Westside

I totally agree that UND is not set-up for a young QB to be successful right now. Yes, they would probably succeed more in the role of "game manager" IF there was a power running game & a D that can get stops & turnovers. Asking a young guy to sit back & sling it 40+ times cuz we can't run it or are always behind is not putting them in a position to be successful. Asking Braden Hanson to sling it around as a 5th yr Sr was a totally different story. I hate to use this example, but... Brock Jensen in '10. Started part of the season & won 2 playoffs games for the bisen as a RFr. Only threw for over 200 yds in 2 games. Relied on a power running game (McNorton) & a pretty good D.

I’m blaming the coaching staff for the QB troubles this year. There is no reason that a program like UND should go into a season forced to start a Redshirt Freshman at the QB position. I'll put that entirely on the Muss & the coaching staff for not effectively recruiting at the QB position the past few years. Playing freshmen QBs in one of the top FCS conferences is far from ideal, I get there are exceptions (Vernon Adams - EWU, & others) but more often than not you are going to see young QBs struggle, which is what we are seeing from both Mollberg & Bartles... Inaccuracy, turnovers, misreads, etc, etc. I know we have major problems all over the team right now, but QB is the most important position on the field. In no way am I ripping on either Mollberg or Bartels, as I think both have great potential & can be great QBs here. Looking at yrs ahead, QB might be one of the least worries. They’ve just been thrown into the fire too fast. Bad OL play, lack of a running game & a porous D hasn't helped their cause any either... I'm putting it on the staff for their lack of recruiting & managing the roster that put us in the position of having 3 RFr & 1 true Fr on our roster this year. Last year, Hanson & Hendrickson helped hide a lot of the other problems on the team because of the passing game & big play ability that kept us in games (except MSU & EWU). Currently, the offense has taken a step back & we are seeing what typically happens when young, rookie QBs are asked to lead poor teams... I am not blaming these losses on the QB position, these fall on the staff & entire team. Heck, the defense is of more concern right now, hard to win any game when giving up huge yards (455 - SDSU, 609- UM, 603 - MSU) & 50+ points in 2 games. I'm just saying an experienced QB (which we don't have on the roster) might fare a little better & that falls on the coaching staff. A look at how the staff has recruited @ QB since 2009 (since an '09 recruit would be a 5th yr Sr right now)... Unbelievable that in ’09 & ’11 at least one HS QB was not signed. '09 - no QB brought in (unless you count Townsend, but I believe he was brought in as a WR/Athlete) '10 - Comes & Demler brought in. Both were misses. Demler lasts 1 yr, Comes lasts 2. '11 - no HS QB brought in. The Joey Bradley experiment starts. Epic fail. Lasts 1 yr. '12 – Mollberg & Bartles brought in. Jake Hanson walks on. Braden Hanson transfers to UND. '13 - Palandech & Riddle. Riddle leaves during fall camp for family reasons.

I've noticed quite a few times this year that a kid will take a dumb penalty, not be assignment sharp, make a mistake, etc, etc & they will go off to the sideline & there is no position coach or anybody on staff there to chew their ass or coach them up. Total lack of accountability from the staff.

Ira, just asking a honest question... Do you think Bollinger has enough experience to take over a program at this point of his coaching career? He's only in his 2nd yr as QB coach at Pitt & was only a high school coach at Hill-Murray before that. I get the name recognition, UND/family roots, Big Ten & NFL playing experience & connections, etc, etc, but the lack of substantial college coaching experience & his age would worry me a little (for a head coach). I see he was hired at Pitt in Feb '12, so he really has recruited for just 1 season as well. But, he could be a tremendous recruiter too, sometimes the younger coaches relate to the HS & College kids much better. He may be an outstanding candidate (I wouldn't be opposed to him. Lots of positives to him, but a few concerns as well)... Just asking, as I don't know a whole lot about Brooks. I realize you're pretty plugged in to the football program & history, so just wanted to hear more about Brooks from you. (Or anyone else that has some insight) Thanks.

