iramurphy

Mollberg had to play with poor protection, poor running game , and receivers who had talent but dropped balls and ran undisciplined routes. Despite that he showed promise. He had a big time arm, was an excellent athlete, was an excellent student and coachable kid. I realize some of you think my opinion is cuz I'm from DL. (I'm from Bismarck and live in DL). If you are going to give up on kids after what he and Bartels endured their first 2 years, then you aren't going to get big time QB's lining up to "read defenses and hand the ball off " . Do you think a QB wants to play for Rudolph and then take crap from him if they get hurt. Mollberg lived up to everything he was allowed to live up to. He was improving as a Soph when he got hurt . He had all of the tools to continue to develop into a difference maker at QB. IMO.

Hanson was next QB up. Good athlete from Grafton but not going to be a starting QB at this level. He could have finished the year for us and because we weren't going anywhere, that year, Pulling the redshirt on Studsrud was a mistake. Hanson could have handed the ball off and thrown for 35% completion which is what we got out of Studsrud. (not Studsrud's fault). One of my biggest concerns is that we aren't developing our QB's. If anyone thinks the fact that Mollberg, Bartels and Studsrud didn't develop in our system doesn't hurt recruiting for QB's, I think you are wrong. Throwing Studsrud to the wolves at the end of his freshman year was a huge mistake. Also the philosophy of wanting a QB who can " read defenses and hand the ball off " in a system where our Oline needs improvement isn't exactly a magnet for QB's.

After having attended Medical School at UND and at Mayo I may not have the same perspective as you. Where did you attend? The reference was to medical students not pre-med students. Medical students will complain about lots of things including facilities and faculty. Medical education is different at different medical schools. Mayo didn't use the traditional 2 yrs of classroom medical science then 2 years of clinical work. UND no longer teaches the way we were taught and the facilities are outstanding. The facilities are what they are and if the facilities are not current and up to the present standards medical students will complain. Many Pre-med students aren't aware of the facilities unless they apply to the med school where they did their undergrad work. They are anxious to get accepted. I had time to referee high school and some college FB and BB during med school and often reffed 3-4 games per week. I also had time to complain if I elected to. Sorry to disagree.

Med students are already" in" and don't tend to rave about crappy environments. Med students complain about lots of issues including poor facilities. The new med school is impressive. I'm not sure there is anything to complain about.

I spoke with Kennedy last night at the hockey game and I believe the funds for Phase II are going to need to be donations and there is a long way to go.

???? That doesn't make sense. Sanford Health has nothing to do with ATM's, they aren't in the banking business. NDSU isn't in the debt collection business so that doesn't make sense to me either. I don't know the details of the arrangement between NDSU and Sanford other than the $10,000,000 and the Sports Med contract. Our high school has a contract with Sanford for Sports Med / Athletic Trainer coverage and it includes program recognition and game time recognition that Sports Med coverage is provided by Sanford. Also Sports Med services belong exclusively to Sanford so I assume similar recognition and exclusive rights would be included in the contract with NDSU. Ask your buddy to explain what he/she is talking about and where they get their info.

Good question. I don't believe Sanford Health would just donate that amount without something in return. The donation to NDSU allowed them to get the Sports Medicine contract away from Essentia Health. The team Orthopedic Surgeon then left Essentia and joined Sanford. Carson Wentz does promos for Sanford Sports Med. When NDSU is on TV you can see medical personnel with Sanford logos and Sanford supports those broadcasts with advertising. I believe Sanford would have liked to also have had the exposure at the Frozen Four and NCAA VB, WBB, FB and MBB with UND in the last 2 years. I think when one deals with a corporation that seems to be gobbling up smaller entities all over the region most people tend to be cautious. Add the feeling that Sanford is a Fargo organization instead of a Sioux Falls organization then people from GF and UND will usually be even more cautious. Other than that your guess is as good as mine.

