ND-fan

I was looking at other Dakota Schools staff when Schmidt took the position it was stated they get recruiting coordinator but was there allowance for additional coaches and support staff. I was looking at what Bubba had for staff compared NDSU we had at least 5 less coaches and no quality control people for both the offense and defense. Not to mention other support staff so if we are going to compete are we also increase whole football operations to keep up with leaders in the conference. Seems to me if we are going to reach stated goals we spent ton facilities now administration is going to also need spend money on staff to utilize our new facilities to the maximum. I was surprised how the staffs at other schools have grown in past couple of years and we hadn’t progressed like them. We were just catching up in strength and conditioning which we had been behind. I wonder how much this hags been happening in other sports as well. The question is this because of our coaches not progressing fast enough or is it administration not keeping up to changes in athletics and us being behind the curve to keep at top in division I sports. If we are behind like I think we are going to need to get ready for larger budgets in the athletic department.

Could be all Missouri Valley football final if South Dakota upsets Montana State putting championship game rematch of either Jacks win over South Dakota in overtime or South Dakota win on final regular season with ending of big pass to beat the Bison. South Dakota will be by far toughest opponent Montana State will face since facing Cal Davis out in California. Montana state playing South Dakota will be toughest opponent they will have played this year and they are lucky to be playing them at home. The other conferences in FCS level is closer to the bottom of Valley and Big Sky conferences. If Valley and Big Sky merged with top teams out both conferences they would have makings of FBS conference and these schools have resources to play at that level with exception of TV contract to help fund these schools.

I. The problem again is turnovers we had 21 and it resulted in 32 points off turnovers and somebody mentioned NDSU against Drake they only had 10 turnovers and they are just as young a team as we are. It’s not just number of turnovers but it’s point differential between us and opponents. This is why we need to take care of ball because Drake had 32 points off turnovers out of 82 points for 39% of their points. I get it Mallory wants to play up tempo but you also need to play under enough control to limited number of turnovers. If we don’t get handle un this we are not going to win many games. Mathern looks like another positive to this years recruiting class she has length and has quickness to play at the D I. Peikny this year recruiting class she looks to be good recruit again has some length and again has quickness.Schiller top recruit this year also has this quickness and Volmer also has quickness to play guard. This group with Sophomores of Pemberton, Ibrahim and Horne make for good future for this team What they need isanother couple of bigger post players to help control in paint. Demers I think will get better but she needs to work on getting herself better body position when she is smaller than her opponent and experience will correct this.

This years offense was by no means the best offense UND put on the field but was adequate to still be effective offense. We started with three quarterbacks with limited playing time and favorite did not come out winner quarterback competition. Oh by way it was one with least pedigree and not one of other two 6’3” quarterbacks that is typical quarterback. Trey could chuck the ball but if probably look at his total film he had limited movement in pocket and very limited running ability so he would have limited our offense which had been case previous couple years with Tommy. Second we had red shirt freshmen with very limited play with great pedigree from Wisconsin large school for football fan natural winner to be playing right away. If he would have been ready I have know doubt he would have played. The problem is he wasn’t ready yet to play and even Tom Miller confirmed this in his watching practices. Romfo started the season he made mistakes but considering this was his first time playing was doing enough to win and if you would look as season he continued improve as season went along. The problem he had limited number offensive weapons he could go to . He had Bo but from there other receivers couldn’t stretch the field and often dropped passes or were us able toget themselves open. We did not have much option at tight end to go to either. He did create offense by his rushing but when we’re already having line stacked and not having more than one receiver to stretch the field or tight end that could catch something up the middle offense becomes predictable. I don’t know what will happen this coming year but my guess is maybe we can bring in quarterback but what happens then do they keep quarterbacks in program or do we start over for the future. I have to believe if there are big changes coming in program it’s going to be additions to the defense if we’re going to even have winning record that assumes we return majority of best players on offense. If we loose some top talent then program will be complete rebuild and have probably 2 or 3 win season. Then looking at year three before we get back above 500 this is best case scenario because of the portal. I look at teams that have tried to rebuild totally by portal hasn’t worked very well at the FCS level. I am confident coach Schmidt will be able to get us to winner but it may not be as fast as some of the people think and I will be curious how much patience here on the board before we start having doubters. the best thing I have heard in comments is revamping of recruiting system for the program I believe that will play biggest improvement to the system. It takes time and people to sell program and get players wanting to come here. This is not to mention I have to believe coach Schmidt will take advantage of our new strength and conditioning program since being apart of elite FBS programs.

