siouxfan512

Danny has no obligation to stay at UND and more than any other coach in any other program. The guy has a career and a family to think about first and foremost. If he thinks this move make the most sense, what's the problem? I think most people would be will to take a lateral move if not a demotion, IF it paid more money and IF they thought it would lead to bigger and better opportunities down the road. Did Dale burn bridges at UND because he left for Southern Illinois? People were disappointed, but did anyone really never want the guy back? Do we really expect our staff to be as complacent in their roles as the University seems to be with athletic expectations? If making a career move like this truly burns a bridge with the University, then the University needs to reevaluate their leadership and hiring process (probably need to do that anyway). I'd gladly have Danny back, IF he is the best qualified guy for the job. If there is someone else out there who we think could really make a splash then I'd take him.

I don't like losing players, but we don't have anyone so good that keeping them justifies a coaching extension. If we hire the right guy, they can get their own high end players.

nope

There are some on this forum that are very jealous of hockey. Hockey has facilities, funding, fans and success. These fans like to boast that if hockey wasn't a priority and the funding was diverted to football, we would magically be perennial national champs. Of course it isn't that simple and you don't tear down one successful program to try to build another. You try to build another successful program in addition to what you have. Now I'm a big UND football fan too, and there is no doubt they could use some additional funding, probably mostly in the form of coaching salaries (and maybe some new white jerseys), but to blaming hockey is just the quick scapegoat. Any easy way of showing how jealous they are of the success they want for the sport they don't care about. Had Ralph donated all that money towards a football stadium, you wouldn't hear a peep from this crowd, and how great would it be if we had someone willing to donate that for football as well. It would be incredible! But most schools don't get that for any sport let alone one. The REA has been fantastic for hockey and the community. The Alerus isn't a bad facility either. Its not my person favorite, but its not a bad place to watch a game. Rather than placing blame on the alumni that did donate a ton to the University, I'd focus more on our AD who hands out unwarranted contract extensions and can't seem to find some more money in our alumni base. It doesn't even need to be a ton more, but they do need to increase the salaries to be competitive. Maybe that will be the focus now that Phase 2 is on its way. I'm not sure it is even that much more money that would need to be raise .... I have no idea, but something needs to be done. When Bubba is gone, it would be really nice to see UND make a splash in hiring (but I doubt it). Problems run deeper at UND that money. There is also just and administrative approach and routine that never seems to change.

True, but how much of that was because of our defensive coordinator vs. the lack of size and skill we had on the field. D-Line has been undersized forever. OLB are long or fast enough. Safety has been an issue for a while. CB is the one area where coaching seemed to really lack in changing our approach, we seem to have the speed and athleticism, but consistently give receivers 10 yards of cushion to make catches. It doesn't even look like our CBs want to approach the WR until he has completed the catch, then we go after them (and miss tackles). For Bubba to boast that this is a defensive minded team is a joke. I wouldn't hang my hat on that if I was him.

Agreed! but I'm still hoping Bubba is gone after this season regardless.

I guess I'm happy that this didn't happen before signing day. There are a few recruits I really want to keep. Though if we completely suck next year I suppose they'll just transfer. Hopefully they find someone decent. IMO they just need to find someone who will call the offense to the strength of the guys he has. Not force a new system in place that requires talent we don't have.

Not going to argue with you on the scheme part of that. My point was whether it was Danny's call to stop those or Bubba's. How much autonomy was Danny given with the offense. There were a lot of question mark calls during critical situations over the past two seasons. Were those Danny or Bubba?

But but but .... everyone says Bubba is such a nice guy. If he is, then shouldn't he be happy for a guy who is trying to progress his career? I get that it sucks to lose a guy to a regional rival school, but maybe Bubba needs to look at the situation and take a little ownership of what has been happening. Money is a factor, but not the only one. Like everything else, Bubba hasn't adjusted to the times to realize these coaches aren't going to sit around stuck in their roles waiting forever either. Especially when the near future looks bleak. Every year I get a little more sour on Bubba; can't even listen to the guy talk because he is so bland. You could play the same sound bite before and after every game. I'm at a point now where I really can't wait for him to be gone and see who is next, and even if we take a step back, its still worth rolling the dice at this point. No one guy is bigger than the program and that includes Bubba.

Yet another factor that may have played into Freund's departure. If I had to watch that after every win over a sub par team, I'd want to leave too. And Griddy is generous, its more of a hobble/skip while trying not to fall over. It looks ridiculous.

We also don't know what was happening behind the scenes between these guys. Was Bubba allowing Danny to actually call everything, or was he restricting options? I'm don't like the idea of an offense having too many trick plays, but those almost completely disappeared. Was that Danny's decision or Bubba's? If Danny felt he was being allowed to really do his job, maybe that was just another factor. SDSU is going to be a far better resume builder than UND is. I'm sure Danny would have loved to stay at UND, but everything is pretty mucked up right now. Have to do what is best for your own family and career.

