the green team

Fantastic performance! I hope they continue to build off of it.

That is a very astute observation. Your right, that is wierd. Speaking of that play along with the other Jackson fumble- while I can appreciate Jameer's determination... Sometimes you just have to go down to protect the football. I can't add aything about the defense that hasn't been said already, but our offense really isn't doing a whole heck of alot against anyone right now either.

I think it will be Nash. This is his only year he gets to play...I think that will be a big motivator for him. I believe the biggest difference maker has to in order for us to get to the next level will have to be Brandon Brekke. He has to be a 12 point 6 rebound a night guy for the team and provide that interior scoring in order to get to where we need to go. What will help him get there a great deal is if another one of the big bodies raises their game and becomes a factor (Traylor, Salmonson, Calcuterra). That's what I think is critical in order to go from having a pretty good year to a great year.

Having not met him, I don't really know what his strengths are...either in recruiting or x's and o's. You sound skeptical as if to insinuate the other coaches on staff aren't capable of recruiting talent and that it's up to Coach Shay to make sure we get good players for the future? More than likely I'm misreading. I'll say again, I think all our coaches on this staff are good in the recruiting department for a variety of reasons. I really have no basis for that opinion, but I also have no basis to the contrary either.

I'd like to see them running some hills....oh wait this is Grand Forks.

I get completely agree with what your saying. I do think having Coach Shay, who has seen the X's and O's with a high level program can only benefit this team moving forward.

I definitely respect your opinions on here, but don't you think this program the last couple of years has done fairly well, with what is available to them at tourney time? Certainly, the Great West Tourney Championships were maybe nothing to write home about, but the team never went into those as the favorite, and the last 2 they came out the winner. Plus, last year I was impressed how well they played a very formidable Weber St. team in the semi's of the BSC. The game could have went our way. So basically what I'm saying...I don't discount your point because I think he is a good coach and a valuable addition to our staff. But I also think that Coach Jones and his staff in recent years have done a nice job with getting his team playing their best basketball at tourney time.

That is interesting...I hope the author is right. However, it's hard to discount Weber St. with Bolomboy. The guy is a monster and is only a sophmore. Also, I happen to believe that Eastern Washington will be a top 6 team, as they are returning a very solid player in Jois and a nice developing Big Man, in Seifert. If we get good interior play this year, in both scoring and defense, then we will have a great chance to make some noise. There is no doubt about that.

I'm not sure people realize what a coup getting Tyler on transfer was. The kid is a player. He will be a tremendous backcourt mate for Hooker next year and the year to follow. Right now the battle across the nation is for athletic rangey wings, and big strong 4's & 5s that can score and defend. It will be interesting to see how those recruiting battles unfold. Honestly, I feel we have a strong staff who will be able to sell this program. You have a couch who has played professionally in Oliver, a coach with good connections in the Twin Cities, (example,Hooker) in Alhelegbe. We have a new assistant who has experience at high major institution and we've proven in year one that we're not too many pieces away from that bid in the BSC. I'm going to wait and see how everything unfolds, but I think this staff works hard. And I hope their hard work ends up with good rewards.

I think the friday night St Cloud game was a pretty big phone in-last season if I recall.

Great Win! Saw a great crowd on hand during my drive by today- too bad I didnt have time to swing in and witness some of it.

Kudos for listening.

I believe Muss alluded to it on the Coach's Show on the radio the other night, that it's possible that you could see Edwards and Cheatom on the field at the same time. It just depends on the situation and what UND is looking to do.

Brian Faison was on the radio coach's show last night and he said that the field and track will actually be 10 feet below ground level and that Phase 2 is very much an immediate goal but still need a few more million to make it happen.

Wow, I've got to be honest, I'm sure it's me, but I can't tell whether a person is a good coach or not a good coach, just by their sound bites at a press conference. Is that the same coach on the practice field, in meetings..etc? I don't go to practices and I don't go to meetings so I honestly can't comment. Some coach's embrace the time in front of the camera and microphone some don't.

I'm curious what our run/pass ratio will be tomorrow. I guess if you throw 50 plus times a game and it works that more power to you. Personally, I would like to see a little closer balance in run/pass overall this season. It doesn't have to be 50/50. I honestly don't know what it was last year, but 45% run and pass 55% would be decent I would think. But again, in the end I just care that we get the W's. Just curious what we'll show tomorrow night.

