Matt

timely article

I don't think it needs to take away from hockey. I think it comes to the attitude of leadership. The ac did a great job of marketing to the public that this was a new era...a step up. And it worked! While we belittled Valpo, their marketing created true believers. Meanwhile Kuppy and RT were downplaying that a move to FCS was even a higher level of ball to start with. When that's where leadership was coming from it isn't hard to understand the opportunity was squandered.

One thought before this thread gets locked: Strategically, I don't understand-or perhaps I just can't identify-the athletic department plan since the move up to D-1. If I'm looking at the situation and thinking to myself, "where is the growth going to come from to capitalize on this opportunity?" it is not hockey. It is football, basketball, and volleyball. How much more growth could come from hockey when the move was made? How many more revenue streams? How many more fans into the Ralph? There was such a tremendous opportunity to grow the other sports that was missed, and now we see that once you miss on your opportunity the road can become much more difficult.

While it certainly raises legitimate questions, it doesn't concern me if a UND commit's only other offers are D2. There were plenty of guys on the UND roster prior to the move up that we all know were capable of playing at the I-AA level, but ended up in the NCC. If Bubba is reaching on those guys it is up to him to develop them into a capable FCS player.

At safety his alignment would at least give him a cushion. As a hs player at 190 running a 4.7 is a big and slow safety, but he could certainly get into that 225 range and that puts him at a beast of a middle. That's what the ac got out of Mays.

I like the blitzing off the edge part, but the price of admission for TEs at this level is 6'4 and above. If I'm an OC I hope they put a 5'10 LB on my TE With a 4.7 40 maybe he can bulk up and be a quicker inside backer.

Good compilation by gopher hole. http://www.gopherhole.com/page/show/769454-class-of-2015-minnesota-hs-football-recruits

Don't misunderstand, I have tremendous respect for what their coaching staff and players did on the field this year, and I think they were good enough to make the field. You saw the schedule. To see the teams they would need to beat to make the field really put them in a bad spot to make the playoffs. Their administration failed them.

We get caught in these penis measuring contests with the ac, when the reality is there's a long way to go to catch the school in Brookings. That bugs me much more.

They scheduled 2 FBS games, a game vs something called Simon Fraser, and finished with 4 losses. If the UND admin set the football program up to fail like that we would be calling for Faison's head (more than some here already are). Or, there's also no law against doing what some other FCS schools have done-win a game vs an FBS opponent. They most certainly did do it wrong.

You make a good point. With the expanded playoff field, if you aren't one of the top 24 teams in FCS you are doing it wrong.

Watched ISU vs UNI and EWU. They were men amongst boys. I like them vs the ac in Frisco. side note: It doesn't matter how badly EWU is losing, VA never shuts his mouth.

I'd say that is a fairly accurate representation of how the rest of the league viewed UND this season. We here see positive strides and much to be happy about. The losing record and conference finish is what stands out to many voters despite some nice stats.

It could not be any more clear that you must beat the big 3 for anyone to respect you in this league.

uff da...that's kind of like asking for a pony. maybe the next home game after beating the ac?

You bring up an interesting point. We all know the program will be judged by the performance vs the big 3. vs MSU 71 yards on 32 attempts vs UM 45 yards on 35 attempts vs EWU 126 yards on 27 attempts total 242 yards on 94 attempts in 3 games avg 80.6 ypg on 31.3 attempts=2.5 ypc To deliver on Bubba's goal of building this team on defense and running game, I would vote for improved line play as my biggest wish as well.

I watched some of that game as well and I agree with you.

As excited as I still am about the NAU game, until the team shows they can win on the road I can't pick it. We've all been burned on this too many times around here. 21-17 UNC

Sometimes, when facing a superior opponent that just isn't enough motivation...(cough cough NAU cough cough).

