iramurphy

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.

Not so sure. We didn’t look good but considering our youth, inexperience and older guys new to the program, with an excellent group of coaches I think those are situations with good potential for improvement. There were flashes of potential. The guys bought into the culture and what the coaches were trying to do. You don’t know how it plays out but a good example of patience, a better understanding of the process and staying focused on teams goals. It’s too easy to demand coaching changes when our expectations aren’t always met. Fun run so far, but it isn’t over.

Doubt that. Most college athletes want to win. They are disciplined enough to delay being stupid for 24h. Team leaders on successful teams tend to discourage this. There are always a few morons who can’t stay focused.

I want to see improvement too. Two of our better players couldn’t get it going today. That happens at times at all levels. We don’t have the depth to compensate for any of our key players to struggle much less 2 of them. It’s hard to be patient, but we are gathering pieces of the puzzle and I believe Sather is a key piece.

Sather is a good coach. It will take 5-6 years minimum and a lot more financial support to demand more. You dump Sather, you likely lose your best freshman and quite possibly your best incoming recruits. This is a process and improvement usually isn’t linear. You mentioned an important challenge and that is the issue of financial support. Another is fan support. Win and they will probably come. Fill the seats and it makes playing here more attractive. I’m not into comparisons about what timelines we see with other schools. Losing Rebracca was such a blow to this years team. Had he stayed would we have lost the other guys? We have some very good prospects coming in. If we can keep Sather here, I believe we will be a top level Summit team within next 3 years if not sooner. I don’t believe anyone is too surprised with our struggles this year. We have a ways to go yet. I doubt there is a better option than Sather either willing or capable of moving the program forward any faster at this point.

Nope. Baring something egregious, he is safe for another 2-3 years.

Nope, he is safe for awhile.

What’s the purpose in “calling a person out” for simply pointing out something they think is positive. Turning our athletic teams and for that matter is a process. WBB has made big strides this year. We aren’t there yet.

Our head coaches including Hakstol have been very involved in recruiting. The fire Hakstol crowd showed little knowledge of coaching, recruiting, building a winning program beyond whether or not we won a National Championship and thinking a “bag skate” is a motivational tool at this level.

I don’t believe we can fairly judge X’s and O’s until we have better talent. I don’t believe I have payed close enough attention to even be able to render an opinion on game management anymore other than by wins and losses. I wouldn’t assume replacement coaching options would be as good or better than what we have right now.

It takes time and patience. Sather has a good resume. Those guys say you missed, were recruited by the last coach who people on this board wanted fired. Very few of the fans who call for the coach to be fired have an understanding about what it takes to build a successful program. Most of us aren’t going to give the kind of money it takes to turn things around quickly. We lost some nice players who transferred out. You dump Sather now, I would bet a lot of money we lose the best kid on this team and probably our best incoming recruit. I can see the lack of overall talent but I don’t believe the problem is the head coach. Even if we needed a change, ASAP would not be smart. Instead, we should be asking Chaves and Sather what else they need to turn this program around and what we can do to help.

Based on your moronic comments on this subject, there is absolutely nothing you can teach me or anyone else about this subject and I suspect, any other subject. As far as your sophomoric communist reference toward me, out of respect for the moderators I will PM you.

Why don’t you PM me and explain how it all works. This topic is already getting derailed.

We shouldn’t compare ourselves to anyone. We can learn from others, but if we fall into that black hole of comparing ourselves to others, we are making a mistake and I would predict it will take longer. We should be able to established our goals and our vision for success, assess our strengths and weaknesses, assess our resources, and develop a plan to accomplish those goals with the resources we have and a solid plan to obtain any missing resources we need. I can learn from the success and failures of other programs without constantly comparing. You will find yourself unnecessarily frustrated and sometimes satisfied with less than you are capable of.

You have valid concerns and you may be correct. Because it serves no purpose to discuss coaching changes right now, I tend to focus more on what we need to do to keep getting better and avoiding any regression. We all have experiences that affect our perspective. If you are wrong what purpose is served by “throwing it in your face”? Bubba and his staff are capable of moving the program forward. They need to do it. I’m a little more patient. Doesn’t mean I’m right. What I do believe is that the continued criticism and doom and gloom won’t change anything right now. We are who we are so we need to improve as individual players, coaches and as a program. There is also room for us as fans and supporters to do more to help the program.

That is why they wouldn’t fire him had they gone 5-6 this year.