UND-FB-FAN

Well, umm, maybe my previous post or two? It doesn't take long to find my posts that contain fair optimism and praise; don't be so damn narrow-minded. I just don't state my opinions for the sake of pure optimism. UND went 3-8 last season; there shouldn't be a bunch of roses and rainbows after that !@#$. "Recruiting should be all positive (???) because these players could all potentially be great at UND but you even make recruiting negative" ...recruiting is dependent on the coaching. Sorry if you can't somehow understand that. If a player can't be developed and put in position to succeed, then that is lost potential, not gain. Your rhetoric that we should all "shut up" and "blindly trust the coaches" (same ones who just led a 3-8 season) is quite ignorant. Ever heard of constructive criticism? I deathly fear the future prospects of any program that goes without it. Just because you have limited insight and understanding doesn't mean others should settle for that level also. I will support UND like I always have, but I don't have to be happy with every decision nor that UND went 3-8 last season. I am utterly disappointed by that and I hope the coaching staff and players are using the poor showing of 2017 as motivation. If they think like some on here ("it was just the injuries; 2018 could never possibly be as bad"), then 2018 will again be riddled with loses and excuses.

Wow, Bubba remembered that the offensive position of quarterback exists! But in all seriousness, this is a huge addition. I'm still salty that UND did not get a high school QB commit with their 2018 class (foolish lack of emphasis of the most important position in sports). Now, will Rudolph (our famed QB coach) be able to turn the offense into something that at least resembles an effectiveness?

very good; happy for the additional website with coverage.

It's certainly not a bad thing; especially in this day and age, with widespread accessibility through various networks. The days of even 10 years ago when recruits could go under the radar is really quite over.

There was a combination of bad luck (out of staff's control) and poor recruiting (within staff's control) that factored into UND's disappointing 2017 season. UND's coaching staff needs to have learned a lesson or two from 2017 or else they aren't the crew for the job. Just cruising into 2018 without changing some of their methods would be a critical mistake. I sure hope we never see injuries like we did in 2017, but I also hope the backups are more talented and better positioned than they were in 2017. I have no problem recruiting local kids; in fact, I prefer it. It's the coaching and development of those kids that needs to drastically improve. With all that said, a few talented out-of-area kids are also an absolute must for each recruiting class.

It is concerning. Anyone who says different is full of !@#$ or, to use @UND1983's elaborate vocabulary, an idiot.

I'm questioning their potential. That's not !@#$ on recruits or whatever in the hell you're trying to get at. Only time will tell. If your recruit scouting reports were anything close to accurate, UND would already have a couple FCS national titles by now. Fact of the matter is the majority of UND's recruits have not been as good as the overly optimistic bunch on here thinks they are or will be.

Get your head out of the sand. 2017: top 10 preseason to 3-8. Face reality; that was and is disastrous. Damn, there are so many losers on this board. I just proposed fair questions, not statements or predictions to 2018. I have no problem stating how I see things, even if it happens to step on the figurative toes of some poor little sensitive UND football fan.

They big, but can they play? Better yet, can they be coached? We'll find out. "Big boys" up to this point during the Bubba regime have been an utter disappointment.

I hope he puts on some weight and plays DE; that is the best fit for him and it sounds like that is what will happen. If he plays TE on offense, we all know he'll never see the ball with the archaic, ineffective Rudolph at the helm.

The '17 UND team that played Utah to start the season didn't look like a top 10 FCS team to me. They had moments, but that's about it. 37-16 is not a good score considering Utah went 7-6. Defense gave up big passing plays then too and the offense left way too many points out on the field: had to settle for three too many field goals.

