jdub27

Looks like both were actually only owed $10 million over the next 4 years, so for them, getting $6.7 million with a chance to sign another contract right isn't too bad of a deal. In return, they will get paid over 8 years instead of 4. Large reduction in cap hit for the Wild for the upcoming year ($5.2 million on each contract). Then they get a little relief the following year ($1.2 million each), roughly a wash the next 2 years ($167K savings each) and then smaller hits for the following 4 years that wouldn't have been there ($833K each).

It sounds like Boise State assumed the contract that UND had with UW. Still a nice payday and UND doesn't have to go searching for a game.

If they really wanted him gone, they would have flat out non-renewed him. Will be interesting as more details come out on it. Apparently he might not even make it that extra 6 months as it states he's actually done if a replacement can start before that timeframe.

He really showed them by <checks notes> getting a 6 month extension. Going to take the SBoHE a long time to recover from that one!

Was just referring to the 4 on the road in a row in the middle of the season (Jan 20/22/27/29) and the three at home to finish the season (Feb 17/19/26). Otherwise they are alternating home and away series.

https://fightinghawks.com/news/2021/6/16/womens-basketball-summit-league-announces-basketball-schedules.aspx They actually did it!! Games on Thursday/Saturday and mirror scheduling. NDSU is the first and last game of the conference schedule. SDSU is on New Year's Day (Saturday) Pretty even in terms of travel. Only instance of back to back away weekends (ORU/UMKC and then SDSU/USD) Three in a row at home to end the season (UMKC/ORU/NDSU).

Not like there are zero options and great to have another but: there is Casa de Mexico in EGF and El Gordito in the Columbia Mall. Plus in the summer there is Melissa's Mobile Cocina (formerly L&C Mexican Food). And of course you Norwegian Mexican food at Paradiso and Mexican Village.

Hardly. Anyone who was paying attention absolutely knew UND WIH was in significant danger of being cut due to huge budget constraints at UND and across the state. Just because the head coach choose to ignore it doesn't mean everyone else did as well. There were literal forums about how to handle the budget shortfall, including what sports were going to have to be cut.

EWU and Montana both owe UND home games. UND was supposed to host EWU two seasons ago but switched hosting years with EWU since UND was already in Montana for a Friday game (they played on a Sunday). UT Rio might owe UND a home game as well. 2019/20 would have been the only year that I can tell (though there were a few with only 1). They were supposed to have two last season but Seattle fell through at the last minute and the aforementioned EWU game. Without a doubt, the home schedule has left a lot to be desired. I've also heard Sather stress the importance of having D1 games at home, so hoping he's able to get that done.

Legitimately curious what the bar for "decent" is.

Athletic department is preparing to operate this fall under the premise that things will be as they were in terms of capacity and events.

They are tough to find and there were a few misses. I think the two young guys that are coming up have the size and agility to be successful at the NG position once they get some experience. Might be trial by fire this fall though.

Rich only played the first 4 1/2 games before he got hurt and was replaced by a 6'1", 225 lb O'Brien. There was obviously a lot of rotation but Disterhaupt (6'1", 210lb) was listed as the starter over Idowu the whole season. Not buying the whole undersized LB corps thing. The bigger difference was the front 3: Carrothers (6'2", 245) and Johnson (6'2", 275) at LDE. Harris (6'3", 300) and Woodsmall (6'4", 270) at NG and Dranka (6'2", 235) and Cieslak (6'4", 280) at RDE. Two deep this year went 6'2", 245 and 6'3" 250 at LDE, 6'3", 275 and 6', 270 at NG and 6'4", 260 and 6'4", 260 at RDE. That averages about 10lbs lighter per guy, with NG being the biggest difference. Tank was a huge part of that defense. Morrison going down without a big body to replace him was the nail in the coffin against NDSU (not that it was going stellar prior to that). Really need Orlando and Beach to be those dominant nose guards the defense needs.

I mean, comparing what each city had to deal with as an aftermath of the flood isn't really apple to apples.

He ended up being the scapegoat for making tough decisions, some of which had been kicked down the road for a decade or more. No argument that he could have handled certain situations better, but at least he handled them instead of making them someone else's problems. I laugh when I see people continue to rip on him, UND is in a lot better position today than it would be if he hadn't been president.

McNeal has been a very vocal leader in this incoming class. Awesome to see. Expecting big things from him.

