Irish

One of the frustrating things in my book is that there is a lot to like about Bubba - bleeds Sioux Green, does a great job of promoting the Football Program, overall enthusiasm. However, we have, in my opinion, the most talented stable of running backs we have ever seen. Sadly, in my head here is Rudolph's reaction to any suggestion we get Santiago the ball in space, put all three on the field at the same time, use the tight end more, or just adjust to what the defense is giving us: - Coaching malpractice in the first degree.

Anyone close enough to Bubba or the staff to have any insight into what is wired into Bubba's head so he can't see these problems? I have a hard time grasping it on a football level. If it is pure loyalty then he is putting his buddy ahead of the program (and they might be two buddies without a job ). Is he that blind that he can't see these problems?

In my opinion, Sam Houston is a great test to see where we are in year 5 of Bubba Ball. Bubba Ball was sold to us for this very situation - a highly skilled team who doesn't like smash face football. Not saying we must win, but we need to be competitive and afterwords Sam Houston needs to feel like they were in a football game.

You are not even close to a nerve with your babble. The fact is that I was expressing an opinion of our O coordinator that is shared by about 80% of the posters here. Although I am not currently seeking employment, I could eat a can of alphabet soup and crap out a better game plan than Rudolph has shown us. That being said, I am hopeful for this season and hope our recruiting class is among our best. I hope Bubba's team has had a great, motivated off season and that the new players provide us with the necessary spark. This is his 5th season so expectations are high.

So, you must think that our O coordinator had a dandy season calling plays last year. When we have even close to the success that Coach Klieman has had then you will have a valid point. Until then, not.

In my opinion, the very first time we pound Santiago up the middle for the famous 2nd and 9, 3rd and 7 sequence someone should immediately go up to the coaches box and tell Rudolph to take a permanent hike. I could not be more disappointed in Bubba for putting Sioux football second to his buddy system.

Brazil returns home

Death by 1000 passes.

To put it broadly, our needs are a breakthrough class so we can compete with other teams in ND and SD on and off the field. Time for Bubba to show us something.

One yard and a cloud of dust.

I love the idea of a heavy line - they were a force to be reckoned with in 2016. This is the type of "role players" we need, not the non-scoring grinders.

Which returnees do we see taking a nice jump in scoring next year (hopefully several?) I think Mishmash and Kawaguchi for sure.

A few years back Jones assembled what I feel was the most talented Sioux Basketball Team ever. He decided that the best offense was "streetball" and the go to play was to have his best player and ballhog to go 1 on 4, pivot 3 or 4 times and put up an off balance shot, get a foul, or lose the ball. The guy can't game coach for squat.

Agreed, but after watching last year's team and the sophomore (now junior class) in particular I think it is even harder to win a nattie without any scorers.

A huge difference in the number of shots and scoring chances. Hockey is up and down the ice even with a low scoring game. 40 total shots on goal in a 1-0 game is not unheard of along with exciting goalie play. A soccer team with a 1-nil lead can bog down what ever action there was for an entire game. It's like watching paint dry except not as exciting.

I believe Cruikshank was on our radar for quite a while - maybe even a verbal - what happened?

Not specifically directed at you, but at those in general who think there is too much emphasis on getting the high round draft picks.

Nice sarcasm and I get your point. However us diehard fans can point to our recruiting advantages over many schools - a strong tradition of winning and National Championships, the best arena in college hockey, lead the nation in attendance and fans travel like no other team, a proven record of turning out NHL talent, and coaches with player development experience, and probably the program with the best tradition in the country. While every recruit is different, I like to think we have some recruiting advantages over many other schools. Maybe I am wrong but I don't think so. I do admit, however, that in my head I can't understand why anyone would want to go elsewhere so maybe I am overestimating our drawing power. I know that the coaches are the experts, but I still don't get what happened to our Junior class.

Totally agree - I think what got many posters going is the idea that maybe the Junior class wasn't just bad luck but a change in recruiting philosophy. We have plenty of grinders right now. What we need are scorers. It really doesn't matter what round they go in, but guys who can handle the puck, pass accurately, and hit the net (especially when it's wide open). There is no reason we shouldn't be able to get plenty of these players.

Totally agree, but I feel high end talent is needed also - take away Boesser and Schmaltz from the title season and see what you would have. We can't afford classes without any high-end talent either. Watching last year's team try score was brutal.

I hear what you are saying, but I think we are making too much of the term "blue chippers". Look at the championship team - we were loaded with studs whether it was first rounders (Schmaltz an Boesser) or undrafted (Cajula). The point is we were loaded with talent and have been for at least the past 10 years. Guys with pro aspirations wanted to come here if they went the college route. The recruiting complaints started when we had a blank sophomore (next year's junior) class. Watching last years team was night and day talent-wise from our championship year. On offense we were brutal. So ya, after a championship season fans expect more talent to want to come here, not less. Many feel that given our program, facilities, fans, and tradition we should be in the running for almost all top talent and get more than our share. Sounds like we are starting to do that again.

He has some things to learn about keeping and developing his recruits also - I understand the competition but frankly thought we'd be much further along by now. And We don't need TRex to out recruit these teams, we need Bubba to do it. That's what he sold us when he was hired.

I didn't mean to imply they haven't done the groundwork - just stating it is time for it to pay off. We need a breakthrough class.

Bubba's fifth season - recruiting contacts should be made, evaluations complete, needs assessed, and offers being made. Time for this program to take a step forward with a breakthrough class. Coaches need to sell themselves and the program. Time to get it done.