iramurphy

This makes more sense than what "Rivals" or the other rating folks do. College coaches base their recruiting on film evaluation, the surveys they get back from the HS or JC coaches and their interaction with the players. None of the coaches that are any good pay any attention to how many stars are given by these groups. If a recruit has multiple offers, that means a lot more than multiple stars. I haven't seen the list of AC recruits but I'm guessing it is good again. UND had an excellent recruiting year.

Well that sounds great if you are trying to intimidate the trainer. I am sure you had lots of fun yelling stuff like that ( who wouldn't ?). Back then, I thought getting crushed by Howard Walker, Ludwig or Eades made us more intimidating than fans shouting F bombs but I may be wrong. I would hate to count on college hockey players who are "intimidated" by fans. I was at almost every home hockey game at the old Ralph from the first game til the new Ralph, except for time in the military from 87-91. Fans occasionally leaned over the glass (I did). Students didn't usually lean into the penalty box but Bruce Tellman sat behind the visitors and he was the only one who consistently caught the attention of the opposing players and sometimes the refs. The student section was on the players side. I am of the opinion that we can still be the most "intimidating" place to play without f bombs and he sucks sh--. I can't imagine being a D1 hockey player and being intimidated by fans. There is crowd noise but the players don't usually know what fans are yelling. I am realistic enough to know this is unlikely to change, but I guess I have higher expectations of our fans and students. I guess most students would disagree with me.

If we are a running team first and throw only when we have to, then we are not going to get a QB like Wentz. The best QB's, who can win games for you, tend to gravitate to schools that show they can develop QB talent and have a good mix of run/pass that will allow those QB's to improvise and make plays.

No, not all student sections are as crude as ours. There are fans everywhere who are worse as individuals and small groups, but as an entire student section ours isn't very classy. I also don't expect it to be like church. I expect it to be a sporting event where people know the difference between being loud and obnoxious and crossing the line of what is acceptable. If our students can't do better than that, they aren't very clever. I guess I expect more from UND students. One blogger seemed miffed that another school would yell something at us, and I just pointed out that we aren't any better. If our students yell what they yell then we shouldn't complain if we are called "whiney bi.ches". If so, it would then seem the WMU students are spot on. I was a student fan once and we didn't have to be that crude to harass other teams and we were certainly able to get the attention of the other players, coaches and the refs. I also don't think it is going to change, and I won't lose sleep over it, I just think being clever rather than crude is more effective in harassing other teams and a better image for our students and fans.

What happens at the AC does affect UND. I said it doesn't affect me nor does what UND does affect me. I don't believe reacting to what they do is the best way to move forward. I believe we should be doing what is best for UND and have a comprehensive strategy to reestablish ourselves in a position to be successful. I don't care what the media says and does, nor do I care who wears Bison gear. It shouldn't bother us. What is more bothersome is the snail's pace we are moving in our transition. We need to finish Phase II of the practice facility, upgrade the scoreboard in the Betty, Improve our coaches salaries, improve the game day experience for fans etc. At the end of the day, I see some progress with FB and with scholarships and facilities for all sports. We need a new president that understands the impact of intercollegiate athletics on the University. We need our Alumni Association to be a part of the comprehensive plan including marketing the University. The success at the AC doesn't help us. We can't control what they do. We can make sure what they do there doesn't hurt us however. Fussing over attention for one of their athletes or how many folks wear the AC gear only hurts you if you let it.

I'm not sure who thinks that. I do think he has the potential to be a staring QB in the NFL. I think he will be a first round pick but I don't know if he will make it or not. I have never stated he is the best QB in the draft. I don't think so. That opinion doesn't qualify me for the "love fest" some refer to. Some of the posts from our fans don't seem to recognize what he has done and what a number of NFL teams and coaches thinks he can do. I think it makes us look petty when we try to disregard his potential. I don't care if anyone agrees. This is a blog. I also recognize there are a people on this site who don't want anyone with a differing opinion to challenge anyone's thinking. I am not referring to you or anyone in particular, but I'm sure you see the same. I also don't agree with those who feel his success in any way helps us. It doesn't. It helps the AC folks. I

How the AC does and how their fans act doesn't affect me. It makes us look bad when we make critical remarks about a kid who has proven himself to be a legitimate 1st round draft pick. The discussion wasn't about their obnoxious fans and media it was thoughts on the Wentz kid and his potential as an NFL draft pick and player.

You are correct of course thanks for the correction.

