jdub27

This bold is the key. It isn't that it's hard to get games, it's that it is hard for them to get the games they want at the price/terms they want and that fit into their scheduling philosophy. That makes a big difference when people are publicly crying about that "no one will play us" when in actuality it is "no one will play us under the terms we want". Nothing wrong with it, but it is definitely misleading. I don't think we need news releases, but they sure have not problem letting out scheduling information that makes them look like the victim, however I don't see them leaking out anything that would paint them in any other light. Their prerogative, they can do as they please. There are tons of FCS schools who would do a home/home with NDSU, however NDSU is reluctant to do that because of how traveling to an FCS school impacts their flexibility. Matt Larsen has publicly admitted as much multiple times, so I'm not sure why you are getting all worked up over it? I'm not believing what I want, I'm going off exactly what Matt Larsen and others have said about scheduling. It doesn't take a rocket science to do the math. As for the talking out of both sides of your mouth thing, you first comment was about how previous commentary was spot on about how "extremely difficult" it was to schedule games and your second comment was about how you don't have the information to elaborate on scheduling when in fact you already did exactly that and then did so again in the above comment. You are deflecting when it's convenient.

So do you know how difficult it is or not? You're talking out of both sides here, you definitively proclaim how difficult it is and then deflect when I call BS on the home/home thing. I've yet to hear of a single team turning down a game in Fargo if NDSU returns the favor (Montana State doesn't count, they paid the agreed upon buyout to fulfill that contract).

What team is going to turn down a chance to bring NDSU in for the price of whatever it costs to send their team to Fargo?

Just pointing out the difference in schedule to date. UND beat the 2nd toughest team on NDSU's schedule to date 34-0. Not sure what you're talking about conspiracy theories for? Just pointing out how the schedule is set up in two very different halves, is it not? First half (outside of EWU, who's head coach was still thinking they should try running more instead of airing it out) was very easy, literally the 20th easiest schedule out of 254 in Division 1. Second half is looking to be very tough. Last year the claim was the OOC was too tough and the team was beat up (but definitely not as an excuse ). We'll see if an easier first half and then a second half gauntlet works better for them.

NDSU has a hard time getting FBS games and buying cheaper money home games, however I don't buy that NDSU would have a hard time scheduling home/homes with other FCS schools. For their own various reasons/guidelines, they choose not to do it very often, but lumping that in with the other two and claiming that agreeing to those deals is extremely difficult is BS. UND would be sitting at 4-1 at worst if they had NDSU's first half schedule. NDSU will obviously fair better through the second half of their schedule than UND would, even more so given the current state of UND's roster, but doesn't change how they were set up to have a very favorable front half. Remains to be seen whether that helps or hurts them in the long run.

How much "depth" do you think Bubba should build? Before the season started, the depth chart would have been something like SR/SR/SR/SO backed up by SO/JR/RFr/JR. They were plenty deep until 3 starters and a back-up got hurt. When half of your 2-deep in the secondary is on the sidelines, there isn't much of a choice but to throw whoever is left to the wolves and develop them on the spot since that's the only choice. And it doesn't matter how much "depth" you have, you don't just replace 2 all-Americans in the secondary, one who basically takes away half the field from the offense and the other who patrols the back half of the other half and makes big play after big play.

Travis Stepps is the secondary coach. He's fighting an uphill battle with 2 back-ups starting at corner and a 3rd stringer at FS. They'll have their ups and downs, but when you lose 2 all-Americans and replace them with guys who have minimal experience, that will happen.

People always feel the need for a scapegoat. Bubba has his hand deep into all aspects of the game plan, including offense and special teams, and those guys are following through on that. No area of the team is perfect right now, but people are just throwing darts at whoever or whatever they feel is low hanging fruit.

They would have likely lost to EWU. Montana was 3-5 in conference play last year and UND wins that one. Seriously, why do people keep thinking they were the Montana of old last year? Ending the season at 8-3, UND makes it in easy but doesn't get a first round bye, however this also means they don't have back to back bye weeks leading into the playoffs, which probably isn't a bad thing. They likely win their first game and then it would have depended on how the brackets shook out. Not having to kick two weeks of rust off would have probably helped. though game 2 would have been on the road.

Just stop. Where do these comments even come from?

Seems to be a pretty tough spot. I think building an outdoor stadium would be a terrible idea and building an expandable indoor stadium can be done but isn't exactly cost effect.

I'd love to see what it is that makes you think he "hates America". You having not met him makes your need to constantly go after him all the more strange.

Leave the hyperbole out of your personal grudges, makes it even harder to take you serious.

^^^^This guy^^^^^ Snowflake

With the turmoil and constant moving in the athletic landscape in the foreseeable future, you need someone who understands has contacts and can navigate leading the athletic department. Not saying the AD doesn't play a role in raising money, because they do, but the UND Foundation (who actually employs both Brekke and Mannausau) should be leading that charge.

I agree with this. Not saying that it won't lead to changes down the road, but Kennedy is investing money to see what he has in the athletic department at the top and across the board. It also helps an employer (UND) be able to more clearly put in writing corrective actions they want to see to correct of any shortcomings that may have come up in the past or in the assessment. The article also states that firm was used to help develop the strategic plan and consult with other departments on campus. Including athletics in that is a positive step.

Transferred to Loyola University in Chicago (which is a catholic school and not a mormon one for those scoring at home). Believe he was just back visiting friends for the weekend. Saw he was at the soccer game as well. Good kid who was a model example of athletes supporting athletes and great with the community involvement stuff.

Weekly mash unit 2-deep update: Offense Mortel listed as #1 LT, injured Stockwell at #2 Blair listed as #1 RT, injured Cox at #2 Fiedler still listed as starting TE Defense Carter listed as #1 LCB, injured Holm listed at #2 Injury Report (now listed with former spot on depth chart) Holm (questionable) - #1 LCB Reyes (questionable) - #1 SS Harris (season) - #1 RCB Seibel (out) - PR/WR Depth Randolph (season) - #2 SS Norberg (out) - #1 FB Rodgers (out) - #1 MLB Hunt (questionable) - #1/2 MLB Taylor (out) - #1 RG Cox (questionable) - #1 RT Stockwell (questionable) - #1 LT Stanley (questionable) - #2 WR Not listed: Larson (injured/possible red-shirt) - #2 MLB

You've seen the kind of math they do down in Fargo right?

Pretty sure that number doesn't include the back-up MLB's who would both be starting if they were healthy and possibly the back-up SS if Reyes can't go. Ridiculous to think that half of the starting line-up is missing games right now.

What the hell do any of your assumptions have to do with Kolpack's comment? Why do NDSU fans have an incessant need to make everything about them regardless of who or what is being discussed? It is actually quite amazing.

UND offered it to the sport that needed it immediately (men's hockey) and then announced it across the entire athletic department a few months later for the following season. In between those two things, NDSU announced they were offering it. None of that has relation to Kolpack's comment that UND is doing it "in some fashion" when they are doing the exact same thing as NDSU and USD. UND's announcement was over 2 years ago and it has been in place for over a year. His dig has no merit other than some pettiness because it's inaccurate.

Trust me, I know exactly how it started. They offered it to men's and women's hockey the first year it was allowed (2015/16) as they were recruiting against P5 schools who were offering it. Then in the fall of 2015, UND announced (through a University press release) they were providing it across the board for all scholarship athletes starting in 2016/17. So unless Kolpack has something that shows UND changed course, his comment was both inaccurate and misleading.