Irish

It should be - but I think it would take a disaster for him to be released. I think this season is the most important one in quite some time. We need to regain our status as a place where NHL type talent can go to develop their skills and move up. Think Parise, Toews, Oshie, Boesser, and Schmaltz. Now look at our forwards last season. I'm not sure where things went off the rails, but we need to regain our status as the best program in the country. If we don't do it soon it could be a long dry spell. And there is no reason why Duluth and St. Clown are more successful than us other than the occasional outlier season. Time to get back on track. If we have a mediocre season, I predict a lot of complaining, but not a lot will change for at least another year.

You are correct Sir.

According to the Heraldo, Karl will have responsibility for the power play. That can only be a good thing. A frustrating year last year, but it looks like Berry is making some changes that should show positive results. If our returning forwards can take a positive step in development we should be back in the thick of things. Can't wait until the season starts.

How about joining the hockey program that currently has the most alumni in the NHL? Even mercenaries should see the value in that. And I don't buy that St. Cloud or Duluth has better livability or exposure. There is absolutely no way that Clown and Duluth should have better programs than us - no way. A year or two outlier season perhaps, but consistently better than us? Time we regain our dominance. That should and needs to start with this year.

I am all in favor of having sharp practices, and if the morning works then great. However, as to the reference to the great morning practices we had last year during the holidays - remember that immediately after Christmas break we had perhaps the most disastrous series in modern Sioux history when we were swept in a rink above a parking ramp. So there's that.

"Good" is a relative term - times were interesting in 1969 when I started and I think the definition of good then was different :-). Oxbow mentioned bail - when someone we knew was arrested we just passed the hat - many times they were glad we took the "criminal" off their hands.

When I was at UND they had maybe 3 campus cops - now they have around 18-20.

I, too, support our Athletic Department. However, there is a good group of people who know the Fighting Sioux is done but will never wear the pathetic Fighting Hawks logo - myself included. This issue is not as big as the pro-Hawk crowd makes it but it will be an issue until the logo is changes.

Could not agree more.

I have moved on from the Fighting Sioux, but will never wear anything that prominently displays the new crap logo. Never.

I agree that we need improved attendance - We need some enthusiasm from the students and a buzz among those who are not regular attendees. I think this will take time to build and needs to start on the field. Remember, we were suffering for 6 years of Muss - sideline dancing provided for free. The 4 years previous to the playoff year we were 5-6, 3-8, 5-7, and 7-4. Our record since moving up in 2008 is a combined 43-45 - not the foundation for a great fan base we had hoped. And sadly, the 9,000+ fans at the playoff game were treated to perhaps the worst half of Sioux football I have seen in many years - and a colossal coaching failure. This playoff season was followed by 3-8 and 6-5 seasons. It's hard to sell mediocrity. In addition, Muss's antics were followed by 5 years of watching Rudy call the plays, This team has at times been very frustrating to watch. We need to get that enthusiasm we had during our DII heyday. We had a stud defense and the crowd felt part of the play making noise on 3rd down and making it a very hard place to play. If we regain the swagger the fans will come. If we stay around .500, 8-9,000 will be the norm. Time to build a team that can compete with those mouth-breathers down south.

Do you ever wonder what goes on in Bubba's head when a horrible situation that hurts the team happens repeatedly right in front of him (and one that has gone on for years) and yet he just plain refuses to make changes or deal with it? Special teams is an area that has cost us in the past and is one that every fan over the age of 8 knows is a huge problem. Yet even in a year that may be crucial to his future employment here we are again.

A real mixed bag but the best thing is that they are learning how to win.

A solution in search of a problem.

Might be a holdover from Santiago - Looks like the staff thinks there are many more like him out there and we just need to use a shotgun approach to find them. What we need is real mean FCS quality linemen and lots of them.

Great thread - my 2 cents - you have a very good analysis, but in my opinion several years too late. This is Bubba's 6th year and I think we could clearly see last week what he has built (and 6 years of Muss before that). We are very very slow to make changes. On the positive, no one bleeds Sioux green like Bubba. However, in my opinion he is stuck in 1985. He desperately wants to play Bubba Ball, but has never had the horses to do it. Defense should be the cornerstone, but it seems like we have never had the complete package - great line and backers and very poor corners and secondary, or great secondary and an undersized line. Offense, well that's just a mechanism to pin the other team back for our D to get on the field. I have several main issues with Bubba - first the absolute lack of adjustments on either side of the ball. We were plain out-adjusted in almost every game last year. Second - the offense, specifically keeping Rudy for 5 years when everyone, and I mean everyone could see his shortcomings (I have heard everyone from 70 year old ladies to Junior High kids call Rudy out during games). Third - special teams - remember when that was our specialty? Fourth, and most important - I am not sure Bubba "gets it" at all. He is always "aw shucks, we'll have to regroup and work harder" but never makes meaningful changes. How could someone with his football knowledge and experience actually think Rudy was a good coordinator for example. I just don't see him as capable of self reflection or change. He is not the worst coach - but he is a .500 coach with occasional good seasons - just enough to keep his job. Who really thinks Bubba will lead us to prominence? I would feel a whole lot better if I had some indication that Bubba actually realizes the program's shortcomings and is willing to make significant changes or at least an honest evaluation of where we are and a plan to move forward.

My sentiments exactly - I am ready to move on from the Fighting Sioux, but will never get anything with the pathetic Hawk logo - never.

A huge game for several reasons - we need to right the ship and get some swagger back after getting our butts handed to us in front of the whole state; this game will definitely have play-off implications - we can't afford another loss at this point in the season; finally, I worry that a lackluster performance will sink attendance for the year. We need some buzz around this football team again.

Let's go with the moose.

No halftime adjustments is Bubba's trademark.

We have already fallen into that trap and seem comfortable there. I wish the good old boys and former players and alumni that lobbied so hard for Bubba even though he was a .500 coach because he was "one of us" would put a little pressure on him and the administration.

An accurate description of our administration's mismanagement. My son was a student athlete during the Bunning era and felt he was a total incompetent and in over his head. However, lost in all of this is Bubba's coaching. This is my point of contention. He is stuck in 1985. If you watch the second half of our playoff game you will see what I call total coaching malpractice from Bubba and his staff. It is unbelievable how he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. He kept Rudy for 5 years and only let him go under pressure - in the mean time he misused the best stable of running backs we have ever had. His lack of adjustments is legendary - he was probably out adjusted in every game last year. His ultra-conservative philosophy has certainly cost us talented recruits. If you were a young game-breaker and saw film of how Santiago was used last year how fast would you run from this program. I won't even get into his love of punts. He couldn't get our team up for the last game of the season last year with a playoff spot on the line. Bottom line - even with our institutional limitations Bubba has done a poor job with what he has.

I know you are an avid Sioux supporter and very knowledgeable about football and the program. This appears to be a very sensible approach, but one I would feel better about if in the past any measuring stick has been applied to Bubba and staff - otherwise how could we go on with Rudy for 5 years. How could we have the worst second half playoff performance I have ever seen? How could we put up with the play calling, lack of adjustments, and total collapse last year with a playoff spot on the line? Expect excellence? I'm not seeing it. More like hope for excellence, but oh well if we're not. As a group have an incredible tolerance for mediocrity. Don't believe me - watch me get a huge amount of crap for this assessment. What we saw today was unacceptable - especially after 5 plus years of "rebuilding". Our program has been wandering in the wilderness for over 10 years. Time to expect excellence and really mean it this time.

If this was a fight, they'd stop it.

And our first person does a great job of missing.