Schmidt on paper to be excellent choice for coach and I am excited to see what happens with the program. The questions that remain and to be decided who will be the coordinators and how these new coaches structure the team in systems they will play under remember we probably will need the right personnel if we change systems. We have recruited class that may not fit the new structure we may want to play. It also known we need big influx of defensive players if we want to improve our defense how many scholarships and money do we have to bring in group of players. I would guess we will see some players leaving but usually its talent we don’t want to loose. This is going to be interesting big challenge for new head coach. Second will we retain any of the present staff or is this total turn over staff other than one or two carry over to have some coaching contact with the players. Everyone here thinking change the coach we’re going to be contending next year maybe a bit optimistic this is going to take two or three years to do if things go well. This new coaching staff needs to recruit and start winning recruiting battles against Dakota schools if we going to be successful. This going take effort from coaching staff, administration, donors, fans, and finally the players that are playing here or are going to play here. I am optimistic we can do this and reach our goals. But getting back to present staff, number of them will be gone but the program owes debt of gratitude to number of them for the effort and loyalty right up to the end of their tenure here. These people are quality individuals and I would like to thank them for their efforts and loyalty to the program.

How do we continue to have this amount of turnovers after this many games into the season. Is it we don’t work on pressure defense bringing the ball up and continue to make poor passes, and finally how many travels with the ball. This has to go to the head coach and her offense philosophy and what she expects in executing the offense. I come to conclusion because we have gone through at least three groups of players with same results under Mallory. I have hoped Mallory would turn corner we would start playing smart and fundamental type of game. Jordy Collin’s was hired at about same time Mallory was hired who’s program is better now very little doubt he has brought his program to second in Summit behind SDSU. I look at roster we have, and the talent we have we should be playing with NDSU not playing to four or five in the Summit. The question is do you think Mallory can turn the corner and become coach people thought she could become when she hired. I have been flipping on this question myself and knowing that this group I believe has been working on this and I see step or two ahead then we go back step or two. But my patience is wearing thin and I believe we should be one of the top schools in women’s basketball if Roebuck had been coach now he would have not put up this kind of play.

Terrible start to game and here we go again with the turnovers. Step forward and now to steps backward.

I believe Mallory has her best group of assistant coaches since she has been head coach. My analysis of this we’re getting better 3 point shooting you can see girls are getting themselves set to take shot by getting squared to basket and getting their feet set to take shot. They are better at playing defense and seem to be getting better as season progresses. Third we are running some assembalnce of offense but as mentioned not changing to defense but this goes to Malory she is running the team on the floor. She might need to do more on floor strategy with her assistants. The reason this team has been more fun to watch we’re playing as team and we’re playing better fundamentally and correcting things. The last road trip we struggled but coming home I see they worked on things in past didn’t see this happen. I also think why we’re seeing some players like Beal making strides as player.

I don’t know who next coach is going to be but my guess is Fruechte after signing day with all recruits signed there has to be some confidence number of coaching staff will be here. Chaves is going through motions of looking for new coach but I think this has been decision unless somebody came up to be good to be true. He also agreed to pay existing staff extra month and if they were really going to blow things up they might not have done that. Only other surprise would be if kostich is considered.d for the job. Even if fruechte is the chosen there will be number of coaching changes because I have to believe defense is going to see changes in coaching and somebody like Kostich might move on where he has chance to move up. I expect announcement by Friday.

I believe one biggest requirements is coach here that has contacts and ability to recruit kids out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota This program doesn’t reach next level unless we start winning the recruiting battles against NDSU, SDSU, and USD because how good your coaches are we need raw talent for them to succeed. Bubba was never able to overcome this and especially on defense side of the ball we had defense could have been top in division II or in Big Sky average defense but not in the Valley. This showed up in playoffs and also in the valley where our undersized defense wore down as season went along to where they couldn’t stop teams consistently and at same time kept our offense off the field keeping the strength of team being factor in the game.

