iramurphy

That is a rumor. It depends on what we mean by $50,000. If you mean in addition to the extra expense money allowed by the NCAA and Alston/701 initiatives, I would bet that isn’t accurate. If you consider these athletes can obtain around $3000 for expenses, which UND gives, and whatever the Alston max is ($8-10000?) each year, that is around $10,000-$12,000 per year. The Alston money is dependent on grades, leadership, community service. That can be around $50,000 or a bit more for a 4 or 5 yr college career. JTJ and a select few may get a bit more. UND’s philosophy at this time is to provide enough for athletes to be able to pay for the usual extras for college students and enough money to help their parents get to games. I golf occasionally with one one NDSU’s biggest and wealthiest boosters. He hates the NIL and portal. He said they don’t give NIL money to incoming freshmen. He said they have a year to prove themselves as athletes and students. He said that includes their incoming star qb whom he had met.

All of what money? How much do you think he is getting?

Good question. I’m not sure my answer will be any better than yours or anyone else’s. As you and most here know 3-4 def needs 3 down linemen to occupy 3 and hopefully 4 offensive linemen to keep them off of the 4 LB’s. They also need to plug up the middle against the run and create gaps against pass defenders to allow blitzing LBS or DBs to pressure the QB. The LBS need to plug gaps against the run and the outside guys may often have outside contain. Those LBS need to cover TEs RBs and slot receivers depending on your secondary coverage. As far as Cover 1 vs Tampa or Tampa 2 I didn’t pay close enough attention to comment much on how Bubba typically deployed them. The big concern was our DBs didn’t seem to close on receivers as they crossed into their areas of responsibility as well as we would hope. the 4-2 obviously has 4 linemen with DEs who are playing the edge position. Our edge guys can hopefully put pressure on the qb or shutdown the outside game against the run. They may also need to cover the TE or slot receivers depending on where our 5th DB is. I would guess if we can do some twists on the LOS and bring pressure from one of our 5 DBs and disguise our schemes we can be a tough defense to adjust to. I don’t know how they will deploy our secondary but they will all need to tackle. Their work in the film room and meetings is so whatever the coaches are seeing from the box is what the players are seeing on the field. We have a couple of guys on this forum who played DB around the time Bubba coached defense and Schmidt played/coached who could probably give a better answer. If I had to guess, I think we will tackle better and be quicker this year. Offensively, so much depends on QB and whether or not we can protect the ball. We certainly have weapons. But that wasn’t your question.

Beating KState would be a major upset. I think I can summarize some of the obvious things we need to stay in the game. Special teams must have solid kick and punt coverage and avoid any long returns. No missed tackles. Hopefully our kicker can put KO’s in the end zone. No roughing punter or kicker penalties. No blocked punts. Hang onto FB on all punt and KO returns. No mental errors. Defensively, figure out how to cover KState TEs and backs out of backfield in passing game. Keep receivers in front of our defenders. That means our zone coverage guys need to get on receivers as they enter their zone. That is a tough challenge for most teams at all levels if opposing qb’s have time to throw. Defenders need to stay home on defense and not over pursue/run themselves out of the play. We can’t miss tackles and we can’t drop potential interceptions. We can’t have missed tackles. We have to avoid mental errors and we need to avoid personal fouls, unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Our new defense has to maintain outside contain while still getting pressure on the qb. Offensively, we want to run themselves FB but we will also need our short passing game. It’s tough to protect our qb against good FBS teams cuz even their big guys tend to be fast. Deng Deng can be a weapon with his size and athletic ability wherever he is on the field. Hoskins has the speed and quickness to make guys miss and can break tackles. He and Seidel can be tough to cover on wheel routes. We need to involve our TE’s especially as safety valves. If we have time to throw we have receivers who can get downfield. No fumbles, no dropped passes. No mental errors including personal fouls, unsportsmanlike, and delay of game penalties. The running game is expected to be our bread and butter. I think we have 5-6 guys who can be effective RBs but the key in addition to QB is our oline going to be a dominant force for us this year. I don’t know who will be the qb and, like last year, I don’t care. The QB who plays is obviously the guy the staff thinks will give us the best chance to win. Whoever it is needs to protect the ball and move the chains. New Year, new era, Go Hawks!

Nice start to the season for our soccer team. Beat Eastern Washington 4-0 today. They are now 3-0. Play Jamestown Sunday at home.

Jayden Sonnenberg is a 2026 recruit from Frazee, Mn, so she can’t sign yet. I believe she is the commitment Hutter referred to in his Monday.