Agreed, you would expect and FBS move and that would make even more sense, but money talks. That paired with working under someone who seems to have stalled out a few years back. Its strange to move to a rival school for a slightly lesser role, but if they are going to pay you and you get to work on a championship staff, maybe its worth the move. We will know in a few years if he is still there, at a lower level school, out of coaching, or has moved up to bigger and better things.

Kind of crazy coming from EWU when they were doing so well. I remember seeing the hire thinking it would be a really great move for football.

Personally, I don't blame Danny one bit for this move. He left for a good program and more money. If the team has success (which they will) then he will get more opportunities. Maybe him and his wife decided they were ready to try moving around and seeing what happens. The alternative was to wait in GF for Bubba to be removed or retire and hope that he would be the next guy, with no guarantees. I do place more blame on Chaves for letting the program get to this spot with coaching. I've acknowledged many times over that Bubba seems like a great guy and has done some nice things for this program, but if you have watch this team over the past few season, it just seems like he has consistently hit his ceiling.(If I have to continue to watch Bubba ball, then I hope I have to eat crow on that). Also disappointed in Bubba if he is really pissed off about the move and couldn't wish Danny well on taking an opportunity that may be best for his family. Seems tacky given the circumstances. I know Danny bleeds green, and maybe he will still come back to UND and coach again, but maybe he also saw how stagnant this program has been from a coaching, funding and leadership standpoint and decided a change was best. Who knows.

Especially when you've already been burned in that scenario way too many times.

I'm not football genius when it comes to scheme, but if we didn't have the speed, wouldn't it have made sense to overload an edge and bring more pressure from time to time? Bring in a corner or safety? I get that if you don't get to the QB you're likely giving him a more open target, but I'm not sure how often I ever saw us send that extra pressure ... and they seemed to convert deep anyway.

Possible. Totally depends on who is available at QB. I do think Feeney has shown confidence and potential. I'm really excited to see what Kaminski brings to the table as well (then again, I was excited about Joe Mollberg and Nate Ketteringham. It would definitely be nice to see them get more aggressive with the portal this year though. Its not a way to build a team, but it is a way to fill gaps. Now more than ever with the landscape of college football. Players are going to move around, that's just the way it is. So might as well utilize it and go after some talent. It would certainly be the quickest way to try to revamp your defense and make it work. Obviously, you'd prefer to land good recruits and develop them, and we have seen some of that, but not enough. Pick up some transfers to go with it.

That seems like the way our coaches think. The older guy starts. Not saying Feeney won't be the guy, but what if Jerry comes out and kills it. Or what if Feeney kills it but then struggles later in the year. You open up the competition, and don't be afraid to switch them out if the starter is costing us plays, drives or games.

I like the Berg transfer when it happened. Wow!!! That move is looking better and better. The guy just brings it!

I watch the highlights with my son (9 year old Mite) every week since he can't stay up for all of the games. Pointed that out to him as well. Pure effort and grit. Love it!

Boys need to keep shooting from the right dot. Hit at least 3 goals from Ryan Duncan's office last night. Couldn't believe they were giving us that lane. If you don't challenge Gaber or Blake from there, you're going to give up a ton. I was confident both of those shot were going to be goals before the shot happened. No defensive pressure on high end talent. I'm sure Carle will be talking to them about that today. That was one hell of a game to watch. Back and forth, lots of scoring, highs and lows ... glad we came out on top, but even if we didn't, that was pure entertainment. Now lets go get the sweep!!! DU is going to come out pissed!!

Probably! but we also probably made them look like all stars. Is Theo Day graduating? Not sure what UNI has lined up behind him. Not saying Tommy is going to UNI, but I could see that type of scenario working out. And a team like that where there is a good O-line and some play makers, he would probably fit right in. For all those who couldn't wait to see Tommy gone, I also wouldn't want to see him on the other side of the field either. Especially if the coach knows how to call plays to fit his strengths.

Isn't St Thomas non-scholly? Also not playoff eligible? I suppose if they have a grad program he wants then it might be a good fit, but if you can get some of that paid for, I'd be looking elsewhere. Though maybe money isn't in the equation. Certainly a good program and good school.

Possible, but I think another FCS school is more likely. I'm sure there are some schools out there that need an experienced guy to bridge them a year while they develop a younger guys. Or someone to create a QB competition with a current started who isn't very good. Tommy isn't going power 5 (even that would be super cool!), but there could even be some MAC schools that would give a guy with his experience and numbers a look. I get there are plenty out there who think he was mediocre across the board, but his numbers don't lie either. He may not have all of the measurables that some kids do, but he did a ton for UND. Personally, I think our deficiencies have more to do with poor situational play calling, but that's just me. I would think Tommy's landing spot will also heavily depend on school programs and location. Some in Michigan or Illinois?? E Illinois, W Illinois (moving conference)?? E Michigan? I really have no clue what type of QB situations those schools have right now. Or maybe he will go D2 route. I suppose it depends how much does he want to play vs get some more scholly money and schooling.

Got it, totally wasn't picking up on that.