Irish

If we want to keep them, especially the students, we have to put a much better product on the field. The second half was brutal and students won't stay for that. Actually, I have had my fill of unwatchable football myself. We seem to have had a regular diet of it the last decade.

Today I learned that Bubba Ball only works if your O line comes out of the locker room at half time. Otherwise it looks almost unwatchable, especially given the "exciting" play calling. We have some serious work to do before next week. A sad Potato Bowl performance.

Our mods are notoriously slow on the draw - In my opinion, a few Bison trollers have signifcantly reduced my experience on what should be a Sioux forum.

Couldn't agree more - like an earlier poster, I, too am a Champions Club member and have season tickets to two sports - so I feel I give plenty. For some reason, giving more and having the possibility of it going to swiming and diving or baseball puts me off (women's hockey, too, but that's another thread). The NDSU athletic department seems laser focused on excellence, UND not as much. For craps sake trim the fat and start leading instead of following. Hey, maybe we should form a committee since we have had such good luck with those.

It is hard to second guess Bubba on starting Studsrud since he has way more info than we do. However, the reasons it happened leads to speculation on different scenerios, not all of them wonderful. Best case = Studsrud won the position by excellent play in a spirited competition (I don't think this is what happened). Other possibilities include having no one looking great and taking the position and coaches pick Studsrud because he is the youngest and has the most room to grow. Or ... Bartels and/or Molberg are not 100%. OR ... in spite of being red-shirt Juniors neither Bartels or Molberg have developed much and neither has done well enough to be number 1. In any case I feel it is concerning that neither of our highly-touted Juniors have taken the reins.

There is no denying that Bubba has had a huge grace period given the relief we all had escaping from the dumpster fire that was Muss (although the Muss regardless of anything supporters share some of the blame). This is his first big decision that could be second guessed. Even though the mantra is "all hail Bubba ball" now is the time we need to see it on the field. Not saying he is wrong, just saying this is an important decision for Sioux football.

Actually, we have been waiting quite a long time (Junior now) for Molberg to show us something special outside of a couple of series. He has shown no substained excellence, although neither has our other highly regarded recruit, Bartles. I really think it says something that both are behind a second year man. How long have we been waiting for someone to claim the QB position?

In my opinion, quarterback play will make or break this season - other positions have been solidified but in order to compete with the top programs we need good to great qb play. We have been waiting a long time for someone to step up (or, in Molberg and Bartles case just play up to their hype) - these guys have been in the program long enough - time for someone to become a stud.

Nothing wrong with Qdoba, but you need to realize that you will be getting a good measure of rice filler in that burrito.

I'd love to see something cool here, but it doesn't seem like a drive-thru anything will work here - Driving thru seems to be part of the problem

The best argument for North Dakota as a stand alone is that it is not Fighting Hawks, Nodaks, North Stars, Roughriders or Sundogs. The volunteers on the nickname committee are trying to do a very tough job and should be thanked. The paid consultants, however, should be flogged.

The Shelbyville Shelbyvillians

I am looking forward to seeing Berry's recruiting chops. I know that he and Dane have been an integral part of Hak's recruiting , but now we have a new assistant and Berry is the face of Fighting Sioux Hockey. A different dynamic. It will be interesting to see what blue-chippers we get and what kind of team he builds.

Your facts are racist

I do not like Roughriders at all, but I hate it less than I hate Sundogs - I fear this logic will prevail and we will end up with a nickname most don't really like just to prevent the PC crowd from ramming something down our throats.

I agree that Tomek will be fine to great, especially with this defense. I know we have had coaching changes where an assistant gets the job and says "You won't notice much of a difference" - I wonder what different we will see on offense - maybe a more wide open attack? Anyone have ideas?

I absolutely hate the Roughriders - but I hate it slightly less than I hate the rest of the crap list known as the Final 7.

Bu supporting the Roughriders even if you don't like it much (like me) - seems the least offensive of the lot

Goehrings inexplicable love for the Sundogs has really put the hurt on us. Instead of debating between 2 or 3 really strong names, it appears that if we don't play defense the Sundogs will win. An if you look at the list - What the hell? North Stars (the motto of the state most hated by us), two types of hawks - which really have no connection to North Dakota, Nodaks (sounds almost like a slur for North Dakota residents) - instead of sharing various ideas from different perspectives, this committee appears to be a pooling of ignorance.

I, personally, hate Roughriders but I fear everyone will have to use this to play defense to prevent spirit or sundogs. Hell of a way to run a railroad.

Agreed - Bunning was a disaster and golden boy Roger Thomas wasn't much better.

Yes, let's get back to blaming hockey for football's failures. Actually, there are many reasons why we find ourselves having to climb out of an 8 year Musshole. A poor hiring decision in the first place, a shortsighted contract extension, loss of revenue caused by play on the field (Muss put out the cockiest, mouthiest 3-8 team I have ever seen) to name a few. It's not Hockey's fault that they are one of the premier programs in the country and have demanding, dedicated fans. Actually, our incredible tolerance for mediocrity and crap teams contributed greatly to the great slide. In every other sport but hockey we not only accept, but some vocally defend poor programs (see Men's BB). I hate to say it, but there is absolutely no way in God's green earth that the school to the south would have tolerated Muss for 8 years. That's the problem.

Not sure why you are bitter about the hockey program. As far as I can see, the main obstacle for football dominance was Muss and I would point out that he had some vocal supporters on this board until things went south at the very end. We have Bubba now, and as far as I can see he has been given pretty much free reign. In addition, we are soon moving into our new indoor practice facility. UND hockey was the best program in the country before they moved into the New Ralph - hell they won a couple of championships playing in the Barn. It's up to the football players and coaches to make themselves the best program in the country. Blaming hockey for their success is just plain silly.

Think of what Guentzel brought to the Gophers or what Berry and Eades brought to the Sioux. That is how important this hire is - Berry's first big move - let's see how he does.

A critical hire in my opinion - we could use a new assistant to help with many areas - new recruiting contacts, an offensive skill set, some fire on the bench or any of a number of things that will help bring this team to the top - and let's not forget that our last two hires were assistant coaches. Berry needs to seriously assess his needs and find a coach who brings in as much as he did. Not a time for a reflex good old boy hire unless they can really add something to the staff.