I don’t think that if you sat down with the coaches, you would listen to them explain how decisions are made. Believe what you wish. If it makes you feel better, the head coach is responsible for all team decisions and subsequent results.

Some of us may know who chose the starting QB. You can think what you wish. Where did you get the idea that it was the decision of only one guy? Whoever starts at KState, means that is the guy this staff decided will give them the best chance to win. It has nothing to do with last year’s decision.

Sonnenberg?

I would agree that if Simon starts it it would be because of dramatic improvement from last year. I think the same could be said about JK. It seems none of them have yet shown the consistency needed to clearly grab the lead, it will be a “work in progress “ and I would include SR. I considered his entire season last year as a “work in progress “. Just my opinion.

I believe Rudy made the comment to another player. Either way, it was a reflection on Rudy. Regardless of anything else, you don’t do that to a player who ruptured his Achilles playing for you, without giving him a chance to return. Although I have heard (second hand) that JK is leading the competition to be the starter this fall, this staff is giving SR a chance to compete. Mollberg should have been given the same chance after his injury. That ship has long sailed so it no longer matters. I don’t care which of the 4 guys they choose, it will be whomever the coaches think gives this team the best chance to win. I believe it’s a “work in progress” no matter who starts.

If you don’t know who made the decision by now, I doubt you ever will. It wasn’t one guy. At this point it no longer matters.

Feb. 2025 Article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported the University of Wisconsin study comparing high school football players who wore the guardian caps vs those that didn’t during practice. Over 2600 players from 41 schools were involved. 33 kids who wore the caps suffered concussions vs 31 kids who suffered concussions but weren’t wearing guardian caps. What has been shown is that wearing the caps can decrease the impact force but doesn’t decrease concussions. There was no statistically significant difference in concussions in those 2 groups. Because of the increased size and speed in college and professional football players it can’t be assumed results would be the same. There is some early evidence that the caps may decrease concussions in NFL players. However, there is still no conclusive evidence whether or not guardian caps decrease concussions in college or professional players.

Add to list of 2026 offers: Jayden Sonnenberg 5’11” C/G from Frazee Mn. (She was offered before start of her junior year) Very athletic, plays guard but also plays center. Decent 3 point shooter.

On paper, that would be a great option. Maybe a little early for that decision. I would guess coaches are still evaluating which lines are developing a chemistry with each other, which guys have the ability to make teammates better and what combos give this team the best chance to win.

If Simon starts again he will have earned it. I think most people think it will be Javance or Jerry. Why should it bother anyone if others disagree? You believe it’s Jerry and it could very well be but you don’t support your opinion by ragging on one of his teammates. I’ve coached and played here (albeit years ago). I’ve been around UND FB for more years than a lot of you are alive. I’ve been around UND players and coaches for many years. I’ve sat down and had beers with many of them (mostly to listen and learn). I’ve had meals or beers with multiple NFL players and coaches over many years. (One of the NFL owners stopped by my table in a restaurant and introduced himself and his wife to my wife and I). My experiences have given me opportunities to observe and learn. My experiences are what I base my opinions on. I share that only to emphasize that even with that background I couldn’t tell you who the starter will be. I can tell you, my opinion doesn’t mean anymore than yours or anyone else’s. However, I can tell you that I admire what Romfo has accomplished and I would predict that there are a lot of teams that see the value that he brings to this team and would bring to almost any team whether he starts, is backup, or doesn’t see the field. Whoever is the starter will be the guy that the coaches and players believe in and who gives them the best chance to win. Lastly, I don’t give a rat’s ass whether or not he would make the Fargo team.

He has already made the team. The subject of the thread is “Who is QB1?” I’m pretty sure they mean in 2025. Repeating your usual drivel about last year doesn’t add anything to the discussion. There are others who have an opinion on who they think will be the starter and can state their opinion without having to repeatedly berate a guy who played hurt, didn’t quit, and is back trying to help this team get better. Why don’t you focus on your guy instead? He has a lot of potential and could be the starter.

