Matt

The whole point of deciding when/if you "take the wind" is because you want to limit the opponent's ability to score. Giving the opponent the extra possession by kicking off to start both the game and the second half defeats that purpose. The opponent is more likely to score when they have the ball for an extra possession, not less likely. Regardless of field conditions. http://www.sportsworldnews.com/articles/17800/20140914/charlie-strong-embarrassment-texas-longhorns-unable-to-execute-coin-toss-correctly-video.htm The consequences of kicking off twice. At least they did it by mistake.

You are right. I've heard this philosophy discussed by several NFL coaches/former players. The common thread of why you don't kick twice is this: you never willingly give the opponent an extra possession.

Just about the only thing I agreed with in that piece was not judging Studsrud after one game. "We very well could see Studsrud for the final three games of the season. And let’s be honest, these are the three games UND fans should look to in order to define the year." No, we should not be using games vs Weber, NAU, and UNC to define any year.

I think that is the key. If the offensive line could play at an even average level to establish a consistent run game it would take a lot of pressure off. Despite the injuries to specialists, poor line play is the common thread among all the deficiencies even prior to the injuries.

The team just has to flush this and prep for next week. That being said, this might be the worst box score I've ever seen. http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?id=400553322

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Maybe you are overthinking things here? I prefer the conference champion to look dominant. If the champ took a blowout loss to a 3rd or 4th place team from another conference, I would not prefer that. Therefore, I would rather MSU or EWU be the champion. That's it. It is no more confusing than that.

Anybody have any insight into the conference tiebreakers? It looks like a possibility that Poly and EWU could win out and end up with identical conference records. You could also throw MSU into that mix as well. I'd prefer Poly not be conference champs after getting blasted vs the bunnies.

I kept hitting refresh and was able to get one SRO ticket.

And I said (to summarize), and I did not even quote anyone in particular, that given the injuries/performance vs suu there is no weak part and probably best not to reference the remainder as weak. Not exactly an unreasonable post.

weak part of the schedule. Been referenced often.

Given the performance vs a 1 win SUU team, and the injury situation, we should probably stop referring to the remaining teams on the schedule (outside EWU) as "weak".

It doesn't look like if really matters anyway. It appears there's the ac, and then everyone else again this year.

Let's hope that doesn't happen. NAU-a team that lost to South Dakota-doing that well in conference doesn't impress.

It's all good, I don't think the newly renovated hockey locker room has air conditioning either. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2GHXKYKKi4

Of course, educated observers of the conference through the 90s know the ac was out recruited by probably 3 conference teams. But there's no one in Fargo that would acknowledge such a thing.

My perspective on this goes back to '82. I know some on here predate that. I have never...ever...witnessed a recruiting season where anyone associated with the ac-from coaches to fans- acknowledged a losing recruiting year vs UND. Doesn't matter who is coaching or what the records are. UND having a better recruiting season than the ac has simply never happened. It's like bigfoot or the yetti...or the female sexual prime. It doesn't exist.

Two words: Bryant.

Come talk to me on Nov 4th. If they shut down NH and JMU, I won't wait until the end of the season to issue my retraction. Their competition has been so weak I can't bring myself to say they are more than a good defense yet.

If they were all on the schedule, half of them are at home.

I've only got them winning 6. Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Rutgers I could throw in Northwestern, but I suspect the ac may lose one of the other games so I'll stick with 6.

Improved rankings coming out of the bye http://stats.ncaa.org/team/index/11980?org_id=494.0 Team Stats - Through games 10/18/2014 Stat Rank Value Total Offense 119 231.3 Rushing Offense 117 78.1 Passing Offense 104 153.1 Team Passing Efficiency 96 109.61 Scoring Offense 109 13.7 Total Defense 24 334.6 Rushing Defense 23 126.9 Passing Yards Allowed 50 207.7 Team Passing Efficiency Defense 96 141.60 Scoring Defense 39 22.7 Turnover Margin T-55 0.00 3rd Down Conversion Pct 113 0.290 4th Down Conversion Pct T-16 0.667 3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense T-44 0.350 4th Down Conversion Pct Defense T-31 0.400 Red Zone Offense T-104 0.692 Red Zone Defense T-50 0.783 Net Punting 60 34.85 Punt Returns 2 22.17 Kickoff Returns 20 23.71 First Downs Offense 117 81 First Downs Defense T-35 126 Fewest Penalties Per Game 67 6.86 Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game 58 58.00 Time of Possession 85 29:10

I think it is a combination of both. I want to say outside the top 5 in FCS is nothing spectacular, but after watching New Hampshire and Coastal Carolina last year I may tighten that up to the top 3 teams in FCS. When it comes to the big 10, lets just say a very average MN team sits atop the west at 3-0. I take the ac and the points at TCF, and I would give MN points in fargo.

Difficult to keep it a close game when the offense would not score. It would resemble the MSU game, except the ac would kick more field goals in the first half. The program has come along this year, but its a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll.

We should expect SUU to play well. I'm sure they've marked this game on their schedule as one of those they must win to have any relevance in this conference.

watched the entire sdsu-uni game saturday night. both are good teams. UNI is an undisciplined bunch. edit: no, I don't have anything better to do.