Irish

I think we agree to disagree - I think Mussman has wussed out on multiple occasions - hopefully we are fully loaded now we can change this. It pains me to say it, but the Bison have gone into their FBS games with a much more aggressive attitude and it has payed off. Muss needs to win a big one and soon. Rebuilding is over.

Perhaps Gene Murphy

Maybe he is - then go down there and call a game that gives us a chance to win. No repeat of last year where he totally wussed out (actually, I wish it was only one game - this has been a pattern of his). I'm not sure what Muss is like in the locker room, but on the field at game day he needs to strap on a pair.

It's not really about a FBS win - It's about swagger and buzz. FBS wins help give you both. The early 2000's teams had this in spades. When you went to a game you knew that you would see the Sioux get after someone. On your feet Sioux fans for another third down and long meant something. Game in game out, we brought it. We knew that anyone coming to Grand Forks would have a bad time. We lost almost all of that feeling during the transition. It's easy to blame the schedule, which was crappy, but I think the product we put out on the field had a lot to do with it. We lost the in your face defensive attitude. A lot of the fall is due to our lackluster play. The Sioux Falls game was the final blow - I think we are still paying for it. While diehard ticket holders and older Sioux fans kept supporting the team, a lot of college students had no interest in watching a program that had an NAIA team eat its lunch (at home) when we had one of the best college hockey programs in the country on campus. We are a lot better team now and have some things to be excited about, especially with the passing game and talented young receiving corps. We have not recaptured that old feeling yet. I think some of this has to do with style of play. Many people have an idea of what Sioux Football is all about. It does not include lackluster line play and sloppy tackling. Even though Saturday's win was great it wasn't totally satisfying. The Bison had several 10-1 seasons and some FBS beatdowns to revive their program. What have we had so far? I think we are improving, but we need a team personality. Something to rally behind. So far, I think a lot of the fan excitement involves the teams we are playing. We need the buzz to be about Sioux Football again.

Agreed that our defense was a major disappointment. Worst tackling performance in a long time. I'm most worried about our line play on both sides of the ball. Our quarterback was our leading rusher with 50 yards - with our stable of running backs, that is ridiculous. I think PSU should have lines that are somewhere in the middle of the Big Sky in talent..If we don't figure out how to get a push, it's going to be a long season. I'm sure the team is working on this - I just hope it was a one game thing and not an indication of where we are in talent.

I'm surprised how fast our strengths turned into weaknesses and weaknesses into strengths.It was almost a total opposite from last year We got great quarterback play, especially considering he was a back-up, our receivers were big, strong, and fast, and our defensive backs played adequately On the other hand, our running game was as poor as I can ever remember, we got absolutely no line push on either side of the ball, and our tackling was horrible. The thing that excites me the most is our passing game with this corps of receivers. They will give almost everyone trouble. What worries me the most is line play. If this is an indication of how our lines on both sides of the ball stack up in the Big Sky, we could be in for some misery.

Great to win but I'm not sure what to make of this game - Hendrickson carried us - Take away his performance and you have a defense that gives up over 500 yards and has numerous missed tackles, a team that takes 11 penalties, a line that couldn't run block. On the other hand we forced turnovers and made them pay. We have much to be excited about, but also much to work on. This sloppy play won't do in the middle of the season.

I think this game is huge in terms of crowd enthusiasm - something we desperately need to build. The student reactions will be key for this season.

No

Every time I think the athletic dept gets the need for a fired up student crowd, they disappoint - someone in administration is habitually tone deaf to crowd issues

I love this for our goal song

I wondered too - However the two lines are for different games - Southern Illinois got beat by Eastern Illinois 49 - 28 and gave up 522 yards. People are not happy in Salukiville

Agreed

Nice job We're ready for the big-time

While what you say is generally true, I feel that the Alerus staff is way more over-zealous than the Ralph and games at the Alerus have been much worse. We need the students to feel welcome.

It's been mentioned before, but I really believe that the management and Barney Fife type of attitude from security makes the student section much less enjoyable than it could be and was a big part of driving the students away when the games weren't the best. I am not in any way in favor of drunk and obnoxious, but the constant pacing up and down around the student section looking for such serious infractions as having a foot on the seat in front of you has help to ruin the student crowd. Watch the next game and you will see 5 or more security types standing right above the students ever scanning to look for any fun breaking out. I have heard complaints from many students over the past few years. We need the students to be fired up. The Alerus and its staff aren't always a friend of Sioux football.

Now that the roster is up, what is the general feeling about the overall quality of this recruiting class compared to some of our biggest rivals (Minnesota, Denver, etc)

Please let's stop feeding this troll and hope he goes away - Every time someone comments on his posts, it encourages him. Let's all put him on ignore

Seems like this should apply to us also

With this latest slight, I'm starting to feel strongly that the Alerus Center doesn't value Sioux football at all. We need a home that is ours and one that is excited to have us - one that will promote us and make us feel wanted. Combine this attitude with the rude crowd management people and you have a real unfriendly place. I wish we could leave and leave the Alerus to it's crappy concerts every other year and wedding receptions.

Agreed - Although I never like to see players leave, if he couldn't beat out Goska, it makes you wonder.

It's so hard to compare eras A better question would be "is this the talent we need to be where we want to be this season?" An even better question would be "can Muss finally put things together?" Let's face it - our transition has been mediocre - the only signature win during our transition was for an opponent (Sioux Falls). We haven't been horrible nor have we been great. New year, new conference, full playoff eligibility -- let's see if we can get things done now that the excuse of transition is over. There is no doubt we have some talent - can we play to potential? - the jury is still out on Muss's teams playing to potential - This is a crucial year for us if we want to capture the excitement in the Alerus again

Totally agree - In my opinion, the biggest rebuilding we have to do is with game buzz and atmosphere. Coaching staff appears to be working hard on talent and shoring up weak spots. Now that we have a conference and DI schedule, we need to get the atmosphere back. We have had almost a perfect storm of misfortune to bring the atmosphere down to where it is now - a lackluster home transition schedule, unfortunate losses to lesser teams, mediocre teams, poor marketing (think last year's video), a decline in tailgating, and the loss of the students. Couple this with uninspired game management and here we are. I know that having a great schedule will help, but more needs to be done. Winning is a must. In addition, this team needs an identity. In talking about the loudest games, a theme arises - everyone there remembers those team's style - an efficient offense and a defense that just came at you. The loudest moments came from the "on your feet Sioux fans for another 3rd and long" we knew that the defense would bring it. I think a reall buzz kill recently has been our loose secondary and lack of pass rush. We have the talent to turn this around, but need a team identity. If we don't get the crowds and students back soon, it will be a long couple of years. I'm not saying the staff isn't working on this, just saying that this is the most important issue in my opinion. We need the Alerus to rock again.

Nice comeback However, if you put these jerseys by the old ones they don't look similar either

Oh, I'm sure there is a chart - however, you can't tell me that these uniforms are the same color that they have always been - this color is a washed out pea green - compare to past Sioux football uniforms and you will see the difference - either we changed color or we got an off batch - this color is horrible