SooToo

Nine days. Is that enough?

An embarrassment, a black eye for UND football for sure -- and a perfect opportunity to trot out your daily diatribe again Schweigert -- but this one's 100% on Landry. He was offered and accepted the OC position at a top 20 FCS program, then bolted in less than 10 days for a similar job at UND's chief rival, clearly hurting his alma mater. His decision, not Bubba's or Chaves'.

LOL. New to Sioux Sports?

One. Trick. Pony.

Comments were in a newsletter e-mailed (weekly, I think) to Herald subscribers who wish to receive it. Some tidbits from Miller (unannounced transfers, possible trainer hire this week, etc), a recap of a primary story and links for other football stories from the past week.

Interesting post from Tom Miller this AM in his GF Herald newsletter, which includes a wrap up of FB stories from the past week. He predicts "a few more unknown transfers than previous years" when UND announces its late-period signees on Feb. 7; notes there are "at least two" midyear transfers who are enrolled for second semester but have not yet been announced.

Come on. You're spoiling the narrative again. When is the next signing day -- February? Kind of expected some kind of release this week on incoming mid-year portal transfers.

I think Homer's got it. There may be some who hesitate, but I gotta believe plenty of capable young coaches would be excited by the chance to prove their abilities at an upper-tier fcs program. For better or worse, mobility and change are inherent factors in climbing the career ladder for ambitious young coaches. Look at everybody's favorite, Kalen DeBoer; 3-4 years at Sioux Falls, then barely time to unpack his bags at a half dozen stops on his way to Washington.

Very good assessment of the situation, I think. Wonder also if a chance to diversify his resume played a role.

I don't get it. If Freund doesn't have the talent to be OC, why the outrage? His move to SDSU and Schuster's to Michigan State ruin your science experiment?

LOL. Pawlak is the busiest guy on UND staff! He was headed for NDSU a couple of weeks ago after a coaching change and now he's off to SDSU, based on speculation about a replacement for departing OC. Love SS. Must be the most frightened, pessimistic fan base in all of FCS.

Congrats to Schuster. Hope he has an opportunity to see the field and enjoy some further success, in whatever measure. Regardless, it has to be a dream come true for a former Michigan HS FB player of the year to end his career as a QB for one of his home state's BIG teams

Well I, for one, am not buying the Tommy Schuster-to-Michigan State announcement. Gotta be a hoax. I have it on expert authority -- available on this very website over and over and over again -- that he's nothing but DII talent. I can't believe any BIG coach worth his salt would take on a portal QB from UND without researching this site to learn the litany of his true limitations. You know, Tommy Two Gloves, noodle arm, too slow, too weak, etc, etc, etc.

I never read/heard any comment from Schuster regarding his plans after this season. Any link/source on his comments or specifics of the "mutual decision" on his departure?

How's that "no politics" thing going at SS? Or just a one-way policy...

I wonder what, if anything, this signing says about the status of the offer to Hakim, the receiver from Shanley.

You can argue strength, mobility, technique, etc., but NDSU's "mammoth, gargantuan offensive lines" are essentially the same size as UND's. True, also, for Tank Harris, who was listed at 6'3" and 287, compared to Craig Orlando at 6'3" 290, Jalen Morrison at 6'2" and 290, Elijah Beach at 6'3" and 290.

So what's the explanation then? Why did points allowed jump by roughly 50% in one year if not due to personnel changes? Seems pretty clear the problem has been failure to recruit and/or development replacements for some very strong talent that left after 2021, including Canady, Turner, Larson and others -- all of whom were recruited by this same staff that's too old, too D-II, too satisfied with mediocrity.

Maybe stats need to be interpreted in the context of your opponents. I can't comment on the strength of other conferences, but I think most would agree the Big Sky and the Valley are among the strongest. You noted UND did relatively well defensively 2019-21. (I can't find the stats from spring 2021 season.) In 2021, UND ranked 4th in scoring defense in the Valley at 20.3 ppg (7th vs run but 3rd vs pass), but we were 8th in scoring offense. This year, we were 4th in scoring offense at 30.9 ppg but 9th in scoring defense, giving up 30.8 ppg. Same coaches, same schemes. Certainly room for improvement, and recruiting definitely open to criticism, but it's difficult to fault defensive scheme or coaching decisions with such big swings in performance year-to-year. Looks more like a personnel issue: What/who changed for UND from 2021 to 2022? For those who question the effectiveness of 3-4, interesting that Montana topped the Big Sky defensively this year at 19 ppg and was 2nd in 2021 at 16.3 ppg running a very similar defense. (3-3-5, actually).

Finally. Moderators all have weekends off??

For anyone with local tv/cable access who's interested in seeing Schweigert play, WDAYXtra is carrying Century v West Fargo Sheyenne FB game tonight, 7 pm.

Enjoy your continued input/insight, even if I don't always agree. MUCH appreciate a debate about qb skills, however prolonged, rather than the predictable political detour that ends so many SS threads.

It appears he has/had an offer from Idaho, also.

I assume Robert Jones, formerly of Denver, may be another big we are pursuing?

I see in the Herald that Marilyn Hagerty is getting an honorary degree from UND. Does that come with any eligibility on the hard court? Asking for a friend.