UND92,96

The problem is that he took over when the program was a perennial playoff contender. They just finished their fourth straight non-playoff season, and they have gone 5-6, 4-7, 6-5 and 7-5 since they last made the playoffs. Throw in how much he's making, and their fan base is decidedly unhappy. The "Fire Dale Lennon--2013 version" thread is at 65 pages so far on their message board.

Here is one of the new applicants: http://coachingroots.com/football/coaches/mike-cummings

Not that it necessarily impacts the UND situation, but it sounds like there could be another prominent FCS opening soon. EIU coach Dino Babers is being mentioned as a strong candidate for the Eastern Michigan job. John Wristen, who has been mentioned as a potential UND candidate in the past, was also linked to the EMU job.

I would have no problem with somebody new, but the problem is who? Pflu is the most qualified, but chances are very good Faison passes due to his real or perceived baggage. So then who is left? Marshall? Montana St. has been kind of an under-achieving program IMO, and failed to make the playoffs despite a lofty ranking most of the season. Most of the rest of the legit applicants are essentially journeymen. The only other candidate so far who might be intriguing is the guy from Florida Atlantic by way of UNI. I don't know enough about him to say whether he's the next-best after Pflu or not. I'm still hoping for Caruso or some other late applicant.

It's hard to say. Nielson is a very good coach, but on the other hand he was basically coaching Bubba's players. Would Bubba have done as well? Impossible to know, but I suspect he'd have won at least one title.

This is neither here nor there, but I can't help but wonder whether those guys ever expected to still be at SIU six years later? I always figured that job was viewed as a stepping stone for Lennon, and by extension his staff. In retrospect, I wonder if Bubba wishes he'd have stayed at UMD and quite possibly have gotten a couple of national championships of his own?

That is DeBoer. I'm actually surprised he hasn't applied yet. I think he may need to go the dII or dIII route if he wants to be a head coach again in the near future.

That's a good question. It would not surprise me if we don't officially hear a list of finalists like we always have in the old days. It seems almost demeaning to parade a candidate around to public meet-and-greet's and the like. That's not how it's done most places, and I hope we don't see it done here again. With that said, I think it's safe to say there will be leaks, and we'll probably hear who is actually interviewing on campus whether it's officially announced or not.

Latest from SFI: http://siouxfb.areavoices.com

I recall this being an issue during the search for a university president, as well. I really hope it changes in the near future, but am not particularly optimistic.

FCS Albany is paying their new coach $230k. I realize the cost of living is much higher in NY, but that seems like a lot for a program like that.

Depending on who else applies by tomorrow afternoon, I suspect Bill Bleil may get a serious look, as well. He's not my favorite candidate, but he is associate head coach for a Big 12 team, albeit not a strong one.

He has a lot of experience, but with a 2-22 career record as a head coach, it would be tough to get too excited about the prospect of him turning things around at UND: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Ianello

I had kind of assumed there was a reason Faison included the NFL preference in the job listing, as if he maybe was tailoring it to a specific candidate or candidates, such as Bollinger, Tibesar or Cotton. Maybe not?

No. SIU has been kind of a disaster for the career aspirations of several very good coaches.

I'm rapidly approaching that point. I felt all along that at best Pflugrad was a longshot. But given who else has actually applied, he's head and shoulders above everybody else IMO.

I've obviously not been a big Pflu proponent, but I'd take a chance on him over Mills. I don't mind an assistant coach who lost his job because of a total housecleaning, but not one who was apparently forced out of his most recent job due to being in charge of a bad defense. I'm hoping there are other viable candidates who apply last minute.

Not that I think he's the best person for the UND head coaching job, but I feel like it was a travesty what happened to him. He deserves to get back into coaching. I would have no problem if whomever the new coach is hires him as an assistant.

Not surprisingly, Kolpack is mentioning Caruso as a possible candidate for the NDSU job: http://bisonmedia.ar...es.com/?p=89958 Also interesting that he mentions Wash--same situation as Tibesar and UND.

Doubt he'll leave either. Just can't think of any other logical person besides Bubba who fits that description. Plus, it's more interesting to speculate that there is more than one possibility.

Bubba? Tibesar? Somebody else?

It seems to me that could be argued any time a coach leaves or is fired right after the season, given the recruiting repercussions of not having a coach in place.

While of course we have no idea whether he has even applied, it doesn't sound like Pflu is being considered at Weber St.: http://www.footballscoop.com/the-scoop

Nothing has been in the media indicating that he has.

Elson had some early success as head coach at Western Kentucky, but the wheels really fell off in his last two years: http://en.wikipedia....iki/David_Elson Of course, given the timing (FBS transition), I guess that's not entirely surprising.