I don't believe that increased support for our student athletes is more important than the others. I listed it as my top priority for a few reasons. I don't think a lot of other people who take the survey will put athletics as a top priority so I did. Attracting and retaining faculty, the student experience and the environment/ facilities for the general population are all more important I believe Phase II of the HPC is essential if we are going to have consistent success at the DI level. Athletic success enhances the student experience and is an important vehicle for marketing the University and the other more important priorities. When people tour the campus they look at the building that houses their major but also want to see student housing, the cafeterias, the media center/library, student union, and student fitness facility. They also tend to envision a college experience attending athletic events and concerts etc.. Those facilities are often the facilities people think of when they envision campus buildings. I believe the HPC Phase II project doesn't have the momentum needed to complete the project in the near future without a shot in the arm. We need a new building for the College of Business but we have influential Alumni who not only have the resources to help that along but also the interest to make it happen. Although the # of student athletes is only a small percentage of our students they provide the entertainment that is an important part of the college experience for most of our students. One might argue that the success of our athletic teams is our best marketing tool. Studies have shown how athletic success not only will increase student enrollment but increases donations to the University in all areas including athletics. Thus my reasoning for listing it as my top priority at this time.

The deal was $10,000,000 to UND and Sanford wanted the Sports Medicine contract. Would have been similar to what Sanford gave to NDSU for the same $10,000,000. Since that time the $10,000,000 has been more millions. Sanford also wanted to establish a relationship with the Med school similar to what they have with USD. Sanford's Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Resources are excellent. At one time the deal was thought to be finalized and the Sanford Executives cleared their calendars to come to Grand Forks to seal the deal. UND abruptly pulled out of the tentative agreement. I was told it was the UND attorney who was a big negative factor. O'Keefe wasn't the decision maker. I was told that Altru wasn't happy with it but wouldn't have tried to stop it but I don't know that. It would have caused quite a debate because at the time Sanford's GF presence was primarily in EGF. I did find the email which listed the signature priorities: 1.Enrich the Student Experience. 2.Recruit and retain faculty. 3.Advance discoveries that better our lives. 4.Build an environment that support excellence. 5.Increase support for our student athletes. The paragraph about increasing support for student athletes included the Phase II comments. Yes, the Bismarck Nursing should have gone to Sanford. I think Sanford has been a lot more open to negotiations than you may have been led to believe I don't know the details about the Nursing School in Bismarck but the Fargo politicians and NDSU supporters want that close relationship with Sanford to benefit NDSU and NDSU athletics and it is paying off big time for them.

I received an email from the Alumni Assn with an outline of the priority projects which included the HPC Phase 2. They included a Survey which asks us our opinion as to prioritize those 5 areas which also include things like faculty issues/support, the student experience, the environment (buildings) and one other I can't remember maybe reasearch. I listed HPC Phase II at the top of the list because of the importance for marketing and the student experience in addition the value of intercollegiate athletics to the University, community, region, state and alumni. Phase II needs to include locker rooms for all athletes who don't have locker rooms at the Englestad and weight rooms, training facilities not already available, meeting rooms, lounges, offices etc. for those teams not at Englestad. It needs the Sports Medicine research facility. I suggested the Alumni office take $5,000,000 from discretionary funds, ask Altru for an additional $5,000,000 and raise the rest. If Altru opposed the UND Sanford relationship then they need to step up and replace what UND would have gotten from Sanford. Otherwise, they need to work out a joint agreement with UND and Sanford to support this facility, sports medicine and UND athletics. One of the Mayo Clinic guys who chaired their sports med department was interested in reviewing their potential participation in conjunction with their present Altru agreement. I passed that information to Faison and he was going to meet with them but it didn't get done. I believe Phase II is in the UND plan and a priority but I doubt UND plans to ask for State Funds. I believe they should because of the research facility that was supposed to be included in the project. ( Include anything involving concussions and there are grant dollars out there). With Biogenetics and Stem cell research/therapy already here, UND could be one of the nation's leaders in this research if they are willing to invest the time, energy, and resources.

I'm just catching up on posts after being in Knoxville last weekend. (was able to see U of Tennessee recruiting up close). I don't believe Gundy's connection to Mike "clouds the picture" but naturally there is some bias because he knows Mike.( I believe that may be what you meant). I lot of posters know Mike and believe he would be able to do an excellent job. I also think had Mike been the choice, he would have . I think UND picked the person who they think will do the best job and I trust that decision. I mentioned before, I didn't meet any of the others, review CV's, or contact references. Therefore, I couldn't say Mike was the best guy for the job. I think UND made a good choice and hopefully Chaves will move all programs forward and improve facilities with the sense of urgency I think is required.

