siouxfan512

Once we are undefeated heading into the bye week, the only thing we'll be watching is the team's bumps and bruises healing up before our home playoff game! haha

Like the difference between us losing a game or going undefeated? Me too!

That is a pretty solids bet. I really don't care where we are ranked preseason. I'd like to say we are better off under the radar, but I don't think we will actually be overlooked. I'm surprised EWU is getting so much love, given their performance last season.Hard to not show some love to NAU or PSU after last season, and MT certainly deserves to be in one of those top spots. UND is probably in about the right spot for preseason. Remember they were much improved last year, but still missed the playoffs and showed where they could be exposed. I do see us finishing in the top 2, especially given our schedule.

Fair statement, and our team is certainly capable of this. On paper we should be a little better with our passing game, so hopefully we can mix it up. Most interesting thing to watch for in this game will be one of the FCS's top defensive lines against one of the FBS's most experienced.

You just had to nitpick, didn't you. I know they have scheduled some soft teams too (I seriously didn't know what Incarnate Word was when I first saw it on their schedule; though it was a typing error), but my point was more directed that UND should not schedule teams based on their style, or the team being too tough. If we want to compete with the best, we need to play the best. It was really a comment more directed toward what UND is trying to do vs. a pat on the back for Moo U.

I understand that. My point was, they haven't shied away from competition. They go out expecting to win, regardless of who they play or where they play.

Agreed. I hate throwing out the NDSU example again, but based on their success, who would not want to emulate what they have done. They aren't afraid to schedule some tough non-conference or FBS teams. They have done SHSU, E. Wash, Montana, Colorado St, Kansas St, Iowa St, Now have Oregon on the schedule. Playing better teams makes you better.

I don't think anyone is disagreeing that the matchup to that "quick" style isn't ideal. Where you seem to be missing the point is you don't what other potential games were available when they scheduled. I'd rather see them play a team like BGSU than Drake; and as much as we may hate it, the committee would clearly value a "quality loss" to BGSU vs a win over Drake, or some D2 team. Then there is also the fact that you don't know when new coaches and new systems come into play. Maybe their new coach won't run that kind of fast paced system. I just don't think you can effectively schedule non-conference opponents (especially FBS opponents) to always get the advantage based on how styles match up.

May not want to test your weaknesses against an FBS team, but that is not how they schedule these games, and it probably never will be. They schedule based on which FBS team is willing to play them on their open weeks and what the payday will be. As was already pointed out on this board, coaches change, play styles change. There isn't a secure way to schedule based on match ups. Clearly the play style doesn't favor us, but that is why coaches scheme and game plan. We don't even know what BGSU is going to look like this year ... it is safe to assume they will play similar to last year, but they have a new coach and a slew of new players as WR. They lost their stud QB, albeit they have another very capable guy under center this year. Tough to know what they will look like. They will likely put up point on us, but I look for this game to somewhat mimic our game against Mt St last year, except Prukop is probably a better QB. There was a MAC preview somewhere that said a BGSU game could break a total points scoring record. So I fully expect UND to run all over them (see BGSU vs Georgia Southern). We do that, we control the clock, we rest our defense. I still think this is a winnable game.

I totally get the Bemidji move too, from a proximity standpoint. That being said, I would actually be ok with not bringing in any additional teams right now. I like our conference where it is. No need to water it down at all. As for UND leaving to anchor another conference .... its not like we left to go help out another conference. We left to create a new and much more competitive conference that what was left in the WCHA. We were looking out for our own best interests, and I'm glad we did. It absolutely made the most sense. I just don't care for trying to sound self righteous about it like we were doing anyone else a favor; That is the same type of crap goofer fans pull when they say its their duty to play all the other MN programs, to help them stay afloat (even though the UofM is prob the 4th best program in MN right now). The Purple Cows don't owe any more loyalty to the WCHA than UND did. They need to do what they think makes the most sense for their school and the future of their program. We can argue all day about whether the move makes sense for them or not, but they certainly are under no obligation to remain where they are.

