iramurphy

That is my point. There are "high risk" kids in N. Dak., Minn., Wisco, and Manitoba too. Coaches need to assess the risk based on the kid. Certainly kids that far away from home have factors that don't come into play if you are from Gilby. I get your point, but if you an FCS school you are likely going to consider kids who may have some academic concerns or come from dysfunctional families or may have had some legal or discipline issues in the past. I get your point and I agree with your assessment of the general philosophy of the staff, but athletics do provide an avenue for some kids to overcome their disadvantages or past mistakes and the coaches will need to decide if we have the resources to help that group of kids no matter where they come from. Chapell didn't last and he was from GF. Maybe one of the biggest disappointments as far as lost potential we have ever had. Florida kids who can play FB, succeed in school and be a success after college would be a great additions.

What makes you think a kid "won't fit" based on geography. Depends on the kids academic needs and how mature they are etc. No matter what some people think, we have to go outside of our former recruiting areas to find players. Florida has a lot of them. These twins look like great prospects.

That is why you read the book and not the cliff notes if you want an A instead of a C. I didn't say our kids were "no good". We aren't playing well right now. I think we have 2 capable QB's but neither have played to their potential. If the Oline will open some holes, I think are RB's are adequate but we don't have breakaway speed.. The receivers need some work, but there is potential. Right now the QB needs to get the ball where the receiver has a better chance than the d back and if they don't make the catch, the receiver can't let the d back get a pick. If the QB throws to a wide open LB it is on the QB.The O line is a work inprogress. On paper there is no reason they can't improve but blocking schemes can be complicated and I am not sure what the problem is. At some point on each play you need to either drive the opponents ass off the line of scrimmage so there is a seam for the RB or protect the QB. We are struggling with both. Defensively we are getting better play from the DB's, and the linebackers are more athletic. D-line play is better but we lack depth. We need Hinosa and the other injured guys to be healthy. Bottom line is we are who we are and need to commit to getting better each play of each game and practice. Defense needs to build on last weeks first half. A work in progress. I will keep coming to games, cuz I think it will be worthwhile to see how these kids develop and how the staff can keep them playing hard and not quitting and develop this program back to championship caliber.

Thanks I thought I was being interviewed by ESPN. If you knew me, this was an abreviated comment.

Always educational to get the experts post game take on things. I hope some of you won't jump in front of a train this week. I sent a friend a note: We don't have a QB that can carry this team right now. Our receivers can't get open and they are dropping passes. ( If they can't catch a pass when they get hit or can't win the possession battles neither QB is going to be successful). Our RB and Oline are struggling and our kicker has been inconsistent. Other than that I don't see how anyone can stop us from scoring. Defensively we are better than last year but gave up 38 pts to a good but not great FCS team. Bubba was pretty realistic when he took this job and knows we need talent upgrades and improve depth across the board. We have some decent players on this team. We need to develop great players and improve virtually everywhere. The job the coaches and kids have is to get better everyday and help their teammates get better everyday. I hope they are smart enough to ignore the media and not log on to blogs. They also need to believe they can compete at this level. Doesn't really matter what we think. ( except for gfhockey, I think he is one of the coaches disguised as a sometimes oil worker who hangs out at the local truck stop in the am and Judy's after practice).

If you are really Irish you wouldn't be taking crap from AC fans. They can only bother you if you think their opinion or attitudes are anything you care about. You worry way to much about the AC. Bubba is well aware of the task at hand and he has brought together and good staff. We are already seeing early success with their recruiting.

I don't think anyone is satisfied with a 3 point win over Robert Morris. There is no point in kicking a dead horse. If you aren't satisfied with where we are or how fast we are getting where most of us are expecting us to be, then we all need to do more to be part of the solution. We need to get phase II of the practice facility built now. Donate $, write letters to the Alumni Office demanding that become a priority, ask your former fraternities and sororities to fill the stands, send Bubba names of kids in your area they should evaluate and make sure you take every opportunity to tell potential students about the opportunities UND offers students and student athletes. I would believe that will improve things faster than expectations by those of us on a blog. I believe the coaching staff expects to become a power team in the Big Sky a perennial playoff team and resume our traditional dominance over the AC. Bubba can't do anything about what happened last year but I think he has a good staff and they are showing early success recruiting. I also don't think the lack of respect for Robert Morris is based on fact. We will play a lot of teams that are a lot better but I am not sure who knows exactly how good they are. We will have a better idea mid- season.

OLB's had good game Sat.

y I said he wasn't sharp. He also isn't throwing to Hardin, Golladay and Jackson anymore. He didn't consistently move his feet well and he had a couple of bad misses. Bartels hasn't shown anything that would make me believe he would do better and he has shown he is less mobile. I get where it is assumed I am biased but I have seen Mollberg play more. Both he and Bartels struggled at times last year and both showed promise. Once he earned the job, it makes no sense to start making a QB change after an off game. They still haven't let him run and still don't do a lot of pass run option with him which might be a good weapon. We need to stop all of the penalties, get the snap count right and Simmons needs to know where to line up and where he is supposed to run. Get the running game going protect the QB and if he can't hit open receivers then the next guy gets in. The QB's can't be afraid to make mistakes cuz they will get benched. Right now Mollberg still gives us the best chance to win. Coaches see the game film, the games and practice. I think they try to get they guys on the field that give them the best chance to win. As we try and get better, we might need to be patient.

