iramurphy

You are correct. My point is the facility is no longer the big advantage we had over other schools at one time. Many other schools have wealthy donors who can throw together the resources for a 5 million dollar upgrade over morning coffee.

First of all that is down on a list of priorities for recruits. Coaches, teammates, location, opportunities to play all trump the arena. Many schools have new or updated facilities since the Ralph was built. Even though the arena is probably still at the top of the list many schools have locker rooms, player lounges, and training facilities that compare well to the Ralph. It’s a plus but it isn’t why kids come here.

The Crosby kid is a very impressive 8th grader. Needs to continue to develop and get stronger. She put up 21 pts in first have against Det Lakes but didn’t do anything in second half.

Depends. There are quite a few CB’s who run 4.5. Most are 6’1” or bigger. In the years I was around NFL you might be surprised at how many 6’ 1” players were 5’ 10”, how many 240lb LBs were down to 215 or 220 halfway through season etc. The guys who ran 4.4 at combine are sometimes running 4.6 4-5 yrs later.

Just like me, there is a reason no one asked our opinion about an extension.

It’s always difficult to discuss on a fan board. Your points are well taken about fan support which is also a measure of how the program is progressing and certainly winning in today’s world is the bottom line. I’m not sure I blame anyone. There are so many factors going back to the slow transition from D2 for all sports. There are always a core group of supporters who attend for whatever their reason or like basketball and can appreciate the play of the opposition. The group you describe is essential to building the program.

You are correct in your comment on building a fan base. I wouldn’t expect you to recruit but you actually support my opinion that you don’t understand recruiting. Your comments indicated an opinion that Sather’s recruiting successes didn’t require much recruiting. I disagree. The majority of us fans will judge good team vs bad team based solely on win/loss record and that makes sense. Judging the coach and program must go much deeper and is more complex. The record is an important part and ultimately, the deciding factor. I may be wrong but I believe Sather will get this program back on track.

I’m not sure I would say “we” move on. Those who are waiting for success before further engaging in the program are less likely to meet the coaches, players, their families and understand what it takes to move a program forward. I am not close to the program either but I have been involved in turning programs around. From your statements I don’t believe you have any idea what recruiting involves. I think Sather was a great choice and we need to be patient. I wouldn’t take any college coaching job with less than a five year guarantee. No one is talking about 10-15 yrs. If we aren’t moving forward after 5 yrs ok.

If we push coaches out after 3-4 yrs we will add another challenge, along with low salaries to hiring coaches. Sather has been able to recruit Bruns, Eaglestaff and Omot. He obviously has been able to evaluate talent. How many schools missed on these guys? Mid major schools just like FCS FB teams face new challenges with transfer rules, NIL and COVID. We have work to do and it isn’t easy but I think Sather can get us there. The band wagon fans will jump on in time. I may be wrong but I’m betting he gets things turned around.

You raise good questions. I feel any coach who takes over a struggling program is crazy not to ask for a five year contract especially at our Level of sports except hockey. After 5 years all of your players are your recruits. If there is no significant improvement then a change may be warranted. As for Sather my opinion is no more valid than yours or others but in answer to your question, 3 more years unless something egregious happens.

My happiness doesn’t depend on where we are in the Summit, NCHC, or MVC. I am no longer playing or coaching. I know where we finished in each conference. I’m not happy with any failure and I get satisfaction with success. I still want our teams to win as badly as other fans but UND athletics is entertainment and doesn’t define me. The only thing I can do is try to attend games and support UND financially. I don’t believe our fans or even the media with few exceptions know enough to be involved in hiring or firing coaches. That frankly includes you and I. Even those with inside info only know a little more than the rest of us. My opinion is based my own experience as an athlete, coach and fan at multiple levels, and I don’t believe I have seen anything yet that would indicate a need for a change nor any evidence we have a solid succession plan in place. Just my opinion.

He deserves? The guy is working his tail off to bring in the best players he can, bring in the best assistants he can with a limited budget and a lukewarm (at best) fan base. What always amazes me is how many fans only answer to a teams struggles is to fire the coach. A fan base is best served by all of us trying to figure out what we can do to move the programs forward. Butts in the seats is a top priority. I realize winning solves that but supporting programs as they rebuild with whatever we can afford will move programs forward faster than firing coaches. Very few fans including former players understand the complexities and challenges of coaching at this level. Coaching youth FB, BB, VB, or Bantam hockey doesn’t mean I could coach at the HS much less college level. As you move up, you realize how much more you need to learn, but especially managing the players as they mature (or fail to). There are a lot of naive fans who think patience and rebuilding a program means those folks are satisfied with mediocrity. That is far from the truth but usually comes from those with a very shallow understanding of everything involved.

