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Ineptitude is a good title for this thread - that's exactly where I see us. Here's a few of my observations from last weekend's game - particularly of our offensive unit: Our QB is frustrated by the plays coming in late from the sidelines. More than once he was giving the "hurry your arse up" signal to the sidelines. I don't think he is comfortable with this system at all. Our receivers are among the most talented in FCS. And probably our most talented of these has lost his fire. I'm not psychologist or anything, but I know an athlete that has lost his drive to compete when I see it. He no longer is making the ridiculously talented extra efforts that got his name in the paper last year. He is quite evidently also frustrated. An upper-classman O-liner tried after an early 3 and out to light the fire under his offensive unit's butts, and the response by his teammates was a joke. They didn't respond positively, if at all. Speaking of "after-a-series"... I find it completely odd that there are no coaches around the offensive unit after a series. When the hell did this change happen? Seriously - the coaches have nothing to say to our offense between series? There was always someone over there pointing a finger, rousing the troops, call it what you will. Unless I was completely out of it on Saturday (and I was sober, actually) I didn't see hardly ANY coach interaction with the O group. Someone please tell me I'm missing something because that seems completely stupid. I kind of felt bad for Mollberg when he got absolutely lit up (one of many times, actually), and was pretty much begging his coaches to take a time out. After the ensuing interception on the next play, he vocally reminded a sideline coach of his earlier request. Once again, players and coaches not communicating - and in my opinion only, developing a "rift" between them. Listening to the post-game on the ride home, it was evident that the announcers are in the same boat as me - wondering how we can continue going backwards. (they were careful, however, to shine the best light on UND football as humanly possible - never once was the word "choke" mentioned) The reality that was hardest to accept on Saturday is that we have become a bottom feeder in our conference - basically, just another sh!tty football team. It was mentioned by others that if we get rid of a coach mid-season, it would do more harm than good. That poster's thoughts were well thought out and convincing. But I'm not so sure that I agree with that anymore. How much damage are we doing right now? Every time another week goes by and I expect to see improvement, I see a worse team on the field than the week before. The team has given up, and so have the fans. If the coaches and administration don't see that, they are either blind, or intentionally avoiding a difficult decision. The way I see it, if your barn and house are both on fire, and you spend too much time deciding which one to throw water on - they'll both burn to the ground. I never thought I'd see the day where I didn't want to go to a home UND football game. That day is getting close. Very, very close.

W.T.F.

How can a team get worse every week? It's an enigma. Truth be told, I don't really give a damn anymore. I've had enough of this train wreck for a while.

Dead in here. Ive seen more people at funerals. Wow.

Surpised by the win honestly, but I'll sure take it. Really impressed with the effort for 2.5 periods. Power play was ugly - hopefully we get those bugs worked out soon.

We will win. That's it.

Agreed. I hate to say it, but I see our youth and inexperience getting exposed by Miami's high powered offense, and our offense not up to the task of picking up the slack. I predict 3 points or less on the weekend.

Lots of pre-season excitement in my house too. Tons. Hell, we were even excited about the comeback against SDSU. Now - not so much.

Yes - I believe they do.

EWU 45-17 Attendance by quarter: 1st = 8500 2nd = 7800 3rd = 3900 4th = 2500 - other prognostication models suggest 103. Lots of thoughts - lots of concerns. I plan on drinking for medicinal purposes.

That sounds terribly harsh. (yes, the truth sometimes hurts - especially painful this year) I'm playing my heart too. Please guys, get a frickin win this weekend. P.S. Quit the sideline sideshow, and get into the game - you may like the results.

yep - good point.

A good first step would be to look at a list of former UND coaches, then look at a list of former UND players. Whittle your final decision down from there. Or........ we COULD look outside of our walls for a change........... I'm beginning to think Kotelnicki was promoted by Muss purely so that a fresh DC from outside of the program wouldn't threaten his job. Call me crazy.

