iramurphy

Behrns was an interesting guy. He was a great recruiter. His assistants at the time didn’t have a lot of D2 experience. UND recruited a number of very good skill players (Willis Jacob, Tracy Martin, Milsen Jones) and won recruiting battles against NDSU. They recruited a number of D3 guys that looked great on paper especially linemen who couldn’t move. I thought Dave Olson and Richman were pretty good coaches but we just didn’t have the team talent or depth. Tom Clifford used to stop in my office now and then while he was waiting for George Schubert to play handball. We had a conversation about our FB struggles and I brought that up. (I also told Pat the same thing after he was let go and he agreed). More than anything, Behrns had lost to the Bison every year after his initial win. After UND he was an assistant at Utah State and eventually HC at UNO where he had some very good teams.

No one shakes a turd down their leg at the NH anymore. Everyone wears depends.

I don’t see Bubba moving to the Alumni office. I don’t see their fundraisers making $250,000 per year and they aren’t going to pay an untested fundraiser more than the people who have been doing a great job fundraising for a number of years. Those people need to be high energy, dynamic personalities that know when and how to “close the deal”. I don’t see that as one of his strengths. Having said that there are some where his personality might be perfect. Lastly, if you have an employee you need to let go, it’s not wise to keep them around. Just my opinion.

New coaches typically hire their own staff. They tend to bring the key guys on their present staff. Some clean house, others keep one or two to try to hold team together until new guys are situated.

Not getting Jerry significant playing time this year has been a big mistake. That also goes for other key backups and potential future starters/key players. I don’t want my backup qb’s first time on the field to be a pressure situation with the game on the line. Sulik should have been given some end of game snaps as well. Guys understand they need to wait their turn but also can see the missed opportunities for playing time. Coaches also need to see how ready their backups are if needed. Practice is a time for evaluation but it isn’t the same as taking snaps with other starters on the field where you don’t get to wear a red target jersey to keep from getting hit. Romfo has made decent progress this season. I will probably always wonder how Feeney would have been but that ship has sailed. Getting players into games is an important part of their development. That includes Jerry and Sulik. If Romfo continues to improve, it may be tough to unseat him as the starter but the other guys need to continue to develop. This game won’t affect the season, but you still want to win it. If we are down or up by 3-4 scores late in 1st half or later, even if Romfo is playing well, I’d put Jerry in. I would also try to get any of my defensive backups who show good potential on the field.

The 6 recruits just signed appear to be a talented group.

Geez guys. This is entertainment for my group therapy companions at the nursing home. They chuckled at my dig at 2 of you but one old guy and 2 old ladies pissed their depends laughing at my obvious inappropriate comment regarding bracelets. Good Good you are right I’m not always mature.

Considering how some of you guys can dish it out, you seem a bit sensitive. Maybe you could wear green bracelets to identify with like minded “experts” so you will always know who it’s safe to talk to. (Apparently, the blue bracelets seem to be the working for an another group of people who are upset).

I thought the problem was the head coach. I have no aversion to UND using donors money to improve the program including changing coaches. I don’t believe those that donate the money are interested in hearing from those who don’t donate as to how to accomplish the task. That is reality. $1,000,000 to buy out a contract isn’t in the budget. I believe it has to come from outside sources.

I haven’t implied anything regarding expectations. I don’t need to interact with UND athletic officials to feel good and to say they could now or ever manipulate me, shows how off subject you can go. I’ve never made the mistake of thinking UND athletic officials like to hear from me. Most wouldn’t know me from the Hoopskirts guy or Goody Goody. I'm not aware that Bubba is a good fundraiser, but I agree he is a nice guy. I make no claim to know more about football than the UND officials. As to the self proclaimed experts on this site, I would be happy to site down and buy you a beer and let you figure out what I may have learned. I may have some experiences regarding turning losing programs around, how quickly successful programs can fail and football at different levels from HS to the NFL that has helped me form my opinions. Having said that I’m fully aware many aren’t interested in my opinions. I had nothing to do with hiring nor extending this coaching staff. I have no idea what your life experiences are, but I would only align myself with those I could count on to bring the needed experience, talent and passion necessary to succeed. I judge those I will team up with as to whether or not I would want to go to war with them. If you fail there, you can end up dead. That’s why watching someone else play football isn’t as important to me. If you fail here you can lose your job and have a bunch of rubes like us argue as to how to make that happen.

