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Well - at least they're talking about it. You need to start with the basics. I've said it ad nauseam - too many vacant spots and "reserved parking spots" that divide an otherwise solid core of tailgating groups. That affects atmosphere, which impacts participation, which relates to attendance. Maybe if you aren't actually tailgating in your reserved spot for at least 50% of the games, you can go to the south end and start to work your way back to the north. May seem a little crass, I know. But over a lot of years, I've seen what tailgating has been and I know what it can be. We just keep getting in the way of our own common sense. Quit looking for the magic tailgating solution, and start with the basics.

Sounds like there are still some unhappy campers on the squad. Hopefully they get their heads right over the holidays.

I've been a booster for going on almost 20 years now, and while I'm fortunate to be able to have season tickets to UND events, the cost is already a pinch. I agree with the previous suggestion that some people will probably retain tickets to some sports, but forego others to make up for cost increases. I firmly believe attendance will be affected. A 25% increase to my current ticket bill? That's not just nickels and dimes; I'm not sure this family's budget can or will take that on. (that's right - when you run out of budget dollars, you cut expenditures. Oddly, I learned that in a class I took at UND.)

Or... if the name of the line conflicts with your network's letters, you just call them "the Big Line".

I think Gwoz, at 62 years young, is going to have a tough time finding a long term gig in the NCAA. I think he still has the talent to win, but won't find a spot in the historically "big-name" hockey programs. Is he even actively seeking a job or is he just kind of fading into the sunset? Anyway, it looks like UW did a nice job with the staff they are putting in place. That's one way to right the ship. And if I were a betting man, I'd bet they'll see some payoff right away. I'm not predicting UW in the FF next year, but I think they'll have double digit wins at least.

Sorry everyone, but I think you've lost your collective minds. It's the LAW. The substance is ILLEGAL. Ethics has absolutely nothing to do with it. If we get to the point where officers can pick and choose what laws they enforce - we are all f****d.

Unethical for police to enforce the law? Are you effin' kidding me?

While the classification may be the same, I think the stigma associated with each offense is very different. Say what you will about similar minor offenses, but an illegal drug violation irks this booster (and many others, I'd venture to guess) a lot more than a minor with a keg cup in his hand. (Yes, I'm too old fashioned, smoking pot is safe, cool and socially acceptable, yada yada yada.)

Yep - I agree. I thought he played well on that line. Not that I don't want DC back - just saying I think it'd be okay.

Obviously, many have shared that there were "cumulative reasons" why he left, how he left, etc. That innuendo notwithstanding, I still don't anticipate a carrot being thrown his way at UND.

This. The "fire the coach mentality" that you mention is just message board BS. And if coaches' feelings are hurt by what they read on a fan board, then I think they're in the wrong line of work. I don't think UND has ever been very quick on the trigger when it comes to letting coaches go. IMO, I think we've held on to people a lot longer than other schools would have, and in a few cases, much longer than we ever should have.

You correctly stated why I think Dale can go pack sand. He might be a UND guy at heart, and might be a nice guy (true from what I've seen and heard), but his personal actions set UND football back too many years for my liking - and he knew well what the results would be of those actions. That's not being a "UND guy" - that's being a "Dale Lennon guy". We don't owe him a damned thing as far as I'm concerned. (yes - still a little pissed off - but that's on me) AD? Please.

Yep - I'm all in.

We didn't play great, but UW isn't exactly a terrible team. At least not as terrible as Schloss' "What Happened to Wisconsin" article would lead everyone to believe. A kick in the pants will help my favorite squad, but I never had any expectations of them blowing UW out of the building in the first place. Hoping for a solid effort and a win tonight.

Exactly. I really didn't know there was a "I like this UND sport but not that UND sport" contingent out there. Frankly, I'm glad these people don't hang out with my crowd. We'd have to beat them to death with their own shoes.

Exactly this. Two eerily similar chokes in a row in winnable games is a scary trend, not to mention the impact on team support, attendance, etc. This kind of sucks. Daybyday or not.

Might be a little drunk, but can't remember a PK that !@#!$ in recent memory. Lucky we got a power play in OT. As crappy as it was, without it we lose this game.

Well... this kind of sucks.

If they watched ANY tape of our game on Saturday, look for this number to go up exponentially.....

Make the NDSU fans drive the lifter and trucks for that shift. Or... take a long 3 hour lunch. Who knows, it might even get shut down because of heat. Regardless...... #ownthefarm

I think our tailgating scene has had a negative impact on game attendance, and I also believe major changes need to happen ASAP. One of the biggest reasons our tailgating scene sucks is that it is being used as a parking lot, and is managed completely wrong, IMO. A few years back, I excused myself from a group that I had tailgated with since the Alerus first went to reserved spots. Why? Because out of 6 tailgating spots, 4 of them were (and still are) consumed by their vehicles because they were not willing to pay the $5 parking fee for the game. As unfortunate as that is and was, I am seeing even more of it the past few years, and it has affected our tailgating atmosphere in the worst way. I hoped it was a unique situation, but as I looked across the tailgating area last weekend I saw two things consistently: Tailgating spots are being used as "preferred" parking spaces.Many tailgating spots that are reserved for the season are not being utilized (corporate?) and it ends up being an open (dead) space in the tailgating area.I know that there are MANY that will disagree with me, but I still see nothing wrong with the first come/ first served mentality with tailgating. If someone wants to get there at o-dark-30 to get the best spot in the house, why not let them. They are obviously the types of fans that we want to establish a great tailgating atmosphere. And all of these rabid fans will be together, and not separated by 20 vehicles. Voila - you have a tailgating atmosphere. But instead, we have a number of great tailgating groups separated from each other by vehicles and no-show spots reserved for others. Sorry, but the reserved tailgating spot has been the death of our formerly great atmosphere, even if it has padded the coffers of whomever gets the dough. It has to go, and soon. Doesn't the Alerus and Alumni office realize that people will come for the party, and they will also stay for the game? Tailgating has a HUGE impact on game attendance. I think vehicle parking should not be prohibited altogether, but it should definitely be limited. And as far as the open spaces are concerned, they are killing whatever atmosphere the dispersed groups are trying to create. Instead of one big UND tailgate, it's 50 crappy little tent parties spread out across the entire parking lot. (with ALL DUE RESPECT to those actually trying to create a good atmosphere - it isn't their fault at all) Maybe non-attending groups can transfer their spot to another - maybe they should get spanked if they leave their spot unused? I don't know how to fix it, but when we were lined up at 6:00am waiting for the spots, we had the BEST tailgating atmosphere in the state. Trust me - I was there every weekend. Now it just plain sucks. Like I said - people will come for the party and stay for the game. We need to make it an event again. Start the party.

Didn't see that coming either, but I'm sure he's earned it. Congrats to him. (Doesn't this usually come out in a UND press release, versus a "The Herald has learned" type of story?)

The '11 team was simply loaded up front, so comparisons to that team are natural. IMO, I don't think we have the physicality and scoring ability with the '15 forward group that we had in '11. And that isn't a knock against the current squad - more of a nod to the other group. We have a ton of talent this year - just a different dynamic that makes it work. Frankly, it probably works better as other already alluded to. To say the '15 group would score on the '11 Michigan team is kind of irrelevant. That Michigan team, for that game, had a very specialized defensive plan against UND that was successfully implemented and executed. Plainly, "Old Red" did his homework. What an awful night for the Sioux faithful. If blue-collar can bring us the championship that the blue-chips couldn't, so be it. I'm 100% on board.

When I read it earlier this week I had my doubts. Holy crap.