That question came up on Saturday - anybody know why he isn't around this year? I understood it to be a volunteer position, so maybe he is tired of volunteering? Regardless - he was one to help to "regain focus" on many occasions....

I've watched a lot of (almost ALL of the) home football games from the front row in the Alerus center, and that gives me a great opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes during the game. What have I seen the past couple of years?... a lot of the crap being brought up here. Goofing off, laughing and chuckling, and a general I don't give a crap attitude by MANY of the players along the sideline. Maybe I'm just another booster taking the game too seriously. Or MAYBE, there is a lack of discipline and focus with this team. Shouldn't the team be more in-tune with the game than ANY spectator in the building? Maybe I've completely lost it and senility is setting in, but there was a time when the East sideline at the Alerus center was almost stoic. All players were focused on the play at hand, and were completely intense. And if they WERE f*****g off - there was someone in khakis immediately in their face getting the focus back. That time has come and has most certainly gone - and the discipline on the field shows it. I put this 100% on the coaching staff. PATHETIC!!!! I don't care what happened to Miller after the play. He needlessly cost us 15 yards with a stupid undisciplined action. And then he not only immediately returns to play, but gets a carry on the next play? A coach demanding discipline and accountability would've ripped him apart, and then sat his ass (see khaki reference above). I wasn't the only one with a puzzled look on my face when he got the next carry - I just don't get it. Anyway - should we be surprised at the number of penalties we get during a game? Of course not. If they keep it up, we should be looking at a home crowd of around 6K by the end of the season. I think I'll drink more at tailgating in the coming weeks - for medicinal purposes only. My general thoughts on the whole game: (insert completely frickin' embarrassed emoticon here)

You could always just leave her arse at home......

I would love nothing more - but I think he's on something a little stronger than Kool-aid.....

I see - that DOES explain the context a little bit - thank you.

I was reading this quote yesterday... Can someone explain to me why it was ill-advised? Best receiver in FCS in one-on-one coverage, and you need to score - I thought it was great. Seriously, there must be more x and o stuff that I don't know... why shouldn't he take that shot down field?

Watching the Valpo game, I kept thinking that if their qb had any accuracy they would've been on the move consistently. Lots of balls thrown in the dirt (err - rubber pellets), and out of the reach of open receivers. Accordingly, I'm scared to death of what might happen on Saturday to our defense. I'll take some solice in what a few have posted regarding "showing our defensive playbook unnessesarily"... hopefully we have some tricks up our sleeves to answer their experienced offense. I want a win, I expect a close game, but will not bet my first-born on either. (nor my second born. my wife maybe..... )

Jail the bison Jail the bison Jail the biiiison down in Cass Craig's resuming Rocky's excusing Jail the biiiison down in Cass

Good point - as we are trying to re-define our defense and have a young QB at the helm offensively, this team has to produce big results early and quickly if playoffs are going to be a reality. Will it happen?.. heart says yes - head says no. Flip a coin.

I remember thinking a playoff run was a possibility at this time last year, only to have my hopes dashed by an ugly defensive effort pretty much all season long. But here I am again, in the middle of August, thinking that playoffs are a possibility. Perhaps I shouldn't wear my green glasses indoors, but I'm excited to see the first game - more excited than last year, actually. I really believe that success will put butts in the seats - hopefully the boys can meet the challenge.

When Chelsea Dagger plays, it makes darn near every person in the building stand up, cheer, sing, wave their arms, and celebrate the goal. I don't care if we are ripping off the Blackhawks or not. (IIRC, nobody cared that our beloved sweater logo was ripped off from the Blackhawks for almost three decades) The song works, so let's change it up with something else? Sorry, I'm not convinced.............

Maybe they were concerned about the deep ball, but I don't know how many times our field position was absolutely destroyed by the 5-10 yard pass. If they were preventing a long threat, we sure gave up a TON of short pass yardage. Maybe the stats don't show it, but it sure seemed that way. I hope to see less cushion this year. (until we start getting burned for passes of 60+... then I'll respectfully recant )