UND-FB-FAN

It’s a legit problem. Puts UND at a disadvantage.

Who cares, it’s still football. The country cares about football. Hockey is maybe the 4th most popular sport, maybe. UND should ignore football because they’re not in the top division? How ridiculous. Get over it and move on. Be happy you’re around Grand Forks where there’s exceptions to the rule.

Hey, Hey, Hey … let’s not go that far.

Maybe not the “young” part, but I think Bubba could fit that role pretty good.

For the record, I agree with all that.

It’s Vegas, Nashville, New York City … Fun places to travel and represent UND. Traveling to places like Lincoln, NE; Ames, IA; Logan, UT; Boise, ID; Manhattan, KS just doesn’t have the same appeal, but it’s definitely still fun. Now, if UND could win a couple of those big matches and then return home and keep winning, it probably would attract a few 1000 to travel and check it out.

Kaleb DaBoer was at places like Sioux Falls, Southern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Fresno State … He’s never had upper end resources, which is why he’s a good coach and ascending among the ranks. UND definitely needs to identify someone like this, which is why I would prefer UND identify someone consistently successful in division II who wants to move up to division I.

To answer your babbling question(s): Yes. In summary, you are (or at least represent) the problem.

Your condescending basic responses aren’t worth responding to. You represent the group of “UND fans” that hurt the overall university athletic department, not help it grow. Like I said earlier, you don’t get out much. Go to Fargo or Brookings; they support their “lesser” football teams more than UND’s hockey fan base supports hockey. It’s the reality in this country. The REA inflates support based purely on the venue. If UND was playing in a barn like the good old days, the attendance would obviously be much less, and it wouldn’t be related to limited seats. We’re not in Canada, although I understand geography can get confusing for folks like you.

Yep …

I think this is without a doubt the approach you take because it’s economically feasible, but as you said, it’s still a gamble and you never truly know how it’s going to work out until you do it.

Without putting a bunch of names down here, just run through the polls of division II football. Who’s been doing it the longest and at the highest level? And for you $ people, they almost entirely make less per year than what Bubba is making.

He knew that, he was just trying to be coy and provocative.

Nebraska learned the lesson that 1) you need a larger sample size than 2 (seasons) 2) you preferably need to see someone do it at the P5 level elsewhere first But it’s a challenge. Extrapolating that to UND, you would have to hire someone with multiple successful D2 seasons and/or someone who’s been a winning head coach at the FCS level. There’s not a ton out there that fits that bill, so there’s always a risk.

They don’t prevent success but they don’t support success. Sure, I’ll buy that, but it’s a fine line.

Wrong and wrong. UND is not D2. They are FCS. There is a division II classification football and UND is not in that. Get your facts straight before you even attempt to pollute conversation with your biased garbage. And there are plenty of people- like yourself - who identify UND athletics as solely a hockey program and nothing else. If anyone needs help, it’s the guy who willingly identifies as “frozen 4 Sioux” … man you’re delusional and out of touch with reality. But, if you stay in a small bubble around northeast ND and northwest MN, you can manage, I suppose.

See point #2. We’re saying the same thing at this point.

Comprehensive reading isn’t your strong suit. 1) I never said Bubba and his staff are directly the reason HPC phase 2 is not funded. With that said, it is on track to be funded within the next year or two, so settle down. 2) The fact there even is a “hockey only crowd” is a detriment to UND athletics. You won’t be able to convince me or anyone successful in collegiate athletics elsewhere otherwise. 3) I’ve already said blindly donating to UND athletics is pointless if the overall strategic plan is not well thought out. 4) Any conversations I’ve had or will have with anyone in the UND athletic department will certainly not be shared with “Sioux>Bison”

You’re right, but it’s not just the material tools, I’m afraid. Maybe this year, in year 9, he’ll figure it out. I’ll be watching.

It’s interesting that the support, albeit well intended, may actually be preventing UND football from taking the next step. Let’s see how the remainder of the season goes. I’m not convinced UND will take the next step (win the conference, beat NDSU, compete for championships) trying the same thing over and over. The previous 8 seasons have already shown us what this football staff is capable of.

Finite number of resources, and they go to hockey. Tough to win when you don’t demonstrate a commitment via salary pool or facilities, which requires resources. The success follows the commitment.

Certainly not a bad idea. Tim Belmore is a great guy. But all in all, the current alumni framework of Tim and Mike Mannausau are all guys from the past that protect Bubba and his staff. I mean, why else would Bubba get extended to 2025 after going 5-6? That kind of decision is baffling to me, and very, very frustrating. I’ll continue to support the program and be at games. I’ll continue to give, but wait a bit on doing more until I’m proved otherwise.

Would love to give more (I donate some the way it is) but it’s not because I don’t have more, but rather because I’m very skeptical of the direction of the program with Chaves. I’m very afraid the program is currently about hockey and nothing else. They ignorantly fail to realize the importance of growing a successful football program, which is by far the most popular sport in the USA, including ND/MN. I think UND is heavily influenced by a couple immoral donors in Vegas with the big bucks, that care more about themselves and their image than what UND and Grand Forks, ND actually could develop into. I hope one day I’m convinced the direction is righted.

You realize Bubba once was a D2 coach, right? Kalen DeBoer, once a NAIA coach, was the finalist with Bubba for the job in 2013, and now he is coaching PAC-12 Washington and is 4-0 this season thus far. You have to start somewhere. Criticizing someone rising through the ranks from D2 is actually critical to UND’s current football program, given it’s made up entirely of former D2 coaches/players. Also, it’s about building the culture beyond just going 5-6 or 6-5 every season. And it’s about how you develop and use the kids from this region; certainly not about how many stars they have coming out of H.S. It’s not just about “getting kids to GF” as you so simply put it.

The orders come from folks that want hockey on top, and only hockey, hence the constant turmoil with the nickname/logo and also internal conflict with hockey vs other programs. Think Vegas… These constant internal battles at UND make it beyond difficult for UND to consistently win on the field/court against *OTHER* institutions.