Most people will understand what I wrote. You don't make a decision based on where someone is from. I'm not promoting Mike for the job nor am I opposed to Mike getting the job. Nobody has asked me what I think and I don't think they will. I'm not on the committee, haven't interviewed anyone, nor have I reviewed the CV's. I wasn't Mike's teammate, not did I coach Mike. Giving an opinion that we should choose the best person regardless of whether or not he is a UND guy doesn't suggest bias. Too many of you seem intolerant of others thoughts or ideas. As for your remark about "at least he isn't from Detroit Lakes" there is a common 2 word phrase that would apply to you. If you have a bias against Detroit Lakes then stay away. My loyalties are to UND before DL. I have no long term ties to DL and I am not from here. I have a long and solid relationship to UND and UND athletics.

That is baloney. The crap about having to hire someone from within or not hiring from within doesn't make sense. What if he is the best person for the job??? It is as simple as that. What is most important, is trying to figure out who will be the best person for the AD job. That is very difficult to do, but if you base a decision on whether someone is already at UND then you are selling yourself short as a decision maker (if you were a decision maker) and your are making decisions based on an unsubstantiated bias.

Our opinions shouldn't be considered beyond respectful listening. Too many people think there is a "GOBC" that actually has much influence over what happens at UND or with UND athletics. I believe there are some folks who have breakfast with or beers with some folks who are good supporters of UND athletics and know coaches and administrators. That group has some inside info at times and know some insiders. They may likely have some of the decision makers on their contact list/ speed dial etc. There are very few individuals who can bend the ear of Kennedy and influence his decisions. There are groups including the UND Alumni Assn, Champions Club, Altru etc. and some individuals like Phil Jackson, Wes Rydell, John Barry, Linda Pankratz etc who , if they bring suggestions or concerns he will spend time to look into the issues and get them answers. The GOBC is delusional if they think they are in that group. Donors in the $1500-5000 group are appreciated and will get responses from the AD, Champions Club folks and even Kennedy because they realize how important they are to UND. Even those who haven't donated yet or have donated less than $1000 will get responses. Donors giving $5000 or more are often invited to social events with the President, Champions Club, Alumni officials and coaches. They will listen to and speak with people at these events and follow up if someone has concerns or ideas. They don't rely on any of these people to make the decisions for UND or the athletic dept. They should have an intern to monitor social media but it shouldn't influence these decisions. Some of the comments concerning what experience the candidates have or need aren't as important as finding the person with the passion, intelligence, personality, energy , work ethic, integrity, charisma and drive to quickly assess where we are as an athletic department and University. They need to establish communication and cooperation with the University administration, faculty and staff including our coaches as well as our student athletes. They need to quickly establish communication and develop relationships with our student body and the Grand Forks community. They need to quickly establish good working relationships with the Alumni Assn, the Champions Club and the REA. They need to meet with and develop relationships with the booster clubs in GF and around the State and region. They need to connect with the hockey and FB alumni groups and find key former athletes or coaches to develop similar groups with our women athletes and VB, MBB, WBB and so called non- revenue sports. They need arrange to have dinner in the dorm dining facilities and every Fraternity and Sorority on campus. They need to have dinner and meet with leaders from our Native American Assn, Black student Assn and International Student Assn. They need to meet with the Dean of everyone of our Colleges and with whomever is in charge of what used to be High School relations. They need to find out who in the UND family has the resources to donate $1,000,000 or more and get Phase II of the High Performance started and finished within the next 3-4 years. That's off the cuff and there are likely some people or organizations that should be included. Kennedy has the final decision. He should spend time with each of the candidates before the decision is made. Who the candidate is and whether or not they have the ability and energy to get this done is more important than whether or not they were an AD, an Asst. AD, from an FBS school or an NAIA school. Each one of these four candidates have the resume ' on paper to do this. I don't think most of us have had the executive experience , the experience interviewing, hiring and firing to expect we should be heard. I don't want someone like us who thinks the results of an athletic event depends on what kind of beer we are drinking to affect the outcome of a game to make the decision. With all due respect that is why they aren't going to listen to us. Don't forget fans like us went crazy when UND hired Gino Gasparini as head Hockey coach instead of Ned Harkness. We would still be fighting with the NCAA over the logo and playing in the NSIC. We don't have much to say because we won't be held accountable for the decision. Faison did a lot to bring us past the financial disaster and the logo fiasco, the move to D1, the Hockey, Big West and Big Sky Championships. Gundy is correct in that there were areas of weakness that left us short in some areas. Hopefully the new AD can improve on what Brian did with improved communication and fan/ student/ booster/ alumni interaction.

