UND-FB-FAN

Oh, it can be enjoyed, but it also can be improved.

I agree with most of this, but adamantly disagree with your point on 500K annually. The UND football department could desperately use that addition to the budget. Ask the families of UND football coaches/staff if they could use that money for their loved ones’ salary. And without going too far down the sentimental pathway, by purely looking at the UND football budget, which includes coaches salary, you’ll see the budget is destitute. UND football deserves more of a cut from the athletic department, but the ticket revenue agreement with the Engelstads has skewed the spending in a unfair way. Not to mention, the agreement doesn’t align with any other national standards.

Sure, they’re hockey fans, but again, the agreement with the Engelstads hurts UND as the school lost autonomy with their own athletic department. The priority to hockey is not shocking or a mystery, due to Ralph’s connection as you stated, but is it right? Plus, do you think any money towards “hookers and blow” would be publicized? Of course not, only the items that enhance image will be. The legal trail that their money has created is immense and credit to those who have the time to trace it but even more credit to those who have the ability to assess the situation objectively. UND’s athletic department was bought by a major donor’s family and foundation. The department has lost crucial autonomy because of it. Previous attempts to argue it or reposition have led to publicized arguments, disputes and ultimately staffing changes. The relationship led to some nice buildings in Grand Forks, but it’s not a good long-term relationship for UND, at least as is. That much I’ll maintain.

Agree to disagree. Just because they’ve given money to continue along with Ralph’s actions doesn’t mean they still actively care about UND. Has it helped UND? Sure, but not as most think The “other sports” contributions you mentioned is just pocket change for them and it is done as it just puts up a nice image. It doesn’t change their outdated morals … UND made a deal with the devil and that much is clear for those gleaning the big picture. Some are bought easier than others at UND, that’s for sure. Providing some $$$ for scholarships to sports that are way down the totem pole while still upholding their selfish values is not as scholarly as you may think. It’s been made abundantly clear over the past decade that Mcgarray and her foundation do not care about UND or North Dakota at its core, but rather that they get their way and if providing some scholarship $$$ along the way keeps most of Grand Forks bought, then why not. The REA was and is of course the main selling point for GF and UND. But it has been well established that the REA/foundation ticket revenue sharing agreement with UND is one that essentially turned UND into a semi-pro hockey program while mitigating all other sports. Football is especially screwed. Hockey is #1 for her, as you said, but it’s also #2, #3, #4, etc. Many overlook this skewed agreement though because of the surface image Engelstad has created with donation and the ongoing scholarship $$$ that gets thrown around. UND has less say in their own athletic department than some woman in Las Vegas who loves hockey and has her daddy’s money to play with …

The folks behind the REA (e.g., Kris Engelstad Mcgarry) don’t care about UND at all; at this point, after all the drama, that much is abundantly clear. The Engelstads and their foundation only care about themselves and their personal outdated views, which includes the logo. But they do have money and they do like hockey... All in all, their relationship for UND is not a beneficial one unless all you care about is the tangible item they gifted: the Ralph Engelstad Arena. 2030 can’t come soon enough, although I’m not holding my breath as I’m sure some loophole will be revealed.

Overall, your point is taken. If there was natural light in the Alerus Center (more the better), it would only enhance game day by leaps and bounds.

Don't sleep on Romfo. Doing well thus far and he is a 3-time ND FB state champion (2018-2020). His pedigree is under the radar given Feeney had the big Minnesota accolades, but Romfo can get the job done potentially. Morale of this story is UND needs to keep recruiting good football players from North Dakota at all classifications.

great move!

If you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback

Not sure that is even in his game, unfortunately. Just not who he is as a FB player. Some things you just can't develop. I am hoping Quincy Vaughn, Simon Romfo, or Trey Feeney can push him for the starting job, but that is questionable. I think the season win total is capped at 7 games with Tommy at QB; just not explosive enough to take UND to the next level.

The exciting part about football this time of the year is you can think that and only "thy holy bizon fans" will tell you otherwise ... Now, come 9/4/22, I might object as well, but I have no problem giving Bubba and company an opportunity to show what they can do on the field first before I pass judgement.

Appreciate the coverage, but that was a whole lotta’ words for a whole lotta’ nothing.

https://omaha.com/sports/huskers/football/mckewon-ranking-nebraskas-easiest-to-most-difficult-opponents-in-2022/article_990450f8-11f0-11ed-9b51-a36296839022.html UND not being completely overlooked. Given Nebraska plays in Ireland the week prior, UND will have an opportunity to do some good things if Bubba does his job and has the guys prepared.

Gross. PJ will flee MN before NCAA ends up sanctioning that clown’s program.

Nebraska 1995 team probably best team in college football history. Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium is one of the most fabulous places to watch college football in the entire country. Nebraska has had several top 25 ranked teams over just the past decade. For what it’s worth, bizon owe their DI success to a former Husker in Craig Bohl. Also you won’t meet a nicer, more polite fan base than Nebraska Husker fans. Comparatively, ndsu bizon fans are absolutely petty and pathetically embarrassing when it comes to discussing UND football (case in point, see simple Dan’s post above). I’m absolutely confident that NDSU has far more delusional psych ward-destined groupies than Nebraska ever will.

Probably was talking about hockey while there …

Perhaps, but nothing even close to the Fargo bizon brethren

Huskers if in Lincoln, hands down. Albeit the 2021 version of Nebraska football could lose if game in Tucson, it’s doubtful because Arizona was awful in 2021. The 2022 Huskers team is going to be better than 2021 version, which lost many close games to good teams. Must win year for Frost plus the assistant coaches and talent via transfer portal they brought in is going to elevate them.

Well there you go; then back to my original post. New Hampshire is doing what UND used to do; different suppliers for different programs.

Definitely agree in principal that this is a needed position, but the salary of 38k is laughable. Just shows you how tight UND football is with their budget. Need improvements with budget desperately. I get it is “comparable” to Fargo and Vermillion, but those communities are also easier to recruit staff to (Vermillion maybe not so much, but close to Sioux Falls).

This is an optimistic perspective, which I can appreciate because I tend to do the same thing. But being devils advocate here, I’d say Bubba is who he is at this point. The UND football failures I’ve seen over his tenure are a culture-wide issue; the teams seem stale and not very excitable. Numerous 4th quarter/late game collapses. I think we are quickly approaching a point where Bubba needs to resign and have a more youthful, energetic coach take his place, likely Freund, or an outside hire. Not happening for 2022, but a real possibility for as soon as 2023 pending how things go.

It is; corrected my original post

Would be prudent for UND to make a move at that time as well, given UND hockey is the major driver in these types of deals. And it would be a laughable mistake if UND went back to multiple different supplies as they did previously; need to continue with single university-wide agreements. I would predict Nike or Under Armour be the next target. Nike is the supplier for University of Minnesota and UA is for University of Wisconsin. With all that said, even with NHL and Adidas splitting up, UND could just stay with Adidas. Nike and UA are more expensive deals compared to Adidas; Minnesota (Nike) and Wisconsin (UA) have far larger budgets than UND. Not many FCS institutions with hockey programs for comparison. Miami (OH) and Western Michigan are also in partnership with Adidas. Conversely, University of New Hampshire appears to have multiple deals; Bauer for hockey and Nike for FCS football program. Before Adidas for UND; pre-2015: UND hockey Reebok and UND football Nike.

Way too early to know: injuries, depth chart battles, newcomer assessments, etc. are all pending. With all that said, best case scenario is 5-0, but most realistic is 4-1, so that’s what I’m hoping for.

Well, “Sioux” is retired. Not active anymore. UND Fighting Hawks is the correct association.