SooToo

I don't think anyone would argue this was a good year in the annals of UND men's basketball (although they showed some ability in the league tournament). Personally, I don't know if we can expect to be competitive with D1 teams next year, either. (But we can dream). I think the point was that da Bison weren't particularly good your last year in the NCC but showed dramatic improvement within a couple of seasons. Apparently you were able to attract some talent despite your transitional status and mediocre (at best) basketball facilities. Nothing's guaranteed, but perhaps we can, too.

No, I think we all hope it's a site for adults of different points of view -- including reasonable people like Hammersmith, NDSUgrad and Fargo Bison -- to have a rational discussion that's not constantly polluted with spite.

Please, take the sorry trash-talking back to Bisonville, where they seem to specialize in that sort of thing. Or go to the Gophers board and spew venom there.

Mussman was on Dan Hammer's radio show today; he confirmed Kotelnicki has been added to the staff (started yesterday, I believe). He will coach special teams and outside linebackers, and help with recruiting.

Whatever his past record, best wishes to a coach of principle and class who, even while being questioned about his new job, continues to express his "great love" for UND.

WDAY in Fargo reported tonight that Rich Glas is expected to be next head BB coach at Concordia.

No, your original "response" was to rip on Travis Mertens, a pretty good ND player, just because he's mentioned as a potential UND recruit. Weren't you breathlessly hoping he'd select NDSU when he finished high school or was it just all your brethren at Bisonville? Bait and hate, pal, bait and hate; everyone sees it coming. Have you ever notice how many threads here just dry up after you drop by with your daily dose of sunshine?

I think there's a flaw in your argument '92,'96, assuming "logic" plays a role in BD's post. It's obviously all about spite while he's lurking here on SiouxSports, 24/7.

I usually let BD's responses pass because it appears he just makes **it up as he goes along, but this is a great question; How much does FSSN cost? Zero TV background, but I would assume this would be a less expensive avenue to deliver TV games than traditional broadcast outlets and should be an excellent vehicle to provide more extensive broadcast coverage. I would assume you'd have the same production costs as traditional TV but wouldn't be buying time from cable outlets (who I suspect are happy to get free programming.) I presume FSSN gets the ad revenue, or at least a portion of it. I hope there are plans to utilize it much more for other sports as we start the Division 1 process. As I recall, the potential distribution area is huge. Some additional football and basketball exposure certainly wouldn't hurt. Some advertising wouldn't hurt, either; outside of Grand Forks, game broadcast plans seem almost like a state secret.

Damn! Missed it by that much.

According to posters on the Southern Illinois board, Saluki Talk, we will be playing SIU next year. Game is supposed to be announced today. A tentative date of Nov. 1 was mentioned or "week nine" of the schedule. (I haven't checked the calendar yet.) I presume it will be in Carbondale. Looks like coach Lennon is giving UND a big helping hand now that our schedule for next year has been crumbling around us. I trust we can make it a good contest. It definitely gives the schedule a big boost, IMO. The irrational rantings of ProudSioux (a frequent and unfortunate poster on the SIU board) not withstanding, SIU fans seem to feel this is a good development -- better than prior D2 opponents and a good PR move. Anyway, nothing official yet, but SIU posters seem pretty definite. Hope it's true.

Any chance he might want to -- oh, I don't know -- maybe spend some time between the pipes in the off-season?

I see Rashad Gayden, a LB from Cooper HS, signed with Wahpeton. Reportedly, UND had some interest during the recruiting period. Also signing at NDSCS was Derek Earls, a RB/LB and all-metro player from Waconia. Future JUCO options? I'm surprised we haven't gone that route a little bit this year. Wasn't the plan to jump to the full complement of 63 scholarships with this recruiting class? I would think it would be nice to spread the new schollies out a little bit and bring in some immediate help at the same time. (Although if I remember right, some of last year's big class said there was going to be a bump in schlarship money for them once we officially were operating under FCS limits.)