Thus you need a QB who is an adequate passer. This type of running game can open up the passing game. Need to be creative with the kids we have.

This is as good of a thread to post this as any. I attended the Army Navy game this year and watched the Army and Navy Bowl games. Up to the early and mid 1960's they were both National powers. The Vietnam War certainly changed the thoughts of many athletes who might otherwise have considered attending one of the Academies and playing FB. The 5 yr post grad military commitment and decreased NFL opportunities remained a factor. Army, Navy and Air Force also have height and weight requirements that have affected the size of their linemen. The recent frequent deployments to the Middle East hell holes for active duty military are not great selling points either. The linemen for the Academies tend to be smaller than most FBS teams yet both Army and Navy have had two of the best running teams in then nation for some time. Air Force also has a multiple read option run game if I am not mistakes but I didn't see them this year. They have athletic QB's and multiple RB's who are on the field at the same time. Army's QB Bradshaw can't pass worth a lick . Navy's Malcolm Perry is very quick,and very fast but also doesn't pass very well. Their other QB Zach Abey is a great athlete who can run and isn't a bad passer. I think Studsrud would have been a much better QB with their multiple read option run game and is as good or better passer than these QB's. Take a look at the schemes these two teams run and I think that would be a very effective way to utilize our RB's. If you have an athletic QB who can pass, we would be a bitch to defend. These teams utilize smaller more athletic linemen very effectively. Big athletic linemen would be even better but it would be a way to better utilize our stable of outstanding RB's. Also a good scheme to utilize the athletic TE's. I bet Gundy could help Bubba draw up some nice sets where we have Johannesson, Olivera, Santiago and Gordon on the field at the same time. Heck, if we don't find a stud QB, put Santiago at QB and use him like Navy did with Perry. It's a fun scheme to watch and tougher to stop. I rather see something like this than a single back running up the middle against 9 in the box. This can get 9 in the box but still hard to stop.

No, but they should have communicated with the kids that still might get an offer. Some scholarship dollars become available if a player leaves early or someone who was offered goes elsewhere.

It did move him up didn't it? I'm not complaining about Studsrud, I am explaining why I support Rudolph moving on. Studsrud should get credit for working his butt off and for his accomplishments. I think he did all of that mostly on his own. I don't think Rudolph was responsible. I think I have exhausted most of my comments on this thread and at my age if I start repeating my self someone will send me to the nursing home.

You are correct. I believe I already pointed out his struggles especially his freshman year. We will never know how he would have developed. I can't say he would have been the QB he seemed to have the potential to become. My initial post to the subject of this blog was how he was treated by Rudolph. If he was given a shot and wasn't their guy fine. Coming into UND he was a very versatile athlete with decent speed who could make all of the throws. He was a hard working coachable kid. I would hope our staff will be able to help those players develop into their full potential. Thus my concerns about keeping Rudolph. If you think Rudolph has done a good job then we disagree. Obviously Mollberg is no longer an option.

I don't think so. I think we should have expected him to be able to carry an offense and win games for us when we needed him. He hadn't developed into that guy in his freshman year but I think he was starting to mature his second year. We never got the chance to see him develop. It wasn't because NDSU wanted him badly nor because Iowa, Minnesota, Northen Illinois were "interested". It was because of the potential he showed as a high school QB and as an outstanding athlete. There wasn't one guy better than he was, there was a coach who didn't give a chance to return from an injury. A lot of folks on this forum wanted a strong armed QB and Mollberg had all of the tools. He needed time to adjust to the speed and complexity of the college game. It's tough enough to do that as a freshman but it's a bitch to do that when you are trying to do that without pass protection, a decent running game and a QB coach. Look we will never know for sure but whether you think he would have developed into the player we thought he would be or not he deserved a chance after his injury. His ankylosing spondylitis that another blogger mentioned was treated. He was a tough kid and he didn't let that affect him. He not only played FB, he played basketball. He and Studsrud were two of the toughest kids on the team. Both of these kids have completed their careers and I guess we move on but just like the coaches are always reevaluating players, Bubba and the staff need to always reevaluate their own performance and abilities. Back to the subject at hand I think we need to upgrade at QB coach and OC. For other reasons I would also upgrade at OLine coach. Gundy explained that very clearly to me and I hope he communicates those thoughts to Bubba.

