SooToo

Maybe a first step toward detente in this version of the "cold war."

Today's Herald also carries the AP Minnesota All-State Team which includes several 1st-team players previously listed as possible UND recruiting targets, including OL Walker, DB Daryl Brown (Wayzata) and LB Gabe Mezzenga (Totino-Grace). I wonder if there are any players from either list who could provide some help at WR. Always need local/area recruits, and I see both Pioneer-Press and AP list Davidson and OL Steve Widner (Sr., Stephen-Argyle) on their second teams. The AP also includes OL Andrew Muer (Sr., Perham) on its second team. Anyone know anything about these kids?

Agree that UND, before the DI move at least, seem to produce a new go-to guy every year, usually an upper classmen who seems to have solidified his blocking skills and learned the finer points of running good routes. It would be great if a bigger guy, like Daggett, could fill that role next year, but I wonder if the defensive speed at FCS nullifies that pattern. Agree also that Davis would look good as a receiver. He didn't seem to have the strength to run in traffic but he looked elusive when he got out with a little space. As I recall, he was supposed to have good hands when he came in. I forgot about Townsend. I've heard coaches say he was going to be a "good one" at receiver. I was pretty impressed with his HS quarterbacking as well. I believe he ran a spread offense of some variation in high school. He was named the offensive MVP at Minnesota's All State/All Star/Whatever game last summer after he threw and ran for a ton of yards. I suppose his ultimate position could change depending on future recruiting/retention.

Saw some traffic at Bisonville on OPE reports. I believe they were doing some comparison of football-only revenue vs expenses within the MVFC. Some of the schools, including SIU, reported some significant deficits (which, I presume at SIU, is covered by basketball income). They do an excellent job of budgeting at the AC: Every year revenue seems to match expenses down to the dollar!

Would love to get some insight from anyone who has any on the progress of the freshman class. I think the linebackers are the most interesting group in the class. Mussman talked early about pulling the redshirt on Bennett, and Goodman was heavily recruited out of Californina. I believe Finley was a Rivals "two star" recruit despite playing only a couple years of high school ball. IFIRC he's got good speed. Jay Nelson, who's a RS freshman, was talked up by Mussman earlier and certainly brings a lot of size to the position. A lot of potential in that group. The most worrisome position to me is WR. Obviously, Bamba has talent but we didn't seem to have much else to go to, especially later in the year. Mussman has spoken well of Chris Anderson in the past, but he's frequently been injured and had very few catches this year, IFRC. Teams appeared to have decided they could use tight man coverage and jam our receivers on the line, and I don't think we had many receivers who could defeat that coverage. Hopefully, Hardin and Roach have something to contribute, but I wouldn't mind seeing a quality JUCO WR in the recruiting class.

^^This.

And it probably should be noted, for anyone who wasn't aware, that Mussman reportedly was asked to go with Lennon to be O-coordinator at SIU but opted for the head coaching job at UND.

Totally. And might I add, if a new council declines to offer support and refuses a tribal "referendum" vote, it's time to move on immedately.

I understand it's difficult to see with all that pent-up bitterness but come on, Tony, take off the blinders. The original budgets, as I recall, were for $900,000 for construction costs and $100,000 for furnishings at both schools. By your accounting, we've got 8.8 percent over budget vs 80 percent. Accuse UND of poor budgeting if you will, although I doubt an 8.8% overage is uncommon in construction. But what is 80%? Clearly Joe Chapman, as per the norm, thumbed his nose at the SBoHE and did whatever he pleased. The board now will fall in behind him. That's the kind of arrogance that keeps the county known as "Imperial Cass." Your VP for Finance had a classic answer a couple of weeks ago when this came up. One of the causes, he said, was that they hadn't decided on a house design before the budget was determined. . Aside from willful disregard for direction, why does anyone care how much private money ol' Joe spends for his estate? Probably because the state will pick up the tab for maintenance in perpetuity. The Ralph? As I recall, UND was required to privately fund all upkeep before the state would accept the building.

Got 'bitches'?

Sometimes it takes time for players to blossom, but I think that example of depth-chart progression fell into the category of what you might call "sand-bagging".

OK, so what's with the new avatar?

Kudos to you for your defense of Mussman's comments yesterday on Bisonville. You're a welcomed guest here (IMHO) and certainly deserve to sling **it a little if the mood seems right.

48-10, (relatively) bad guys (with a nice check)

....and up to the athletic department to do some marketing. This is great news for sports fanatics -- that'd be all of us -- who frequent this board. But it's also a great opportunity to pique the curiosity of casual fans and draw new interest both for the university and all of its teams. I hope we have the foresight (and the resources) to advertise all the TV games across the FSSN coverage area. Too often in the past, the broadcast schedule has been like a state secret.

Fair 'nuff; Positvity noted.

Wasted effort, '92,96; Bison Dan is incapable of accepting or even comprehending the words "fairly good" in any post that contains "Grand Forks" or "UND." It's a Pavlovian thing.

He'd claim otherwise, but Kolpack is always shilling for all things NDSU. A family tradition. (See the writings of father Ed.) You'll be waiting a long time to find a positive tone to anything he writes regarding UND. Return game or not, this is all good news for the Sioux.

Isn't this a bit like trying to quantify infinity?

I don't know, but I'd be happy to speculate; First-year players (and the nomenclature always gets confusing for me because we used to call first-year players "red-shirt freshman" and now just "freshman" -- or just "first year" in the wonderfully gender-blind state of Minnesota, but I digress) are eligible to play anytime the coach wants to "pull their redshirt." Murray, on the other hand, is not an eligible player and probably cannot be listed on the roster. It's my understanding the rules allow an academically ineligible player to continue to practice with the team in a "red shirt" year, but we may need a rules geek (cough, Hammersmith, cough, cough) to verify.

I understand Mussman was on with Dan Hammer the other day and indicated Murray would red-shirt this year (he played as a true freshman). That allows him to continue practicing with the team and, hopefully, increases the chances he will return next year. I believe he would have two years of eligibility remaining. As I recall, Chappell either could not or did not remain with the team and virtually disappeared.

I always assumed it was a given. When Brewster left UND for SDSU, then returned to UND that he did so with the understanding -- as far as these things can be promised -- that he would be the head coach in waiting.

How about the NDSU football player with the marijuana posession charge (not the football player who is charged with dealing), or the handful of Bison DUI offenders. ... Have they gone to trial yet? How long should we continue with this senseless point-counterpoint?

Bobby who? I can't seem to find that name on any recent roster. Of course, I don't work in the news business so I may be wrong, but I guess I would expect more press coverage of on-going investigations/prosecutions than of incidents from years gone by. Enjoy.