Sioux10Fan

Team contacts tell me Studsrud liklely starter Saturday.

In regards to the QB depth chart I will side on giving Bubba the benefit of the doubt. Plain and simple, somehow, some way, Keaton wins ballgames. He is not the prettiest, but he has good feet and manages the game the way the OC and Bubba want it managed. Bartels has played well at times, but not recently. He was #2 all fall and deserves a fair shot. Mollberg has had health issues and probably will continue to have them in the future, inside or outside of football. My best guess is that later in the game, Bubba did not want to put Mollberg into a situation where the Griz defense was coming hard and fast with absolutely no concern for the run. Mollberg would have been a sitting duck. I am confident that Mollberg will get a shot this week if Keaton is not ready. Bartels may start, but I am sure the coaches will do their best to have Joe ready if Keaton is not ready. I am sure they will be telling that to everybody who dresses... "Be ready.... If the guy on the field is struggling... you are next in..."

In regards to the QBs you can speculate all you want, but the reality when it comes to Mollberg is that he is not ready. Joe is approximately ten months removed from not a tear, but a complete high rupture of the achilles. This was a traumatic injury that many never recover from and he was told this by the team doctors from day #1. The fact that Joe has worked hard to get back on the field and help his team in any way possible is a testament to his value to this team. He was playing very well the weeks before he got hurt and it is unfortunate, but the reality of being a D1 athlete is that injuries happen and coaches move on. I know Joe well and there is no one who wants more to see this team succeed than Joe. Last week, during the heart of two a days, Mollberg missed 4-6 practices. He would love the opportunity to contribute and play if he can, but right now, he is not there yet, and the coaches are doing the right thing in not pushing him too hard or too fast.

Did anybody ever hear what exactly happened to Kuksa? During the Portland State game Kuska laid probably the most vicious hit I have seen all season on the RB from PSU has he tried to turn a 360 after going thru the line untouched. He absolutely exploded on him with a direct hit with his helmet to the kid's chest. The PSU RB, who was a solid 210, was laid out flat on his back. The entire crowd went "Ouch..." Kuska jumped up, pumped his fist, and played the rest of the game. Next morning he complained of neck pain. It was the biggest hit I had seen all year on anybody from any team.

According to the word on the street, Jameer Jackson has signed papers to be released from scholarship at UND.

So far UND has used Mollberg (and Bartels) for nothing more than a QB who is going to throw 40+ times a game. That is not Mollberg's skill set. He is a dual option QB who can throw and run. They have shown read option this year, but it is not a true read option. It is a designed hand-off. When UND lines up in the I formation it is quite obvious that they are either going to hand off to Miller on a power. Just one time I would like to see Mollberg pull it and run a designed bootleg. He has the speed and size to get outside and do some damage. If they can throw in 4-5 designed runs for Mollberg each game it will make a difference in how the defense plays UND. Right now the D line is going hells bells to get at the QB with no respect for his ability to run the ball. The D backs never ever have to even consider coming up to make a tackle when they see our QBs drop back or roll out. One time on Saturday Mollberg rolled out and rather than passing he tucked it and ran. I think he got 10 yards. UND needs to do much much more of that on 1st and 2nd down. It will help keep the D honest and will make use of one of the skills that Mollberg offers that he was recruited for. He was brought in as a dual threat, not a Braden Hansen, stand in the pocket and throw every down guy. If he keeps throwing 40+ times a game he will continue to make mistakes, even two years from now. Also... was anybody besides myself having kittens when we had the ball on goalline on 3rd and 4th down. On 3rd down we threw, but Hardin, Jackson, Golliday and Townsend were all on the sidelines. On 4th down we ran it with these same four standing on the sidelines.... Actually they weren't all standing... Hardin was so upset he was running up and down the sideline freaking out... literally...

It makes no sense to remove the coach now. There is not a single coach on staff who could replace him and do any better. The OC and the DC are both very very young and thus far have been outmatched in every game except Valpo. UND will have to sink or swim with the current staff for the remainder of this season. For me the most distressing news is that NAU beat Montana by 2 TDs. This weekend is a must win. Nobody has a good feeling about EW, except of course the EW faithful. One simple thing I might recommend is for Muss take over the role of play-caller on offense. At least then he will have a hand in either ending or saving his job and life in GF. The current play-calling makes no sense. Nothing can be done to help the defense. Maybe leave the offensive starters out there to play defense also. By doing this our line would at least have some size to them. I would feel better with Jackson and Mollberg at LB, and Miller, Hardin and Golladay at DBacks than what we offer now.