That is huge... In my mind & most football posters on this board, he is already gone... Tough to think about an scenario where he is back for 2014. All up to Faison I guess, hope he sees the writing on the wall...

Nope. Just cut ties as quick as possible... There is nothing to be gained from allowing an essentially fired coach to play out the last 2 games. Either fire him during season, name an interim & go from there or can him after last game of yr. Nothing in between.

Ideally, I wouldn't want him to have to take a "hometown discount". His resume & experience show that he would deserve to make at least $250k + incentives & up, possibly more. I wish UND would be able to pay a top candidate that kind of money. Realistically, I can't see UND going from a coach making a $115k salary + incentives to someone who is going to command an upper $200's salary + incentives. (Even though that's what is needed to get this program back on track) I agree w/ all the points you listed, I just can't see UND & Faison opening up the ol' checkbook that much. Hopefully I'm wrong....

Great points. I did not know his wife was from GF. So, you're telling me there's a chance... Tibesar would be #1 on my list.

Can we just trade Muss straight-up to SIU for DeBoer or do we have to throw in cash & a player to be named later???

Yeah, I read that Tibesar had a base salary of $250,000 plus bonuses/incentives as DC at Purdue. I'm assuming he is making more than that as LB coach of the Bears. ($350 - $375k is avg. salary of a position coach in the NFL) The only way Tibesar comes back to UND is if he takes a "hometown discount" & comes back for his love of the program. Like to see it but very doubtful...

IF anyone had any tiny shred of respect left for Muss, watch that video & it will be gone... That is not a leader whatsoever. So many things & comments from that video that I could rant on. You are absolutely correct, he is totally lost.

How pathetic is it that the best wrap-up form tackle I saw by a UND player all day was made by a 5'8", 150lb WR after an INT???

Fixed it for ya

Hey MafiaMan, you can now watch every UND football game (& all Big Sky teams) online through America One Sports & the Big Sky Conference.... http://www.americaonesports.com/upcoming_events.asp?q=v&value=bigsky http://www.americaonesports.com/bigsky.asp Check out some games if you can. It's an awesome FCS conference & UND has a promising football future...

I wasn't looking at the Media Guide Booklet for Jer Garman's weight, I got the info from http://www.undsports...399&SPSID=58641 & compared it to the 2012 roster from the drop-down. The 2013 roster lists Joe Mollberg @ 232 lbs, so I'll assume it is updated & correct, as of now, for the 2013 season.

I haven't attended any practices, but the roster lists him at 186. He was listed at 177 on last year's roster.

In the press conference yesterday, Mussman said they will be bringing in another LB "in the next week" as well.

Yeah, his quotes on twitter make it appear that he has signed w/ UND & received a scholarship.... Appears that he sent in his NLI late this afternoon.

I doubt they would get new sets of jerseys and/or pants in '12, '13 & '14 and then turnaround and order new ones again for '15 because of the new nickname/logo. The football program has mostly utilized the "ND" logo on jerseys over the years, I don't see that changing. Also cost is a huge factor considering they'd have to order 90+ jerseys just because of the new nickname. Edit: looks like geaux_sioux beat me to the punch. I agree...

It was stated in today's signing day live chat by both Mussman & Schluesner that UND will be getting new Away Whites for next season. Hopefully new Home Greens for '14. It will be cool having some combinations we can mix & match.

Wharton's NLI just came in

I took that to mean they were waiting on 1-2 more scholarship NLI's to come in.

SFI confirms Gray to UNI .

Looks like Cox just made his decision this morning...

The 20 were all the known commitments (& Cheatom). Gray was rumored to de-commit for UNI. Also, there were the 2 possible from Cali - Hunter Wharton & Dexter Bell. (mentioned on twitter but not confirmed) Nice to see there was no decommitments from our top guys.