Ole in MSP

I too am feeling very up about this season in spite of the lousy schedule. I think this is the year that Muss has to show he is a D1 coach by handily wiining games we are expected to win and being very competive in the FBS games. Being .500 or better in the GWFC is a preference/need also. Barring tremendous injuries etc. if this team is not 7-4 or better then UND needs to look at the overall program and staff and the direction we are heading. This transition has been very trying to an old alum like me who is used to winning at any level. That said, I think a win vs a non schollie team even as good as Drake by 14-17 pts is entirely acceptable if we play well early which was not the case in some recent stinkers.

Info for everyone: Drake vs UND game is on FCS, Direct TV, channel 623 per my on line guide.

Thanks for the clarifications. I agree.

I am confused by your comment on Decker. I do not usually follow women's hockey seriously, but why would you not want an apparently talented player like Decker at UND? Also, since so many kids now take 5 years to graduate, is it so bad to have a few kids who redshirt just because they may not be ready for the whole college experience right out of HS including a time consuming varsity sport? I am not familiar with the UMD dislike.

I think it reflects the growing popularity of UND as a women's hockey destination/school for top notch kids. It also probably means several redshirts so that UND will be playing older/mature kids rather than scrambling for bodies as has been the case in past years.

As down as I was on Goska last year he is a senior and deserves every chance and opportunity to win the job. I think for that reason there may be a bit of politics or whatever at work here. I have not seen Bradley play, and to Goska and Hendrickson's benefit of the doubt the WR core was slim to none last year, but if Goska or Hendrickson were to start I would say the season is pretty much in doubt already. Hope Bradley does well and stays healthy.

They were on the Twins Fox Sports North channel 668 in the Twin cities and KARE channel 11 local broadcast of the Vikings game from Seattle. I do not know that they are on line anywhere. You could contact UND PR dept to see if they are going to be on again or available elsewhere.

Did anyone else notice the recent ads that UND has run on the Twins telecasts and the Vikings game over the weekend? Nicely done in my opinion. Wonder what the results will be and what the motivation is. I assume to reach more southern Minnesota HS kids and their folks on considering UND as an option after they graduate. I was surprised and impressed. Any one else?

I have been traveling, has anyone actually "seen" an "official" announcement that the practice facility is a real "go"? I would think a project of this size would be the subect of a very large news release if it was a done deal.

Remember Sioux Falls!!!! Looks like Drake has a pretty nice team coming back from last year. About 3/4 of the starters including a QB that played very well against Montana State until getting KO'd. They gave Montana State a pretty good game if the press release is at all accurate. Almost 300 yds with a new QB playing half the game. Originally I thought this game was a cupcake, but now I am not so sure. UND should prepare as if they are playing a major opponent and not looking ahead to Idaho. A loss or a poor performance against Drake would be a poor way to start the season. Go Sioux, or whomever the hell we are now!

It all started because the NCAA wanted 1) A power move to show member colleges and univerities that they were in charge and 2) Whether or not they still agree with their original decision, they do not want to lose face or appear weak. Unfortunately a few schools including UND are the whipping boy for an outdated PC issue.

Really? I think I have been hearing about this project for over 5-7 years. Is that not long enough? Gimmee a break. Get it done already.

If this is a GO, wouldn't there be SOME publicity about the project! I for one am pretty tired of reading the "maybe" information on this subject. If it is a reality then someone ought to step forward and say so. As an alum who does contribute money and follow the athletic programs as close as I can from afar, I am getting tired of reading about this "future" asset for the FB and track programs. Either it is, or it is not underway. Comments?

I have, and there is nothing of any critical substance there. Lots of feel good stuff though.

Hendrickson and Goska showed nothing last year. People do grow and change and if they have the talent to be a D1 QB with another year of maturity fine, but I doubt it. Respect their efforts, dedication, etc., but this program should be able to attract some top notch talent. I truly hope the Comes and Bradley bring some excitement for the program and can do the job better than what we have seen so far. Another thing, can anyone tell me why there is so little info available on the team, practices, speculation etc.? I know it is early, but .......?

I think the Gophers will be improved over the team that lost to the Bison, however, the Bison are a relatively experienced team and the Gophers have a number of new players. The Gophers D is supposed to be much improved and the attititude with the new coach should be different. That said, the Coyotes moved the ball all over the field last year and beat them too and the Bison beat up the Coyotes in the second half. The Gophers should win, but the stadium will not make a difference as Gopher fans are fair weather fans and if the Bison are hanging in there in the 3rd Q they will be a non factor. The new Gophers coach has done a good job recruiting, however, most of those kids will not see this game. The Gophers QB play will be a key as will the defense. I look for a close game with the Gophers winning by a touchdown or less. Hope I am wrong, would love to see a blowout, but it is not likely in my opinion.

Big deal! The 3 games are against St Francis, Ill state, Youngstown state. They will be on FCS against UNI later in Oct and on the Big 10 network against Minnesota late in Sept. Not a fantastic TV schedule, but it does offer exposure. There are so few ND athletes ready for D1 FB that it should not affect recruiting in the state. Fundraising ? Bottom line, I would not get too excited about this unless they upset the Gophers again on regional TV. The two games they played earlier where they almost won and did win were notable in the upper midwest sports scene.

Where is that little piece of crap, Cepis, now? Hope he is working fertilizing sod farms or worse.

Sorry I disappointed you.

We hope! As prolific with the talent we have had at getting shots per game in the 30-40 range the last few years you still have Hak's recent team history of scoring about 3.1 GPG. With any kind of struggling newcomers that could go lower making the D and G very important especially early in the season as you say. Hak's teams in my opinion will not ever be huge scoring machines.

Last year's game at Idaho had several key things go wrong early that I think, made the kids play well below their capability. First, Landry, early on, looked like a Freshman with jitters and missed open receivers by miles, second, they were short one key coach on the trip, third, they lost confidence early with all the opportunities missed and kind of quit. Change the outcomes of the first several offensive drives and the game becomes much closer, still a loss by 14-17, but much more respectable. I think this year will be close, but still a loss by 6-10 pts.

This exemplifies the arrogance of the Big 10, or 12, or 6 or whatever the hell they call themselves. PSU has not ever had one game under their belt, yet the other 5 established programs had to yield to a program that will languish for years as a loser. They should have had to "earn their stripes" by competing in a conference, either one of the Eastern conferences, Hockey America or someplace. Just because they are a "Big 10" school does not mean they will be anywhere near competitive. Alvarez has really sold out the UW and U of M on this one. Have you ever tried to get to State College, Pa.? It is worse than Mich. Tech. Gopher fans, I hate you, but I feel sorry for you. Badger fans, I like you, but I also feel sorry for you. Your buddy Alvarez blew this one!

I am not going to condemn or endorse Kelley about anything, but keep in mind that dealing with the Sioux nickname is probably 0.1% of what his presidential duties entail. He will not be evaluated as the president of a state university on the basis of this issue by the people who really have the responsibility for the office, I assume that is the SBoHE.