My post has nothing to do with the last 20yrs. My post wasn’t making excuses nor even commenting on the programs struggles. My post was responding to your assumption that the starting QB decision was made by a HC against recommendations by his staff that they were then forced to accept. down to how staff felt about who should start and who typically makes the decision. I never said I agreed or disagreed with the decision. I never commented on the HC issues. I asked some of the decision makers (Bubba wasn’t one I talked to). That works better than riding by on a bike. Regardless of where Romfo ends up on the depth chart, it has nothing to do with last year. It has to do with who the staff believes will give them the best chance to win. I’m not coaching anymore so I am not foolish enough to think I know who that will be. You do realize it’s not Romfo’s fault he was chosen to start. It’s not Romfo’s fault the other 2 QB’s didn’t get playing time (they should have). All Romfo did was show up, work his ass off and when his name was called he did his best. He didn’t select himself to start. Let last year go, foster your boy crush on JK and see if he becomes the starter. It’s a new staff and lots of new players. If you think UND FB is a “crap show” you know less about FB and achieving success that I thought you did ( which isn’t much).

It wouldn’t validate anything other than 3 guys moved ahead of him on the depth chart. Your “theory” has been debunked. You obviously haven’t had extended conversations with different coaches (if any at all). You don’t have a clear understanding of how and why coaches decisions are made. Danny had mentioned in the fall of 2023 how impressive Simon had been looking then. Coaches make position decisions as a staff. Normally, the position coaches and coordinators. “Forcing” a decision on one’s staff, isn’t typically done, and not part of Bubba’s MO. The players and staff are at practices, meetings, film study, the weight room and team social gatherings. If the players gravitate to a leader it becomes obvious to the coaches. It’s a big part of the decision and I was told that was a huge factor. The same evaluation takes place each year. We will see which of these guys can accomplish that, read defenses, minimize mistakes and maximize their physical and intellectual talents to give this team the best chance to win. What won’t happen is a decision made on just the “eye test”. It won’t be made because of height, weight and HS accomplishments. ( those are factors that help get them here, but they have to earn their way to the top of the depth chart). Your cheap shots show a lack of FB knowledge and a lack of class. Romfo has already “made the team”. Calling him “Rombo” is typical of keyboard warriors and uncalled for. Who the hell even thinks of stupid stuff like falling from a starter down the depth chart behind lasts year’s backups? Are you really hoping for a conversation about that?? Romfo is actually a story of a small town kid who proved himself a winner and champion as a multi sport athlete and earned a spot on an FCS FB team. He gradually worked his way up earning the starting QB position (nobody gave it to him). He may never play another down at UND but he has earned our respect and appreciation.

Oline should be better. A lot returning. I think we will be fine at receiver. Deng Deng will be a matchup problem for everyone. Hoskins and Tai are fast and very quick. Strandell is developing into a very good receiver. Demontagnec has shown he can be very good but must be consistent and can’t drop the easy ones. Dennis has good speed and experience. The transfers Fleming and young showed they can play. They were still adjusting this spring. The biggest question at TE is whether or not they work the TE’s into the passing game. Kuntz and Behymer can catch. We are good at RB with the returning guys. We should be better with the guys we added. QB is anyone’s guess. No way to know if or how much the injury hampered Romfo. I don’t know what the injury was nor the surgery he had. We will see how he responds. We have 3 highly recruited guys with strong arms and good athletic ability. If none of them can progress to the extent it takes to lead this team, we have the returning starter coming off of injury/surgery. I think all four are mobile enough. We need to see who can carry this team with their feet and their arm. So far I don’t believe it’s clear who that guy is.

Romfo was the QB last year because he earned it. It was a staff decision. It wasn’t forced by Bubba on the rest of the staff. Romfo “had the locker room”. The players gravitated to him. (Same factor when Studsrud became starter). He also had the players gravitating to him. I continue to believe we had QB’s with the potential that needed PT last year. That is important for backups at all positions. I didn’t see any of our QB’s perform consistently enough in the spring scrimmage to say that we have our QB yet. I believe the QB position is our biggest concern right now offensively. However, the spring scrimmage was one day. It will be interesting to see how all 4 of these guys have progressed over the summer and into fall camp. Regardless of any hype, the other players have to believe in the QB. This is a different team than last year. Whoever earns the starting spot must establish themselves as the guy the players look to and the guy the coaches trust to lead.

There are 3 “prized recruits” and Romfo.

He could be, but I didn’t hear them mention that. Still TBD.

Had an offer from NDSU.

College sports camps are an important piece in the recruiting process. The athletes get a week on campus, a week with that schools coaches, an opportunity to meet players on the team, and often an opportunity to interact with fellow recruits. The coaches and potential future teammates get a chance to learn how a potential recruit responds to their coaching, how they treat support staff, how they interact with other kids etc. Its a good idea to attend camps at schools the athlete is interested in.