The idea of all these people coming town in three day period seems unrealistic to me. My bet a lot of these interviews are being done on Skype and then finalist will fly in for in person interview. I am just guessing but it’s probably down to two or three candidates and number of people mentioned on here may never apply with openings in the country and coming openings on such short notice. I can tell you it’s just no the job but if spouse and family are willing to pack move to Northern North Dakota. This is not to mention compensation package we’re offering and what they are being paid or will be offered elsewhere. My hope it’s somebody that can recruit and is willing to build program into something special.

I looked at the box score and I was surprised with Ibrahim minutes but also with number minutes by starters when we are only half done with preseason to conference play. This is young team and team that needs to build some depth and it appears we have decided on starters and rotation of several players all players with most playing time or experience with exception Schiller who played minutes like Kacie did last year did today. It showed in our play today we had two starters combined 1 for 20 shooting. It also showed in our defense we were slow covering and got out rebounded badly. Tell me how this improved our fundamental basketball when we were tired playing back to back games. Mallory talked about being ready for league tournament how about building team that learns to play game correctly we will get better shape as season goes along this long season . How’s building some confidence, this young team and if they start loosing like we are now with 5 game losing streak it just becomes learned pattern and does nothing to playing fundamental game. Mallory is going back to her history just play experienced instead developing some of her new recruits this is going to another frustrating year. Mallory hasn’t improved as coach in her five seasons and has gone through number of assistant coaches but we end up with same results.

I just got done watching the Marist game and I don’t know how but this team has regressed, but we are mirroring like last year. We have gotten away from team play into everyone looking for their shot especially from the three. Owen’s has gained playing time but I think when she is in there we get away from our offense. What happened to Volmer playing time I know she is freshman but she gives us length like Horne does only way she can learn is with some playing time. Mallory better look at film this week because she got this team going in wrong direction to much individualism and not team play.

Women’s sports under Chaves has been disaster we have been close to having winning program since he has entered position of AD. Also all the coaches are his hirings and at volleyball ball on his second hiring.this is not track record to be proud of prior to his coming here we had several championships in volleyball, basketball, and we’re top one or two in soccer. There has been no push by athletic department to improve performance. I have to believe Chaves hasn’t held winning as priority but other performances by players and coaches for the program but bottom line winning is ultimate goal especially at division I level.

There’s know way we turn this around until we clean up ball possession can’t have 20 plus turnovers a game. I know Hutter as coach knows how to clean this up has been coaching to long not know Mallory needs to use her assistant coaches to get this fixed. This team can be good we have talent if we can play as team and start playing smart not forcing tempo and work on getting good looks after they work there offense on inside to outside game. If this doesn’t happen we’re finish in bottom three of the conference.

I am surprised, pressure from donors must have been there to get Bubba to step down and athletic department must have got permission or president pushed for change to come up with money for this transition. Second they probably have successor for the program probably lined up like some have stated. I was wrong I just didn’t think UND was ready to spend this amount of money it will be interesting how this plays out for athletics department. I was only right that UND wouldn’t fire Bubba because that is long term history with UND if you have been part of family and given total commitment when you’re there it usually doesn’t nasty.

I just don’t think the way UND history on firing coaches goes that Mcfeely knows very little about is that if Bubba gets fired that would happened last Sunday or Monday.My guess is we hire new defensive coordinator and possibly the future new head coach very similar to way South Dakota State had with their long term coach. Then come next year we have partial buyout of Bubbas contract and he takes position in athletic department to reaching near buyout of his contract. This puts in place a plan where there is not total blow up football program. Administration with title IX problems ahead will not to want to take on additional financial expenditures because I have to believe this going to become costly thing for athletic department. This problem could open up title IX problems going back to women’s hockey. The complaints for soccer facilities I believe are real I look at other conference members have for facilities to what we have and looking at up grades to football, hockey, and not to mention up to recently women’s sports mostly competed off campus venues or shared with men’s sports. I got off track here but for football fans here there is much more going on here than you think.