That could probably be raised in a week or less.

Then we disagree on the best approach. Another option is to pay a significant amount toward a buyout. If our donations drop significantly, and attendance is markedly down, it makes it more difficult to attract recruits and some potential coaches. If support stays strong, our program is more attractive from the outside looking in. Once donors find other options for donations, a number of them don’t come back. People have posted that our sister school to the south fired a coach who was something like 60-11. I understood boosters showed up with checkbooks rather than abandon ship but I wasn’t there, so I may be wrong. Money talks, especially if it’s someone else’s money. With this problem, is obvious more is said than done.

There seems to be no room for another opinion as to how to accomplish goals. You have no obligation to put up nor shut up, nor did I say that. However, if we want a buyout I think those that do, will need to come up with the money. I don’t expect others to agree nor do I have expectations of what others should do. I think it’s going to take a lot of money to make a change. I’ve tossed in my extra. What others do or don’t do is none of my business. Actually, the opposite of love is hate but we digress. You may also review the definition of apathy.

My mindset is to have athletic teams that compete for league championships, make the playoffs and put a product on the field, ice, court, track that we can support and be proud of. Realistically FB and hockey teams that can and will be national champions and WBB, MBB, VB, Softball etc that can win some playoff games. I will continue to support UND with my attendance, efforts and resources to try to make that happen. Where I differ with some is that I don’t expect any of that to bring me to the table with the decision makers. They will meet with me, talk to me and listen to me just like the rest of you. Also my life is unaffected by the successes or failures of our athletic teams I’m disappointed for the players and coaches but not for myself When I say it doesn’t matter who is to blame it is with all of that in mind. What’s done is done and can’t be changed. The stated objectives and expectations of the athletic administration for football is to win conference championships, make the playoffs regularly, and compete for and win National Championships. One Big Sky title and one MVFC title with a handful of playoff games seems to have resulted in an extension that I disagree with but that ship has sailed so how do we move forward? For me, it isn’t what someone else should do with their money while I sit back and say I’m done until I see results I don’t think Chaves will be let go at this time so the question is the FB staff Regardless of who coaches next year my expectation is a very good recruiting year, conference title, playoffs and success in the playoffs I’ve invested my resources to help make that happen

No, but it’s not his priority nor should it be. The major universities rely on supporters and alumni for key financial projects/programs. If I recall correctly, there are significant funds for athletics including FB, earmarked in the $500,000,000 fundraising campaign. The alumni association has employees specifically assigned to athletics. We can all respond to our frustrations from lack of success in our favorite athletic teams. We all don’t have significant funds to donate when we are trying to raise a family or help our kids in college etc. It doesn’t help “right the ship” faster when we stop attending games, stop donating what we have been etc. I guess I am beyond the blame game. It doesn’t mean I disagree. It’s easy to go that route, but it hasn’t changed anything. Maybe a better course is to recognize the problem and stepping up to say “where can I help”.

Just like some mention numerous times regarding the extension? I wasn’t in favor of the extension but it happened. I pointed out that 90siouxfan hit the nail on the head. $$$. It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. I know that, I don’t need to continue to point out the obvious. But I’m not sure that we (including myself) couldn’t have done more. We haven’t stepped up to markedly improve coaches salaries in all sports except hockey. In answer to your question the answer is yes, it does fall on us as alumni, fans and supporters to come up with significant funds if we want to buyout contracts. Some folks have donated significant funds in the past few years to move the he program forward. Many compare us to the SU’s and USD. We now have the FB facilities , but aren’t quite there yet with salaries. So, we can be frustrated with where the extension has left us or we can do something about it. I may be wrong but an immediate coaching change will cost a lot of money.