Brekke is just as much from Cavalier ND, as he is from E.G.F. The family moved into E.G.F when he was just getting to High School, I believe.

Hats off to these young ladies who are pursuing their passion, and it appears that they are doing it extremely well. I have a feeling that this is just the beginning for the 2 of them. I've always believed North Dakota is a diamond in the rough, not only in its resources and beauty, but in it's people. This appears to be just another example of it.

108498, I certainly don't worry about you, as your passionate and try to make it work when you can. Isn't that all, anyone can ask? And I don't want to be to harsh to our students either, as there are more things competing for a persons time than when I went to school...a long long time ago. Work, studies, different organizational involvement all are difficult to schedule around. I just hope that when students are able to make it....they are pro-active. I think David Primus posted on one of the threads here, that traditions and student involvement is best left up to the students to figure out, otherwise it won't take. I agree. I just hope that when we have students this year a small group of them begin to start their own traditions and then other students as they discover things, begin to latch onto those and it builds on itself. Being that the NDSU game is so early, it should be easy to get off to a good start. If I have one piece of advice to our general fans who are out of school. Don't be too critical of our students when they come up with cheers and chants. They are trying to figure it out. What will work and what doesn't. They most undoubtedly, will from time to time either go up to the line or even cross it. But that's part of the learning process. Obviously someone needs to step in if the students are completely out of bounds. I for one think are students are smarter than some give them credit for. Otherwise the fact that they are willing to try things should be encouraged and allowed to flourish.

That is correct, you can't overhaul anything for one game. Tickets are going to be at a premium to get for the NDSU game. But until there is some consistent changes in behavior by fans, both students and general public, meaning attending more than just 1 game....then this is what we have. Even if 100 students regularly embraced basketbal (meaning: were loud and rambunctious)- that would be an improvement. The fact that the students get into some games to get out of standing in line for hockey- but just come and sit and stare really is no benefit to our basketball teams. Let's face it most of these same students come from towns that didn't have high school hockey and basketball was the big sport- it's not like they can't figure out how to cheer and be rowdy at a basketball game.

Completely agree. Plus, with all the buzz surrounding the day with the media coverage. It may get others excited as the season gets closer, and they may decide to get tickets as well. Success can't just be measured today, its going to be measured when we look at butts in the seats during the season. Actually, I thought 30 to 40 would be great going into this. I'm elated at 57. How often do you think the ticket office sells 57 season tickets in 1 day a year- non renewels? I would guess not very often. So great job, everyone who thought of this promotion to those who carried it out, it got people talking UND Football today around town and thats a good thing.

About NDSU game at the Betty...it's about time. The team shouldn't have to give up home court advantage for big home games. They never get to practice on the court at the The Ralph when they play games there. There's different shooting backgrounds etc... I think one way to offset seat $'s lost is to put "premium" pricing on the tickets. I wouldn't blink at tickets between 25 or 35 for this game. I'm going to want to be there and be a part of this... after the Vikings and Packers game that day of course.

Yes, Memorial was always full of students when there was inclement weather. Lol. The Alerus has had a great atmosphere in the past and can again, plus its really up to the fans to take it upon themselves to make it a great atmosphere. I'm a firm believer that most students suffer from attention deficit disorder. No student could sit in their seat in todays world and just enjoy the game, instead they have to be entertained, either by the building or by their cell phones. How did we ever manage before all these things?

I'm not sure that there will be much to add to for home non-conference...other than a few tune up schools (small schools). When you're talking about a 20 game conference schedule, and then 2 to 3 "money" road contests....plus we have to go to Bowling Green for a return game this year...I believe or maybe that's next year? (not sure) There probably isn't whole lot of room left in the schedule of 29 or 30 games to get a quality mid major D1 coming into The Betty. South Dakota State and NDSU would put us at 26, 27, or 28. Depending on whether we have 1 or 2 small schools and whether we have 2 or 3 money games. The reality on the Crown College's is that they are necessary. Every school schedules down for a minimum of 1 to 2 games. For us and other Big Sky/Summit Schools that means playing the Valley City's, the Montana Tech's and Waldorfs, of the world. For Big Schools such as Kansas...that's playing teams like us. It's not perfect, but it's not bad either. I thought Omaha, had to return a trip due to bracket busters, but I'm not sure it has to be this year or next.

I agree with what you said. I was trying to get to that point, but didn't quite get there with what I wrote. The plus's far outweigh any minuses with this event.