UNDvince97-01

the battle that i am really looking forward to seeing is in the secondary. at cornerback, we have Manke, Hoffschneider, Franklin, and RS Frosh Donovan Alexander. I forgot to mention Mike Greenwood, who is also a very good player. Franklin was said to be the the best CB in fall camp this year, but was academically ineligible. Alexander, was THE top recruit for UND across their board, and is an outstanding athlete. Manke will be the senior, and Hoffschneider is coming off a very good season for a freshman. There are some tough decisions to be made in the secondary. Also, at safety we have Gagner, Brandsted and Desautel. Gagner will start for sure, he's earned it. I'm not sure who will come out of fall camp between Desautel and Brandsted however. should be interesting. No lack of talent or depth at these positions, that's for sure.

Verk62, i wanted to say this to you quite a long time ago, but i figured you would back off a little because you were an ex-teammate of mine. now i HAVE to confront you on this. i cant believe how much negativity you spew on this board. you are a sioux alum and an ex-player, start acting like it. you are giving ex-players a bad name by acting like you are. i played with you, so i know who you are. the scout awards are garbage and biased? i got scout player of the week a couple times, and i wasnt even close to being a highly-touted, full-scholarship recruit. i could probably name some other similar instances also. so my point is that it DID happen when you were at UND. why would you call a fellow sioux fan a "dumbass" for no apparent reason? since i went up against juhasz and J.O. EVERYDAY in practice, i feel that i have some sort of grasp on that issue that you mentioned earlier. J.O. is a good friend of mine, but he was not faster than Juhasz, nor did he get "screwed" out of playing time. Juhasz, Graf, Schlesner, and Holmquist all deserved to be on the field before he did. thats a pretty good list of receivers to be behind on the depth chart, nothing to be ashamed of. i also didnt even mention a young Jesse Smith. look in the record books, and you will find all of them, except holmquist, who was a fourth reciever. J.O. just got a late start at that position, and he didnt really have a good enough grasp of the offense for the coaches to have him in there. he WAS a very good athlete however. you can disagree with people on here if you like, everyone has their opinion. but the way that you do it is just blantantly negative and despiseful. i sometimes wonder if you are still a sioux fan. from one former teammate to another, just please dont be so negative and harsh to UND and to the fans on this forum. disagreement is fine, just do it in a classy manner. UNDvince97-01 National Champs!!

bison1234, i live in minneapolis and read the ST everyday. IMO, Sid is scenile and outdated in his knowledge for sports today. i sometimes often just look down and shake my head at some of the things he says. pure disbelief. that's just my take on him.

so you have never been wrong or posted anything that hasnt been true? i find that hard to believe. never made any predictions that were wrong? never made any comments that you thought were fact, but werent? IMO, message boards are full of non-facts. i made a mistake. you just went off the deep end a little in correcting me, considering the importance of the subject we were talking about.

PCM, i dont doubt that you and airmail are right about that. my mistake. the alerus still has never done ANY favors for UND. thats my point.

airmail, you must work at the alerus. you want facts? i posted them earlier about the alerus employees. thanks for the kind words, fellow sioux.

QUOTE from bisonguy - It just seems strange to me that UND plays football in an arena that they don't have anything to do with, and don't hold any leverage with. It seems feesible that the Alerus management could put UND between a rock and a hard place if they really wanted to raise the rates a lot. Believe me, the Alerus is in absolutely NO position to be putting UND in a bad spot. If they ever tried doing anything, we'd say screw you and go back to memorial stadium. They do NO bending over backwards for us EVER. UND had to practice outdoors all week before the Pitt game because the Alerus needed a WEEK to set up for a concert. Complete BS!! I saw them set up the backstreet boys concert in less than 24 hours.(I was working, not attending) The Alerus' staff, from top management to event security, are a bunch of jackasses.(I know i used to work there) The concession and parking people are nice however. Could you imagine the numbers for themselves if they didnt have football games in there? They really don't have a leg to stand on.

