jdub27

Fair point, but his recruiting connections in Illinois were solid.

Also wouldn't be surprised if Bubba helps with the secondary. Will be interesting to see who Bubba/Rudolph can get for position coaches on the offensive side. Still wondering if Fruend and/or Schleusner will be back in some capacity. Or any of the other position coaches? Haven't saw if any of them have caught on anywhere yet.

So new staff confirmed so far: HC - Bubba OC - Rudolph DC - Schmidt DL - Gigli DB - Rodgers I would guess Schmidt would take on the LB's so the defensive side should be set. Still need someone to handle Special Teams and the offensive coaches (OL,RB, WR and QB, though I would think Rudolph would take one of those) plus recruiting coordinator, which is usually a position coach. Feel free to let me know if I missed something/someone.

Good thing recruiting is such an exact science and the games are played on paper. I'm confused by your comment about the two latest offers. Are you saying they are D-II talent or we aren't going to get them? Can anyone interpret the rambling for me?

Kelley OK'd Faison's buyout of Mussman's contract, that doesn't happen if they don't believe in the need for a successful program. The $150K was the minimum salary that was posted, Bubba ended up taking that. Their was additional money available if it would have been needed which will now instead go back into the program, including in the assistant's salary pool. As for coach's salary, Bohl's base salary this year was $206K. He had a lot of incentives that came after that, but only after he earned them. NDSU didn't have much of a choice other than offer Klieman a large salary to keep him on board. He ended up getting $261K but without some of the larger incentives Bohl had (3% of ticket revenue being the biggest one). Had they not hired Klieman, their staff would have been absoutely gutted, likely lost quite a few of their verbal commits, and they would have had the pleasure of enjoying the state hiring procedures. With the timing of when everything happened, Taylor made an offer Klieman couldn't refuse. I'd be curious how the assistant's salary pool stacks up. Guessing NDSU's is higher, but doubtful it is as much as you'd think. Bohl's contract required NDSU's to be in the top 10% of FCS but I haven't seen anything that shows Klieman's includes that. It has been indicated that UND's is in the top 3-5 of the Big Sky now.

There were a handful of those kids NDSU got that would not have qualified immediately at UM which is why they were overlooked. In at least one or two cases, they weren't even eligible at NDSU but were allowed to come in and work on their grades. Schools like NDSU and UND can take a chance on talented kids like that, schools like UM can find kids with similar athletic abilities outside the immediate region that are eligible immediately. When the kids pan out, it can end up being a big boost for the local smaller schools as NDSU has shown the last few years.

I wouldn't put too much stock in that number considering how inexact athletic department budget reporting is across the board. Also would be surprised if that wasn't mainly due to a one time $1 million expense for the new turf.

Based on what, your inflated opinion of teams that were on NDSU's schedule? How would Ferris State have done against SDSU?

Meh. Both coaching staffs have a lot to prove and obviously NDSU's staff is starting from a much better spot, but that also means less room for error. Neither of the new head coaches has a stellar record as a head coach (23-22 for Bubba, 3-7 for Klieman, both at a lower level). UND's new OC has spent many years as an OC and HC, calling the plays for alot of that, but never above the D-II level. NDSU's new OC is apparently a great recruiter and young, but has never been an offensive coordinator or called plays. Same for UND's new DC. NDSU's new DC has a little experience in the same position at both WIU and UNI. Not sure any of that means a whole lot, but it is what it is.

Looks like there will be a lot of Patrick Sharp with Shuags next year and I don't think that is a bad thing. Wish Sparks would have given it one more year to get his chance and prove himself on the field but if he did just get engaged and I believe has a baby, understandable. Best of luck to him.

Correlation does not imply causation.

I'm hoping he does, his recruiting connections in Illinois have been very good.

Paul Rudolph was named OC on Thursday.

From what I have heard, there was virtually no chance of Dale applying, open record laws or not.

Benton isn't in the game for what he brings to the table on offense.

Divulging what information? That a head coach who had already lost his two coordinators tried to offer the heir apparent to the DC job more money and a better title? Real great detective work there Sherlock. Has Bubba decided on an OC yet or haven't your sources got back to you on that one?

My hope is that Bubba and company will be recruiting a slightly different footprint with ND/Minn/Wisc while keeping a presence in Illinois. SIU's roster consists of 0/1/3 players respectively from those first three states.

I'm guessing Dale is offering him quite a bit to keep him on board.

Winter break and frigid weather doesn't help matters either.

The NCAA will force them to play in the playoffs before GT ever signs a home/home contract on the dotted line.

I don't disagree with some of what you said, but my point was that you seem to be more incredibly more focused on the part of the equation that involves NDSU failing and not the part that is UND succeeding. UND can and will rebuild in to a very good team regardless of what happens in Fargo.

Where was/when was this said? Any links?

Looks like DJ Davis committed to UNC. Wiki says he was a player of interest for UND and UNC was his only offer.

I know you live in Fargo and have to deal with the FU faithful more than most, but you seemed more concerned about them failing then UND rebuilding.

You hear that Tim Gordon? Playing time from day 1.