Great information. Very impressive for Engwall. Nice work by all.

completely agree

Pretty sure the opinion was pretty biased in favor of Bohl. And to be fair, that wasn't a completely ridiculous opinion at the time. UND had a ton of questions and while we though we would be improved last year, there was nothing concrete to back that up. This year is a little different. Of course that is speculation, because the only time I was on BV, was to try to talk football prior to the UND/NDSU game. Needless to say, it was not a positive experience.

He may have suggested the Twins spend more money. That's an immediately fire-able offense for the Pohlads.

Just show's how far this team has come under Bubba, in a short amount of time, that we can have these kinds of expectations. This wouldn't have even been a conversation 5 years ago.

Who is the WR? They lost like 4 receivers this year, I'm surprised they have someone who has played enough to be nominated for something at that position. To geaux_sioux's point, BGSU certainly will not be a pushover, but the game is definitely winnable. They will not be as dominant as they were last season (where even they showed how bad they could be exposeed by Georgia Southern), and UND will certainly be better than last year. This SHOULD be a very entertaining game, and while I'm excited to watch us play Stony Brook, I'm really pumped to see us play BGSU.

Doesn't matter where we are ranked, I feel pretty confident that this year, we will end our season ranked significantly higher than where we start.

Some people are truly this delusional, which is hilarious in its own right. I am by no means a Bison fan, though with several family member who are, I tend to pull for the Bison in certain scenarios (despite the obnoxious group of Bison fan who think they are God's gift to football). To be clear, I won't be screaming, yelling or cheering. I certainly will never don any sort of Bison apparel (Unless my kid were to play a sport there). Though I will tend to hope they win, if they are playing in a Nat'l Championship game (I have more interest in NDSU, than Illinois St, Jacksonville St, Sam Houston, Etc.) and I tend to pull for them in games against FBS opponents. Its always fun to see the FCS schools upset the FBS opponents. I hope the Bison have a really competitive game in Iowa this year. Win or Lose, you push a school like that on their own turf and it makes a statement. Like the Bison, or not, they are certainly capable of winning this type of game, and they have shown it. I don't see NDSU going in and dominating the entire game, but I didn't expect that against Iowa St either, and if I recall that became pretty laughable. Disliking the NDSU fanbase, is like disliking the Packer fanbase. Most fans are really chill and fun to be around. Every fan base has an obnoxious group of morons, and its best to just avoid those folks.

Any particular reason you immediately take that angle, other than to troll? They guy was talking about a facilities tour, and you turn it into having to boast about your football program, who's recent success already speak for itself. The equivalent of you saying a tour of the SHAC is worthwhile and a Sioux fan screaming 8 Championships in hockey .... completely irrelevant and completely obnoxious.

ok, that makes sense.

really? any idea why this is? Seems like it should be a personal preference kind of thing.

Seems very reasonable considering what Jones has done (or not done) in his time here. Time to take that next step with the program, or move on to a coach who can. Hopefully he earns an extension and UND season the tourney for the first time.

Interesting look for him. Wish they could have had the new helmets on hand. Not that I'm a huge fan of the logo, and I'm still upset that they are completely getting rid of the ND, but it is what it is, so I'd definitely like to see it. Also wish they would break out the grey helmets this season.

I'm as excited as anyone about the improvement Bubba has made, and the serious potential that this team has. In attempt to keep expectations realistic, I'm not ready to say our O-Line could be the best in the FCS yet. I certainly hope that this years O-Line will be last years RB position, in terms of it being a question mark going into the season and turning into a huge strength. On paper we definitely looks pretty good, especially with the addition of Coe, and having Grady on the roster. Huge hope for the O-Line to dominate; it would obviously open up some big holes for Santiago and Company, but it would be great to see Studs have more time to find his man and make us a dual threat offense. Definitely want to see a regular connection between Studs and Clive, and hopefully a health mix of Mercer in there. If receivers can step up early, it would be nice to not have to pull the shirt off Toivenen.

We are going to be pretty solid at safety this season. We will be absolutely stacked next year. Watch out Utah !