bincitysioux

Sounds like Mollberg is the man going forward with Bartels as the main competition. Don't they almost have to bring in a JUCO QB next season simply for depth concerns? We'll be going from two seniors, to 3 freshman plus any true freshman that come in next fall. As good as the recruiting has been the last few seasons at virtually every offensive postion, it is a bit alarming that North Dakota has also lost 3 QB's to attrition in that time..................

David Primus, Thanks for the post. The thoughts from Athletic Department insiders like Hajdu and yourself are much appreciated. Regarding in-game stuff, I have a few questions/thoughts................ Why are the pre-game/introductions so much better at REA? Who handles this? Is it University staff at both places? Is it REA staff for hockey and city staff for football? Although this year's pregrame hype at the Alerus is much better than it has been for a couple seasons, it still seems rather "bush-leauge" compared to what takes place at REA. And it is actually a bit too long. They have a nice concept, but it seems to get botched every week whether it be volume issues or PA clarity issues. I do have to say though that I can actually understand what the PA announcer is saying the last two games vs. the first 3 so there has been a positve adjustment there. Is there any reason that those who handle that stuff at REA cannot also do it for football games at the Alerus? What happened to the fireworks? They used to set a bunch off after touchdowns, but haven't for a couple seasons. Grown men like me could care less, but there are alot of little kids at the games that always enjoy that stuff, and even students too. First thing my 6 year old asked on the way to the home opener this year was "will there be fireworks?" He likes the fireworks at the end of the hockey games................... In lieu of (or in addition to) fireworks, considering the impact that hockey has on Grand Forks as a whole and especially the University and its students, I think it would be kind of a neat thing if an REA-like goal horn sounded off whenever a touchdown was scored. At the very least, it would be somewhat unique as far as small college football goes...................... This is kind of a nit-picky thing, but 3-4 times a game on the big screen, they advertise the Radio Coach's Show. That is great, but for two seasons now they continue to include Radio Fargo-Moorhead Stations on the list, and a station (720 AM) that does not even exist. UND hasn't been affiliated with those stations for 2 years now. My thought is, if the powers-that-be don't even have enough interest to correct that, I don't have alot of confidence that they really care enough to attempt to correct other issues regarding marketing football. I don't see the point in advertising to fans to tune into stations that don't carry Sioux athletics............ Lastly, and this has nothing to do with attendance or growing interest, but why doesn't the marching band take off their baseball caps during the national anthem?

I just like Anderson's consistency, his ability to hit clutch shots, his ability to make free throws, and he seems to make few bad decisions. Huff is obviously the most explosive player on the team, and is a walking highlight film. You never know when he will go off for 25 points, but you also never know when he'll be held to 2 points. His athleticism makes him a good rebounder too. Both Huff and Webb are much better defenders than Anderson. Webb is an excellent floor general, and makes everyone around him better. He just can't score like those other two guys, but that is not his job either. I just felt that Anderson was the most valuable player on the team last year. My two cents............... I think all of them should be able to have better seasons than last, including Brekke, if a couple of the new guys can take some of the pressure off of Brekke down in the paint, as he has been the only threat in the post the last two seasons.

I think we were having a similar conversation about this time of year about that Russian gal that transferred from Lake Region a few years ago. She never did suit up for the Sioux. Hope we don't have a repeat of that................

A fast start by the offense like last week would be a big help...................

I worry this game could get ugly....................

I am also a Shuler fan. He has such a great stroke. But Anderson really set himself apart last season. I think he is the best player on the team. He's been very good in clutch situations..............

South Dakota was both the home opener and homecoming that year, which explains the good attendance, in addition to it being the best opponent of the season that year................

I think it would be: North: UND, UNC, UM, MSU, EWU, UI South: ISU, WSU, SUU, NAU, Sac St., PSU I don't think they will split up ISU and Weber. And North Dakota's only logical travel partner is Northern Colorado while Sac St.'s only logical travel partner is Portland St....................

It is intersting though that the addition of Idaho will probably make scheduling more diffiucult for North Dakota. There will likely be 16 conference games, versus the 20 that have been alotted for through the next two seasons. Plus two "money" games likely leaves North Dakota with 10 or so non-conference games to schedule. One of those, let's say at least two, will be non-DI's so that leaves 8. They will probably knock 4 of those out with tournaments, so that leaves 4................ Northern Iowa, SDSU, USD, and FU rotating home-and-away on a yearly basis.................... Sounds good to me!

I started to move all of the UND-FU posts to the UND-FU rivalry thread, but then I realized that it would be like 5 pages and 114 posts so I got lazy and decided to leave them here...................... Here's my take: North Dakota has undoubtedly played a much tougher schedule this season than has Fargo. Fargo has undoubtedly a much better football team this season than does North Dakota.

