Matt

totally agree

To have success in the BSC you must be able to rush the passer and cover, or be able to score enough to keep pace with the top teams. I may be reading it wrong, but Bubba would seem to prefer playing defense to a track meet.

That's pre-bubba thinking.

When we talk about the decline of the program at the ac, what exactly do we think that means? Is there anyone here that believes they wont be a perennial playoff team that makes a playoff run ever few years? I certainly don't think they will be looking at consecutive titles again, but I think a decade long slide equally unlikely. With Georgia Southern and App St gone, and an expanded playoff field, the road to the top has become even easier. Aren't they in a similar position to Montana and Eastern in the BSC? Missing the playoffs occasionally, but generally speaking they are always around the top 10?

Don't misunderstand my Canada reference as a denigration to Canadian players. I meant, it doesn't matter where their pipeline is coming from. Most here, as I do, will support the staff until the results on the field show the recruiting efforts need to go elsewhere.

You could sure see him taking reps from Morlock though. Speaking of which, before I go back and check the wiki, did Muss offer Morlock?

Every place a recruit has been signed from gets touted as a great place to have a pipeline from. I think if the new staff announced they were hitting Canada hard it would be celebrated here. I'm not sure it matters much. I support the staff until the results say otherwise.

Maybe i'm a minority voice here, but I don't care for black jerseys. School colors are the school colors. Go with them.

That will be interesting. It also makes you wonder where things have gone wrong in the last few years. Was it because the guys recruiting ND/SD/MN/WI were beaten by their counter parts in the mvfc? Did success breed success with the recruiting at the ac and sdsu? I said this when UND gained membership in the BSC and I will say it again, the media share of voice in the region must increase significantly for UND football. Bubba's staff can't do it alone. The entire upper midwest must know that our region is Big Sky Country, not the mvfc. I realize this isn't easy with all the mvfc/summit schools dominating sports pages around the region but that worm must turn.

Nicely played. Best 2014 analysis I've read yet.

probably want to check the recruiting thread from early 2009

You bring up legitimate points, but it is a conversation few want to have until the wheels have already fallen off the bus.

Yes, indeed.

Before everyone starts making predictions, I would encourage everyone to go back and re-read the offseason predictions going into 2013.

my point exactly

klieman made the same lateral move, while moving away from his family.

what bugs me about this is that the ac as a program is now being viewed as a place you want to go as a step up from other fcs programs, and not just the bottom feeders. They can't fall fast enough if UND is gonna make real gains in ND. Next fall will be interesting.

He looks like he's in physical pain in that suit. He needs a Belichick hoodie.

If Wyoming is looking to the ac for recruits to poach, that program is in worse shape than anyone thought.

this hasn't been that way for a long time.

IALTO

Why wouldn't they? It's a business transaction, not philanthropy. I'm enjoying the "this will be a catalyst for an IPF" argument though.

Don't care at all anymore.

I am very excited to see what a defensive minded coach will be able to do in the Big Sky.