jdub27

They do run the Fargo one a little bit differently due to frequency and distance. Without know the OC, who else we'll lose in the portal and who we'll gain? No different than you, not going to throw what would be a random guess out there. I think the defense needs to get a couple more guys (or see significant improvement from the ones on campus), we need to retain our offensive talent (have concerns about 1-2 players at the moment) and get an OC that will be able to use said talent and work with two young QB's. The schedule isn't going to be a cakewalk with 3 of this year's 4 semi-finalist plus an FBS game. The conference road schedule is decent, so that is helpful given road issues. Could be as low as 5, could be as high as 11 (assuming everything possible goes right). A ton of variance out there 7.5+ months before the season starts.

AD doesn't set the lineup. They concentrate on getting a few coaches from the main seasons in progress (hockey and WBB this week) and sprinkle in minor sport coaches to fill it. Bubba will likely speak after the next signing day.

Regardless of what you think, and some points are definitely valid, it legitimately seems kind of crazy that people just assume that someone who has dedicated their entire adult life to coaching and reached the point Bubba has, pouring everything into the program and has had results that are in the top quartile of coaches at this level, would just up and quit and walk away with 2 years left on his contract. (Yeah we know, "complacency") I find it hard to believe that there's a single person criticizing him that wouldn't do the exact same thing given the multiple years left on his contract. Now, if he decides he's ready to hang it up, different story. And then some of the critics are right, he doesn't have the fire he needs to continue.

Well, unless you're one of the top 10 schools in the nation or an Ivy with a billion dollar endowment, this is the case everywhere and given what has been accomplished, a pretty short-sighted comment. They have been constantly fundraising to help get new facilities built and improve the budget. FCOA, Alston Awards and the buildings that have been put up or are under construction in the last decade weren't free. That task also falls on the Alumni Foundation and Champions Club. And given the new push with the UND Forever campaign, I would expect a lot of success the next few years. Would it be nice if they could find a 9 figure donation somewhere? Yeah, life would be a lot easier. Would it be nice if the contract with the REA was renegotiated to balance things out a little bit more? It is pretty complicated beyond what's been laid out here, but yes, it definitely could be.

Again with pretending anyone is content. Again, I ask you to show me that anyone has explicitly said "good enough". No one is. The program needs to keep improving. But most of us just don't want to see it slide backwards for that to happen to prove some sort of point or be able to say we were "right" about something. Pushing for things like improved facilities, player nutrition, coaches salaries, etc. are things that move the program forward. Not withholding funds and then complaining that things aren't improving. If anything, that seems asinine to me.

Figured you wouldn't actually put a name out there. Must easier to keep up the constant complaining when you won't take a stand on anything. They're is also a significant difference between "uninspiring" and "exquisite". There are very few "splashy" hires, especially given the overall circumstances. As to your other question, I've increased my donations to help the program, regardless of who the coach is. I remember where we were 10 years ago and the program is in a hell of a lot better spot and I don't want to see it end up back there.

Let's hear yours, realistic options.

I quit reading after this sentence. UND has administration that is going out of its way to support athletics. Such as the new facilities, Public/Private Partnerships for Memorial Village, FCOA, Alston Awards among others. EWU has administration that was actively campaigning against their athletic department. They are a directional commuter school that has an endowment that is literally less than 1/10 of UND's. It is impressive they have had the spurts of success they have on the field and should be commended on it. But their trajectory, on and off the field, is a huge cause for concern. Since his first contract, he has taken a lower salary to direct more funds to the assistant's pay pool. And part of his extension was to increase it even more.

Epstein? Wow. To your other point, the overwhelming large majority of people I have spoke with have had no issues talking and sharing opinions with the current AD. That includes donor events, sporting events, university functions and just in general. I think all stakeholders should be more than welcome to give their opinion, understanding that their voice is just one of thousands, but I'd also be curious the whole story on why you, or maybe just others you are speaking for, aren't getting the attention or responses you feel you deserve. Jason Eck made $94,000 his last year as OC at SDSU after 1 final and 1 semifinal appearance his first two years as OC. Lujan made $83,000 two years ago before he got a raise after he won a national championship.

Why are we comparing an AD to a President? I know its an unpopular opinion, but UND's AD is one of the more highly respected one's at UND's level and in peer groups. There's a reason he's on multiple committees for different sports. However, there is no argument that the W&L's need to get back to following the rest of the positive things going on though. A lot of sports were left in some pretty bad spots and turning things around isn't always as simple as we all wish it was. Just out of curiosity, when's the last time UND has an AD that everyone universally loved? I can think of a issues going back quite a few decades. Faison? Buning? RT? Wanless? Gino?

