tnt

Maybe that's what this one is all about. They are trying to make the other one look better with the logic that "we know our logo is bad, we just want you to see how bad it could have been"!

We didn't get guys like that in the old Ralph for the most part, but that is my point, they still won. I am sure Gino and his staff received nothing starting out, at least nowhere near what Ned Harkness would have made, but they took it to another level anyway, and eventually got guys like James Patrick who was drafted # 9 overall in a period where that was almost unheard of in college hockey. That Hakstol article that Schlossman refers to on his blog is another example. Hakstol inherited a team in Sioux City and completely had to remake it, and did so with blood and guts guys. Great read, for those who have the time.

But at some point, you have to win first to get recruits. Gino inherited a team from his predecessor and started to win immediately because he instilled a different culture. You do recall people saying the Ralph was a curse because they thought it made the players soft. Of course that wasn't true, but you can win if you have the right message and expectation.

A new level, yes, but they had the culture from before. Seems to me they won 7 national championships before the new Ralph.

Apparently football alumni don't understand that concept.

Guess you're going to have to deal with it, which apparently you can't.

It certainly shows!

Wonder if Rizzo is hurt or at some select camp or something.

It wouldn't take a Ralph Engelstad to take care of that for them. Once again, where are the football Alumni that could build a new stadium, much less the Phase 2 improvements? Apparently they are fine with the status quo.

Because the "game changer" of the indoor practice facility hasn't helped us figure out to win the games you are supposed to. The nice thing is that with Phase 2, Rudy will have a nice space to draw up those plays that will help "get er' done".

The notion that UND can't compete in football and other sports because they are underfunded is ludicrous. It is all about culture, and the people continually railing on the hockey program because of jealousies are only enabling the excuses that they can't compete because of funding. The last I heard most of the Big Sky didn't offer FCOA, so UND should have an advantage there. Women's volleyball isn't all of a sudden good because they received all the more funding, it is because they have coaches that changed the culture of losing and excuses.

But you've got the "Let's Help Bubba" thread going, so put your money where your mouth is.

How about some of those deep in the pockets Alumni of the other sports stepping up and making contributions to help out.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/hockey/4504591-nchc-media-day-fenton-expects-proposal-change-recruiting-practices-college So, with these changes possibly coming, should the coaches be getting verbals from 03’s & 04’s now, or will they think that they will just be able to recruit those players when they see how they progressed? With another recruiting tool with a state of the art scoreboard coming in the future and the name recognition of North Dakota hockey, they should get their share of big names regardless.

There are a lot of programs that we are competing against that don't offer FCOA, so to say that without spending money nothing will change is pretty simplistic. Certainly it helps, but x's and o's are huge in the game of football.

Have you seen the huge improvement from the “game changer” phase one, giving us the chance not to miss practice time like we did in the past?

I’m not promoting anything, just referencing the phase 2 as the excuse for not making the strides necessary for improvement.

But phase 1 was supposed to be a game changer itself.

Who asked it?

I'm not even sure you can bank on Miami finishing last, but if they did, how long of a leash does Blasi have with his "brotherhood"? While they had quite a bit of success in the CCHA, they haven't mustered much in the NCHC, and you would think the natives would start to get restless, no pun to their former nickname intended.

True, and playing them in Grand Forks rather than in Lawson is a huge difference as well. As I recall, the last time we were there it didn't go so well and we got swept, and that was with guys like Tucker Poolman, Jost and Boeser.

You can look at it that they have to prove themselves first, or you could look at it that they only finished two points behind us last year and in CC's case return everyone, and in Western Michigan's case return an injured players that could have jumped to the professional ranks. I'm hoping for them to stay behind us, but they have some things to be excited about just like us.

With how close things were last year after Denver and St. Cloud, I can definitely see 2-6 any which way this year. Hoping that UND turns a lot of those ties into wins this year and can actually move up in the standings and challenge for the league title. Need guys to step up and some freshmen to produce right away. From what I gather from this board and other rumors floating around, hopefully team chemistry will be better this year as well. Hopefully the letter Berry sent out thanking season ticket holders is correct, and the players worked their butts off this summer and there won't be a better conditioned team in the league.

I would love to pick Adams in the top five, but you just never know if/when it will fall into place for him, thus warranting top 6 ice time.

Boycott Hugos!!