UND-FB-FAN

I don’t think so. He should choose Freund and UND.

There is no way UND can beat NDSU. No way. No way. No way. Never been done. Oh, and, no way ... Screw NDSU. UND can get it done. So can NDSU, obviously. I'm going to just wait until September 7th and enjoy a great football game. Thank you.

Probably the most fair point of all. UND could go anywhere from undefeated to winless as of now. Yes, the predictions are probably 6 to 7 win range, but we’ll see. The first game against Drake will be telling. Even in last year’s first game, against very bad Mississippi Valley State, you could see that the offense was going to be the Achilles’ heel for the 2018 team. Guess what? It was. Drake is a tough Pioneer League team. If UND lights up the scoreboard against them, then count me in as officially excited for the Freund-run offense.

Well, technically NDSU

No Let’s see if a Bubba-led program can win a playoff game for starters.

UND should NOT have expectations of the average FCS program. Therein lies a crucial problem with expectations. When the hiring practices and performance evaluations at UND Athletics are finally held to this competitive standard, then UND will be heading the right direction. Sounds like Chaves may be willing to spearhead this much needed movement.

I know, I know. The schedule is brutal so we should all adjust our expectations a bit. Expect another medicore season, and it will all be okay! As a student-athlete and/or coach trying to compete, you have any idea how stupid that sounds? Man, our fan base is so overly cautious now compared to the good ol’ D2 days. Another 6 win season and Bubba should get the axe. This is reality in the FCS; you play the best to be the best. I can’t believe how irrationally conservative some are. I expect 8 wins with the schedule helping UND, not hurting. 8 wins with that thing and UND could be a seeded team.

Or perhaps he realizes it is the coach. After speaking with him, Sather might just be every bit as exciting to play for as Brian Jones (if not more so).

Agree to disagree. Gray just looks bland and, well, not good in my opinion. If you want something occasionally different than kelly green and white, go with black alternate uniforms. But don't get me wrong, UND's teams (including football) need to just wear kelly green more often than not.

This will end up as, how do you say it, ... he gone! I hope not.

Nice that the 2019 UND football team officially has a preseason All-American football player. Congrats Mason Bennett! Here’s to hoping the 2019 UND team has more postseason All-Americans than preseason All-Americans ...

Watched this kid play HS ball against GFC a year ago; he stood out in a big way. Didn’t realize he was the top high school player in ND, but he definitely impressed me watching him play.

Watched the press conference ... pretty standard presser but I'd say (based on a very limited sample size) Coach Sather will fit well into the Grand Forks and UND community. He has that genuine Midwest vibe that often does well in Grand Forks and at UND. Now, of course, winning basketball games is the other very important factor that will take some time to observe. I do think his teams will play hard and demonstrate the effort on defense that some of Jones' teams lacked.

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/education/4460370-new-usage-agreement-being-negotiated-between-und-ralph-engelstad-arena The shared ticket revenue agreement between UND and RE Arena Inc. is in fact the most controversial, and perhaps damaging, component of the UND Athletics Department budget, so I commend you for recognizing that in your post. Every $ counts when it comes to enhancing football and basketball and I have a hard time seeing how a 6 MILLION DOLLAR hockey scoreboard directly boosts football and basketball (especially with some FB and BB ticket revenue paying for it); BUT, this is a MBB coaching thread so I digress. Best of luck to Coach Sather. It is a relevant argument that Northern State emphasizes their basketball program whereas UND certainly does not. Can Coach Sather make more out of less at UND? We will see. Go UND

We can agree to disagree. No one, not even Chaves, is going to dare de-fund the hockey budget. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/education/4460370-new-usage-agreement-being-negotiated-between-und-ralph-engelstad-arena%3famp https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/education/4578987-mcgarry-no-engelstad-money-while-kennedy-und https://fightinghawks.com/news/2019/1/22/mens-hockey-ralph-engelstad-arena-to-install-largest-center-hung-video-board-in-college-hockey.aspx

He costed too much. Heard he was contacted by Chaves and he was interested, but not for the ridiculously limited salary UND could offer. Remember, hockey is not only king, but it also dictates. Welcome, Coach Sather. Best of luck. Go UND.

Running back situation is not ideal. I do not think UND backfield is completely incapable now - with McKinney, Johannesson, and Gordon - but it will be very susceptible to injuries. Unfortunately both McKinney and Johannesson have issues staying healthy for a full season. Have to hope for a bit of luck this season, which UND hasn’t been getting lately when it comes to the injury bug. End of the day, I still think this leaves Bubba skating on thin ice for the 2019 season. Will UND and Chaves put up with a losing season in 2019 due to the most difficult schedule of all times?

Neat

Right, I don’t support UND football .... Again, you’ve outdone yourself.

Oh absolutely, I agree. Take notes, @geaux_sioux; this is how you intelligibly respond. UND has to control what they can control; focus on themselves and get the best players available to them. In the meantime, UND fans also should hope the NDSU dynasty somehow implodes. If it doesn’t, and it hasn’t yet, then the uphill battle for UND remains very steep.

Good one. This instantly makes everything I have ever said false, I guess ........

6 for UND versus 60 for NDSU? Hey guy, it is okay; reality has never really been your strong suit. You can call it negativity, that’s fine. It’s pretty obvious to anyone with an ounce of objectivity, though, that NDSU has become the all-time most successful FCS program. UND has put up minimal resistance in that.

The ol’ Locality vs. Ability argument is a good one, but having followed UND for too many years, I lean towards ability now. I don’t care If the candidate has ever been to ND or even the Midwest, I just want the best ability. Now, if you can have both, great!

Having heavy UND family ties is about the ONLY way for UND to get players over NDSU these days (and NDSU not offering, I suppose). DISCLAIMER: I am not saying NDSU offered Lotysz, but they might.

I’d say this guy is my favorite. I have no insider information to say he is Chaves favorite, but anytime you go undefeated at ANY level, that is impressive. 38-0 just this past season. Chaves NEEDS to put the “full court press” on this guy.