Recruiting even high regarded recruits are still crap shoot unless your big time FBS schools even then many fail to make grade. We from outside don’t Know how these quarterbacks are performing and time effort they are putting in and they have tremendous amount athletic ability but now requires mental ability to understand offenses and defense do it on quick basis. This requires time varies from player to player.Romfo has had to show this because being walk on from small school behind of number of highly recruited players still to be considered shows he has ability to play the position. Second he has had to do this with two different offensive coordinators.Finally Jerry may eventually win this position but many of you forget here is Jerry is still only freshman I don’t see to many freshman playing significant minutes playing time for young quarterbacks is starting when they are sophomores. Trey should have been one getting playing time this year but he chose to leave and find position he would get more playing time this told me he probably going down division to get this and he didn’t think he could be starting quarterback. NDSU quarterback Cam Miller has been exception to this but look he is being considered For NFL again in there recent condition. I would like for us recruit NFL caliber quarterback but we need to reach next level where players of that level would consider coming here. I even think that NDSU may not be able to recruit that level talent now because FCS and FBS have separated because of money flowing to FBS. Even if FCS team does recruit player of that level he will be scooped up by FBS with money they can offer players today. The problem with this team wasn’t on the offense this year but the defense side we had at beginning of year when everyone was healthy at best average defense. There are number of good defense players but just not enough of them. We need to recruit bigger up front people like we have the offensive side. Second we also need faster and quicker people on backside and outside plus having more depth. The offense needs to improve also with faster and quicker people on receiving end 75% of receiving was dependent on Boe. We also need to have tight ends that can be offensive threat. The change in FBS roster sizes I believe is going to be opportunity for UND to build program through transfers this coming year. Second FCS is basically coming down to Valley and Big Sky conferences. The majority of FCS teams are not going to fund support football to level of these two conferences especially top of both these conferences. The next several years are going to be interesting where all this shakes out.

Belquist not having more completions is result in not having another receiver that could stretch field and get themselves open in the mid range. Second not having couple of tight ends that could become pass option other than in less 10 yards of the line. Finally how many times when we’re on road teams were stacking box just covering Bequist but we were bound to running the football because we determined we are going to run the football even when we’re out numbered at line of scrimmage.

The difference of points off turnovers is difference in this game was 11 points . If you look at other things in box score you would have thought we should have won this game. Still was good game for this team in learning to play against pressure defense. This team is showing promise of being better team than predicted. They are young team and learning to play together. Schiller going to be good player build around. The team that played today looks to be players are going to work in rotation. Still couple players may have roll to play with this team.

No comments on the Montana game from anyone. My thoughts are I have watched UND for ever and since Brewster was head coach and Bernhard was assistant we have had to many turnovers as team. This has been downfall for UND for over a decade of basketball and coaching staff hasn’t been able to improve on this problem. Look at top team in conference South Dakota State when they have two thirds of the turnovers as we do they are not happy with there play. This has to go to coaching and only coach here for that long is Mallory so it has to do with coach not working on ball security and wanting something else in their offensive scheme to continue to have high number of turnovers. At this level of play it something shouldn’t be tolerated. Second we continue to need work on our defense being able to recover when help is needed on drive penetration . this is still better than last years team looks to be better but like mentioned we need more length and quickness. They need work on their shooting as team.

I think article on FBS in Herald by Tom Miller is probably is opening of what administration plan for UND football. With change in FBS rules on roster size we’re are seeing how UND rebuild program in short order. The question then does become is it at the top or is it at coordinator levels how they choose to improve the program. My bet is at coordinator level because of cost of buy out for Bubba. The saving of this money then can be used to hiring top coordinator who could become in house candidate for future coach. Second UNd probably willfind top talent to build up defense as well build with longterm recruits to keep program competitive.Third with.change of FBS rosters players transferring from FCS probably is going to be reduced and possibility of dropping down could easily occur for players that do transfer. I got to believe will only be top FCs players that will be moving. This is going effect teams above us in Valley more will they be able to retain talent that has chance to play in the NFL this will be players that FBS will be looking at encouraging to go into the portal. College football world is changing FCS is definitely will be level of talent between FBS and Division II. The days where NDSU will have seven or eight NFl players on roster is going to disappear and if you have players of that ability will be gone after season with you. But getting back to Und I can see where they will choose to replace part of coaching staff and Bubbas fate will come when he is closer to end of his contract. I could be wrong and I am speculating on this but more of on field coaching will be done by coordinators and Bubba will be more general manger handling day to day business affairs of the team. This will follow UND conservative approach on handling personnel and business end of athletics. History of UND is they are family like organization very rarely have people been fired publicly but changes usually occur behind the scenes which I think has been in process will see how plays out in next month.