I agree he has the tools to be a good one. But if Tommy would have thrown that first pass you would have complained about his "weak" arm because the ball was underthrown and the WR had to slow down quite a bit to catch it. In fact I believe you have made the exact same comments previously. Schmid needs to rely on his legs a bit more because (for a senior) he's not all that impressive of a passer. 13/27 with 1 TD/2 INT's and he took 3 sacks vs. JMU. For the playoffs (his last 3 games), he's 50/88 (57%) for 578 yards with 3 TD's and 2 picks taking 6 sacks for a loss of 19 yards. Rushing, he had 23 attemps for 130 yards. For comparison, you've ripped on Tommy's for his last 3 games and his stats are 42/70 (60%) for 579 yards with 3 TD's and 2 picks taking 1 sack for a loss of 2 yards. He had 19 yards rushing on 3 attempts. Schmid's rushing wasn't the difference for SHSU, the play by the WR to put the DB in the turnstile and then multiple special teams miscues by JMU was the difference. What an absolute meltdown. If your whole point is that Tommy doesn't use his legs enough, that's a fair argument. I have a hard time buying into the rest of it.

Studsrud was held back by both the offense we ran while he was here plus the lack of a solid back-up which limited how much they utilized his legs. Ketteringham was the gun-slinger everyone clamors for when you just spent a few years watching an incredibly bland offense. I was surprised to look back and see he completed 64% of his passes his senior year. 10 picks was a few too many though. I think both of these guys would have ended up being remembered differently with a different OC (acknowledging Danny was in his first year of OC Kett's senior year).

I don't know who the play is designed for or who the first option is, but I know the Cochrane was coming across the linebacker's face as the LB was shuffling the other way reading Tommy's eyes and he was absolutely open, especially with the throw, if the linebacker didn't grab two handsful of jersey. It was 3rd and 8, UND had what looks like a very good drag route called that was open and would have very likely been a 1st down as Tommy led the receiver perfectly. While Maag was open at the end of the play, the weakside safety was right over the top of the seam until Tommy moved his eyes from Paulson to Cochrane. Would a pump fake or even a hard look at Cochrane and then going to Maag have worked? Hindsight makes it look like it would have absolutely and that doesn't mean both things can't be true and correct. It was also 3rd down and there was a reciever coming across who would have been in wide open space if he wouldn't have gotten mugged on his way by the linebacker. Again, freshman QB starting his 7th game. If these are his "struggles" that's a hell of floor to have and hopefully he continues to grow and get better.

We'll have to mostly agree to disagree. You don't complete 2/3's of your passes with a YPA of 7.25 if you're throwing the ball away every time your primary receiver is covered. Are a lot of the plays designed to have a primary target that the ball is thrown and it needs to get out quickly? Yes. But the ability to execute that is also the reason he's the one running the offense and not someone else. While there is no arguing he made a couple poor choices in the JMU game, I have seen him move past the primary receiver many times this season. I'd also argue that on the play you're pointing out, off the snap, he's following Paulson (whether as a target or to move the safety) before turning to the drag route, which was wide open if the linebacker doesn't grab the WR on the way by.

I don't think he's been explicity told not to, I think he's currently more comfortable extending the play and trying to find the open receiver. And with the lack of sacks he has taken, he has that ability. However I wil fully agree that there were at least a handful of times that he could have taken off and gotten a few yards and a first down instead of trying to find someone open. He is also a freshman and still learning to play at the D1 level. I think it will be easier to help him learn when to get a few yards with his legs and when to extend a play than it would be to teach him how to get more comfortable instead of taking off at the first sign of distress. He already has the pocket comfort, that's a much harder skill to teach someone.

QV has a bigger arm, but his accuracy and decision making are the reason Tommy was the starter this year. You also left out the game in 2019 where Tommy had a pair of runs, including a 21 yard scramble. And it isn't like he's a statue back there, only taking 2 sacks that had a combined 2 yards of lost yardage is absolutely huge.

Normally yes. Guessing there will be "this season" seniors who are told their scholarships aren't going to be available next year even though they have an extra year of eligibility (Paulson is probably an example of this). The athletic department is requiring scholarship levels to stay at normal levels even with extra availabilty this coming year (instead of kicking the can down the road). Not sure if that will cause them to "adjust" any other scholarships since football can offer partial but you are correct that the staff will be upfront with players.

I agree with this. I don't think UND's offense will ever stop evolving with Danny running it and I don't think anyone is content. Again, we had a RS-Fr running it this year. As the knowledge in the QB room grows, there will continue to be additional wrinkles and more ability to adjust on the fly. The bigger question is how to juggle two guys who eligibility-wise will have 4 years of eligibility left with a true freshman who has pretty high potential as well.