UND92,96

Lennon was on the 6:00 sports on WDAZ and definitely sounded excited about this class. Yes, coaches are excited about their classes every year, but I think it is safe to say that he feels that the potential for this class is especially high. Among the players he singled out were Manke, Dressler, Trenbeath, Yilek and Freund, whom he compared to Kelby Klosterman in terms of athletic ability. In terms of statistics, this class has some of the most eye-popping numbers I've seen for UND recruits. Dressler rushed for over 2000 yards and had 40 td's. Trenbeath had over 1000 yards receiving and 36 td's. Nicholas led the state of Wisconsin in receiving yards and yards per catch. Freund led the state of Wisconsin in most passing categories, including 40 td passes. Caufield had over 1000 yards receiving. Those are just some of the highlights. It's of course impossible to predict who will pan out and who won't, but on paper I'd say Manke, Freund, Dressler, Rohde, Trenbeath, Caufield, Nicholas, Yilek, Troen and Otto look to be very good. I'm sure there will be some other guys who maybe don't come in with a huge amount of notoriety, but who turn out to be very good like Gagner and Duchscher, for example. When asked whether there would likely be any further signees, Lennon said possibly one or two, which probably means that the door is still open for Jordan. Some of the schools that had been mentioned on allcanadagridiron.com as being interested in him were Valdosta St., Northern Michigan and Tiffin, and he wasn't listed on those respective web pages as having signed with any of those schools, either.

Here is an article from the Wausau (WI) paper regarding the signings of Rohde and Heckendorf by UND and NDSU, respectively. Heckendorf's coach confirmed that he's getting a full scholarship. I think it's safe to say that UND wasn't able to offer that kind of money. Maybe he'd have gone there anyway, but the likely scholarship offer differential probably removed all doubt.

I'm very disappointed that the Herald had nothing in today's paper about any of the expected signees. In the past, there has always been an article, and at least once I recall them having an entire list of expected signees. Even the St. Cloud paper has a fairly extensive list of their commitments.

For whatever it's worth, the badgerstatepreps.com post came one day after vince's post. It would definitely be great to get this kid. We'll know for sure within the next 24 hours.

According to a poster on the wisconsinpreps.com message board, UND has received a commitment from receiver Alex Nicholas from Franklin, WI. He's 6'1", 180, and had 67 catches for 1366 yards and 15 td's this year. He was named all-state by the WFCA and all-area by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

There have been some who have run for maybe one season, but since Norm McGee in the late 80's I don't recall one who really excelled. Mahmoud ran last year, but wasn't anywhere near as successful as he was in high school. It's very difficult for sprinters/hurdlers at UND because there just isn't a decent indoor track to practice on.

Amen. I think the overall level of maturity on this site as it pertains to NDSU is far greater than that towards UND on bisonville. It's not even close. And it starts from the moderator on down. I recall a few weeks ago when tony had a post on his board about "holding his nose and checking out siouxsports.com" for something. That's just juvenile to say the least. It's hard to believe that there are people like JBB, etc. who are allegedly adults and college graduates yet post things you would expect from about a 10-year-old.

I see where UND freshman corner Donovan Alexander is also running track. At a meet this weekend in St. Cloud, he finished 2nd in the 60 meter dash, just .02 seconds behind Allen Burrell. I think he's going to add an element of speed that we haven't had in some time. Plus, he also has pretty good height for a corner at 6'0".

That may very well be so, but how many times has the game gone head-to-head with a home UND hockey game? Not many, I'd guess. And with both games on tv, I would venture to guess that many people chose to flip back and forth. Personally, I will not subject myself to the atmosphere in the BSA for a Sioux-Bison game for anything. I used to go, but never again.

It's a little surprising that Beck wasn't recruited more heavily by some other dII schools considering her athletic ability--as indicated by her track success the past 3-4 years--and the numbers she has put up. She could be a sleeper for the Sioux, or at worst she'll be a better-than-average deep reserve. With UND losing Leighton, Perrizo and Demaine, but red-shirting Draayer, Werdell and Sannes, and the signings/commitments of Guinn, Langen and now Beck, I would assume that recruiting is done for next season.

To even partially blame the relatively paltry crowd in Fargo last night on a lack of UND fans is asinine to say the least. For one thing, there were 11,200-plus at Engelstad last night, so to expect many local people to bypass that in favor of watching a game at the BSA is not exactly realistic. Even though UND is having a very down year in mens basketball, I can virtually guarantee that the crowd next weekend will be in the 7000 to 8000 range, if not higher.