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs Rankings - FCS Coaches' Poll Last Updated - November 17, 2014 FCS Coaches' Poll RANK SCHOOL RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS 1 Coastal Carolina (20) 11-0 639 1 2 New Hampshire (4) 9-1 625 2 3 Jacksonville State (1) 9-1 588 3 4 North Dakota State (1) 10-1 587 4 5 Eastern Washington 9-2 550 5 6 Villanova 9-2 513 6 7 Illinois State 9-1 485 7 8 Fordham 10-1 446 8 9 Chattanooga 8-3 435 9 10 Southeastern Louisiana 8-3 426 10 11 Northern Iowa 7-4 402 12 12 Montana State 8-3 364 13 13 Montana 7-4 328 15 14 Harvard 9-0 271 17 15 South Dakota State 7-4 265 19 16 Eastern Kentucky 9-2 237 20 17 McNeese State 6-4 208 11 18 Indiana State 7-4 187 25 19 William & Mary 7-4 176 23 20 Youngstown State 7-4 149 16 21 Richmond 7-4 141 14 22 James Madison 8-3 138 NR 23 Alcorn State 9-2 54 NR 24 Bethune-Cookman 8-3 45 18 25 Sacred Heart 9-2 32 NR Dropped out: No. 21 Bryant, No. 22 Southern Illinois, No. 24 Stephen F. Austin. Others receiving votes: Charleston Southern 28, North Carolina A&T 27, Sam Houston State 23, Yale 15, Southern Illinois 14, Northern Arizona 13, Bryant 11, South Carolina State 9, Idaho State 7, Stephen F. Austin 3, Central Arkansas 3, Bucknell 2, Liberty 2, Presbyterian 1.

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/misc/tsn-div-1aa-poll.htm The Sports Network FCS Top-25 College Football Poll Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank 1. New Hampshire Wildcats (74) 9-1 3,879 1 2. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (56) 11-0 3,802 2 3. North Dakota State Bison (20) 10-1 3,606 4 4. Jacksonville State Gamecocks (10) 9-1 3,581 3 5. Eastern Washington Eagles 9-2 3,381 5 6. Villanova Wildcats 9-2 3,137 6 7. Fordham Rams 10-1 2,905 7 8. Illinois State Redbirds 9-1 2,865 8 9. Chattanooga Mocs 8-3 2,598 9 10. Southeastern Louisiana Lions 8-3 2,466 10 11. Northern Iowa Panthers 7-4 2,404 11 12. Montana State Bobcats 8-3 2,289 12 13. Montana Grizzlies 7-4 1,886 16 14. Eastern Kentucky Colonels 9-2 1,675 18 15. Harvard Crimson 9-0 1,597 17 16. South Dakota State Jackrabbits 7-4 1,489 19 17. James Madison Dukes 8-3 1,300 25 18. Indiana State Sycamores 7-4 1,257 23 19. McNeese State Cowboys 6-4 1,062 13 20. Youngstown State Penguins 7-4 998 15 21. Richmond Spiders 7-4 924 14 22. William & Mary Tribe 7-4 743 24 23. Sam Houston State Bearkats 7-4 403 NR 24. North Carolina A&T Aggies 9-2 297 NR 25. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 8-3 268 20 Others receiving votes: Sacred Heart 200, Idaho State 153, Bryant 144, Alcorn State 118, Northern Arizona 104, Charleston Southern 93, Yale 51, Southern Illinois 47, Bucknell 34, Liberty 33, Cal Poly 32, Stephen F. Austin 27, North Carolina Central 24, Jackson State 23, Grambling State 21, Samford 16, San Diego 15, Dartmouth 12, Albany 10, Robert Morris 8, Western Carolina 7, Southern 7, Jacksonville 5, Northwestern State 4

What a great weekend! Fantastic for the team to get a much needed shot of confidence. I think that will provide the edge they will need to get their road win this week.

Tough for NAU to make their playoff argument with losses to USD and UND. NAU 20 UND 9

This season will tell me very little about Rudolph. Too many guys that are simply not able to beat the man in front of him yet.

I'm not sure what to make of the defensive numbers. Ranking is near the top of the conference, but it is nearly 30pts per game. That is a lot of points to give up.