jdub27

Other than Rebraca, who went to Iowa and was a completely separate incident, how exactly has that worked out for the players that have transferred? A cursory glance says less minutes and less production on teams that haven't been much more successful.

Didn't put up huge numbers at NAU this past season but could be solid role player next year. Had solid numbers at Northern State the previous 3 seasons.

Ideally they would have scheduled the game two weeks earlier when they have an open date. Maybe the logistics didn't work but they had a chance to fix it when the first game that was scheduled for October 30 against Dixie State was canceled. Would have been nice if they could have used that as a chance to fix the date.

I think he's proven that. At least to a point. Probably took some reaches in a few spots due to unplanned openings and JuCo's are always a roll of the dice. But back to back FPOY is pretty decent (though it'd be nice if all the playing time wasn't out of necessity). And absolutely no one, including the staff or AD is saying that it is OK. But a new coach isn't going to change it. So let's work with the really good coach we have to solve the problems. Now, I don't know what the answer is, but he/we need to find a way to retain the talent he is recruiting. In the two high profile cases, it wasn't lack of playing time. In fact, it was probably too much playing time that was the undoing. Again, one was a player who felt like he should have been somewhere else in the first place and someone got in his ear that he could. 8th in the CAA doesn't sound super exciting but to each their own. The other was talked into coming home, likely to play with his brother, to a team that didn't believe in him a year ago. Try before you buy for them I guess. Yes, other coaches are facing similar issues and it isn't likely to get a ton better. But it is easier to retain when you're winning. Though look 70 miles south and see a few pretty interesting departures. Or players that were "done" but actually were just "done at NDSU". I do think you need some sort of leader on the team that holds everything together. Not easy to find, but a guy like Q seems to fit that mold. I think there's someone coming in next season that has that extra attachment to UND and might be able to carry that torch. Or maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part.

I honestly don't see how a new coach immediately changes the transfer portal problem, which is literally the root of what is causing the issues right now. I believe that Sather has the backing he needs from the AD to continue his process (and I fully agree with it). He is an excellent coach and can build a program. I really don't know how you prevent outside people getting in the ear's of the players you are using to build the program (looking specifically at Ihenacho and Bruns). I'm not sure anyone has the answer right now either. Similar things are happening at all the Dakota schools, the problem is UND is just at a bad spot in the cyclical nature of things right now and its becoming tougher to dig out of that hole. One player felt he should have had bigger and better offers. UND invested a lot of time getting the person eligible at the D1 level. They were rewarded by him bolting to "something bigger and better" the first chance they had. Another was completely ignored by their local schools. UND gave them the playing time immediately to show how they were mistaken. It was used against them and that player was talked into coming to play back home. I don't necessarily think that changes with a new coach. What are they going to offer? It isn't more playing time or a bigger role. Those players already had all of that.

Looking back, it might be possible that Learfield doesn't assist UND in TV broadcasting, they just assist with the radio side of things and marketing. I can't find anything on the contract between UND and Learfield. The press release with UND extending their relationship with Midco also doesn't reference Learfield at any point, however the radio broadcast side of things did. The relationship UND has with Learfield is a little bit goofy due to UND not having full advertising rights nor ownership in the majority of the buildings the compete in.

Not sure if this was posted prior but it appears UND has signed a home/home with Idaho for 2027/28. https://www.uidaho.edu/-/media/UIdaho-Responsive/Files/general-counsel/contracts/football/2022-409-university-of-north-dakota.pdf

But wouldn't Learfield be the one who handles all of this instead of UND? I don't recall how long UND's contract with them goes but I assume this is a big part of what they are being paid for.

Most RFP's are sent out directly to those who someone is seeking a proposal to. If one wanted to get their hands on it, FOIA would be the ticket. But I would be surprised if they put the actual RFP out for public consumption. Unless of course you're just talking the basic info that is up for bid similar to what was in McFeely's article. In that case, probably looked at as a minimal concern to put the info out there until (if?) any change is made.