I wasn't referring to you. You can drink more than that and we all know you can coach

Glad I didn't have to go to war with some of you guys. After 18 beers some of you think you could coach. Mollberg wasn't sharp but don't forget he earned the starting job through spring ball and fall practices. If anyone watches game film you might notice that on the firstlong pass he "over threw", the young receiver broke free from the db then stopped running. Had he kept going that pass looked like it was on the mark. I suppose the AC needs to replace their QB cuz they struggled and he threw 2 picks. Rotating QB's did us a lot of good last year didn't it. Mollberg remained calm went through his reads well, and didn't turn the ball over despite not being sharp. If you think Bartels or Studsrud are going to step in and play better you didn't watch fall practice. The coaches went with Mollberg for a reason. Defense played better esp db's. Labat and Reinke played very well. The young kicker and punter did a good job. Kids played hard and improved from last week. Long way to go.

Set your goals a bit higher, quit comparing to the AC. Nothing we can do about the Ag School. They are good and I wouldn't wait around for them to stumble so I would expect Bubba and his staff to approach this program with a sense of urgency and high expectations. Don't worry about next year until next year and certainly not 2017 or we likely won't be any good until 2017 or later. Worry about Saturday and the preparation needed and the recruiting work that needs to get done this week.

I have never referred to anything UND as "cavalry". Bubba and his staff have their style and it will work with kids just like the AC coaches style will work with kids. There are enough good players out there for UND to be competitive at this level and they will be. There are 7 players who have committed to UND for 2015 that must agree. HS coaches in our area have already had a positive impression of this new staff. Some of you fans seem to think that success in FB at a rivals school or even lack of success at my school will dictate how we feel about ourselves or families. It doesn't affect the stock market, the price of oil or the price of hogs for that matter. As this team improves, it may cost more to buy one of those goofy hats though. I have no idea what your coach wears on his head, if anything, cuz I don't give a rats behind.

I thought he stole that hat from his mother -in-law. I don't think Bubba cares what anyone, much less some Ag school fans, think about his goofy hat. It protects him from the sun better than a baseball hat. He and his staff seem to be able to relate to young men just fine.

Did his dog crap on your porch or something? Maybe you were on the team and you didn't get to play. Not sure what you want to hear. Mussman didn't get the job done. A lot of hs coaches and alums felt he was aloof and not approachable. There seemed to be some improvement and we changed presidents and we changed AD's. If Kelly was here all along or Faison was here all along it may have been different but it isn't. People on this board don't make these decisions unless you count gfhockey and he makes all of the decisions Monday mornings at the truck stop with his " good ole boys". If it makes you happy he would have lasted 4 yrs and 3 mo at the AC. What else do you want to say about him. I don't think he is a bad guy and he left without bad mouthing the program. His kid is a prospect at this level, maybe higher if he continues to improve. I hope we get a shot at him and I hope Mussman does well wherever he is. If that isn't good enough get out to the truck stop Mon AM and look for a guy with blood shot eyes, and a 3 day hangover. He can answer your questions better than any of us if you buy him a cup of coffee and the truckers special.

We both should have moved with UNI, Montana, Montana State, etc., in the 70's, and yes we should have moved together in 2003. We are where we are and we have to deal with it.

Don't know, I'm certainly not plugged into the AC. Mussman wasn't coaching there so we don't know how long he would have lasted. I wasn't sure he was the right guy but we needed someone at the end of the Lennon era and he was as good of a choice as any if we weren't going to bring in someone from the outside and make a more rapid and aggressive transition. I think Mussman has been blamed and criticized to the point that we are kicking a dead horse. We are where we are and I don't need anyone to blame. I really don't care how long he would have lasted elsewhere. The difference in where we are and where others are is multi factorial. The timing of the move up, Chapman's focus on athletics, Kupchella's lack of understanding of the workings and importance of intercollegiate athletics. Hiring Bunning instead of Bollinger. The 1997 flood. The lack of focus on the move up during the name debacle. The support for athletics from AC foundation and support from the Fargo Moorhead community vs Grand Forks EGF and the UND foundations unwillingness to make a major impact. The loss of the $10,000,000 Sanford donation, and their CEO's broken promise to be a major part of UND athletics. The media support from the Forum and Fargo TV vs the Herald. Lots and lots of factors, some bigger than others. I would focus on would be how to upgrade our program now. Day by day, game by game, year by year. Right now we need butts in the seats at games, improve our marketing and media exposure and phase I and II of the new facility done ASAP. Recruiting looks very good for next year so far. Let's see if we can get a win Saturday. Go Sioux.