To the AC fans who have nothing better to do than read our blogs, I will preface my remarks with the confession in that according to some of the experts on this blog, I couldn't objectively evaluate a QB, so take this with a grain of salt. On the other hand I have sat on the couch in Jerry Jones post game suite on numerous occasions while my son-in law was a two time pro-bowler with the Cowboys. They are very interested in Wentz. They took Romo out of Eastern Illinois and they look at the AC as being on the same level and they would be correct. They also have a long history of taking small school guys. Wentz has been successful against FBS competition when he faced them. He has size, athletic ability, speed and smarts. He also has "it". People gravitate to his leadership and personality. I don't know who will draft him nor when. Cowboys would be a great fit . Jason Garrett was a QB and had a chance to coach him all week at Senior Bowl. If he performs to his ability at the Combine and Pro Day he will likely be a top 10 pick. He would likely learn the system under Romo for the next 2-3 years. He was given the opportunity to develop like that at the AC under Brock Johnson and Vigen and if he can do that for 2-3 years in the NFL he could be very good. I am not an AC fan, but if you can't see the kids talent and potential, you don't know FB.

Saw this Friday night. This was response to the post that quoted WM fans chanting " whiny bi_tch". (whiney?). How does that compare with what we hear regularly at our games? "Who's he, he sucks sh.." And F... The Gophers"? What we do is just as bad if not worse isn't it?

Game on cable WDAY extra. Channel 602 in Detroit Lakes.

Yes, he could very well have. He had his doctorate. He was Dean of the College of Business. He had a successful military career and was a very popular Dean. He was popular among students and alumni. He had good connections at the legislature and he was intelligent, had great personal skills, a high EQ, and was a North Dakota native.

I think we need to remember that early commits are often done when kids don't know all of their options. We never used to know the recruiting class until signing date cuz schools and coaches aren't allowed to make that information available to the media. These kids need to do what is best for them. If our coaches offered the kid, they do a good job of trying to maintain communication and continue recruiting until they are signed. If the kid wants to play at a higher level, then more power to them. We wish them well and if it doesn't work out we hope to have them transfer here. We also want to wish them well in case they have siblings or friends/teammates who are potential recruits. It is difficult to go into a school where kids were at UND and don't have good things to say about the program or kids/parents/coaches who considered coming here read some of the criticism or insults on a fan blog. Coaches and fans need to make sure we don't get frustrated with this process. Until they are signed they aren't committed. The colleges also offer kids scholarships then retract the offer cuz someone better comes along or maybe they see things they didn't like or change their mind about the kids potential. I am more concerned about losing kids that are already signed or are already here. That is a more difficult pill to swallow, but we are just fans and it shouldn't cause us to lose sleep.

Did Grady come back after Christmas break? I understand someone else was criticized last month for raising the issue, but there was legitimate concern.

Former Sioux wide receiver Dr. Phil Johnson again serves as team physician for USA.

Only if you feel "giving your word" or making a commitment is conditional. I think both guys did what they felt was best for them and it doesn't indicate a character flaw in either kid. They are young impressionable athletes who feel a lot of pressure to make the decision they feel is best for them. Sometimes things change.

I agree that UND hasn't been a high pressure school. Would you still go after the SDSU commits? They also gave their word. It can't be a character flaw for those who change their mind and go elsewhere but not a character flaw for those who change their mind and come here. I also wonder who confirmed he committed to us? I believe he did but did the kid confirm it? I only read about it on a blog. The info is often assumed cuz of tweets or twitters. Others have made the point: They aren't committed til they are signed. Others bring up the valid point that if a kid commits then it changes who else we go after and with what kind of an offer. We can't forget nothing is binding til we have the signature.

"we only want guys that really want to be here"? Maybe the kid wanted a school that "really wanted him to play for them". You know nothing of the kids character or personality. I think he wanted to come here after his visit but he changed his mind with a better offer. Maybe he needed the extra money, who knows? We have one of the best freshman hockey players in the country who changed his mind. Do you question his character? These are high school kids. Maybe we should just wish them luck and hope we didn't offer more was because we have someone better. Some of you guys seem to take these things as a personal affront. That is a bit much.

