Irish

The lack of informatiion from XCEL is frustrating - there is more information here than on their web site

Sorry - after I re-read this it sounded more like an attack than I had intended. I'm just frustrated that it took us so long to get off the Muss bandwagon. Not blaming you.

This is the same type of pie-in-the-sky overly optimistic assessments we heard from "those in the know" during fall practice before this season. (better than either Gopher quarterbacks - hell, he wasn't even better that all of the Sioux quarterbacks) - Add in an assessment about how our lines had worked hard in the off season and were bigger, stronger, faster, and more cohesive, a reference to the best receiving corps in the nation, and a mention about how good our young players were and you would have the complete package. I have to admit I was surprised to see your name on this post instead of Geaux_Sioux's.

It's the total lack of disciplined play not the transition years that irritate the faithful. Agree Brekke is a big loss, but watching these guys play is almost painful. He has a bunch of talent he can't handle. I don't see Huff riding the pine much and he is the most selfish player on the team.

Everyone that sees this team play can see the problem. It could be corrected if the players did two things that are taught in elementary school - pass the ball when you have 3 defenders on you and box out. The fact that we have DI seniors that he can't get to do these two things speaks extremely poorly of Jones as a coach. The most talented guy on the team is the worst offender. I disagree that Jones is doing much to turn this around - he's had 4 years with the exact same type of play. A well organized playground team shows more teamwork. He seems to let his "talent" do whatever they want. No way to run a basketball program.

That would involve passing to someone who is open - We would need a change of culture for that to happen

I get that - I guess what I'm asking is why with all of their talent do they do these things and why can't we have crisp passes and bang bang plays like other teams that I think aren't as good as us?

OK - serious question - and one I got hammered for yesterday - why with all of our talent do we have such a brutal power play?

Well, if you think this team is playing to potential and will bring number 8 then excuse me

I think it is accurate and on point. We need play for 60 minutes and not stand around, have our goalie concentrate all game, and have a much better power play to go anywhere this season. We looked good for some of the game, but the tendency of this team to take time off as a group drives me nuts. Also - is it asking too much for a team that has what - 16 draft choices - to run an adaquate power play with some time in the zone with the puck, some shots on goal, and some puck movement?

Do you?

It's hard to complain after a win, but here it is - I don't care which goalie has a bigger upside or who has more talent - I would sit Gothberg until he can concentrate for 60 minutes. This is getting old Is there any team in the country that has a worse looking power play than us? For heavens sake, the Green Wave can pass it around and get a bang bang play every once in a while. With all of the draft choices we have there is no excuse for looking like that out on the ice. Would it be asking too much to play 60 minutes of hockey? We stood around for the start of the third and it cost us. Remember, our goal is to win a natty, not eek out a victory against the worst team in the league. This lack of effort is getting old.

The 10 yard cushion year after year irritated me more than anything else from the Muss era. It looked like we started the game in a prevent. I know that our corners weren't strong, but we could have least tried to play like the big boys.

It's not hockey being a resource drain - It's the attitude that we have a program that wins national championships (or at least used to) and that football can coast a bit - at least compared to the demands on NDSU football - how long would have Muss lasted at NDSU - they insist on winners and are willing to look outside the box. We insist that everyone is in the fold and that criticism is anti-Sioux - we don't demand excellence and are willing to tolerate mediocrity longer than the Bison are.

It's not the hockey - We have all of the football resources we need. In my opinion our neighbors to the south have a much less tolerance for mediocrity both from their fans and administration than we do. Bohl has two 10-1 seasons during transition including signature wins and one 3-8 year and there are screams for his head. They demand winners and are willing to hire from anywhere to get them. Contrast that with us and Muss - when I suggested that he might not be the guy to take us where we needed to go a couple of years ago I was jumped on immediately as not being supportive. How long would Muss have lasted in Fargo - especially after the Sioux Falls fiasco - With player defections it looks like the great Muss experiment will cost us at least 8-9 years of mediocrity. I think many of their fans are obnoxious, but they insist on a winner and are willing to do what it takes. The only way hockey hurts football is that we are willing to put up with much more from the football program because we always have hockey. It isn't resources.

I get that - what about this makes his staff very desireable? - Not trying to bash them - just wondering what people see.

Ok, Ok - I hear you - I'm not saying we shouldn't be supportive of Bubba - I think he brings some things to our program that were sadly lacking including a passion for the program and an emphasis on the type of football we need. I'll be the first to admit that I am extremely disgusted with the process and hoped we would have a wider range of choices and backgrounds to pick from - Bubba still may have been the best hire. When I say that I just don't understand Dale's lack of success at Carbondale I mean just that - i just don't get it and am not sure why his staff is so desireable given their DI record the last 4 years. I'm not trying to criticize the guys, just not understanding. Having said that, I'll drop it and cheer on the new staff.

Same kind of herd thinking that gave us 6 years of Muss - never criticize or question anything - If we hire one of us things are always fine - never question the good old boy network - If you do, you're not one of us

Some people are frustrated with the process in which the politically correct HR committee winnows out the good candidates and our two finalists are on the staff of our former coach.

Actually success is very easy to quantify - won/lost and championships As to Lennon's record the 9-3 and 11-2 first two years are with Kills people (using the exact same argument that people here are using about Bubba's record at Duluth - namely the last coach can take credit for the following two years) After that it is 5-6, 4-7, 6-5, 7-5 Not the stuff of legends. Why do we place such a high premium on his staff? Just not seeing it.

Dale was our most successful DII coach - on his staff were our two finalists for head coach (and our eventual head coach) and our new defensive coordinator - why no success in DI at Carbondale? Why the fascination with this bunch (other than reliving our memories of our only Natty) - Based on performances for the last 4-5 years I just don't see it. I'll give you that these guys have strong UND roots, but as far as DI success? I'm not buying vague explainations like "different recruiting area". What am I not seeing that everyone else seems to? I'm not trying to start an argument, just don't understand.

So you're saying that they were assistant coaches on a team that "almost" made the expanded playoffs. Well, that's different then

I don't see the logic either - I appreciate that the coaches are fired up and want to make a difference - Can anyone answer why they couldn't make a difference in Carbondale and what they will do different here? Is there something I'm missing or is this just Magical Thinking?

Never would have guessed

Hasn't happened in 4 years - why would he start now?