iramurphy

I can. As I said before, I’m not one of the decision makers. I don’t think there is going to be a change based on the contract and based on a Big Sky and MVFC championships and this years playoff team. I had higher hopes for this years team as did many of the rest of you. My expectations are for us to be better next year. We have a good nucleus of RBs, TEs, OL, WRs and 2 returning QBs who have proven they can be effective. These guys all need to continue to get better. We need to improve every position and our depth with our guys we redshirted and any new transfers. We can’t afford to lose any through the portal. Defensively is a different story. We need help across the board even though we have a handful of guys who have shown they can play. We need to improve our depth in addition to adding starting talent at the obvious positions. Hopefully our new kicker will be as good as advertised. The coaches have from now until next fall to move things forward. I will continue to support the program and the coaches hired to get the job done. I’m just a fan like the rest of you. The fan forum is entertaining and a source of information for me. It should be ok to have different perspectives.

My comments about Charles Shaw didn’t include anything about Bubba. I said Bubba put together a strong staff I didn’t say he was a strong coach. I said I thought Bubba and staff had done a good job recruiting. I didn’t say I was satisfied and I didn’t mention Detroit Lakes. In fact I said we need to get better. Bubba doesn’t recruit DL by the way. DL is assigned to one of the assistants. There is nothing “ smoke and mirrors “ about my comments regarding that our comments on SS.com won’t be part of the discussion regarding coaching decisions. Bubba just got an extension and they got to the playoffs. Decision makers don’t rely on fan web sites to make decisions. Do any of us have the credentials that would bring us to that table? I assume we all want UND to be successful. That means top tier FCS team year in and year out. To me, it also means preparing for an FBS move if that is in our best interest. Until change occurs, then clamoring about changing coaches is fruitless. That isn’t “smoke and mirrors”. I wasn’t happy with this season either but focus now needs to develop and improve the players we have and continue to recruit the best talent available. Our coaches and players need to get better and our fans need to get better. I think we have the nucleus with these players and this staff to improve. Hopefully, we can hang on to our commits and bring in some additional talent to compete at the top FCS level.

Good point. Done.

Charles Shaw was a 1965 West Point grad and a classmate of my oldest brother. He also received his Masters from Stanford. He spent time in France and loved wine. He got into the wine making business after living in France when he and his wife bought a vineyard and actually made good wines. His wines won a number of gold medals and were served at 3 White House dinners. Unfortunately, they didn’t sell well and they went bankrupt and his wife divorced him. He had a lot of bottles of unsold wine which he sold to another Sanford Alumnus, Joe Colom (Trader Joe). In the last 20 yrs, Trader Joe’s has sold billions of dollars of Two Buck Chuck, none of which ended up with Shaw. Some other guy bought the rights to the name. Sometimes we need to look a lot deeper into a story/issue to get the facts. Turns out that in this case, the winemaker was pretty damn good. A couple of you have referred to me in your venting after the game. Don’t be foolish enough to assume you know my opinions on the program, coaches, etc. They are my opinions which I base on my experience as a player, position coach, recruiter, and high school and college official. None of my opinions are more valid than yours. However it may give me and others with similar experiences a perspective that differs from yours. I have never seen anything come of the constant criticism or call for change that for some starts in the pre-season. It’s reasonable to state opinions of the shortcomings of the program including coaches but not every thread and every post. Go back and count up how many times this season we keep complaining about the same thing that won’t change in the middle of the year. It isn’t that some of us don’t agree it’s that the same complaining in every thread is like kicking a dead horse. The season is finished so now is the time for teeth gnashing, hair pulling and pontificating about what went wrong, what has to change etc. Few of the chronic complainers indicate any depth of thought. Everyone can figure out we want bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, smarter guys. All coaches know that and want the same. I can’t find our guys 40 times so I wonder how some seem to know how fast/slow we are. I look at height and weight listed for our players and compare with our opponents and I’m not sure I see a big difference. So to me it’s much more than that. It’s technique, quickness, foot speed, discipline, work ethic and personal responsibility and drive. Some assume the “culture” is an issue. I wouldn’t know anymore than what kids and parents say but that’s anecdotal. Where are you learning it’s a cultural issue? Someone decided we should go after Olson, a position coach at NDSU. What evidence is there that he is ready to be a head coach? To me, the obvious target on that staff would be Randy Hedberg but doubt he would be interested. I’m pretty sure there isn’t going to be a buyout or forced change so I will let all you experts debate that one. Regardless our debates won’t be part of those decisions. I do feel Bubba has put together a strong staff. I believe they do a good job recruiting despite our present disadvantages but having said that we need to keep doing better. Because I don’t hire and fire I look to myself as to what I can do to get the program to the top of the FCS and positioned for a move to FBS if that becomes what is best for the program. I will focus on the positives of attending UND, the positive culture of UND football that goes back to players from the 1960’s. (Read your most recent Alumni review), the progress (though slow) of the program and what it can and will be. In addition I will continue to support the program and Phase2 as best I can by attending games, activities and financial support. I can’t do financially what some do and I can’t attend everything. I can’t hire and fire coaches so although I’m disappointed in how this season played out and I can also second guess decisions, I have learned that isn’t what I do best. That part I will leave up to you and others, and if that is important to folks now is the time.