Whoever the ND QB is should have the opportunity for a good season. Interesting prediction for Big Sky Freshman of the Year on this site. http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/6957

Golladay is going to be something special. One heck of an athlete who makes tough catches look easy. It was good to see Townsend getting some balls also. Both QBs had good days. Bartels TD was a perfect pass. When they let the QBs go live I think you will see Mollberg move the ball very effectively with his feet. I would not want to be a 175 lb CB facing him as he comes around the corner. He also threw some absolute bullets. Bartels seems to be more of a pocket passer, while I liked what they did with Mollberg on the roll-outs. Either way UND has two very solid, and what appears to be, good young men, leading them at QB. I still think the defense is going to give up a ton of points this year.

Breitbach got the job in PA. He is taking the TE coach with him. Luke is the interim OC. Freund is the new QB coach. Wow... Offense has a brand new look from any angle.

Heard that OL transfer Adams was badly hurt with a dislocated knee during a training session. Supposedly this is the second injury of this type he has suffered. If this is true you have to be sick for the kid.

Though team is starting a week later than planned Spring game is still April 20th. The week after the spring game the team is going to have three more practices to close out this offseason.

BREITBACH LOOKING FOR A HEAD JOB Millersville, Pa. - Millersville University is inviting faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community to attend open forums with six candidates for the head football coach position. Each candidate will meet with the public for one hour in the Student Memorial Center during his on-campus interview. The search committee narrowed the search to six candidates after reviewing more than 60 applications. The candidates are (in alphabetical order): Greg Breitbach, offensive coordinator, University of North Dakota; James Clements, head coach, Delaware Valley College; Robert Forgrave, defensive coordinator, East Stroudsburg University; Adam Gonzaga, defensive coordinator, Ohio Northern University, James Morgan, running backs coach/recruiting coordinator, Shippensburg University; and David Taynor, head coach, Urbana University. Open forum dates, times and locations as well as more information on each candidate is listed below. At the conclusion of the on-campus interviews, the search committee will recommend to Dr. Aminta Breaux, Vice President of Student Affairs, an unranked list of three finalists for hiring consideration. ................... Interestingly... the same site said former UM coach Tim Brewster was signed as TE end coach at Florida State for $290,000.

I received pictures of the new lockerroom but do not know how to post them here. Looks very nice. Will be a nice improvement for the team. One interesting bit of trivia is that the shirt hooks are engraved with HOKA HEY. UND may have dropped the Sioux nickname, but the heritage lives on. Hoka Hey (pronounced Hawka Hey) is from the Indian language of the Lakota Tribe and as used by Crazy Horse as a battle cry would have translated as “It’s a good day to die.” It was used to proclaim no fear of the future, or so to speak “bring it on.” In the Lakota’s everyday speech, HOKA HEY translated as “the best is yet to come.” We feel the best horses are yet to come and we are ready to face the challenge – so HOKA HEY.

Spring practice starts at 6:00 am on the Monday after Easter. Pushed back a week due to weather.

Michael Herzog Class of 2014 QB/DB from Detroit Lakes Slightly undersized, but tremendous competitor. No offers yet that we are aware of.

It was announced by AD Fiason at the football team banquet this weekend that groundbreaking of the IPF will occur approximately May 1st. They have privately raised 15.6 million thus far and are in need of an additional 1.2 million. This should be a tremendous boon to the recruiting efforts of the football, and track & field teams. Here is a link to the proposed structure. http://www.iconarchi...e-facility.html

Announced yesterday at team banquet that groundbreaking for IPF will be May 1st. This should be a great help to future recruiting. 15.6 million raised so far. 1.2 million expected soon to complete project.

Team back to begin second semester. Transfers from Illinois and NIU are here. Tulinage transferring to S Utah. No QBs brought in yet.

I have heard that Jablonski and Kennedy will not be returning in 2013. It was not their decision, but was made by the coaching staff. I cannot verify for a fact that this is factual.

Joe Mollberg. Class of 2012 quarterback from Detroit Lakes High School, was offered by the Sioux last week. Mollberg will be attending junior days at SDSU, MN, UND, and Iowa in the next four weeks. YouTube video of Mollberg (Same high school Reed, Ryan and Rory Manke came from)