I stand corrected

Yes. When none of the Big Sky teams can win in the first round it is concerning. When you hammer us with Studsrud and Reyes in the game, and then you hammer a Montana team that we couldn't compete with regardless of who are QB was, it does temper the enthusiasm. On the other hand, the program is headed in the right direction. We need to develop our ability to beat one on one coverage and improve our passing game to win consistently in the playoffs. We are still young. We need to upgrade a bit with off season strengthening and improve our depth but if we aren't in the playoffs next year it will be a big disappointment. We struggled against teams that could run and throw especially those that gave their QB time to pick apart our secondary. Our run game is solid and if given time Studsrud is good enough to make the throws to move the chains. Need big upgrade in passing game and our secondary and then we will be ready to play you guys or anyone else in the FCS.

I agree we can recruit athletes who haven't signed elsewhere but I don't believe we can recruit kids who have already signed the LOI. Reaching out with a text tweet or whatever letting the kid know if the coaching change would affect their decision we would like to talk to them is a good way to do it but there is no reason not to go after kids who haven't signed unless they tell us no way.

Gundy, I think it is a cultural difference. Do you want a culture of one where if you come into the program, bust your butt for us and if we don't have the ability to develop your talent or maybe you aren't good enough to crack the starting lineup we dump you? If a player is clearly not going to be able to play they need to sit down with the player and review how they see things and outline what the player needs to do to get on the field. If the player can't do that, then many of them will transfer out and hopefully appreciate the opportunity. This staff kept both of these QB's knowing they had made the decsion that Keaton was their guy last December. They did that cuz they didn't want to take a chance on Keaton not being able to handle the job, the fact they didnt' know if Joe would be healed and the fact that both Ryan and Joe had played well at times. Those 2 seniors were loyal to the program and deserve to be part of this. You can also have a culture where if we aren't going to need you we cut you. Those programs don't tend to have the same culture and loyalty to the program in the long run, but teams can win either way. If they cut either of these guys after they stayed loyal to the program, that would tell me something about the integrity and class or lack therof of our staff. If they cut either one of these guys, then Bubba needs to stop the family and love rhetoric and simply coach and keep building things as he sees fit. I dont't give a rats butt if they were Mussman recruits, they are UND recruits, not Mussman recruits. It is too bad that one of these guys never got a chance to play again yet has been blasted time and again on this blog. All he ever did was choose UND and do as he was asked in a time when we didn't have a running game, or oline. Got hurt for us , rehabbed then came back supportive of his teammates and coaches, and you are actually considering we would cut him? Sorry but until now that hasn't been UND FB.

no

I get your point but it shouldn't have come down to that int. As a team we just weren't playing very well especially defensively. Give their QB credit he made a difference. The coaches chose to use Bartels and they chose to stay with him no matter how he played. It wasn't just Bartels. It was our oline, receivers and RB's too. No matter how I may have felt, once the staff picked their ms tarting QB they needed to give him the support to know he wasn't having to " look over his shoulder". Once he was hurt I think the coaches made a mistake. Bubba can't complain about losing games when Keaton was hurt. He made the decision to go with Bartels. Even with Bartels, struggling, we should have one the Idaho State game and probably should have won the Weber game. Seasons over, I think QB situation is decided for next 2 years. We need another good recruiting year to improve depth and we should be better next year. No more blow outs. Hopefully conference championship.

You can't pin this on one guy. Coaches made decision to go with Bartels. Not necessarily wrong but when he didn't play well they stuck with him. Too many people, and it seems some of the coaches, forget Studsrud had not been playing that well when he got hurt. He was ok. I mentioned before, I think by the end of the year he was our most improved player from fall to now, but he wasn't winning or losing games for us. He was adequate. What was our secondary doing when we were up by 14 in those games? Why weren't we moving the ball on the ground? What were our special teams doing? This is a team game and the team and coaching staff lost those games, not one guy. That isn't fair to Bartels. I saw how he played and it wasn't just Bartels. We had the personnel to win those games without Keaton. If we struggle in the secondary, our dline and LB's need to step it up and pressure the QB. Didn't happen against Idaho State. If our receivers are struggling with routes our oline QB and RB's need to step up. The team struggled. Studsrud may have made a difference but no way to know. I think Reyes would have made a difference but no way to know. It's a team game and these were team losses just like the wins were team wins. Keaton played his best FB the last 3 games, almost flawless the last 2. The oline protected him and we ran the ball almost at will. Do that for Bartels and we win both of those games. Great steps this year, got screwed by playoff selection rubes, nothing we can do. Good lesson: control the things we can control and we are in. Then we don't have the same frustration on selection day. We need to be prepared to win no matter who we are playing regardless of injuries. Takes time and we are headed in the right direction.