Lindahl may not have had a good game last night, and he's not even a true inside player despite his height, but I guarantee that given a choice, any coach in the NCC would take him over any NDSU front court player. Ditto for Rypkema. I have no problem admitting that NDSU has a better team this year. But before you guys start dusting off the trophy shelf, remember that at 13-7, you still have very little margin for error to even make the post-season, barring an NCC tournament title.

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I haven't heard anything about his recruitment. My best guess would be that he would play basketball for a DAC-10 school, or possibly go to NDSU for football, although most likely as a walk-on.

Here's a link regarding Erik Moe and another Duluth area recruit, Derek Malner from Eveleth-Gilbert. While not all of these are 100% confirmed, here is an updated verbal commitment list: Weston Dressler, Bismarck Jake Caufield, Minot Rory Manke, Detroit Lakes Mike Rohde, Schofield, WI Reece Henrickson, Stephen-Argyle Mike Yilek, Eden Prairie Erik Moe, Int'l Falls Brett Rousseau, Hopkins Danny Freund, Kenosha, WI Brandon Jordan, Winnipeg Brian Troen, Racine, WI Drake Otto, Kenosha, WI Brady Trenbeath, Cavalier Derek Malner, Eveleth-Gilbert

If Kutztown is out, that would apparently mean we are still looking for one more game, or else we'll have a 10-game schedule again next year, which I hope is not the case. Six NCC games plus Central Wash., Mesa, Delta and Ferris would be 10.

Based on what I've seen of Dobmeier on a few highlights, he does look like he's let himself go a bit. Although the Mr. Basketball award is not based on who will have the best college career, I have a feeling that when their college careers are over with, people will have a hard time believing in retrospect that he got Mr. BB over Lindahl. Lindahl is a possible future NCC mvp, while Dobmeier is little more than a guy who'll make an occasional 3-pointer. Why NDSU didn't at least red-shirt the kid two years ago I'll never know since he barely played as a true freshman.

I was watching the sports on Fox last night (ch. 10 in GF), and Ben Nemmers said they really wanted to pound the ball inside because they felt they had an advantage with their interior players. Huh? Lindahl, Rypkema and the rapidly improving Stoute are averaging 32.4 points and 14.7 rebounds per game. May, Erbes and Kelchen average 21.1 points and 14.6 rebounds per game. The only advantage NDSU has is a little bulk, and that disappears when Stoute is in the game. Kelchen has had a bulk advantage over nearly everyone he's played against for the past three years, and he's done next to nothing in his career. I'm not completely biased, as I would have no problem with admitting that NDSU has an advantage in the backcourt. But on the interior, UND is clearly taller and more talented. Even if it turns into a wrestling match (and I have no doubt it probably will), Stoute is probably both stronger AND more athletic than anybody NDSU has inside, and if NDSU tries to cover Lindahl with one of their bigger guys, he'll take them outside and either drive around them or shoot over them.

The latest from allcanadagridiron.com:

Judging by what UND Fan posted in a different thread, it sounds like UND's schedule could possibly be finalized within the next few weeks. NDSU's schedule probably won't come out for awhile yet as according to an article in the Forum last week, they only have five game contracts so far.

UND recruiting target Matt Lien from Duluth is going to Augie according to this link. Also, all-state defensive tackle Dustin Martin from Moorhead is going to Bemidji St. according to the Forum. UND and St. Cloud, among others, had also been recruiting him. I'm fairly certain NDSU did, as well. A bit of a curious decision for Martin since his Forum all-star team bio stated that he was being recruited by Minnesota, among others. I doubt very much he was offered by the Gophers, but generally all-state players who draw even a passing interest from Minnesota don't end up at Bemidji. This could be one of their highest profile signees in a long, long time.

If this schedule comes to fruition, I don't think too many people will accuse UND of having a weak non-conference schedule: Mesa St.--10-1 regular season in 2003; RMAC champion; finished year as number one ranked team in the west region. Delta St.--9-2 in 2003; finished season ranked 9th in south region. Central Wash.--6-4 in 2003; finished season ranked 8th in the west region. Ferris St.--6-5 in 2003; finished tied for 4th in GLIAC. Kutztown--6-5 in 2003.

UND Fan: Does that mean that among Delta State, Ferris St. and Kutztown St. (the teams you had mentioned in an earlier post), there are confirmed games with two of them, and negotiations are ongoing with the other team?

Another allcanadagridiron.com update: