Matt

He also saw the value in taking the xDSU's when the league presidents did not.

The only thing watching the BSC teams in the playoffs has done is reinforce my belief the conference must become much more physical if they want to contend nationally.

As if we needed another reason to be bitter about this playoff situation, think for a moment how valuable it would be to have split allegiances around the state. People gathering at homes and bars all over the state to watch UND in their first playoff game (or second this weekend). Instead, its yet another year where the whole state gathers to watch the only game in town, as it has now for the 6th straight year.

I have a feeling this rushing discussion will only result in bville renaming their unit of measure from a "zenner" to a "santiago".

Because his resume is still a good one.

...and we have a nickel sighting...here we go.

I don't think PSU is ready for this. I don't necessarily mean UNI (although they are good and playing at PSU will not matter in the least). I mean the playoff moment and everything that goes with it.

Yes, the running game gets going against the soft part of the schedule so stick doesn't have to make those throws. If they run it like that vs UNI and/or ISU then I'll be impressed. (I left out the griz on purpose because I don't think they can stop the run).

I'm not so sure. Wentz made so many NFL level throws that people have taken it for granted. Stick is good but not on that level. If he has to make the type of plays Wentz had to make vs Montana and UNI, the ac is in a lot of trouble.

I give the guy credit for coming on at all. He certainly didn't have to, and if i were in his position i definitely wouldn't take calls. He clearly has some bureaucratic BS process to follow, then he's in the unenviable position of being asked to explain why other's on the committee voted the way they did. He's one vote. He can only speculate as to why others voted the way they did based on the stated criteria. At the end of the day all he really knows is UND didn't have enough votes. I said this before-I don't think the committee respected the body of work of the BSC much this year. I don't know why, but in the end the voting and seeding reflected it.

How do they have such power?

My thoughts on that game have nothing whatsoever to do with WIU

I agree. I don't see how failing miserably on one test (playing on the road in hostile conditions) is an indicator you will fare any better the next time.

While I'm not sure this has anything to do with BSC leadership, you can easily conclude from the seedings and number of teams in the playoff field that the BSC did not have the respect of the committee.

I wonder if it would have been better not playing a team like ndsu this year and just getting a simple d1 win?

could always have a dude with the bird on his arm lead the team out. Something like this...

SDSU has become a formidable opponent on and off the field.

Nice analysis. Only thing i would add is that EWU has pedigree. It shouldn't matter, but it does. If there's a benefit of the doubt to be had, they will get it.

score?

MSU 44 UND 31

How many years have to go by before having 40+ points hung on you stops being a regular occurrence? I counted twice since 2004 (first transition year) for the ac and both were in the same year. I counted 14 times for UND since 2008. Muss had two in his first two seasons as HC. Bubba has now had 3 and his second season is not yet complete. I think many thought those days were behind us with Bubba ball, hence some frustration.

A strong case could be made there is in fact depth at QB (as much or more than any other FCS program), but they simply aren't producing the results that other teams' QBs (and backups) are producing. There are three QBs, all highly recruited, and they are not true freshmen. Two juniors and a soph. Maybe, for whatever the reason, they are not developing well and producing on the field? A rundown: Studsrud is a Bubba recruit with experience last year, spring ball, fall camp and playing experience this year. 2014 (Freshman): Pressed into action late in the season due to injuries at the quarterback position ... Started the final four games and led team to a 2-2 record, including an upset of No. 22 Northern Arizona (Nov. 15) ... Made first career start at Eastern Washington (Nov. 1) ... Finished the campaign 26-for-75 for 276 yards and two touchdowns ... Completed a season-high 12 passes for 115 yards and first collegiate passing touchdown in vs. Weber State (Nov. 8) ... Led go-ahead scoring drive late in the contest against 22nd-ranked Lumberjacks ... Also added first rushing score in that contest and finished 4-for-11 for 61 yards through the air ... Led team to first Big Sky road win of the season in regular-season finale at Northern Colorado (Nov. 22) ... Put team ahead for good in the first quarter with an 11-yard touchdown pass ... Earned first letter. Before UND: Threw for 1,555 yards and 18 touchdowns during senior season, also rushed for 797 yards and 10 scores en route to earning North Suburban Conference MVP honors and Minneapolis Star Tribune All-Metro second team honors … As a three-year starter at quarterback, accounted for more than 6,000 combined rushing and passing yards during prep career … Also earned North Suburban All-Conference honors as a junior and was all-metro honorable mention … Team captain on both football and baseball teams as a senior … Also a three-year starter shortstop …Honor Roll in 2012 and 2013. Bartels- 2014 (Sophomore): Appeared in three games as a reserve quarterback ... Went 14-for-23 for 151 yards and a touchdown in win over Portland State (Oct. 11) ... Threw for a season-high 297 yards on 23-of-44 passing at Southern Utah (Oct. 25) before suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season ... Earned second letter. 2013 (Redshirt Freshman): Earned four starts and appeared in eight games ... Went 2-2 as the starting quarterback ... Finished the season with 1,396 passing yards and eight touchdown passes ... Threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Greg Hardin on his first collegiate pass attempt in the win over Valparaiso (Aug. 29) ... Finished the win against the Crusaders going 10-for-12 for 212 yards ... Set UND freshman records in completions (39), attempts (59) and yards (367) and touchdowns (4) at Northern Arizona (Nov. 2) Had his second straight 300-yard passing game in 24-21 victory over Northern Colorado (Nov. 9) ... Finished with 344 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Bears, including the game-winner to Hardin with just over two minutes to play ... Recipient of the 2013 Athletics Director Award of Merit ... Earned first letter. 2012: Redshirt season ... Named the Offensive Scout of the Week vs. Eastern Washington ... Recipient of the 2012 Athletics Director Award of Merit. BEFORE UND: Two-time Northern Illinois Big 12 All-Conference honoree and two-time Daily Chronicle All-Area selection ... First team member of All-State Academic Team ... Team Captain as a senior when he completed 65 percent of his passes and threw 14 touchdowns ... Selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game ... Racked up career totals of 955 yards rushing, 3,890 yards passing along with 23 rushing touchdowns and 34 passing scores. Mollberg-Very heavily recruited by FBS and top FCS programs 2014 (Sophomore): Started the first eight games of the season before a leg injury forced him to miss the final four contests ... Finished 78-for-143 for 919 yards and three touchdowns ... Threw for a season-high 222 yards in Big Sky opener at Montana State (Sept. 27) ... Led team to home wins over Robert Morris (Sept. 6), Stony Brook (Sept. 20) and also went 7-for-8 for 61 yards before leaving an eventual win over Portland State (Oct. 11) early with an injury ... After a bye week, started the Southern Utah (Oct. 25), but suffered season-ending injury in first quarter against the Thunderbirds ... Named to the Big Sky All-Academic Team ... Earned second letter. 2013 (Redshirt Freshman): Started seven games during the season, finishing with 1,729 passing yards and seven touchdown passes ... Threw for two touchdowns and 259 yards, including a 73-yard completion in a 35-28 loss to South Dakota State (Sept. 7) ... Led three second-half touchdown drives against the sixth-ranked Jackrabbits ... Made first career start in game three of the campaign vs. Montana (Sept. 14) ... Finished with 281 passing yards and two touchdown tosses against the 15th-ranked Griz ... Had three games with 250 or more passing yards, including a season-high 355 yards vs. No. 6 Eastern Washington (Oct. 12) ... Completed a season-high 33 of 45 passes against the Eagles ... Threw for 197 yards in his final start of the season at Portland State (Oct. 26) ... Named to the All-Big Sky Academic Team ... Recipient of the 2013 Athletics Director Award of Merit ... Earned first letter. 2012: Redshirt season ... Recipient of the 2012 Athletics Director Award of Merit. BEFORE UND: Named first team All-Heart O'Lakes Conference, first team all-section and honorable mention all-state as a senior ... Minnesota Vikings All-Star team honoree ... Team Captain as a senior ... Finished career as the all-time career passing leader at Detroit Lakes and and top five in scoring ... Earned first team all-section honors and honorable mention all-state honors as a junior ... Finished prep career as the all-time leading scorer in Detroit Lakes history for basketball.

The back up QB: always the most popular guy on the message board (in this case it is the backup to the backup)

If Mollberg plays Saturday he's got to be given time to succeed or fail, and I'm not just talking about this week vs MSU. If you are giving him his shot, then actually give him a fair shot.

If Rudolph gets the blame for the lack of a passing game, why wouldn't he get credit for the success of the running game?