to division I has been reason for getting to top FCS because they got jump on recruiting and success just steam rolled because of lack of division I other schools not recruiting in upper Midwest and only having to recruit against Minnesota. The big question what happens in the future for Missouri Valley schools and Big Sky schools are there any conferences willing to take these teams to next level or are we stuck here at this level because of our location and demographics. I think the future for these conferences that top teams of both conferences should be looking to form a new FBS conference and would create natural rivals and local fan interest and they could play other FBS schools also to create fan interest.

I agree with everything you said this movement of players is going to be fact of life and this is at all level of play because your seeing it at the high school level where players are moving to be better program. The players may be loser of this eventually but I have to believe number of schools are going to lose this war to also. I could for see schools dropping number of sports like football because it becomes to costly and without fan support not generating enough revenue. The other choice is dropping down in the sports where you have program but its just not big expense and you can say you have sport. I just see the top P 5 programs going away from NCAA and form top athletic league where they are basically professional sports teams. The upper Midwest teams here are going to struggle because we don't have resources and population to play with big boys and I think donors and Alumni are going to come to point of there is limit they can support these universities and when that happens reality is going to hit home even for ardent fans even on here dream of playing with big schools is not going to happen. The big schools there will not want to play against us because there is no benefit for them financially or interest with there fan base. I just don't seeing it happening and with out some success in trying fans even here will lose interest.

I don’t buy that Sam Haugen family partied to hard and I never would believe that but they like to be together as family and it may have perceived taking Sam away from the team. I think Sam when talking to Izzo today that SDSU players were close and how they responded to him joining the team by shear number of them contacting him personally. He also mentioned number of players who were like him small town kids and coming from agriculture back ground. This difference can only be answered by Haugens and coach Bubba. All I know is Sam expressed location being close to where his family can come see him is important but difference with new coaches had to be great and even Bubba relationship was not enough to keep him at UND. I have to believe there has to be some discussion between Bubba and new coaches loosing starting talent after spring ball is big blow to any football team.

I also going to respond to Sam Hagen why he left UND from what I was hearing. So many of you put it as not staying with coach but reality it’s the opposite for Hagen. He was not buying into the new coaches and what was expected or I should say how they approached what was expected of and detail to the game. He was having trouble with detail of how offense line does things and new coaches it was all about Winona football not enough about UND football how things had been done and what needs to be done to win at Missouri valley level of play. I believe this was correct move for Sam if you can’t buy into what is being asked it’s time to move on. There were other little things that program wasn’t paying attention too that just add reasons for you to leave the program. Also Bubba did a few things last year that I believe upset the family some and it may not seem like much but Hagens are close knit family getting between player and his family is never good place to be. I don’t know total details but it didn’t help in retaining Sam Hagen. This concerns me it was not just Hagen but another starter also left after spring football so there we will see how these new coaches approach works out this fall. Bubba I hope is following closely on the offense because if this goes south UND will struggle to maintain there foot hold in the top of Missouri Valley Conference. I just think Bubba hasn’t realized that players need to be recruited even after several years and if your changing things you better be communicating and giving them reasons to buying into the changes and here what there thinking because now it’s not like in past. players can move on with just going filling out transfer request and coaches from other teams are in ears of many these players. The rules on tampering virtually don’t exist anymore and players are in control of where they are going to play. Coaching today is much more difficult a coach doesn’t have control they had over players and in FCS football has become the minor league teams that supply talent by developing potential players that were not ready to play FBS football and at same time trying to acquire talent that is available from FBS.

I can explain why Bubba was extended it’s that not that complicated. First is that last year’s record with 7-4 regular season record and 7-5 overall record. This coming off previous 7-5 record year earlier. Then add in we had beaten our number rival for first time in over 15 years. Even with the playoff losses the program has been moving higher each year in FCS standings as program. This all been done with most agree where the program has been under funded especially for coaching and compared to our top opposition in the conference. The other thing affecting program was we were losing coaches to our chief rivals and if Bubba was not extended we were going see mass leavings of coaches and players from the program. Also going with this if you let Bubba go like some have supported we would have been looking at starting all over near the bottom of conference and be at lower end of FCS football. Then for number of you then you would see what it looks like looking from the bottom up and try rebuild a program. The fact is we’re not going to make jump to FBS football unless if Missouri Valley and Big Sky would merge top teams into FBS conference and we would then be poor or bottom of FBS football. The game or make up NCAA football has changed with the portal and NIL money and even team to the South or the other in South Dakota I believe the window has closed. The money to move up becomes more than is possible when these schools have budgets for each individual sport that is greater than we could generate. We don’t have resources or the population or tv audience to move up to this league of schools. But back to us we can not take step backwards now or what the athletic program has been trying to build and get donors and alumni to get us to one of the top programs in FCS. I look at number of FCS schools they are going backwards and funding programs at much lower level. I also believe we’re going to see number of FBS schools drop back down to fit in more regionally. I think above reasons why Bubba was renewed. The question I hope that has been addressed Is what would be Bubbas longterm plan on change of coaches like we saw atSDSU when Steigelmeir left the program. This should have been priority with the AD retain coaches and possibility for advancement for tenured coaches. College sports what it was just two years ago has changed where it is no longer amateur sports but professional and where we are going to be minor league school or team developing kids for top p 5 programs. The dream of college sports is done where small school can compete with large schools.

I have to believe that we finish in the top four of the Summit, 19 or better season wins by conference tournament and at least two wins in the conference tournament. The latter is my belief we need to reach a championship game in the Summit. This means we need to win a game in tournament against ORU, NDSU, and SDSU, SDSU I don't think we have a shot at next year and matter a fact I don't think anyone in the Summit has a chance of beating them. That means we need to be in other side of the bracket with other two teams. This is tall order, but she has had time to build this program now if we are going to move forward, she has to make it happen now.

I see we have new recruit in Aniayah Fletcher from Oshawa Ontario from Bond Academy listed at 6’0” and plays forward. I wish her well on joining the team and hope she has standout career with us. I believe this leaves us with one scholarship still open. It’s good to see some activity on roster moves.

NDSU has been adding players recently, they look to be good fits for them with playing experience and size to their roster. On our front things seem to have gone quiet with no new player additions or higher in of assistant coach. Also USD will be having coaching change with Karius moving on. Will be interesting how that affects that program. I hope this is not repeat of last year where things are not finalized until late summer. This team needs to be settled then need to work very hard in off season to get better they need to work on defense and then get offense that compliments their players strengths. I also thought their would be more player movement but I doubt we will see much changes now.

I see that DJ Davis is committing to Moorhead State. It’s been quiet on replacement of assistant coach and few remaining roster spots. SDSU looks to be monster of team for next year and may be one of the best Summit conference has had. NDSU should be number two team but with loss of Heaven Hamling through graduation and Ellie Evan’s through the portal will need to have several girls step up to keep them in second place. ORU should improve but will need to play some defense. USD with Larkins will be in the top four. Rest of Summit conference will all battle to compete with top four. This going to be critical year for Mallory if she will have future at UND. The AD is going to have to be on top this program. I still believe if UND can start put together teams that can compete in Summit and be considered for NCAA tournaments this could become one of most successful sports. But it’s going to take improvement in coaching and AD developing this program. let’s face it Basketball is fan favorite if you have teams that compete look how popular women’s basketball with NCAA was this year.