Irish

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.

Coaches need to sell themselves, their philosophies , and their program. We need a breakthrough class.

Although the timing of the games is important, what I think is more important is how we come out playing this year. Last year was extremely frustrating to watch, and not only because of injuries. Coaches need to seriously evaluate the talent available and come up with a plan to utilize them in the best possible way. If we come out getting after it every play and call an offense that is not right out of the 1950's enthusiasm and attendance will come back. If not, welcome to Muss 2.0.

I was at that game - great road trip and quite a bit of celebrating for our college crew. Bison fans were stunned.

Apples - Oranges --- If Geno left to sign a pro contract everyone would be happy and it would be a boost to UND recruiting. If a star hockey player wanted to transfer to Minnesota (like Geno) then you would get this reaction.

Great news - let's continue to work the recruiting trail.

Sounds like a hard worker and a great team player.

Agreed we've had some injuries - but this Bubba's 5th year. How is he doing with hogs overall?

Agree with this - this year is very important. In my opinion, in order to play smash-face Bubba Ball, you need to do several things: 1. Win some recruiting battles for stud hogs, 2. Keep the studs you have recruited, 3. Have a great development program for young hogs, and 4. Have a sensible and efficient scheme for blocking. 5. Have an offensive philosophy that keeps defenses off balance so they can't just dig in. Judge for yourself how many of these things we have going for us. Otherwise, the face getting smashed is ours.

In my opinion pure coaching malpractice. Although fans were disgusted, I think Bubba and staff got off lightly because A. We were just happy to finally be in a playoff game and thought we had turned the corner as a program, B. He was still not Mussman, and C. We were convinced we would make a deep run the next year. In most winning programs at least one, probably two heads would have rolled. How is Rudolf still here? I'm pretty disappointed in Bubba for this.

We seem to be endlessly patient - the problem here is that Bubba had a chance to deal with a less than stellar staff and decided all is well. He'd darn well better produce after endorsing the crap offense we have been subject to. And in the mean time, NDSU is top dog in North Dakota. Time to get serious about winning. And comparing anyone to Muss is a non starter. He's the reason we are still digging out of a hole.

To be fair, most of the country gives a crap about FCS football - although you get some nice press if you are 6 time champions.

Another factor that may tie into funding is fan expectations. Regardless of funds, how long would Mussman have lasted in Fargo? For sure gone after the Sioux Falls game. How about Rudolf? People demand a winner there while here we are content to win a conference championship here and there. How long since we won a playoff game? Not nearly as much pressure to win here. I think lack of demand for a winner is holding back some contributors - who wanted to pour more money down the hole Muss dug for example. Again chicken-egg. We need a break out - It could have been two years ago, but nooooo. Demanding a winner and being willing to pay for it are usually part of the same mind set (although not always) - We need to collectively decide we are tired of being second fiddle in this state and start to demand excellence.

I think everyone would agree that more funding for Football is desirable. The question is where should it come from. There is a bit of a chicken and egg thing about this - success means more ticket sales and more money which leads to more success. To some extent Football has been a victim not of hockey fans who see that as our main sport, but of poor decisions by the athletic department and coaches. First was our disastrous decision not to move to DI when NDSU did - this decision was spearheaded by the AD who was a former football coach. Next was the disastrous Mussman hire and the fact that we let him linger so long - it cost us at least 8 years while our rivals were seeing much success. Finally, when we did have the chance to advance on the national stage we had one of the biggest playoff collapses in history capped off the the famous triple reverse. Then, when enthusiasm was high again we got last year. Now Bubba thinks that Rudolf is the man to run our offence. In spite of this there is still a lot of reason for optimism. We seem to have talent going into next year, although key positions still need to be manned. We have completed with phase I of our new practice facility and have plans to start phase II. When the Bison started their run in DI they didn't have all the cash in the world or sold out attendance. They were coming off a period where we were dominant. What they did have is great coaching hires and the ability to get it done on the field with a great philosophy and players who fit into that scheme. Time for Bubba to get it done and get us an offence that it is out of the 19th century. Sioux football can be dominant again, but time to show it on the field. There was more pre-season buzz last year than I have seen in a long time. Time to recapture that.

I support the FB program and have season tickets like I mentioned. I am fully in support of developing this program into a National Champion. Bubba brought in a great attitude and is a great ambassador for the program. However, he needs to get it done on the field too - so far he hasn't shown the moxy to make any tough staff moves. We are moving in a positive direction with funding an facilities. This is a big year for Bubba as he has hitched his wagon to some coaches who need to step up their game. The program was on track to build a great following until last year's derailment. Attendance and game enthusiasm was at a high point. Time to turn things around in a big way. And just my personal gripe - It's hard to get too optimistic when your head coach thinks Rudolf is the man to guide the offense.

Maybe just the fans on this board are doing the complaining. I support the FB program and have season tickets but the jealousy towards hockey gets a bit much.

When the FB team wins a national championship not just a conference title then they should get rings pronto too. Until then they need to get their program in order and stop whining about Hockey. They need to have a bit of playoff success before they start complaining.

In a cost-cutting move, the pinheads who run The Pepper decided to ruin a classic and go with the guy who swore "he had the recipe and could make the bread just the same so no one would notice" - and cheaper. I'm done with the Pepper.

I get it now, but after last season this is exactly where we are weak. It would not have needed a smiley a few years ago, but now?????