Most of that has been game planned including contingencies. Most decisions regarding fake punts, when to kick a FG, are decisions by HC based on game planning done ahead of time. They already have a plan for dealing with stud return guy. They review and adjust after watching warmups. There are game time adjustments but it isn’t Kostich making those key decisions. The staff works together to game plan. Kostich organizes ST part of practice based on the staff plan.

Our ST players have their work cut out for them. Kostich’s work is mostly completed.

Geaux_Sioux says Maag is our fastest receiver. I wouldn’t know but I have no reason to doubt his comment. Maag is an effective receiver and has shown the ability to get open. If he is our fastest guy, then he is a 4.6 or better guy. If our guys can run disciplined routes and accelerate off their breaks 4.6 is fine. How much separation do you think there is between a 4.5 guy and even a 4.7 guy within the first 20-30 yds? There are virtually less than a stride apart. The deeper the pattern the more important the elite speed is. Otherwise I will take an athlete who can read the coverage and is quick enough to accelerate off the break or into the seam and catches the ball.

Bubba isn’t the punter. Bubba is one of many factors that will affect the outcome including how well the other team plays, how well our guys play etc but I’m sure all of the others appreciate your in depth comments. What a surprise. His mindset going into this game doesn’t include such a scenario nor would any other coach be thinking like this.

I agree Belquist is special. I would guess he is a 4.5-4.6 guy. Dennis is reportedly faster. Wright is probably a 4.6. Wilson is a 4.5-4.6 RB slot WR. Maag has proven himself an effective Receiver. Our TE’s are decent but very under utilized as receivers. They all block well and they can catch. This isn’t an elite group because of average overall speed but I would rate them above average.

Yup, at all positions.

Obviously 4.3 is going to be game planned much differently than 4.6. It goes without saying that as you move up, each level from HS to D2 to FCS to FBS players at all positions tend to be bigger and faster. My point is that we have receivers that run 4.5-4.6 at we are fine at WR. Happy to have a 4.3-4.4 guy but they are rare. Your guy Watson was faster but had a rep for drops. Continued early this year but his size and speed can be game breakers when he catches the ball. I think the biggest asset for NDSU and SDSU linemen is their foot speed and athletic ability as well as their physical strength.

I would rather have a WR who runs disciplined routes, can accelerate off his breaks and can catch the ball. If they can do that, 4.6 is fast enough at every level. 4.4 would be even better but 1 or 2 tenths Having been around 4 different NFL teams I think people would be surprised at how many WR and DBs are no faster than 4.6. In the first 20-30 yds there is little distance between a 4.5 guy and a 4.6 or even 4.7 guys. I want bigger, faster guys at every position, so you are correct. I believe we have enough size and speed at our offensive skill positions. I’d like to see our guys quicker OL, DL, LB and esp DB but we are where we are and I think we can still be successful.

So tell me, how fast is good enough?