How far back do you want to go? Dressler and the Manke brothers? Mollberg is just getting started. Nothing we can do now about the past. So what about now? Write these 2 names down. Elijah Grady and Mason Bennett. The immediate impact is UND has 2 early commits who can influence what other kids see and think about where we are going. You maybe don't understand that what is done is done. We move on and will get better day by day. Same thing the AC had to do after they were down. Same thing any program does when they have struggled. Most of the AC fans are enjoying the ride. Some don't seem to be happy unless they can try and make someone else feel badly. Who gives a rats behind who the last impact player was? Keep checking that rear view mirror and you might find yourself in the ditch. Doubt it will be this year and maybe not next but we are coming after you guys. In the meantime, enjoy your success and quit fussing over what anyone else does or doesn't do.

Mason Bennett is another great pickup for the Sioux. It has been awhile since we have had 7 early commits and this kid is a " blue chipper". Grady from Newtown is another one and they both had offers from one of the better FCS teams. This is already forming up as an excellent recruiting class.

Dressler was a better college player, Hardin maybe as fast but Thielen doesn't drop the ball. Dresser had too many drops in camp according to the Chiefs web site and then didn't really get much of a shot in pre-season games. Thielen is 6'1" runs a 4.5 and can cover on kicks and also can return. I don't think they saw Hardin and Dressler on kick or punt coverage. I think Dressler would have been good on coverage cuz he is very strong but Greg not so much. For a guy to make a team as a 5th or 6th receiver he needs to be able to contribute in more ways than one on special teams. I still think Dressler can play given the right circumstances.

Detroit Lakes Adam Thielen made the 53 man roster for the Vikes. Had great pre-season.

Posing the question on a blog will get you a variety of answers. There are quite a few folks who have trouble getting beyond the fact the Mussman didn't leave a boatload of talent and depth. Thus throughout the game thread and comments they will continue to feel better bashing Mussman. It's pretty clear what he did and don't do. Then there are the trolls who want to remind everyone that the AC is pretty damn good. We also have a large group of our fans who have to keep comparing us to what the AC did and didn't do and how they might have a reasonable chance of beating us this year or even next. Fortunately, Bubba and the new staff are concerned about the guys who are here and how to get better "day by day". Bubba wants to run the ball, but if we can give the QB time, I think they will try and open things up. It's pretty tough to be one dimensional and without an experienced and talented Oline, I think you will see this team will take whatever they think they can exploit. Our defense is better but must improve everyday. One of my pet peaves is dropping the ball. If you watch our skill kids in practice and warm ups not many look the ball into their hands every single time they catch it. If you are in the habit of doing that every time, you have the habit of securing the FB before you turn up field or make a move. One of most important fundamentals in catching the ball yet so many don't do it. If we don't drop the interceptions we are more competitive. Oline will improve but that group may take longer cuz of the skills and schemes necessary to be successful. Kids at skill positions can let their athletic ability carry them sooner than kids in the oline. These guys have a good attitude that they need to develop into a winning attitude and I believe they will improve as the year goes on. San Jose State is a decent team and they handed it to us. It's over, we get better and "on to Belle Fourche Mr. Natlinger".

I always thought Reed Manke was a better QB and should have started as a Soph. I think if you asked Lennon and Mussman they would both agree now but at the time Belmore was decent and he was a good athlete. I still think Manke was one of the best we have ever had at QB but I think your are mistaken if you think Lennon played another kid cuz his brother was a coach. I think they made a mistake but I wasn't at practice. Manke was a "gamer" and a winner with great leadership skills, was smart, and made great reads. I think his career completion rate was close to 70%. He also was a great athlete but apparently Lennon and Mussman didn't see it that way. Once they started Belmore, I think they stayed with him too long but I think coaches are sometimes reluctant to make a change esp at QB cuz they then may have to acknowledge they made a mistake. Belmore was no slouch and a good guy.

Where did you get the idea that kids played cuz of where they are from? I also don't think Kuska, Jake Miller, Golladay to name just three, to "wait their turn". Everyone does have a chance to make the field. Do you really think coaches don't put the kids on the field they think give them the best chance to win? I always disagreed with not playing backups, especially juniors and srs when the outcome is in doubt. I think that was a mistake the previous staff made. We can all think of players that should have played ahead of someone else but the coaches go to all the practices, film sessions and review tape. We hear that kind of stuff from parents at the HS level a lot. Their kid didnt get to play cuz the starter's uncle is the bank president or coaches paperboy or whatever. You see some of that in youth hockey or fb or basketball with parent coaches but I believe the coaches put the kids out there they think give the team the best chance of winning. What bites you in the butt more than anything is not recruiting the right kids.

What a load of baloney. Faison asked the FB alumni last month in Prior Lake if we wanted to resume the rivalry if it meant we play them in Fargo twice. I stated I wouldn't cuz the game is no longer going to have the same flavor with both teams trying to win their conference title and make the playoffs. I said get better and we will play them in the playoffs. Bubba said he would rather play the game even if we played in Fargo. Once he said that I said if our coaches want to play them then play them. A lot of guys said we will play them anytime anywhere. Bubba wasn't instructed to say anything by Faison. Quit making crap up.