Except HS hockey players aren’t getting college credit. Similar case, but I’m not sure I would advise a physician (if that is her goal) to be in a hurry. Students usually benefit from time spent with their peers and the social growth is important. Many physicians would be better served by taking advantage of the opportunities aside from pre-med studies to develop interpersonal social skills. Playing a college sport should fill that void.

Simple. I don’t believe public sentiment was an issue in that case.

I kind of think $100,000,000 donor with a say in the management of the Ralph had a lot more to do with that than public sentiment.

I don’t worry about what NDSU does. It serves no purpose to compare with others because our options for resources are much different from theirs. I believe their big money athletic boosters have much more influence on their president and AD than UND supporters do on ours. It seems to me most of UND’s biggest donors focus more on the Academic needs for UND and that’s how it should be. I’m not about to kick that dead horse around about a stupid 4th down call or whatever seems to be bothering the same suspects who tend to think coaching changes are the answer to any and all struggles. Sometimes it is, but not always. Decisions about the AD and coaches have been made. UND officials didn’t consult me ( no surprise). I can support our programs and help/donate where I can and I expect we will overcome our challenges. It doesn’t mean I and others are satisfied with mediocrity, but we aren’t in charge, nor are we close enough to know all of the challenges, nor what went in to the decisions. Lastly, there are a number of people who post here who could give UND $1million. I suspect some will eventually and some probably won’t.

“Collective will” can’t “demand” anything. There aren’t many who have donated $1,000,000 or more. $100,000 won’t get you to the table. The coaches, players, and school administrators appreciate the fan support and donors from those attending games to season ticket holders and the smallest to the largest donors. But it’s likely going to take 1/2 million or more to get to the table. Once their you don’t “demand “ you offer the money for whatever the program needs including facilities, coaching salaries/changes etc. Our “demands” on a fan board won’t cut it.

My post was not in reference to UND’s coaching staff. It was in reference to recruiting. If a kid connects with a coach or coaches, the stability of the staff is a big deal.

I believe kids and their parents do care about stability of coaching staff. Their initial relationships are usually with the coaches.

I thought conference championships didn’t matter. Maybe that’s just hockey and FB.

Obviously not too tired to comment. If the folks who wanted to fire Hakstol and don’t think we should extend Berry had their way, we wouldn’t have that tradition. We would be changing coaches every 3 years. The myth that the Ralph is the only great facility is just that. The fact is that many facilities have great locker rooms, team areas and everything they need in the weight room/training facilities. Players spend their time on the ice, on the bench, in the locker room, the weight room and on campus. Most schools have improved that part of their facilities and can usually match campus and university facilities and programming. We don’t have anywhere near the initial facility advantage the Ralph provided. Recruits don’t care if fans can watch the game while they “drain the lizard”.

Who cares? One down year. Twice didn’t make frozen four cuz we just didn’t. I don’t need to assign blame. The coach’s responsibility is to prepare the team and put them in a position to be successful. Our coaches do that. The guy and his staff can flat out coach. Sometimes stuff happens. Too many think because we have good fan support and a great venue, recruiting is easy and any failure is coaching failure. It doesn’t work that way.

You don’t seem to be able to understand coaching beyond a National Championship. You don’t build a program and maintain the culture UND has had for over 40 yrs with that philosophy. Consistency is one of the pillars of success in any organization including athletics and I would argue even more so in amateur athletics vs pro sports. Most of us appreciate the game, the process and the people. The moment the University disrupts the programs with moronic management like you suggest I’m done. I don’t use the success of my University’s athletic programs for bragging rights because I’m no longer playing or coaching. Dick Vinger the former GFC basketball coach who is a hall of fame BB coach said: when you win say little. When you lose say less. Never made sense to me to rely on the accomplishments of others for bragging rights.

Anyone who hasn’t understood the outstanding job this staff has done this year doesn’t understand leadership, teaching, recruiting, building and maintaining programs and cultures. The have won one title they have had arguably the best team in the nation 2 of the last 3 years. These guys can coach. I question the depth of understanding of coaching at the college level for folks who can’t understand coaching beyond a national championship. That requires only a shallow understanding of the game. It is typical of those who get their understanding of coaching from sports media personalities who never competed.

Did you pass out before the last Championship team? You could find a replay if you think that’s important.