More so because of NDSU handles the free Covid year. Nelson, Skunberg and McKinney will be true juniors next season (have played and used two years of eligibility) but NDSU chooses to subtract their free Covid year on the roster. They are still shaping up to be a pretty young team depending on what they bring in to replace the losses though.

Sounds like Holm will be participating at the UofM pro day today.

Probably pretty split. Cook started 32 games and played 26 minutes/night. I doubt they were expecting him to leave. MHH played almost every game and would have easily saw 20+ minutes/night next season. Don't think that was in the plans either. Guy and Haman likely weren't going to see the floor much, though Guy did average 12 minutes/game and there isn't exactly a go-to point guard on the roster. Griesel is interesting. I think it was obvious that he didn't plan on another year in Fargo, but the assumption was he was headed to German to start his pro career. Sounds like he hasn't actually shut the door on playing another college year but made it clear it won't be for NDSU if he does. Maybe looking to play back home for Nebraska or Creighton?

100% a requirement of the talent. They tried fixing it by allowing up to 4 at a time. Some of the adjustments they made from Luke Combs/Eric Church worked. Some didn't.

I agree with almost everything you said and I'm not saying it is or isn't the case, but just my thoughts on it from conversations I've had.

If I had to guess, it is being put aside so if/when UND takes it over in 2030 there are actually funds available to take care of upkeep. NDUS has a pretty good track record of running up deferred maintenance.

No different than any other venue in the area. Fargodome has similar problems for concerts and NDSU football with not getting people in quick enough. They wanted to open the doors up earlier and weren't allowed to.

You'd think there would still be plenty of minutes for him. UND isn't exactly bursting at the seams with post players.

-One departure was due to an academic/visa issue. UND didn't offer the in-person grad classes that the player needed to keep their visa. If that issue didn't exist, I doubt we're talking about this one -Another was a kid that UND spent a fair amount of time being eligible for D1 athletics and didn't have other options at that level. First chance at somewhere else, they bolted. Not sure what you do about that, but it sucks. -Another is likely leaving to play with his brother. Based on what the suspected team he might be heading to, he's going to see a drastic cut in playing time. Not winning much this year didn't help. -A couple on that list were additions by subtraction. -A few others weren't getting the playing time they felt they deserved or were told the playing time they were getting was going to go down. I only see 3-4 transfers over the last couple years that should be considered a big deal and one of them was out of everyone's control. That being said, they were some pretty big hits.

Philly aye a huge amount of dead cap to get rid of him. Indy didn't even try to get a second season out of the first round pick they traded for him and their QB room is hilariously bare. One really has to wonder why teams aren't hesitating to get him out of their locker room.

Why exactly do you think that timeout was called?

The guy who went 2-8 his last year in Louisville? Or the guy who quit on his NFL team midseason because they were 3-10? Not to mention personal issues. Let's see how he is able to actually sustain something before we're crowning Bobby Petrino as some sort of magician. He brought in a ridiculous amount of transfers and UND should have still beat them at their place until *checks notes* one of our RB's fumbled as we were running out the clock. Must not be all that good of a coach if he could barely squeak by UND's incompetent staff...

Crazy how just a few months prior, players were able to overcome that supposed incompetence! No one is saying there isn't room for improvement in in-game decisions. But everyone is working with the benefit of hindsight rather than the information the coaches have in the moment and are processing in real time. And if Otis holds onto that ball, UND has a winning record and UND doens't have a losing season. (And before you say that still isn't the goal, I agree. I'm just arguing the point you made). You have a short memory. There's a handful in the last 15 years that I'd rather forget over last season.

Right. If only he would have held onto the ball against Missouri State!

They were honored on senior day, expectation is both are gone. Either way, doesn't change that NDSU wasn't a young team since they returned 90% of production. Expect one more name to come out this week. Hard to tell if it will be a big loss but based on potential, I think it's at least a bummer.

Or its something that needs to be in place for recruiting purposes. I'd be interested to see the contract before jumping the gun on any assumptions. I don't get the women's hockey reference? If UND football was funded at the level of WIH in comparison to peers and had the results they are seeing, there would be some merit to the argument. Currently, the results are similar (though football has actually won a postseason game) but funding is not in the upper echelon that WIH was.