I wonder if UND will release a list of "preferred walk-ons."

No need to "speak proper English," Gabe (although I don't recall grammar and syntax being bad things); it is helpful, however, if you can understand it. So practice your reading comprehension over the weekend and it will help you keep up when you're trolling next week.

Sorry, junior. I forget who might be listening in. I'll try to make it simpler next time. For our Bison "friends' who might be trying to follow along, let me rephrase the question; Does anybody know anything about Duraney White? Where did he go to school? How fast can he run? How high can he jump? How proficient (good) is he at catching the ball? I hope this clears up any confusion (mix-up).

Any words about Duraney White?

I'm amazed at the size of the recruiting classes for our former NCC friends as they face lower scholarship limits in the NSIC. It looks like everyone is announcing classes of 18-23 -- must be giving everyone busfare and change for a Coke. Obviously very difficult (and frustrating) to attempt to assess players based on awards, newspaper articles and internet chatter, but you've got to be impressed with Mankato. In addition to Campbell, they also signed RB Chris Echols from Wisconsin Lutheran, a 1st team AP all-state rumored previously to be headed to UNI, 1st team AP RB Micheal Sewall from Kimberly, WI, and Beau Illikainen, TE/athlete from Wayzata who was rumored to have D1 interest. Oh well, so much for rumors...

And your enthusiasm for the Gateway has what relation to the scheduling of the "final non-conference game next year"?

It was telling that Mussman started his remarks with unsolicited comments regarding the recruits that backed out. Clearly, I think they were blind-sided by this, and it sounds like recruiting suffered a bit because they weren't prepared with back-up plans. Doubt that will happen again. I agree with GeauxSioux that coach is not the most polished orator out there -- lots of stuttering and stammering, but the passion seems to be there. He may want to contact the regional master of coach-speak, Mr. Clean from down south, for some pointers. I'd pass on the plastic smile, though.

For anyone who might be interested, coach Mussman is scheduled to be on the Dan Hammer Show, 740 AM on your radio dial, at 1 p.m. CST today to discuss this year's recruiting class. Streaming audio feed is available via their website, 740thefan.com. Sounds like there should be some new names to kick around, given the GF Herald report today of an expected signing class of 16-20 players. I noticed Mussman said they "learned a few lessons" on the recruting trail this year. That might be interesting, too. Finally, I see the Star-Trib article referenced by '92, '96 fails to list several NDSU verbals. Probably an oversight. Sure hope they haven't suffered some "decommits," too.

I'm surprised, too, by the possible commitments of some of the Wisconsin players. No slight to Mankato, but it makes me wonder if UND "interest" failed to translate into UND "offer" in some cases.

Considering recent recruitment "non-revelations" (Benjamin, Watkins, Magstadt), count me among those who suspect we may have some quality recruits not yet known. And even though it's the eleventh hour, it appears there may be a number of prospects still out there. Among others, I've yet to see commitments reported for: Minnesota Dan Brown; KARE 11/Star-Tribune All-Metro WR (6'5") Derek Earls; KARE 11/Star-Tribune All-Metro RB/LB(?)/Punter (6'3", 215) Mathew Muenchow; DB/QB/Punter with previous interest from UND and NDSU Rashad Gayden; LB with prior UND interest Willy Baregi, Holy Angels; LB with prior UND interest Jarid Jackson; highly-graded Champlin Park LB Andrew Anderson, Crookston; OL (6'7"?) Jordan Anderson, NewFolden; Minnesota nine-man All-Stater, OL/DL Wisconsin Damon Campbell, Wisconsin Lutheran; AP player of the year at LB; prior reported UND and UNI interest Tyrell Rosemeyer, Fennimore LB; AP First Team (6' 220#); Has UND offer (and Wisconsin walk-on in vite Tony Lyght, Fennimore OL; Prior reported UND interest (6'5" 290#) Harold Lloyd, Janesville; AP First Team at both OL and DL