iramurphy

Of course not, and that wasn't the point. I'm comparing the situation at Penn State where the QB has no time to throw and gets no protection and the crap kicked out of him to what Bartels and Mollberg went through here the first 2 years they played. They both took a lot of criticism from fans and I am stating that what I and some others tried to say is that it isn't fair to give up on them based on playing in a survival mode. I'm stating that there is value to a QB to develop as a Freshman and Sophomore in a good system. Both of those guys were thrown under the bus by some. Same principle. Those who claim they saw enough of these 2 guys in the first 2 years under duress to judge them as a bust may be wrong. I know I'm not supposed to have an opinion on QB's but I thought it interesting that others feel when a QB gets hammered like that they need a chance to recover.

Interesting to hear the "experts" talk about the Penn State QB Hackenberg and how he got the crap knocked out of him at Penn State and how it affected his mechanics, reads etc. They aren't going to condemn him for things out of his control and he will likely be selected in the 2nd or 3rd round by a team that will give him a chance to improve and develop. Hard to make consistent reads when you have 1/2 to 2 sec to throw. Of course that wouldn't have any effect on a QB in the Big Sky. Also interesting to hear how Wentz talked about developing as a back up under Johnson. He will likely be the first or second QB selected (despite what some of the "experts" on this blog think about him). Just thinking.... I wonder if any of that applies to QB's at UND or shouldn't I wonder cuz I'm from DL?

Ugly. Loved the Brien logo, never liked this.

We didn't have a "mascot". We had a logo. The logo was what was best about the Fighting Sioux name. Apparently the people who granted the University permission to use the name years ago, passed away or changed their mind, or were overruled, or as some claim, maybe didn't have the authority to grant it in the first place. Doesn't matter what I wanted the name is gone and whining about it won't bring it back. At this point in time I prefer to distance the University from the old name. It was something out of my control and out of the control of the coaches players and Kelly. We have wasted too much time and money over something that really doesn't matter all that much. Some seem to spend more time worrying about the nickname than we do about winning games and moving the University forward. The people on the reservations, who could have taken the necessary steps to keep the name didn't. There is nothing sacred or meaningful about a nickname or mascot. Most of them are animals, mythical creatures or legends. One of my Chippewa friends once commented that we should have changed the name to Chippewa cuz they were the ones who defeated the Sioux and drove them west into the Dakotas. Who the hell cares that the name is now Fighting Hawks? Wan't even on my radar as a choice but I really don't care. I do care about our athletes coaches and programs and know we need to move forward. You can be a sheepdog and piss on a fire hydrant and you will be just as far ahead as you will chasing windmills and ranting about a name. How about we focus on what is more important right now such as increasing our resources for our athletic teams and university and improving our chance of success. We have a better chance of accomplishing something and we can each make a difference. 25 Years ago I spent some time in the sand. If I can stand to hear a bunch of college idiots being disrespectful during the national anthem instead of honoring those who gave their lives , than you should be able to stand for a change in the name.

This looks like a woodpecker that was sitting on a high power line during a surge. Other than the colors are cool.

Let them post. I agree with the moderators. They shouldn't be banned anymore than the Sioux fans who are intolerant of anyone with a dissenting opinion. When you are bored go back and see what kind of criticism people get and how defensive people get over someone else's opinion. This is a blog. If any of you define yourselves by the success or failures of your favorite college team then I think that is too bad for you. Most of these AC fans who post, define themselves by the success of their football team but this guy asked a legitimate question. If you don't wish to discuss with him (or her) don't).

He probably wouldn't have. The oline was dominated by the dline, our QB couldn't hit a fat pig in the butt with a mop, and so the defense wasn't worried about the passing game. We weren't ready to play the AC. I think we would have been better prepared had we made the playoffs, but it seems most or many disagree with me. We have a ways to go but we are getting better. We had a good recruiting year again. Still need to improve the passing game and maintain the improvement in the run game and continue to improve the oline play. . Keep checking the rear view mirror. We will get there.

Most of us knew where we were compared to the AC before the game. That is why I didn't wish to play them until the playoffs. I think there is a reasonable chance we could have played them had we gotten by round one of the playoffs, and won another FCS game instead of playing them. We were a better team at the end of the year as some pointed out. We couldn't run a lick against the AC and Studsrud was terrible when we played them. At the end of the year he was playing the best FB of his short career and our running game was clicking. I get the argument for having been overlooked for the playoffs. I just don't think there is any point in complaining we got screwed by the committee when we didn't do what we needed to do. I think we are moving forward and my comment was we should focus on next year and the things we can control so we don't have anything like that to complain about next year.

This won't be too popular but we weren't ready to play the best teams in the FCS last year. Had we not played the AC we likely would have been in. Had we not had our butts kicked by both NDSU and Montana we would likely have been in. Had we not blown games with Idaho State and Weber State we would have been in. I agree we had an argument that we should have been in at 7-4 but we left ourselves vulnerable to a committee. I think this staff has the program moving in the right direction but frankly, we weren't good enough last year to compete with the very best at this level. I don't like to see the complaining months later about getting screwed by a committee. We need to deal with the things we can control and we fell short in a couple of areas last year. We can't blame someone else. 2016 holds promise of a run at the conference title. The coaches and players should be preparing for that and that also means a run at the FCS title. If that isn't our mindset we shouldn't be at this level. As fans we need to fill the seats and our administrators need to work to improve the game day experience for our students and fans. Our media folks also need to increase coverage of our athletic teams without cutting back on what we do for our local high school teams. Focus on what we can control and do.

Why anyone cares about what these guys thinks is amazing. Izzo, Kolpack and McFeely are likely the guys who were one of the last ones chosen on athletic teams and got stuck playing right field wearing new armbands, headbands, gloves, baseball shoes and picked dandelions until they got hit on the head with a fly ball. To think a recruit or parent would ask their opinion of the program is nuts but probably happened. Parents today call the sports media complaining their kids picture hasn't been in the paper or isn't mentioned in articles. I can imagine the self importance of folks who were never part of competition now on the "inside". Likely worth at least half a chubby to them and they get paid for it. Good for them.

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.