I have no idea why Bubba’s contract was extended. You point out the obvious problem to making a change: money. The folks who seem to be demanding a change, aren’t willing or able pony to up $1 million. (One guy who claims to be “retired independently wealthy “ demands a change but isn’t listed as ever giving a substantial donation to UND. There are many more who are frustrated with the lack of success but don’t want to throw money at a contract buyout. No. None of them are making that kind of money.

President Armacost is by far the best President since Tom Clifford. Looking at the more important issues, Enrollment is growing, donations are up, new buildings and remodeling continue and our national reputation grows and the legislators seem to respect him. He isn’t going anywhere. Presidents this good are hard to find.

Of course I do. Why would I think comments from a committed recruits Dad warrant concern? Your vast experience as a player and coach has been so evident in your comments which seldom have any substance to them. Let’s not burn another thread by trading insults. PM me if you and your squad feel inclined. I was hoping we could keep the recruiting thread relatively on subject. Thanks for the reality check.

You are correct and I don’t disagree. I just don’t see the point in inserting the same comments in every thread especially recruiting and especially after reading a comment from a committed recruits Dad. Sorry if you feel I “lashed out”. I keep forgetting what I might feel is my opinion can be hurtful to others. I apologize if you felt that way. You may be surprised at how much we agree on, we have different ways of trying to affect change.

I’m sure you are correct. It’s better to keep saying the same thing over and over again regardless of the thread cuz it has made such a positive difference in the program. Frankly, I have no issues if you wish to trade insults but PM me rather than ruin yet another thread.

So the message here is that recruits should take pause. One of the committed recruits Dad’s had commented on social media regarding this message from our fan base. You’ve made your same point over and over again but you want to drive home your negative message to potential recruits and their families. The fact is the future success of the program depends on recruiting. Would it be that difficult to keep these remarks in the fire coaches thread? I look at this thread to learn how we are doing with recruiting. So do potential recruits. These comments can hurt recruiting. We have enough issues with our on field struggles without discouraging recruits.

You raise a good question. I don’t believe that money will “work its way into athletic onfield performance “ if it means a shift in that support. Personally, although we are behind the SU’s I believe there is enough financial support for our programs to be successful. To me that means competing and frequently winning conference championships in WBB, MBB, VB, Tennis, Soccer and softball. Conference individual championships in Track and CC and occasional, if not frequent, team championships in CC and track. Hockey has the necessary financial support and the goal should be league and national championships and qualifying for playoffs yearly. Back to FB. Our standard should be qualifying for playoffs yearly, frequent league championships, more than our share of national championships and position our program to move to FBS if an attractive opportunity arises. In my mind, if we are already covering “allowed expenses, Alston program awards, and whatever the athletes add through NIL, our biggest need is coaches salaries. That will likely need to come from new money/donations. For too long, too many of us are waiting for the “big donors” to take care of these shortcomings. It’s been easy to do in hockey thanks to one major donor along with our sport with our largest fan base, also supporting generously. With FB when our team has failed to meet our expectations, we respond with many people canceling season tickets, refusing to attend games, and some donors discontinuing donations. Our collective response should be the opposite. We should continue to support our teams and our players. We don’t have to be happy with the results but they need our support. How many of us couldn’t dig deep to commit an additional $1000-$2000 per year. (For some of you just cutting your booze budget 10% would more than cover). I’m ok with the “squad groupies” hammering me for this opinion, but coaches salaries are one of the obvious areas we have been too slow to fix. If we want the next DeBoer, we need to be prepared to pay, not only the HC, but also the assistants. Same goes for our other non-hockey sports. I have learned over the years so many critics (not just in sports) always have great ideas how to build, expand, improve things as long as it’s someone else’s money and the subsequent product for us to enjoy or benefit from, doesn’t require much time, effort, or money from us. But I’m just one of the pissants from the outside looking in who doesn’t want to sit on my ass waiting for someone else to get things done

I think his next move will be FBS.

Got it.