I don't a thing about Benton. He'd have to be awfully good to supplant Anderson, Webb, and/or Huff amongst the starters. I don't much care who the starters are....................all I know is, I've seen alot of good things happen when Webb and Anderson are on the floor together. Webb is a true ball-distributing point guard. Anderson is a scorer. Looking forward to see what the new guys bring to the table, but I think Anderson, Huff, and Brekke are the key cogs to this team.....................

Good points all around. Hanson impresses the hell out of me. I expect he will continue to do so for the next 3 weeks. Offense continues to be a well-oiled machine, as it has been all year................................

The loss of Broc Bellmore is evident as well when it comes to stopping the run..........................

I can't help but to think that last season's above average defense was wasted by an abysmal offense. Now this season's exceptional offense is being wasted by an atrocious defense. What a difference a year makes.....................

I hope he gets a shot, he's got alot of skills. But IMO he gets ALOT of help from his receivers. He's underthrown just as many as Hendrickson has overthrown...........

Personally, I think the loss to Sioux Falls gets WAAAYYYYYY over-played as far as it being reason for lack of attendance, lack of interest, apathy, etc................. Do most of us rubes that post here acknowledge how embarassing that game was? YES! Do even half of the people in the stands that day know who, what, or where, Sioux Falls even was? Probably not........... My opinion is that from about 1993 to 2007, Grand Forks sports fans got conditioned to expecting lop-sided wins when they came out to see a football game, and got conditioned to reading in the GF Herald how UND was one of the best in DII, highly ranked, and expected to do damage in the playoffs. Well, haven't had any of that for about 5 years now. Case in point about the quality of opponents during transition: I'll never forget how at the home opener in 2008 against Texas A&M-Kingsville, the guy sitting behind me bragging up the Sioux to the rest of his buddies about how great the move to DI was because we just throttling "Texas A&M", should have made the move years ago...................... I just don't think that the average ticket-buyer in Grand Forks really knows what the hell is going on. When does the Ralph or the Alerus get the loudest? Answer: Whenever the PA announcer reveals that Minnesota is losing in hockey, or Fargo is losing in football. Seriously, biggest roar from the crowd during the Northern Arizona game came when they announced Fargo had lost. Funny, that night was the only game I've been at so far this year where they gave ANY score updates from FU games................IMO that's no better than FU fans continuing the "Sioux Suck" chants at their football games 8 or 9 years after they last played...................

I could see Hardin getting an invite to an NFL camp, not necessarily drafted though. His route running is his best strength as far as I'm concerned and has "elusive" speed. Needs to clean-up the drops though. Hanson doesn't have the arm to get a look from NFL scouts IMO. Accurate? Yes. But he's under-thrown alot of balls to his receivers this season.................

My take: Student attendance and participation has actually been a very pleasant surprise for me this season for the most part, considering what I've witnessed over the course of the last 4-5 years. Last Saturday against Montana was the first time this year I've been disappointed by the turnout. Having said that, I was disappointed with the entire turnout for that game. Not so much by the total number (~9,300) but by the break-down. Prior to the Griz game, the Alerus roughly has had: -1,500 to 2,500 students -100 to 300 fans of the opposition -Around 9,000 total fans For the Griz game, the Alerus roughly had: -1,000 students -2,000 to 3,000 fans of the oppostion -Aroung 9,000 total fans That tells me that alot of prospective fans, whether they be students, season ticket holders, or casual fans didn't show up last Saturday. As far as student attendance....................I don't want to hear any BS about the Alerus being too far away. If you're near Wilkerson and you have class in Witmer you get there either by foot or by automobile. If you're in Swanson and you have class at Clifford you get there either by foot or by automobile. Sure, there is housing East of Columbia Rd. that would be quite a trek to the Alerus. There is also alot of housing West of Wilkerson that was quite a trek to Memorial. Fact is, the casual fans, whether they be students, high-rollers, the average Joe, loyal Alums.................other than the rubes like us, they are not going to turn out for the games unless they know they can expect to see a big win.

Whether or not you live on the East coast or the West coast, you can't tell me that it is any easier to watch Old Dominion on TV than it is to watch Cal Poly. IMO, Cal Poly is not getting hosed as far as polls go or due to which time zone they play in, it is more a function of them not having a consistent record of FCS playoff appearances and little name recognition. Northern Iowa was still ranked in the polls with a 1-4 record. Do you think that is because of their recent history, or because of the time zone they play in?

I call BS on the Time-Zone argument................. Latest football start time for North Dakota this season has been 8:00 central time. In the NCC men's basketball games rarely started before 8:30 central................in the Big Sky they will almost always start no later than 8:00 central time except for 3 times per year...............

This program is embarrassing. They had wins this season against Crookston and South Dakota St. Went 0-9 in Big Sky play.

I don't pretend to be an expert on the game like some do. I only have two versions of Madden, so I don't have the resume.

You sure set me straight. And tought me a valuable lesson about manners and how one should conduct themself on the interwebs...........

I'm sure you are right.......... But you are the only one doing the name calling there, Mr. Respect...........