Can't continue to always rely on that excuse. Yes, the injuries hurt, but it shouldnt be excusable for the defense to then give up 35 points per game. Like @gundy1124 mentioned, the gameplan didn't help the young guys. The opponent's best offensive players weren't appropriately emphasized and the scheme was not changed either. UND continued to max pressure leaving their young, vulnerable secondary even more vulnerable. Lastly, you need to recruit players with ability. Those back-up players that UND had to play last year were horrible. Why is UND only getting DII caliber players? It's happening again this year; many players' other offers are from UMD, Mankato, etc. with no mention of MVFC or Big Sky offers. That's concerning. Last year's young guys were just not good enough; poor recruiting.

Did you even watch that game against UC Davis?? That embarrassment of a game was clearly on the defense, particularly the horrible UND defensive backfield. UND needs to do way better than that (oh, and by the way, our head coach is supposed to be a defensive backs guy ...).

The issue is that, in addition to not recruiting the position, the QB position is also not utilized correctly. The offense that Rudolph runs is very limiting to the quarterback position. It is run orientated, does not utilize a lot of spread formations or intermittent up tempo, doesn't have a screen game, and perhaps over emphasizes the quarterback run. All aspects that should have been played around with, especially last season. North Dakota State, in addition to also having an offensive line that can run block, caters to their quarterbacks through playcalling. Don't get me wrong, the talent of their quarterbacks has also been really good. Jenson, Wentz, and now Stick are all very good quarterbacks. UND needs to be looking out for that type of talent; even if you want to be a tough minded, physical team, you have to have a competent quarterback.

Doesn't help that UND's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach is maybe the most incompetent coach on UND's staff. Frustrating ...

I have a friend who played guard for UND in the 1940s who still finds it nice and nostalgic ...

You want to compare UND football locker room in Memorial versus the UND hockey locker room in the Ralph? oh boy ... Talk about night and day words can't do the difference justice https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/hockey/3581761-video-renovated-und-hockey-team-area-includes-new-locker-room-and-more "The renovation is estimated at roughly $3 million, funded by private money from the Engelstad Foundation."

Need $$$; improved internal decisions and agreements could help. It's not all on the donors. Hockey will get a multi-million dollar score board and possibly another locker room renovation well before UND football even gets competitive coach offices and meeting rooms and average coach salaries. Does NDSU or SDSU football have to compete within their own athletic department? No

Yes, and that is an issue. Maintaining the current agreement while the landscape has completely shifted (i.e., DII to DI status) is senseless. Maybe not for solely the hockey program, I suppose, but for the entire University's best interests. While UND has maintained the status quo with their emphasized hockey stance, the school 70 miles south has exploded onto the scene with tremendous success.

That is obviously true in most cases, apparently including this one, but is it right? Is it right for the betterment of UND athletics? $$$ often equals power but not insight. Perhaps too philosophical for some (or most) on here.

Am I the only one that finds the possibility that KEM carries far more power than the actual president of UND concerning? One inherited casino profits whereas the other was actually elected via an organized process ... Sad state of affairs, I'd say.

UND, in general, is what continues to receive "downvotes". The recent popularity trend between UND and NDSU within the state of North Dakota is a scary one to assess. I'll let someone else address the doubters when that inevitably arises on here. There are ways to improve the competitive situation between UND and NDSU (speaking mainly towards athletics here), but sticking with the status quo (52/48, excessive hockey priority, etc.) will not change a thing. Within the Divison I landscape, NDSU is currently in a far better situation than UND right now. Citing support for anything dating back before, ahh, lets say 2003 is really archaic and futile, including the REA-UND agreement.

I partially disagree. Due to operating expenses, there is an average net loss for UND football that the university covers (thus football is not self-sustaining). If the net losses were reduced (increased revenue and/or additional support), then there would be additional funds from the university left that theoretically could still go towards football. That surplus is badly needed for UND football; particularly with coaches salaries and equipment. This doesn't even touch on the most important need: HPC phase 2

The Ralph doesn't benefit UND hockey, huh? Wrong.

This is definitely correct. But any increase in revenue (or donations/support) will decrease net losses, which is undoubtedly beneficial for UND and the football program.