You are correct. Biggest reason I would like Rudolph replaced. I also think the QB situation and how it was handled is Bubba's biggest mistake as a head coach. There was absolutely no reason for them to pull Studsrud's redshirt at the end of a year we weren't going to make the playoffs. Hanson could have finished the season handing the ball off and Studsrud would be a senior next year. We all gave Keaton a pass for 3 years and much of this year because of the O line and receivers dropping passes. We never gave either Mollberg or Bartles a pass for the same problems. Their 1st 2 yrs our o line was as bad or worse and we had no running game. Their 1st yr they had talent at WR but those guys including Hardin had too many drops and the Fr Golladay and Jackson weren't always running the correct nor disciplined routes. Look at some of the old film and see what kind of protection those guys had. Mollberg was developing his Soph year before he got hurt and both years you should have been able to see the potential. Our staff did nothing to develop any of these three QB's. What progress Studsrud made was more the result of his own initiative and hard work than coaching. I know Mollberg and Bartles turned the ball over too much their Fr year but they also had no pass protection. Keaton had more Int than TD's his senior year. He also turned it over on a couple of fumbles. Whose is to say how Mollberg would have played but he should have been given a chance. They didn't let him play even when Keaton was injured. He got hurt when he was starting to play better and was told at the end of the season he was no longer in their plans. Rudolph treated him like crap and he didn't deserve that. You don't do that to a kid who gets hurt playing for you. The following August he was healthy and could have played. For those who think it was because he wasn't healthy you don't know what you are talking about. At the end of his Junior season one of the RB's told Mollberg Rudolph had commented he would never see the field Again as long as he was coaching here. Mollberg said he would play any position they thought would help the team so he was moved to TE. They also hinted they would cut his scholarship. I know some think my opinion is only because he was from DL. Maybe you are right. I also told UND Adam Thielen had the best hands of any HS receiver I had seen and I guess that must have been my DL bias too because UND didn't recruit him. Incidentally, Mollberg set a DL BBB career scoring record his senior year breaking Adam Thielen's record. He was Bohl and Vigen's top QB recruit his Sr year and they seem to know something about QB's. (Brock Johnson, Wentz and now Josh Allen). How the hell Rudolph and Bubba didn't want to at least give him a fair shot at coming back from his injury will never make sense to me. He was an excellent student, great athlete and great kid. He had as good of an arm as I have seen at UND in the almost 50 yrs I have been involved with UND FB. Had Mollberg been QB his last 2 years, he would have pissed off Rudolph because he would have changed some of the dumb ass play calling but I think we would have been better both years and made the playoffs 2 yrs ago and gone further in the playoff last year. No way to know what would but if anyone doesn't think we need a QB coach I disagree and I would bet all three of those QB's would agree. I think Bubba did what he thought would be best for the team and what he was trying to establish offensively. I disagreed with his decision but he is at practice and he is coaching. He is the one held responsible for the decisions. In that I supported him. They way Rudolph treated Mollberg was not acceptable and I will support his dismissal.

You do realize coaches aren't going to be getting their advice from fans. Even those of us who have played and coached can give them our opinion but they aren't going to waste a lot of their time considering anything we suggest unless we alert them to a potential recruit or donor. That is the way it has to be. What they need from us is money and support. There are a number of fans who base their decision to do so for the wrong reasons. These blogs range from former players some with high school or college coaching experience to elementary or middle school kids and it seems quite a number of sports fanatics who likely are living in their parents basement or extra room. On a blog each opinion is as valuable as another. Doesn't take any brains or knowledge of the game to figure out this season was a huge disappointment. People are venting. There are valid points and some not so much. People need to vent. They want to identify with a winner and for some this is maybe there only opportunity. Coaches shouldn't read these blogs. Players and parents shouldn't read these blogs. The problem is that pretty soon some of us might think we know what we are talking about!!! Having said that I would like you or someone else to explain the reason to keep Knauf or Rudolph.

Your Grandma was pretty quick. Not sure you could have covered her without holding half of the time.

Huge mistake

That's where our QB needs to change the play. Give it to the 235 lb RB who just picked up 2 yds with no running room on his 2 previous carries. I think he would have scored.