UND-FB-FAN

Given the talent differential between UND and Drake, I certainly expect Freund to hide somethings from NDSU. Would be foolish not to. Beat Drake with fundamentals and execution then show up in Fargo on 9/7/19 and upset the damn Ag school

QB is the most important position. For the past 5 seasons, Rudolph coached the position for UND. I’m optimisitic partially because it’s Ketteringham’s senior year, but mostly because of the change from said Rudolph to Freund, who is both coaching the QB position and running the entire offense. I will say, I’m overly optimistic mainly because of Freund getting a shot at this thing. If he unfortunately disappoints, then UND will have a disappointing season as a whole, also. I’m guessing Freund will be a major upgrade over Rudolph though and Ketteringham’s level of play will ascend as a result. I saw big plays out of Kett at times last season that make me believe he can have a nice season in this new system if he stays healthy.

By saying “Kett is broken,” you are throwing in the towel. Sure, there will be moments of struggle, but I believe UND has the talent and coaching now in place to win 7+ games. And do you honestly think UND will beat NDSU but lose the other 10 games on their schedule? That argument is so irrelevant. UND making the playoffs and beating NDSU are not mutually exclusive!! I respectfully disagree with your assessments and predictions.

Donnell Rodgers is a senior ILB. He understands the fundamentals of that position (linebacker) and has proven he can play the position at a high level for UND in Schmidt’s defense. He was recently voted captain by his peers. You don’t move players like that to a new position and hurt your LB corps significantly. The young defensive linemen need to step up as is. Let’s wait and see how it goes. Schmidt, now coaching the DL, has much work to do in preparing them.

UND needs to play to win this game and win it by a lot. End of story. Lead UND to a big win, Bubba. Anything else is a F-A-I-L-U-R-E.

To sum up reasons why I’m optimistic UND can reach 7 wins in 2019: 1) experience exists across the board, at QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, LB, and DB 2) specialists are 1 year older 3) Freund’s offense will utilize UND’s available talent; it will certainly be an upgrade to Rudolph at OC. Now, to what degree? 4) although DL is thin, let’s not forget that perhaps UND’s most talented player overall is a defensive lineman. I think the others can be serviceable. I think, if this team is managed/coached/led correctly and has a little luck, we see UND in the 2019 FCS playoffs.

I don’t disagree. But it is an identified problem. The culture needs to change. The weight of that all falls on Bubba’s shoulders.

Unreal

Youthful eyes be a glancin’ ...

I’m afraid it’s all connected. Rubes on this website should be predicting undefeated seasons, not the opposite. Amateur hour should be overly optimistic, but around UND football it continues to be pump the brakes.

This here is the biggest issue, which comes down to culture. Culture is built by the leader of the program (head coach). Sad fact of the day: Bubba has yet to build a winning culture for UND. in my opinion, he gets 2019 to do this, or else he should get the axe. It shouldn’t take 6+ seasons to form a winning culture. The majority of folks around UND football still expect 5-6 and 6-5 records ....... not good

Beat NDSU f them f’ers und football’s future has and always will rest on its ability to beat ndsu UND takes a major backseat to the region’s fan base if they can’t compete with NDSU (see the previous 10 seasons for example).

This is all just a little too dramatic for me. I don’t agree with all of it. i especially don’t agree with “Rudy broke Kett so he will continue to struggle when UND faces a tough D-line and LB combo.” Ketteringham has the weapons around him and the coaching/system with Freund to have a great bounce back season. I’m not just throwing in the towel already in August and no one who understands football should either ...

5 losses is unacceptable. Expectations have been too low for too long. Based on the difficulty of the schedule, I’ll say 4 losses is reasonable for this season only. i expect 7-4, anything less is disappointment. UND has to be able to win all their home games. No more let downs like last season vs Idaho State

oh ... I think Danny will be just fine.

UND *should* beat Drake handily. If they don't, Bubba and the coaching staff failed the players and the players failed themselves. No excuse to play a non-scholarship Pioneer league team close if UND expects to be an FCS playoff team this season. Remember, style points matter in college football and to the FCS playoff committee. UND needs to beat Drake by a sizable margin.

Sure, but the AC has a diverse playbook and uses its players well. They run the QB timely, they throw to the TEs on playaction, they have plenty of screen plays and use their backs in the passing game. They go heavy with 3 tight ends and sometimes go empty with 5 wide outs. Point is, don’t say UND had been using their personnel the same way NDSU has been. Because they weren’t. UND offense under Rudolph was not pretty. Effective at times, but not pretty. I am looking forward to how Freund groups his available talent.

His point still stands though. Having the first team offense run a modern diverse scheme is beneficial for the first team defense. Much more so than when only the scout team is trying to replicate the offense of a different team and “challenge” the first team defense. It’s no wonder that UND’s first team defense was always ahead of the offense when Rudolph ran it. The offense was very, very predictable.

This is bad news anyway you spin it. Probably the first bit of pure bad news out of camp this year. There always is some bad news, though, every year. Hopefully no more subtractions before games start.

You and I are definitely on the same page with this. UND just needs to keep working to accomplish this. I cite facilities (HPC II) and coaching as two major routes for bringing in better players. Institutional support and alumni support are key to getting there. A vision (master plan) and leadership from the top (Bubba, Chaves, UND’s new president) are both critical for UND football and can’t be overlooked. HPC Phase II and the following seasons’ successes (or lack thereof) are probably the most widely visible to young student-athletes, though. Let’s keep building, figuratively and literally.

Paying attention to the details is important, no doubt. But winning, fancy facilities and positive relationships with the coaches seem to go the furthest. Being a winning program is obviously #1. Kids want to win and have fun doing it.

Good coffee

On this website, it doesn't take much for "educational fits" to quickly become propaganda as to how UND will soon dethrone NDSU. As someone who has three degrees from UND, I understand what UND has to offer academically and certainly appreciate the advantages it provides for UND in recruiting prospective student-athletes. With that said, it is largely a non-factor competitively in major sports like football and basketball. Sure, I can agree with you that academic offerings are a factor, but UND will not win an FCS national championship by going on a national search for aspiring pilots, lawyers, doctors, physical therapists, and nurses. UND needs to recruit and land better players, mainly, and better facilities will aid in that. Coaching and player development (strength and conditioning) is the other major factor; i.e., getting the most out of what you have. I am hoping Coach Freund as OC can help out UND football with this, but that may be wishful thinking. Have to wait until Game Day to assess that.

Over the past decade: NDSU football has been very, very good. UND football has been very average. That is all. 2019 is a new season, folks.

Prospects DO take UND seriously, I agree, but not after NDSU offers them. Hence UND vs NDSU offers ... Ultimately, UND needs to start beating NDSU head-to-head on the football field before anything really changes.