jdub27

I think it's more of a product of the complaining that "no one will play us" without the understanding or acknowledgement that NDSU's scheduling philosophy is a part of the problem, especially when you want to make the claim on a UND board. The math just doesn't work out for NDSU to do what it wants and consistently play home/homes, which are much easier to book than money games or FBS games, both of which I agree NDSU is having trouble getting for different reasons (don't want to overpay and FBS teams aren't willing to pay enough for it to be worth NDSU's while or don't want to deal with NDSU in general). Obviously the SOS of is going to vary from year to year; last year was a tough one, though slightly inadveratadly as Charleston Southern replaced a cupcake game late in the scheduling process. But if you can't offer that to other schools and you don't want to pay significant dollars to bring teams in, then the byproduct of that is going to be an easier strength of schedule. It will be interesting to see what they ended up paying Davis and Poly for one-off games. This year, I'm not sure how the conference schedule lined up for NDSU the way it did this year, but it gave them 4 out of their first 5 games as incredibly easy, as evidenced by the 20th easiest schedule out of 254 Division 1 schools to date. No doubt it gets significantly harder from here on out. I don't think NDSU dodged anyone but they have definitely had the advantage of playing every game in the Fargodome, which was earned through the regular season. The scheduling philosophy is set up to help with that. And for the record, I don't buy the "they have a better record on the road" argument. Lots of NDSU fans can't stop bragging about how hard the crowd makes it to play in the Fargodome, you can't have it both ways.

The terms of a home and home are "you play at my place and I'll play at yours", it really is that simple and there are not really any other terms to dictate. I feel pretty confident your sister's kids could probably handle it. The problem is because of NDSU's preferred scheduling philosophy, they don't want to/are unable to do they part where they play at someone else's place. 1. I don't care, but NDSU fans are being dishonest when they say "no one will play us" when it's more accurate that "no one will place us under the self-imposed conditions we want to base our schedule on". Be honest about it, the want/need of 6 home games and an FBS game has been a huge hurdle and prevented more home/home being scheduled and is a big part of the reason "no one will play us". 2. Not sure what the relevance of that is other than they did go to EWU this year, fulfilling the back-end of the home/home, which is why they either weren't going to have an FBS game or 6 home games. NDSU obviously had given up trying to get an FBS game for this season when they signed the EWU contract in 2014 because the 6 home games take precedent. 3. Again, I don't care what they do but again, complaining that "no one will play us" is clearly disingenuous. Why does "manufactured" discussion on a non-rivals message board bother you so much? An NDSU fan asked for a team, he gave one. NDSU was the one who refused to sign a home/home. Why the need to get so worked up over that?

I'll type it up and get it over to him, I can tell how busy he is doing his show over on the Bison Propaganda Network to call schools up and say "Hey, how would you like to host NDSU and have us bring our 5,000 10,000 25,000+ traveling fan base to your stadium? All you need to do is play a game up in Fargo." Matt Larsen has said they need 6 home games every year and would like an FBS every year (though that has obviously not worked out). If he were to get what he wants, then there is absolutely zero need for extrapolating to realize you can't have your 2 OOC home games (plus 4 conference home games to reach 6 total) and an FBS game and still have room to honor away games for home/home contracts, it's just simple math. The caveat would be if they did it in on of the few 12 game seasons upcoming like they are doing with Delaware in 2018/2019, though there is no FBS game, instead they are playing Butler at Target Field. So again, I believe that they are struggling to get an FBS opponent they want or makes it worth while and that teams are asking for a good chunk of change to come up to the Fargodome, however I'm not buying they are having a hard time with home/home games, meaning they could find games, they just aren't under the terms they want.

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.