SooToo

Couldn't agree more -- about the Sky, I mean. Too many people here stuck on interpreting the world through Fargo media's green and yellow glasses, where it's all AC all the time. Most Bison fans were ready to give up part of their anatomy to get into the Big Sky before they were twice refused. Now, of course, it's nothing but criticism in Fargo for what's been the premier FCS conference in the west. The Big Sky and Summit historically have been pretty interchangeable in terms of RPI, with its emphsis on the strength of your opponent, not on game results. In recent years, the Summit seems to have made it a priority to schedule to enhance RPI; the Big Sky, not so much. Despite all the chest-puffing by Bison fans and media, it's interesting to remember -- and admittedly cherry-picking some facts here -- that Montana beat the AC in men's BB earlier this season, and lowly UND fell by just 2 on the road at SDSU, the Summit co-champion. Sure, the basketball tourney would be closer if UND was in the Summit. Sure, their tourney attendance looked good on TV. And that's great -- if you like a tournament arrangement that essentially gives home-court advantage to the same two teams every year. UND has always struggled to get more than token attention from the F-M media. I remember when Sioux hockey games versus the gophs or badgers warranted only a 3-paragraph story on page C6 in Ed Kolpack's eyes. Back in the NCC, football and basketball got a little more attention -- if they were playing NDSU. The Sioux were always considered as the underdog by Fargo media, even in the midst of their 10-year domination of the AC. UND will grudgingly get more attention from FM media when it does one thing: Win. In the mean time, I think there's a lot more that the university and coaches could be doing to promote the Big Sky, either through advertising or simply "talking up" the league at every opportunity. Rant over.

I think you need only to check who is eagerly posting the info to have your answer.

No dog in this fight but honestly, sometimes it's better to just quit when you're behind. Yesterday, it was junior high-level name-calling regarding a coach you admittedly don't know personally. This AM, it appeared you might hurt yourself in silly verbal contortions rationalizing your out-burst. (For the life of me I haven't been able to identify the "objective contents" that support calling someone a "prick and an idiot.") This afternoon, it's personal attacks on posters who called you out on your comments. As the old cliche goes, the first thing to do when you're in a hole ...

Tickets are sold.

Four tickets, in two groups of two, for sale in Section 114 for Saturday. Rows H and K. $40 per ticket. Text 701 866-3872 if interested.

Four seats (2 groups of two, three rows apart) available in 114 (lower bowl; northeast corner) for Friday v DU. $35 per ticket. Text 701 866-4075 if interested.

No inside connection with the football program, but this sounds curious. Momoh was offered pre-season last summer. It seems unusual to me that a team would be offering partials to its earliests, and presumably most wanted, recruits. "Surprisingly," the first I saw of this news was via a couple of giddy, his-and-hers posts on a non-rival's fan board. Go figure.

I have four seats -- 2 groups of two seats, three rows apart -- in section 114 (NE corner) for sale for Friday, 1/23/15 v CC, for sale $35 per seat. Text 701 866-3872 if interested

Probably a perception shared by a number of posters here, but I don't think it squares with reality. In 2012, UND brought in 3 qbs, including Braden Hanson, probably one of the best to ever play at UND, but unfortunately for only one year. Mollberg had FBS looks and multiple offers, including the AC. Bartels passed up an offer from Indiana State and was listed on one recruiting site -- EdgyTim, IIRC -- as one of top 5 "steals" of the 2012 recruiting season in Illinois. Both QBs from 2013 left the program, including Sam Riddle, ranked as the #2 QB prospect from Oregon, who left after a week or two for family reasons. I believe Kurt Pallendeck left during the turmoil of a coaching change. As previously noted here, he's now at UNLV. Hard case to make, I think, that UND has settled for "anything that will sign on the line." As for last year, I think any program is in trouble when forced to go with its third-string QB. The AC? They appear to have an excellent quarterback in Wentz who had family ties to FU and chose an offer from them over a variety of others, including UND and SIU. Their previous QB, Jensen, was named MVP of the FCS championship game hugely aided by a strong OL and a dominating rushing game. But the AC was his only D1 offer coming out of high school. He started four years , IIRC, because they had NO OTHER serviceable options, and for his first two years at least he was more of a liability than an asset on the field. Sorry for the long post.

I have four seats (2 groups of two) in section 114 available for 1/16/15 v Niagara. $25 per seat.Text 701 866-4075.

Tickets are sold.

I have four tickets -- two groups of two in rows H & K -- in Sec 114 for Saturday v UMD available for sale. $30 per seat. If interested, text 701 866-4075..

Agree completely. Over the last three years we've seen a number of games where Jones' team performed poorly or seemed poorly motivated or prepared. Conceivably, that could have reflected the character of that particular group of players. Fast forward to this year, and the roster has turned over significantly; yet we continue to witness the same problems. Ultimately, that's on the coach. How many casual or potential fans were lost yesterday watching that pathetic debacle on TV? I'd guess the number would be substantial, and it will take a lot of wins to lure them back. Earlier this week, I watched USD -- North Dakota's contemporary in the transition process -- battle Creighton for two overtimes before losing. What an entertaining game that was, and what a stark contrast to what I witnessed last night.

I have four tickets (two groups of two) available for 11/29/14 in section 114. Text 701 866-3872 if interested.

Four tickets (two groups of two tickets) for sale for Friday. If interested, text 701 866-3872.

Section 114, two seats row H; 2 in row K. $30 each. Text 701 866 3872.

Tickets are gone.

I have three tickets in section 204 I can't use tomorrow. Free to anyone who can use them. Text to 701 866 3872 if interested.

To be fair, much of the early success on defense this year was with players recruited by Mussman (with the benefit of improved coaching under the new staff), and much of the offensive potential from last year (i.e., receivers) left after Mussman was fired. Bubba had very little recruitment time after he came on board, but I think its also fair to say that, aside from a couple of FBS drop-downs, the transfer class Schweigert brought in to provide immediate help has been a bust.

The game sounded a lot like the non-competitive, tail-between-your-legs, go-lie-in-the-corner beat-downs that ultimately cost Mussman his job. Maybe at least as much about effort, focus and discipline as it was about youth and injuries -- and I think that perception was reflected in some of the post-game comments I heard from players and Bubba himself, who said immediately after the game they'd find out this week who the real tough players were on this team.

Fair 'nuff.

Then that's your choice as the coach. Should that decision be immune to scrutiny or criticism on this board?

Disagree with you on this one. The Montana linebacker made a solid play staying home to shut off the bootleg. He had the angle on Molberg and simply made a textbook tackle. Molberg's a solid runner -- I liked the shoulder he put into a safety later in the game -- but he's not going to dance like a scatback out there.

Some of you cheerleaders need to decide which side of the argument you're on; either you're all about record and accountability -- and you've speculated endlessly about the ultimate win-loss record for this team while throwing any number of former players under the bus as "quitters" for not riding out a coaching transition -- or you're about setting a tone, building a culture and appreciating the "moral victories" along the way, record be damned. If it's the former, as many months' of postings would suggest, then maybe a coach who leaves a veteran player on the sideline and puts a crucial field goal attempt on the shoulders of a true freshman should be open to a little scrutiny, too. Or does the decision for you simply depend on which coach we're criticizing?

All about "moral victories" now?