Barring something huge changing since last year, that is incorrect. Only 2 of the 6 that didn't have a coordinator designation did a season or two ago

He's venting because the coach who convinced his kid to stay took an opportunity that he saw as a better stepping stone for himself for the opportunity after this one. Tough to argue his point. Has absolutely nothing to do with UND. To clarify further, he put the #1 bison troll in his place letting him know that he also understands the decision.

Guess the powers that be should have tried a gofundme instead of actually putting a plan together to (unfortunately unsuccessfully) keep a good coach here today. It's one thing to be frustrated, because I know I am today. But to continuously make asinine comments like this shows how little you actually look at or understand the bigger world of college athletics. UND is nowhere near the top of the food chain but there are an absolute ton of low and mid major programs (FCS and more than a few G5) that would trade places with their overall position (academics, facilities, support from admin, etc) in a heartbeat. And before you make things up again, not a single person is satisfied. It's never as good as it seems and it's never as bad as it seems.

This is actually hilarious. Albany a top 5 program? The team with 2 winning seasons in the last 5 years who has a record of 50-61 over the last 10 years? Take out an very solid, above average season in a second-tier conference (where they still lost to SDSU 59-0) and they had 39 wins the previous 8.5 years (adjusting to 1/2 season for covid). The other thing that is ironically funny is that the team someone proclaimed a top 5 program has had the same coach since 2014. They haven't fired the coach who has won 4 games or less in 5 of 9 seasons (6 of 10 if you count their 1-3 showing during the spring covid season). This has to be some sort of bit.

I'd be curious which 5 those are. And then how recently a sinking ship has beaten each of those.

At least you're finally admitting no one is saying it out loud, it's just the voices in your head telling you it's happening....

I already posted how much SDSU is dedicating to their assistant pool. It's significant. The staff is getting paid, the coordinators well above what anyone in the FCS is paying.

And I keep seeing you say there's a bunch of people ok with it, yet not a single person actually has said that...

Polasek did take a small base pay cut to move from OL coach at Iowa to OC at Wyoming, but a 13% haircut to get OC in the FBS on your resume is likely worth it, particularly with a head coach you know and expectations that aren't sky high. What he was making at Wyoming is in line with what he is likely getting at NDSU. Schmidt made significantly coaching ST and Edge rushers than Polasek did as a OC for Wyoming. Like 65% more. Will be interesting to see what his salary as new DC of SDSU is announced at. Sean Lewis was given a $3.7 million salary pool for his 10 assistants. Safe to say he's needed to keep Schmidt in the same ballpark on compensation to get him to leave UW, which is significantly more than anyone in the FCS is getting as a head coach.

And a few extra stops for both of them.....

Here we go making arguments up again. No clue in regards to the actual facts and circumstances are but still tossing out strawman arguments and accusations. A large part of why it hasn't been done (yet) is because UND's Champions Club is set up differently than NDSU's TeamMakers meaning there are different hurdles to overcome. On top of that, the optics of taking an existing opportunity/site away from a local non-profit is a bad look regardless how you spin it. That's why @nodak651's commentary about reserving a new opportunity for UND is much more palatable and a much more likely scenario. I can assure you "ideas like this" have been studied for their feasibility. But it is a lot more complicated than you're making it out to be. As an aside, showing how fickle the non-profit gaming world is, NDSU is likely to lose a large chunk of their revenue in the coming year's if EPIC is able to get its own non-profit to pass the smell test and can "award" itself the Holiday Inn site (or whatever ends up replacing it). And NDSU can't do anything about it.

He took one for the team. At some point, the team that gave Nebraska a run, need to look in the mirror and show up. Could have thrown everyone under the bus and blamed himself. If you think a coach needs to let the players know he importance of the conference opener, not sure what to tell you. Either way, embarrassing performance from the head coach down through the bottom of the bench. Seems like he often makes shots by your definition....

Show me literally a single person who's stated this or even believes it, externally or internally. There's a group of squeaky wheels chasing ghosts with some made up narrative. It's not where anyone wants or expects it to be but it's nowhere near what some keep pretending it is. Progress has absolutely been made from where the program was but there isn't a single person who's satisfied with where it is.

No one said that or even implied it. And the team, staff and fans all agree that it needs to go beyond just getting there. However below average or average staffs aren't accomplishing that, particularly ones that apparently can't recruit or develop players. Especially in the toughest conference in the subdivision.

Amazing they are one of the few teams that have made the playoffs 4 of the last 5 years.