Teeder11

Just spit balling a theory here so don't shoot me for thinking out loud, but IMHO it's a weird dynamic here at UND compared to our regional and national peers who have America's traditional popular sports (football and MBB) as their top programs. Most schools' fan bases are just as excited for football as they are for their MBB programs and vice versa, and the overlap is not as dragged out as it is with UND FB/UND MBB and UND Hockey. There's that, and then there's the huge popularity that has exploded across the state and region for UND Hockey since circa 2000 -- brought about by the consistent success of the Hockey program and the opening of the area's social-scene mecca that is the palatial Ralph. All this coincided with the doldrums of a D2 to D1 transition that was relatively lackluster compared to some of our regional peers and an extremely divisive nickname controversy, specifically a nickname revered more and worn more prominently by the hockey program than any other UND program. This time frame has been juxtaposed against unprecedented athletic success by our chief intra-state rival. The amalgamation of all these factors has created enough of a split fan base that it is not unfathomable to consider that there are enough folks who attend UND hockey games and could not care less about UND FB/MBB. Some of this comprises folks, in general, who go to the Ralph to be seen and not necessarily watch a hockey game as well as people across the region who are UND hockey only fans (yes,I'm including those who are generally Bison Athletics supporters from Fargo and elsewhere who also like themselves some North Dakota hockey). It's kind of a regional version of me being an Arizona Wildcats MBB fan, recognizing that I could not care less about the Wildcats otherwise. Sorry that was so long. I could be way off but it is an interesting thing to think about!

Lots of Kudos coming in for '18 OL verbal Rain Slater. Jamie Uyeyama‏ @jamieuyeyama 3h3 hours ago More 2018 OL Rain Slater is committed to North Dakota, but should have FBS offers. 6'4" 325, good feet. Dominated #nextlevelbound camp Just started lifting and already country strong. Big time potential out of a small town in Manitoba (Canada) @TopProspectsCDN Marcus Adams‏ @MarcusAdams_54 2h2 hours ago More Did a great job at camp. If he keeps working hard he will be in the NFL/CFL for sure Gaizka Crowley‏ @Gaizka_XOS Follow More Saw him at the @EFTfootball @EDGYTIM event his spring. Good player.

Griz LB snatched up for alleged DUI... no comment from Little Nate yet.

That's a long winded way of saying you don't have many friends. ( ; Go UND!

Actually, I've had a delightful time the last two times I've been down to the pit they call Greeley. Stomped the crap out of that sorry excuse for a Division I football team that calls it home. Nothing else to write home about, though. I stayed in Cheyenne, well away from the sheep molesters across the border down Hwy 85.

I call Bull sh!te!

Yeah, UNDColo, quit hogging all this dude's weed!

Get your point and totally agree... not sure,however, some of these folks love the University as much as they revere a name and the nostalgia surrounding the teams and player of the past who wore said name so proudly. Others fortunately get it... that the University and the components that comprise it (including Athletics) are one in the same. The University isn't some necessary evil that exists so that the sports bros can attend a hockey game. The persistence of this fight and divisiveness has only allowed UND to get in the way of its own progress. One need only look south to a scenario where all cylinders are chugging along and moving an organization in the same direction. Amazing what can happen when students, staff, alumni and other friends of a university are all on board with a common goal and vision. But we'll continue to hate ourselves as we bury the bullet deeply into our clown-shoe feet and trip over them at the same time. Sad.

For what it's worth: UND Today is out with a new story about the Game Day Experience Committee, which met yesterday. http://blogs.und.edu/und-today/2017/07/fan-tastic-experience/

Media poll: 1. UND (15) 2. EWU (5) 3. NAU (3)

Coaches polls shows a lot of diversity of thought in 1st place votes... UND wins out with 6 first place votes.

Wayne Nelson‏ @waynenelsongf 49s50 seconds ago More @UNDfootball picked to win @BigSkyFB title by both media and coaches #football 0 replies1 retweet1 like

Wayne Nelson reports UND picked to win conference by both coaches and media polls. Now let's prove them right!

Then there's Austin "Flash" Gordon for quality depth.

UND tends not to wait for buildings to fall down before dealing with them.

And how!!!! ( :

No one is questioning anyone's integrity or commitment... It was simply an amusing walk down Yesteryear Lane to a time when we had the interest of another talented Wisco HS player going into the all star game. It was all steeped in jest, hence my little attempts at "winky" marks (my phone is no good with emojis on this site). Furthermore, it has been doubly established that the alleged parallels between the two scenarios were not actually that similar in that one was a walk-on candidate and the other is a committed recruit. Anyone reading anything more into this offseason musing, IMHO, might want to lighten up.

Shoulda paid for Joe's books, then!

The plot thickens. ( :

So remind me ....Noah Larson plays today in the Wisco HS all star game.... Was this the game where Joe Schobert a few years back blew up in, and the Badgers got him to walk on ? Here's to Noah having a very mediocre game today! ( ;

11 Potential pieces available this year that were absent all or much of last year: 1. Cam McKinney -- elite speedster that could see return duties and open up the field at WR (i'm including Cam as returning player b/c he had spring ball). 2. Tyus Carter -- a CB with experience and skill who did not see the field after Game 3 after he opted to repair shoulder through surgery. 3. Andrew Zimmerman -- JUCO transfer at QB, with some early experience at EWU, has looked to be mobile and fairly accurate...certainly a step up at back up to push Studs. 4. Tamas Stewart -- JUCO transfer at safety. Tape shows that he could be complement to Reyes at other safety spot if injuries don't keep him off field. 5. James Johanneson -- Homegrown FBS transfer from Gopherland who was Gatorade N.D. POY 2 years in H.S., with a big frame and speed to go with it. 6. Dijon Murry -- JUCO transfer in 2016, has been plagued by injury but I have heard nothing to suggest he is not good to go in 2017. Reported 4.4 speed with size at MLB. 7. Oscar Nevermann -- former RB inured early in 2016 after sitting out 2015... switched to MLB for 2017. Has decent size and quicks. Smaller version of fellow Euro Dylan Bakker. 8. Mat Cox -- Experienced and versatile OL who was plagued by injury in 2016. 9. Grady Train -- Need I say more? 10. Colton Hessenflow -- Technically on the roster in 2016, is a bit of an enigma at DL. I haven't seen him practice but his name stays on the roster. Hudl tape intrigues me. 11. Demun Mercer -- FBS transfer, Ok, I'm stretching here...but Demun was only starting to come on late in 2016 and it seemed he and Studs were developing good chemistry.

We don't have to accept it (and can always demand more) but I think we need to expect a bit of a rebuilding type season next year.... but I really do think that 2018-19 will be a special year, barring unforeseen changes. A nice way to start off the Summit era. All that said, I am not writing off 2017, it's just the pragmatist in me talking.

I believe Deion Harris had 3 pick sixes in 2016.... against Bowing Green and NAU as you mentioned, but also against South Dakota.

My hope for the home opener this year is that in the week leading up to game day that Bubba and Schmitty make sure every player watch every miserable second of the Slaughter in Springfield from 2014. Next, I also hope that Keaton, Cole, Deion,O'Brien, Greely, Disterhaupt, Aplin, Norberg, Demon, Cox, Stockwell, Stanley, Tank and Dranka (and all of the other players still affiliated with the team that were here in 2014 -- their are 27) impress upon their younger peers how anything less than a return-stomping will be unacceptable.

"A stacked running game and elite secondary should carry them [UND] this year." Wasn't too long ago you'd get laughed out of the room with a statement like that. My how things change.