UND92,96

I guess what I'm having some trouble understanding is, if the fact that UND wouldn't be a dI counter in 2008 is such a big deal, does that mean that Cal-Poly and Southern Utah were just that desperate for games in 2004 that they agreed to form a conference with two schools who were in the exact same situation that year as UND will be in 2008? Why didn't they request that the formation of the conference be delayed until 2005 so that NDSU and SDSU would be dI counters?

I'm not complaining about the playcalling per se. I love to see Mussman be aggressive with the playcalling, which he generally has been this year. I just thought the lack of running yesterday was surprising because: 1. We saw last week against a team physically superior to Winona that UND can run the ball very effectively; 2. UND ran for over 200 yards last year at Winona; 3. When you get a big early lead, you would kind of expect to start pounding the ball at what should be an overmatched defense to keep the clock moving; 4. After Chappell's monster game vs. UNI, I thought he would get more than two offensive touches; 5. It seems bizarre that the leading rusher among running backs had four carries, which was the same as Manke and Belmore!

I look for much bigger rushing numbers next week. UNO rushed for 414 yards against Western Washington today! And the UNO offensive line isn't particularly good after having been decimated by injuries and other defections.

I'd have to see a tape of the game to comment on the line's play today, but I do know they played exceptionally well vs. UNI. It must have been the game plan today to focus on the pass, because UND really never tried to just pound the ball down Winona's throat like I thought they would. I'm also not convinced that using 3-4 backs is the ideal situation. The depth at running back is very good, but I feel like they should pick a guy, and go with him. My personal pick would be Chappell because of his big-play ability, but I would have no problems with Strouth, Beatty or Brady, either.

Great game by the Sioux today. On the negative side, I was a bit surprised that UND didn't run the ball all that often, or that well. I thought Chappell would get a lot more than two carries today. At least his punt return was electric. I love how Manke is playing, and the Dressler-Trenbeath duo. So long as Manke and Dressler in particular stay healthy, I think the offense is going to score some serious points this year. And I think the record for sacks in a season is in serious jeopardy.

Again, I ask, isn't it LIKELY that UND and NDSU will play in 2008 due to the fact that both will LIKELY be in the Great West? If the Great West wants to survive and eventually become an autobid conference, it needs more members, doesn't it?

I've just heard rumors that Amundson and Roebuck don't see eye to eye. When you consider all the good players that have gone through Mandan, that only one has ever come to UND (Mary Perrizo), and that was only after transferring from NDSU, it appears there's fire to go along with the smoke. Exactly what their issues are, I don't know.

I wish Ms. Kielpinski well at New Mexico. In terms of being disappointed she's not coming to UND, I'm really not, because I never thought there was any real chance she would. As long as Amundson is coaching, I don't expect that any Mandan players will sign with UND.

A 2-for-1 isn't going to happen. Also, I'm not sure how you figure UND "owes" NDSU a game. Because UND hosted the last one in 2003? That's why the first game in what presumably would be a home-and-home will be in Fargo. EDIT: Actually, it just occurred to me, isn't this game likely to happen in 2008 (regardless of whatever negotiations are ongoing) due to the strong possibility of UND joining the Great West starting in 2008?

Yes.

[url="http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=10077

Herald [url="http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=9998

I noticed that the roster has been updated with the additions of some walk-ons and a transfer or two, and several names have been removed, including Longe (probably not a big surprise), Presthus, Muro, Rousseau, Hegg and freshman Stecher.

Maybe somebody from UND was reading this thread? link

I agree that it's surprising and disappointing that the athletic department (and the Alerus, for that matter) hasn't seemed to have made much of an effort to get the word out there about the parking situation, and publicize where the shuttle buses will be. I generally don't even try to park in the Alerus lot anyway, due to the fact that it tends to be difficult to get out after the game. I'd rather walk from the aerospace lot.

Not that this is official, but according the athletic department "more than 500" UND fans attended the game. link.

I don't think Mary will be the last DAC school to go dII. I think Minot St., Jamestown College and Dickinson State, and possibly others, will eventually follow. As the NAIA continues along its path to possible extinction, I could see Morningside considering a move back to dII, along with Sioux Falls. Getting schools like NDSU, SDSU, UND, USD, UNC and UNO out of the picture would make such a move all the more attractive to the NAIA's. I can't really see there being just one dII conference in this region (unless the influx into dII by NAIA schools is actually over). One conference could have SCSU, MSU-Mankato, UMD, Augie, Winona State, Concordia-St. Paul, Northern St., Bemidji State, along with perhaps Mary and Wayne State. Everybody else would be in the other conference. I would probably just drop the names "NCC" and "NSIC" and re-name the new conferences, since neither would remotely resemble what the NCC and NSIC were.

Given Herbster's job immediately prior to getting the UNO a.d. job (Concordia-St. Paul a.d.), I'm a little surprised he would make the statement that HE (as opposed to UNO) isn't interesting in merging with the NSIC. I understand why UNO would prefer the MIAA, but he probably could have been a bit more diplomatic in his comments.

Sounds like something warrior 08 would do!

Even though we're still a month away from practice even starting, I'm actually kind of pumped for basketball season. The competition for starting positions should be interesting, as there are a lot of players who would appear, on paper, to be legit candidates to start. With a new coach, it's very hard to say how some of the returnees will fit into the new system. Will Doyle be able to hold off Youmans and/or Bledsoe at the point? How will Harkins and Hoy compare to players like Kruse and Boyce? Is Little more of a 3 or a 4? Will Jones go with a bigger lineup with both Koenig and Dryburgh starting, or will Koenig play the 5, with basically four perimeter players surrounding him?

If the Winona fans who post on d2football.com are any indication, they're actually pretty cool. I suspect they'd agree that this warrior 08 guy is a complete loser.

Thanks. I figured it was probably just an unfounded rumor.

Man, that Don Hansen guy is tough to impress: link. Seriously, I'm surprised that any school even bothers essentially legitimizing this guy's opinions by mentioning his site/polls in their releases. I've always found his to be the least credible of the many dII polls out there.

I'm sorry to inform everybody that apparently, nobody cares that UND beat UNI. It must be true, since I read it here: link.

I'm just a bit disappointed in the fact that WDAZ/FSSN simply doesn't televise road football games, except for the playoffs. Last year, for example, it would have been very nice to have the USD game on. Two years ago, the game at SCSU should have been on given the fact that it's close, it was sold-out, it didn't conflict with a hockey broadcast, and it was kind of a rivalry game. If UNI wanted too much money for televising, I can't really blame WDAZ/FSSN, but I would find it far easier to give them the benefit of the doubt if they'd be a bit more aggressive in pursuing at least one road game per year for TV.