UND92,96

It's a little hard to keep track of which group is out there at any given time. I think the starters will be good. The run defense struggled at times (particularly when Murray was in there), but I believe that was mostly when reserves were in. Of the young players, I was impressed with Goodman and Hall. Anybody know why Watkins wasn't there?

Murray was outstanding today. I'm very optimistic about the running game next season. However, to the extent today was any indication, the passing game is a bit of a concern IMO.

Not that I agree with Taylor's mindset anyway, but when you factor in that they're not even winning, it makes it especially hard to justify...

New offer--Donte Phillips.

The response from Taylor: http://www.areavoices.com/bisonmedia/

How does the average NDSU fan really feel about Taylor? Is he also potentially on the hot seat? Not only has he seemingly enabled Bohl, his non-conference football scheduling hasn't been the best, and with NDSU still stuck on 10 games for 2010, he can't be overly popular among at least some football fans...

It appears Nick Doehling is no longer listed on the roster either, which would put the attrition rate at 25% for the recruiting class of 2009.

IMO, Vandrovec questioning what Roebuck does or does not really believe is ridiculous. Roebuck said the identical thing he said at last week's press conference several months ago on the radio coaches' show. It didn't cause much of a stir at the time because relatively few people heard it. Roebuck's track record is such that anyone who knows much about him knows that generally he says exactly what he thinks--for better or worse. I highly doubt he was grandstanding or just saying something he thought people wanted to hear.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure. The deadline of November 30, 2010, and the goings-on at Spirit Lake and Standing Rock, are fairly major "details" to have overlooked, don't you think? Even the Herald's editorial board--not exactly a big fan of the nickname--understands this.

I normally like Terry Vandrovec of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, but he displays a real lack of understanding of the issue in his blog today:

We signed 20 high school recruits in 2009, including the two late signees in Hall and Mackey, and have lost four--Overstreet (what ever happened to him? ), Binns, Field and Jelinek.

http://www.fightingsioux.com/downloads2/37...DB_OEM_ID=13500

I see there's also a new depth chart. I don't take these too seriously since they're notoriously inaccurate, but...if Ryan Dressler gets the nod as punt returner over Mersereau, it's ridiculous.

Mussman has said that due to the relatively small numbers in the junior and senior classes, it's very possible that not all of the true freshmen will be red-shirted. And with the lack of proven returnees at receiver, that would appear to be one of the main areas of need. I have no inside info on this, and am just basing my opinion on the fact that McGill appears to be the most accomplished of the incoming receivers, and could potentially also contribute as a returner. As for others who could possibly play right away, possibly Carrasco and/or Butler? Tight end is also a need, but I have to think Grant needs a year to add some bulk.

QB--1. Landry; 2. Goska RB--1. Sutton; 1A. Murray FB--1. Solum; 2. ? SE--1. Hardin; 2. McGill WR--1. Townsend; 2. Anderson Lots of wildcards here--will Bamba make it back? Which true freshmen won't red-shirt? Will Murray be as good as he was in 2008 after a year off? What's the deal with Roach? I do think Solum needs to be moved to fullback, unless with a somewhat different offense the fullback won't be used much anymore, if at all.

Some of these are complete guesses, but I'll say: LT--1. Schroyer; 2. Kleason LG--1. Queoff; 2. Quesenberry C--1. McGurran; 2. Nelson RG--1. Lynch; 2. Doehling or Field RT--1. McKendry; 2. Gillson TE--1. Wisthoff; 2. Mochoruk

I just caught the end of a radio interview with Mussman today, and I believe he said Schroyer was projected as the starting left tackle.

I believe Jarrel Davis will get a look at receiver. Of course, that would be short-term answer since he's going to be a senior. With regard to RB, if another back is needed due to Binns' alleged departure, and the injury to Magstadt, I could see Breon Butler possibly playing right away.

The receiver situation will be very interesting to watch. If Bamba doesn't make it back, we could possibly see the top three receivers being a couple of red-shirt freshmen (Hardin and Townsend), and a true freshman (McGill). That's not to say that the upperclassmen should be written off, but they will need to improve significantly from last season in order to stay ahead of the young players IMO.

I wonder whether KFGO has cheap buyout clause?

Ethan Magstadt ruptured his achilles, and is likely out for this upcoming season: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/arti...0/group/Sports/ With Binns allegedly leaving, the running back position isn't as deep as it appeared it would be. I suspect that could mean Breon Butler may not red-shirt.

I haven't heard anything about a transfer, but I know his brother plays there.

Herald article. Sharkova won't be back, and it sounds unlikely Kuehl will be able to play next year. But Privatsky has been cleared to start playing again.

I don't think there should be any expectation that FCS football will ever be a cash cow. But on the other hand, I don't think de-emphasizing football is a prerequisite to having a good mid-major basketball program, either. I would prefer to aspire to be more like UNI or SIU than Butler or Gonzaga or Creighton or St. Mary's because I don't want to sacrifice football, even if it's never going to turn a big profit.

Apparently you don't even need to draw all that well to be able to afford to pay a coach big bucks. SIU averaged 4780 per game for basketball this year, and 9297 for football. And yet they pay their basketball coach roughly eight times what we do, and they pay Lennon probably well over double what we pay Mussman. Their ticket sales are relatively modest, which would seem to point to some big donors footing the bill for these rather high salaries.