Irish

Rudolph often looks like a world-beater when we are taking it to a team - it's when we are against a tough team that he reverts.

what channel - 624 lists the game but is showing cross country

I was there during the early Gunther years and we would pack the Hyslop - what a great home "pit" to play in.

Watching with the fans in my section, It is sad to see the entire row call the next play and predict the gain - usually about a yard. We don't even try just keep opponents honest, let alone set them up for anything.

Have you ever seen an O coordinator with less feel for the game than Rudolph?

I could't agree more - I have come to hate this sequence - However, at some point some of the responsibility needs to roll down to Bubba (blasphemy, I know). Bubba hired Rudolph and watches all of the game film with him. Why Bubba lets him carry on for another year like this is totally beyond me. Come on - play to win and give the team a chance to go places. Stomping all of the weaker teams with run first and only and then getting stuck when it's crunch time could be a big problem. I can't imagine an O coordinator with less of a feel for the game.

Interesting point - also continually having to start a series at second and 9 is a big hurdle to overcome.

I didn't say they weren't doing anything right. I'm saying I am disappointed in the lack of adjustments made. Look - we have enough talent that in most games we don't need a lot of adjustments and our offense pounds the rock very well - we have an All-American and All-Conference running backs to show for it. It's the games last year and now this year where running up the middle produces 1 yard that we seem stymied. We'll stick with second and 9 for a long long time - which puts us in a hole every possession. It's what keeps us good, but not yet great. I have given up on the O coordinator, but had hoped Bubba would step it up. For sure we are going to run into other games in which we need to adjust and have absolutely no will to do so.

We haven't figured it out in how many years now? Bubba has done a wonderful job turning around a mess, but I have less respect for him after seeing the lack of adjustments - not just in this game but from last year to this year. Play to win and when the dives up the middle get one yard it is time for someone to get a clue.

He can hand off for a one yard up the middle with the best of them, though.

Two things if we are going to be able to occasionally play with the big boys - our lines both need better pushes and we need to go into the game with an offense that is geared to mix things up and play to win. I am very happy with the effort by the boys. Not as happy with the "play just to keep the game respectable" attitude shown by the coaches. Come on Bubba, go for it.

Usually, if he does, it is this time of the game, however.

One thing about Rudy - he learns nothing

Welcome to Rudolph world - we win in spite of him - he'll drive you nuts

Perhaps the worst collapse I have ever seen in a playoff game. It had everything - absolute bonehead plays, poor execution, horrible special teams, questionable play calling, and the whole team appearing to just stand around and watch it slide away. It is a tribute to how much goodwill Bubba built up in just a couple of years that there wasn't more blowback from this epic fiasco. At many schools a couple of assistants would be gone or feeling a lot of heat.

How about the old double reverse?

I'm much more concerned about play selection than noise - we did the old run, run, incomplete, punt sequence much more that we should have even last year. Because of our winning ways, Rudolph got by easy last year (except for the last game where the outrage faded faster than a henna tattoo). I feel that this sequence is just below the surface waiting to rear its ugly head as soon as things get tight. I hope I am wrong.

Thanks for the info

Any take on this - on our radar?

Welcome Matt Smaby to the coaching staff - With him and the coaching expertise we already have, we should raise a stud generation of defensemen. Any thoughts?

If he could complete the simple swing passes with regularity he may be close to 65%. We need a notch of improvement from him to be actual contenders. If Bubba has a chink in his armor so far (other than Rudlof) it is with the recruitment and development of quarterbacks. Ideally, we would have a soph pushing Studs.

Agree Studsrud should be the starter and that he has some "intangibles". However, I believe to get to the top we need a stud QB, not just a manager. I hate to compare this, but since they are the Gold Standard lately - look at all of the years of Bison success at DI (including the 10-1 seasons pre-playoff eligibility) and one thing stands out - absolutely lights out Quarterbacking. Behind all of their All-American studs over the years stood an absolute stud QB. That's where we need to be. If there is one big weakness in Bubba's development so far, it is in the recruitment and development of Quarterbacks.

Let's load up!!!

Why, yes I do - we have had several nice gets lately - keep it up. Nice to see the talented local kids. Plus, no one can develop players like our staff. In addition, it is National Scotch Day so I plan on feeling even better tonight :-)

You could hear the Reindeau hit all over the stadium - If I had to name one single play that turned our program around this would be it.