ok, in my opinion there is NO way that the BSA is better than the Hyslop. While i will agree that both are basically crap facilities, Hyslop has a way better atmosphere and coziness to it. i've seen quite a few UND-NDSU games in the BSA and there is absolutely NO atmosphere there when compared to Hyslop. When the crowd gets going at the Hyslop, it can be very loud and home-friendly. When UND finishes their new addition to REA, they will have the nicest facility in the NCC, and possibly the nation. To compare Newman Field to Kraft isnt really feasible, Newman is just way better. I think that the Alerus and Fargo Dome are pretty close. Both have their ups and downs. Aesthetically, Fargo Dome probably looks nicer because there isnt any tin showing. But again, when Fargo is not full(it never is unless against UND)there can be a huge void left in there, and it can seem kind of empty. I think the Alerus is perfect as far as size, because it doesnt look or sound as empty as it may seem. Go Sioux!!!

attendance figures had NO bearing on the decision to have UND host this weekend. the only thing that really mattered was the SOS index. the NCAA wants to keep consistent with their selection criteria throughout the playoffs. the fact that UNA had played 1-AA Jacksonville St., who is a good team, and then played a provisional D2 team (not yet in D2), really hurt their SOS in the long run. so, YES it was predecided, based on SOS index. it just proves how much sense it doesnt make to play a D1-AA team when you are in D2. first NDSU over Montana, and UNA over Jacksonville. both are very quality wins on the road against good D1-AA programs. both eventually ended up hurting these teams in the long run. is it starting to sink in now? we should NOT play NDSU anymore precisely because of these reasons. you could argue, however that UNA should host based on record, but that also can be fought because of regional seeding and SOS, which are before overall record in the criteria of deciding where to have a playoff game. dang it, another drive from minneapolis to GF. i am so sick of making that haul. it will be the 7th time this year for me. but, it is definitely worth it. i'll be there with bells on. looking forward to seeing you all there. GO SIOUX!!

ideally yes, we would all hope that that is the case. but it always doesnt happen like that, and if we were to lose 2 or 3 games in any given year, and not make the playoffs because we played 1-AA NDSU, that would be a tragedy. it could also affect whether or not we host playoff games if we were to lose.

Verk62, nobody on here is a "whimp" for saying that we shouldn't play NDSU. i cant see how you dont realize that it just doesn't make sense to play them right now. Win or lose, it would hurt our SOS index every year for the playoff selection criteria. would you want UND to be in the same boat as NDSU was in for the playoffs this year? i wouldnt want that. and that is the possibility you would face EVERY year for playing them. Yes the rivalry means alot to me too. Especially because i grew up in GF watching those games since i was 7 years old. i know the rivalry is important, and it CAN continue. it's just that it has to occur when both schools are D1-AA, which i think will eventually happen. until they are both in the same division, i think the rivalry should be on a temporary hiatus.

I think the sioux defense should be fine this time around. They dont have Craig Riendeau playing cornerback in this year's game. He got beat twice against Winona St. for TD's. That was the worst game of his career. Hopefully the 2 corners this year will be better against the Winona WR's. It will definitely be a tough game, Winona is a very good FB team. GO SIOUX!!!!

not that it really matters, bust just FYI. the 2001 team only got behind badly against 1 team. that was @ SCSU. they eventually came back and won that game. albeit it wasnt like the comebacks that UND has had this year, it was still a very impressive comeback against a good team in crappy conditions. just FYI, that's all.

