UND92,96

Like most others on this board, I was quite embarrassed by the lack of fans at the game yesterday. But while there's no question that playing a team UND had previously beaten badly played a role in the sparse crowd, it definitely wasn't the only reason. For reasons I don't think I'll ever completely understand, there's just something about early round playoff games that make several thousand people who were at a typical regular season game decide not to go. Even when UND played Pitt State in the first round in 2003, there was only a little over 7000 in attendance. Put Pitt State on the schedule in September, and there will be 11,000-plus there. What's the difference? I know, there's hunting, but I'm not sure that comes close to explaining the huge dropoff. In terms of people who actually live close enough to attend if they so choose, I guess there are about 5000 real fans, and 5000 to 6000 fans who evidently don't feel that it's important to support their team in what will almost certainly be the last home game of the year. It's pretty sad.

UND women won 69-66 over Metro State. Maffin apparently didn't play. I'm not sure whether she was sick or injured or what.

UND lost 16-13 in 2000. That was the year NDSU made it to the semi's.

The early commitments are now signees.

UND won its first real game of the year tonight, 75-62 over UMC.

I'm very sorry to hear that. It's been a tragic week in Fargo between the North High kid who died in gym class, and now Fredrickson.

The national committee is made up of eight members--two each from each of the four regional "advisory" committees. If we assume for the sake of argument that the northwest committee voted 5-2 to have UND at number 2; and that the national committee voted 8-0 to switch UND and UNO around, it would appear that Kevin Buisman (Mankato a.d.) and Butch Raymond (NSIC commish) have some explaining to do, since they're the two national committee members from the northwest. It seems to me that either they were the two "no" votes from the regional committee and did an "end around" to get their own way, or else they're rather easily influenced.

My mistake.

It's kind of interesting that UND receiver Brady Trenbeath's dad could become involved in the litigation, as he was just named chief deputy assistant a.g. link.

There really wouldn't be any way to force REA to do anything, and I don't think REA would ever alter or cover up any logos. Besides not awarding another regional to UND/REA, there wouldn't be anything the NCAA could do about it to my knowledge. Keep in mind that the NCAA sanctions only apply to post-season events.

Augie is staying dII, and apparently is headed for the NSIC. link.

I suppose this is something of an apples-to-oranges comparison, but I have a very difficult time understanding how an exhibition hockey game against Manitoba can draw 9600--even though it's televised-- while a football playoff game will probably draw 5500 or so even though it's not televised? Does this seem bizarre to anybody else? This team deserves better support than that for what will almost certainly be the last home game of the year!

Well, I don't think Winona could possibly be any worse than they were the last time UND played them, but whether they're much better is open to debate. The last legit team they played was four weeks ago in Bemidji, and they managed to gain fewer than 100 yards of total offense in that one. Winona has had some good teams in the past, but the past two years have not been close to the level of 2003 and 2004, especially offensively.

Past first round playoff games in the Al: 2001 Winona State (6700) 2003 Pitt State (7160) 2005 UMD (5223) Unfortunately, if there are as many as 6000 people there, I'll be surprised. I shudder to think how few people would be there if it was outside.

I'd say it's doubtful, because attendance is expected to be poor judging by past first round games, and the fact that Winona State isn't going to make casual fans too excited. I don't believe last year's first round game against UMD was televised, either.

The thing is, besides perhaps a few series in the second half of the UNO game, I really don't think conservative play-calling has been a problem when Manke has played. And the reality is that ultra-conservative playcalling is unnecessary when Manke plays because he takes such good care of the ball. If UND is going to have a good chance to make some noise in the playoffs, the offense needs to be super aggressive, and I think it will be.

For the purposes of this discussion, I was only referring to the Manke-led offense.

[url="http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=16813

Without regard to statistics, I think this may be the best UND offense I've seen, although I've "only" been following UND football since the late 70's/early 80's. I definitely haven't seen a better quarterback/running back/wide receiver combo than Manke, Chappell and Dressler. I also really like the dimension Grover brings at tight end. He's one of the more athletic tight ends UND has had in awhile. Despite some injuries, the line has been solid all year. It's definitely been nice not having to always rely so much on the defense to hold down the opponent like in some past years, and to not settle for field goals so often (although Hellevang has been very good, as well).

I wonder how much Winona's improved defense over the last three games had to do with the fact that they played UMC, SW Minn. State and Wayne State (all finished with losing records)? I also wonder if they've shored up their offensive line since September? That was some of the worst pass protection I've ever seen.

For those scoring at home, how many schools from the original hit list are there remaining who haven't either agreed to change their name and/or logo, or been granted an exemption? Besides UND, I can only think of Illinois, Alcorn State and Arkansas State.

link.

Here's the article from the Omaha paper. It has a bit more speculation as to what the reasoning of the committee(s) was for having UNO leapfrog UND. Luckily for UNO, USD wasn't "next to" them in the rankings. In kind of a strange way, USD's loss to Mankato may have actually hurt UND, even though it would have resulted in a three-way tie for the conference title instead of a two-way tie.

The question is, what's the bigger jinx--UND's general inability to beat UNO, or UNO's general inability to win in the playoffs? Maybe the only negative for UNO getting a bye is that beating Winona would have been a given, and would have somewhat gotten the monkey off their back by actually winning a playoff game for what, the second time in Behrns' career? Beating UND twice in one year AND breaking the playoff jinx may be asking a lot for UNO, assuming UND takes care of business against Winona.