Everyone is talking about losing players but I think greater loss could be in the coaching staff after the season. It’s my understanding there is large number of already coaching changes and will create number good openings for young coaches to move up in coaching ranks. We are also talking coaching change the loss of better coaches is probably going to happen. If this happens then these coaches leaving will have number of players to follow. We saw it with Freud number players either followed or went else where. Administration will need to address the future program with finish of the season. This means if Bubba will be retained or if choose to retain Bubba then I believe keep coaching staff in place will require new defensive coordinator and probably several other defense coaches let go and new defensive coordinator ready to be put in place and real change philosophy on how we Play defense and real commitment to find players that will be of caliber to play in Valley conference. A failure of this will be continue decline in the program. If administration tries to kick the can down the road we will just continue to be in bubble where everyone bitching and taking shots at the program. Administration finally take stand and put forth plan and what is expected from the program.I think a lot of people here grade on win and losses but administration does grade on wins and loses but also other important measures like student GPA, community service, fund raising, alumni relations, program having little player problem in the community, and attendance at games compared to peer schools. This has to be established so everyone knows why things are done but then puts more pressure on administration because the public can voice their concerns and what changes can be made. I do think changes need to be made but problem we have here is administration has been kicking can down the road we have master facility plan but we don’t have master plan on direction of the programs in athletic department goals they expect to be achieved by program if we’re getting close or not meeting goals but this then gives public something to also measure administration..

I am tired of argument for giving Jerry playing time he still freshman and coaching staff chose Simon and he has continued to improve as the season has gone along. If Schuster had been able to run like Simon on previous years teams we would have been much better team and had as good arm to go deep we had been playoff team with few wins. Simon is our starting quarter back and this may not please people here but coaches feel he is future of program for one more year. Jerry has his time coming in a year or something happens to Simon. Second people on this board need to be realistic we’re not just going win national championship even if we have change in head coach. We’re far from having program that can move to top of FCS. here are the facts yes we have improved facilities to be one of the better programs in FCs. The money is not there to pay for keeping coaches and finding coaches to want to come here and compete against other Dakota Schools. The money for recruiting and our history since jumping to division I has been insufficient to be destination for recruits coming here from our recruiting area. This leaves us with looking for talent from recruits from other top regions of the country but this comes with finding players that buy into team concept. The other part is will local fans come watch team that doesn’t have regional players South Dakota has been doing this but their attendance is down even when there winning. Finally we’re known as hockey school media attention is there not good for attracting top flight talent because today’s players are looking to get looked at by pros. This isn’t impossible to overcome but it’s going to take administration and alumni going extra mile to move the program forward. But support will not only be for football but other major sports will need similar support and funding if this going to be accomplished. I agree changes need to be made but my gut feeling old school alumni are not there and administration is not ready to do anything because cost to make changes without key money support to do so. This leaves us with changing of defensive coordinator and probably several other coaches. If this direction they go, need coordinator can bring in talent immediately and be able recruit talent that fits to size of the Valley. I could be wrong Bubba may just steps down after the season is done and then we will find out where we stand as program if this happens.. I am just speculating here but I don’t see any easy fixes but I look with the exception of few in FCs of five or six teams at top everyone else is dropping back because most schools are not able to fund their programs like NDSU and SDSU and Montana schools that leaves us with decision of if we can reach that level of support.

I am curious how they are adding 3 signees for next year with 15 on team and all them not seniors so who is leaving or who is not on scholarship this year.