Huskies, I was at the game last Saturday at Selke Field also. I saw some bison fans trying to run down the bleachers to the sidelines to go confront the refs on the field but they left before the fans could get there. What calls they could have possibly been mad at regarding the outcome of the game, I have no idea. Also another classy bison fan had seen me with a bunch of sioux fans in the stands, and decided to stare me down after the game was over. At first I pretended to not see that he was hawking at me. But after a few times of looking back and forth, I stared back at him. He then said, and I quote "Good luck against Crookston in the future!" I did nothing to instigate it, and he felt he had to tell me off because the bison had lost. I replied by telling him that we will keep scheduling easier competition, while NDSU schedules all the tough games, and UND will continue to beat NDSU, win NCC titles, and go to the playoffs(and host them). Honestly, the schedule looks great on paper, but it probably hurt them in the long run. Who cares who you schedule if you cant make it through the conference season, beat UND, and make the playoffs? I'll take the home playoff games and NCC titles, ahead of scheduling Montana every day. My point is, when it came time for that bison fan to say something to me, all he could say was something in regards to scheduling, and Crookston, who we will no longer play. I realize that all bison fans are not like that, and this post is not directed towards all bison fans. Some of them just need think before they speak, and so do UND fans. I actually had a very good conversation with a few bison fans at the game. They were very down to earth people and I enjoyed speaking with them.

I was at the game, and i thought that the officiating was the worst i have seen all year. Two pass interference calls were absolutely terrible. One of them was definitely an uncatchable ball on a quick slant, and the other was an even worse call on Hoffschneider. The one that they should have called on Hoffschneider, didnt get called in the south endzone towards UNO's sideline. As a former player, it has been evident to me from day one of competeing, to today, watching as a fan, that the officials in the NCC have no idea on how to make calls on pass interference. D-backs are at a huge diasadvantage with the way the refs interpret their calls. I will be the first to admit when there is a legit PI call. The refs really need to trained better to make these calls. I do agree that it is a tough call to make in the first place, but man, it was bad. All that being said, the defense played horrible, and they really need to pick it up next week. I dont think there will be any motivation issues for the D, because the defensive coaching staff and Lennon, were VERY disappointed with the outing by the D. Players were also upset by their performance. I also have to give credit to Kammrad and Krause. They are PLAYERS. Both of them made huge plays against a good defense throughout the entire game. We could all question some coaching decisions at any time in any game. Unless you are under the pressure and the gun to make those decisions yourself, during the heat of the battle, you dont really understand how difficult it can be. No coaches are perfect, and even the best can make a mistake occasionally. I think we should all remember that. We have a VERY good coaching staff, that has been together for quite a while. It is very refreshing to see a bunch of guys that actually truly care about UND, and arent just there to use it as a stepping stone to go elsewhere. A good majority of them are either from ND, or played football at UND. We are very lucky to have that.

Rink Rat, If you are referring to my post, I know. Yes Bowenkamp has trouble hitting the open receiver at times. So does Joe Wilson, and every other QB in the conference. I watched Stauss miss a few open receivers also this weekend. My point was that it wasn't a no-brainer, that's all.

Does everybody see my point now as to why the decision to start him against SDSU last week wasn't a no-brainer? I think that experience in the game and the rivalry definitely helped him on Saturday. Both QB's are very capable of performing at any time. Nothing ever flashy, just getting the job done.

I think the team that owns the Nickel Series best record should be able to keep the trophy. Or wait, I mean the team that owns the all-time series should keep it. My bad, in either of those instances UND would be able to keep it. Check the records, they dont lie. Nickel Series Wins UND - 32 NDSU - 29 All-Time Series Wins UND - 61 NDSU - 45 3 Ties I actually got that off the Turd Burglars web site. Just a little fun, that's all.

UND 92, 96 Do not even pay attention to that rambling idiot, bison1234. He obviously just registered on this message board to talk smack for this week, as evidenced by his only posting 4 times. he is just trying to piss everyone off. Hey bison1234, why dont you take notes on how to talk football in a humane way, like bisonguy, tony, and some other bison fans on here. At least they have some interesting insight and intelligent comments. I think it should be a very good game. NDSU has to be the favorite because of their victories over Montana and UNO. They have played a tougher schedule, as opposed to UND's. However, as much of a cliche as it may sound, you CAN throw out all the stats and books for this game every year. I can't wait for the game to be a much better game than the "yawner" that took place last year in the Fargodome.