My comments aren’t defending the coaches. It is a comment on the regurgitation of the same stuff week after week by the same posters. I have commented that I believe it derails many discussions. I have felt because there will be no change during the middle of a season it serves no purpose to insert the same complaints about coaches into virtually every discussion. I have believed that before we make wholesale change we better have a viable solution in place that we have full confidence will not set the program back but will likely be an improvement. Most of the fire the coach comments don’t show much more than a shallow understanding (if that much) as to the total picture and the complexities of building or tearing down a program. I am of the opinion that I support my staff up until the day I let them go. Each year staff is evaluated and among other things, they are asked what else they need to be successful. Then as an employer or a supervisor, before I consider change I self evaluate as to whether or not I have provided all of the resources that we mutually agreed were necessary for success. I am not sure that means I’m narrow minded or not. You may think so but I don’t believe I see a depth of understanding in the majority of fire people posts. Some want faster receivers. I posed the question: how fast is fast enough?. 4.6 fast enough? We know 40 times but I would rather know how quick we get off the LOS, how quick we can accelerate to full speed, how quick can we play FB within 20yds on both sides of the LOS. Arguably the fastest WR in our history struggled to catch the FB. We need bigger guys. Our listed sizes are similar to listed sizes for NDSU and SDSU. This is a pretty darn good group of asst coaches and from what recruits and parents have told me they do a good job. Show me an upgrade and I’m all for it, but let’s do that when the season is over. If that’s narrow minded then I’m guilty. Otherwise these guys have slowly improved the program so they have my public support until I see a change that will do better. Just my opinion which is no more valid than most anyone else’s.

More importantly, is how big and fast is Weber?

Except for Wegge or however he spells it. He’s 6’5” 285 lbs. Other guy I think is 240 range.

SDSU Defensive participation against us: DL: 6’3” 250lbs , 6’4”245lbs, 6’4” 280lbs and 6’1” 270lbs LB: 5’9” 200lbs, 6’1” 200lbs, 6’215lbs Our players are big enough I did similar comparison earlier with NDSU size on OL and DL “It ain’t this size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog”. We can’t seem to stay focused on the topic The fact is if you look at film you can’t tell why we made good plays or why we failed So much of what is pontificated is nonsense. Some of you have no answer except fire all of the coaches Everything is their fault. It isn’t. It’s their responsibility Some think we aren’t big enough but comparing ht and wt from team rosters doesn’t bear that out. This thread should be focused on the next game and Weber State. If we play up to our full capabilities we can win this We can’t miss assignments, we can’t miss tackles, we can’t have stupid penalties, we have to cover punts and KO’s and all 11 guys need to do their job every play all day long If we do that we can win It doesn’t matter what the program says about ht and wt The program doesn’t list heart and desire. Go Hawks

Why? We don’t know what he did or didn’t do. They normally don’t help us but we don’t know.

Hell, a lot of folks were angry with our AD when we didn’t get outbid. They made the wrong assumptions. We have no idea what Larson did or didn’t do. NDSU certainly deserves a 4 seed. Their record speaks for itself and they are defending Champs. He may have lobbied hard for both UND and Youngstown who knows. If you are 7-4 and don’t get in then you needed to play better during the season. If we would have been left out we could look to our collapse against SDSU and Nebraska or loss to SIU. We are in. The rest is noise that is no longer relevant.

Normally. If they know that is our strategy, they might force the issue. You are probably correct.

Good comments. The only thing I would like to see is that the school accepting the player reimburse the school that the player leaves the amount of the scholarship the kid had. Kids without scholarships or smaller scholarships wouldn’t be penalized. It recognizes the investment in these athletes by their first school even though the cost to first school is more than just the scholarship. It also decreases the chance a kid transfers somewhere else where he or she won’t likely play. Grad transfers would be an exception.

That would be better than out of bounds. Still need to cover and make tackles.

George you experienced an unfortunate but not uncommon response from folks who take ownership of their fan sites, and make assumptions and post remarks. (Multiple posters lambasted our AD because they assumed he didn’t put in the appropriate bid to host a playoff game). Many are like fans everywhere whose lives are tied to successes and failures of their sports teams. It’s a fascinating study of our present day sports culture to see the initial opinions and responses to your post. We laid an egg last week but are capable of winning this game. It’s playoff time and this team reached one of its goals set at the beginning of the season. Doesn’t matter where we play or who we play. If we are going to win a championship we have to beat the best teams in the country. This should be a fun game in a great setting. Thanks for you positive post. Go Hawks!

Because they can choose to make you kick it over 5 yds back. We need to cover KO and can’t afford to miss tackles if we can’t get KO into end zone.

I wonder why now instead of after playoffs other than “ been there, done that”.