Irish

I wonder if this couldn't be a conference topic - Trying to limit a certain team's fans is certainly not what this new conference should stand for. I was very happy when the conference was formed, but now every decision seems to bite the Sioux. I think our AD needs to be more vocal and an advocate for fans.

Nice win by the Bison - can't really understand why there isn't more call for the Sioux to step up their game - getting sick of hearing from Bison fans already - come on Muss - show us something.

As much as I dislike the Bison it was an impressive win. This has to raise the bar for Mussman. Time for him to show us something.

I really think we are going to need a way better line push on both sides of the ball next week. Nice tune-up game - hopefully are injuries are slight.

Lots of talk about our receiving corps and QB battle - which is exciting and makes me want the season to start soon. Also many comments about the defense being more assignment sharp. Any information about our line on both sides of the ball? In the games we got blown out last year, both lines were positively bullied. In order for us to take the next step, I think we need to start here. Anyone have any insight as to the progress of the O and D lines?

Agree that we could be back this year - the first five games are critical to re-establishing Sioux Football. However, if we play poorly it may take years. Certainly not saying we need to win them all, but we must be competative. "Come on Sioux fans - on your feet for a 3rd down and long" needs to mean something again. I can't believe how 3 times "on your feet" during an opponent's scoring drive sucks the air out of the Alerus.

That prediction makes me excited to see him play - however, with only one player selected for the first 3 all conference teams (84 slots) this shows how much we need our veterans to step up their game this year.

I love the Kelly green - I just hope we can shed the "pea green" of the last several years. Even though posters here insist it correct almost everyone that I go to games with said immediately that they got the green wrong. Don't believe me - poll the crowd around you.

Still sell - I think we are about a year away from that happening, but I think it will happen. You never know, though, it could happen this year - that's the nature of football development. Our defense will depend on many co-mingled factors - do they have a renewed sense of purpose (did they stay in town this summer as a group and get stronger), will they bring back that old nasty attitude, will our schemes allow them to be successful, injuries, momentum from early success - I'm sure others will add more. We know they must be bigger, stronger, and have better fundamentals. I for one really hope they adjust their coverage and tighten it up. Pressure from the line will help make this happen.

Yes - put me in for a sell on that one - I wonder how many people are buying?

I worry that in our entheusiasm for the new season we have overestimated the improvement that we will see in the defense. We were physically manhandled last year and I am not sure that our young talent can bridge that gap so quickly. I sure hope so - I think this will be the key to our season.

I can't believe how we get hosed in almost every conference decision and pretend like it's all according to plan.

I really like Chelsea Dagger and not because of the Blackhawks. I just think it is better than any other one I have heard the Sioux use.

I think we can agree that we are looking forward to significant improvement defensively this year.

Ok - I'll say it then - our defense was very poor last year. I'm not saying that the entire fault is with the defensive backs - not at all - poor line play, poor tackling - you name it. What I was saying (and I think it was clear to many fans who watched the last several years) is that we have an incredibly loose coverage scheme especially at the corners. We were discussing if our D-backs could be among the top in the league and I feel that unless we change our philosophy that isn't going to happen. We need to get up in someone's grill once in a while. Our set-up last year hindered this. We were more than willing to give up 5-10 yards at will. Hopefully we will tighten up this year.

The fact that we had more passing yards doesn't mean that our pass defense was tight. We had to pass because our running game was nil - and we had a stud qb fall into our laps. Not only was our passing defense poor, but our line was weak too. All you had to do was watch the game and see our opponents get an automatic 10+ yards almost any time they needed it. The 5-10 yard pass kept many an opponents drive alive. All you had to do was look at how we lined up to see the problem. You just pointed out that our entire defense was extremely poor and I agree.

I hope you know something - I'm looking forward to the retooled defense and hope we don't look like we are playing a prevent all game.

I hope they do, but for any D-back to make an impact we have to change our defensive philosophy of playing very very very loose on receivers, especially our corners. I feel that this scheme holds us back more than anything else in Muss's tenure. They seem to do it year after year. I hope we change for this season.

I wonder what the Goalie situation will be this year - after some flashes from both that made me quite excited it seemed like neither guy could win the job. I was somewhat dissapointed overall. Any predictions?

When I first heard about the new league, I was very excited. It has been downhill from there. We are the premeir school in the new conference and should have a little say in the decisioins. First St. Cloud was allowed to join after years of trying to sabatoge our nickname. Next, the only official to publicly state a hatred for the Sioux is named head of officials and we have 2 - count em- 2 Sheppards in the officiating crew. Finally, we take it in the shorts on the broadcasting. Don't we have any influence? What's going on?

Let's face it - the Alerus Center has never gone out of its way to be known as the home of UND Football - I can't wait until the day we have our own facilities. We were sold a bill of goods to pay for that white elephant - although I'm sure that everyone has been enjoying the great concerts they have been scheduling.

Really - because I got a huge run-around at Eide - When I was trying to compare comparable vehicles from Honda, Toyota, Hundai, and Chevy an Eide salesman told me that he couldn't quote me their bottom line price unless I would buy it on the spot otherwise he would "lose rapport with his manager". If this is your idea of a great car shopping experience by all means stop in at Eide.

First, they aren't remotely the same decisions Second, how did it work out for him?

The point is that he would have gotten a lot less leeway at NDSU

One of Muss's biggest weaknesses is game management, especially clock management