Just listened to the game. Oh my god is all I have to say. What a game!!!! Eddie Schultz just makes situations like that even better. Bring on the bison and the battle for the Nickel Trophy.

LOL, funny stuff sicatoka

UND 92,96 you have made very good points also, and i can't really argue with them. realize that i am a big joe wilson supporter, and i hope the best for him. he deserves his shot. also realize that bowenkamp had some success last year on the road in the NCC. a good example would be when he threw for 515 against augie last year at howard wood field. i am just saying that i dont think it's a no-brainer to start wilson. if they did start him, i would definitely think it was warranted. i think it's a tough call for the coaching staff.

Bisonguy, yes Klosterman was the holder when he played, as was Tony Stein before him. I think it's a good thing just in case something happens on the snap or hold. If something does happen, then you have your QB able to make the throw on a botched attempt. Who does NDSU have as their holder?

I was at the game this weekend, and it was a great comeback led by Joe Wilson. He has been there for 6 years, and it has finally paid off. He deserves all the credit in the world, and I couldn't be more proud of him. It looked as though he had been a 3 year starter leading his team down the field. All that being said, I wouldn't be so fast in naming him the starter next week. You have to realize that the situation he came into last week, was a "no lose" situation. If he led them back, he was going to look like the savior, and if he didnt, then he wasn't supposed to. Also realize that this was a home game, that helps ease the nerves alot more too. This week they are travelling to Brookings to play in one of the most intimidating venues in the NCC. SDSU also has a very good football team. This situation reminds me alot of the 1999 team that went in to SDSU at 7-0 and a #4 ranking in Coach Lennon's first season. They had just come off beating UNC at home and feeling very good about themselves, but then they went to SDSU and got beat by an obviously inferior team and Josh Ranek on Hobo Days. This will be a hostile environment to have a QB start his first game. John Bowenkamp has been struggling, but he has experience on the road in the NCC games. It is a whole different ballgame on the road in the NCC. It would be a shame to ruin Wilson's confidence by starting him in that kind of situation. You could argue that both QB's should start, I think. I just don't see it as being a no-brainer. Let's just hope that whoever starts does a good job leading thier team in a very tough NCC road game.

Everyone in disagreement of my earlier post is missing the point. Yes, the loss to Mesa St. was very disappointing. I am disappointed myself. Yes, the non-conference scheduling of late has been subpar. This is not because of a lack of effort however. UND has tried numerous times to get good teams for non-conference games. It has failed for a number of reasons including money issues, travel issues, and just because teams fear going to UND and NCC schools in general because of the quality of football. Another ridiculous reason includes one team requesting UND to buy turf shoes for them because their team didnt have any because they always play on grass. There are a lot of variables that go into scheduling non-conference games that are very difficult to negotiate. As a UND alum, I too want to see the best results possible in all sports. Competeing for conference and national championships are the reasons you play the games. I grew up in Grand Forks watching UND football stink in the late 80's, but I still was a faithful fan. Fans of college athletics should be proud of their teams in the good and bad, wins and losses. If you have any loyalty towards your team, you will always do this. It seems as though sometimes people try to compare college athletics to pro sports. College athletes are at school to gain an education, first and foremost. Anyone who says otherwise is ignorant. They are not professional athletes. Yes, they are getting paid to attend school on scholarship. But it is not all they do, and they are not doing it in a "professional" sense of the word. I also pay money to attend UND athletic events. I do it because I love to follow my former university, not because I DEMAND wins for my money. That should be left for the ranks of professional sports. In the small state of ND, and the smaller city of Grand Forks, UND is all we have to support. We dont have any professional teams, and I think this is why people sometimes get caught up in things like this. I hope the UND football team comes back strong to win the NCC and ultimately, the national championship. That is their goal every year, as it should be. Just always try to remember what Division 2 college athletics is all about, and support your team the way you are suppose to. Please do not take this personal, as it is not an attack on any one person. I am just trying to tell everybody how it is. I could argue this forever, but I will leave it at that.