UND-FB-FAN

This is a two-sided issue. While one can scream injuries, another can conveniently counter-argue with poor recruiting. I think the injuries were certainly unfortunate and bad luck to a degree, but it also showed that this coaching staff has dropped the ball on recruiting. Recruiting has to be much better.

Both sides of the ball were bad; thus, only three wins. I'm completely endorsing that.

Good coaching always reflects playing to the strength of the players, not playing a game that reflects only your personal philosophy. Sure you can recruit to your philosophy, but when adversity hits like the injuries this year, you have to adjust to the players that you now have available. The coaches didn't do that this year at UND, obviously. 3 wins and 8 loses are never excusable and the fact that people are trying to justify it is even more laughable. At some point with the defense playing so poor, the offense just needed to put up more points or the defense needed to be fixed. Neither happened.

Sure that notion makes sense, but most people who sat around me still didn't even know UND is going to the MVFC. That news hasn't caught on yet for some reasons, probably because the propaganda from Fargo that UND and NDSU are on different levels of classification/competitiveness still resonates within the average fan. With all that said, this 3-8 season won't help attendance next season at all. Even with the improved gameday experience, most folks focused on the loses.

Well, on offense, the backup quarterback situation was a disaster with Brad Heidlebaugh. He can't play DI. That has been well discussed on this forum. I feel the backup linebacker situation was not good, with Rastas and Nevermann being incapable at this level this year. Also having Disterhaupt play inside was not ideal at all - he's an outside player and his playing inside was bad. Murray and Grier were ghosts. Tyus Carter and Blubaugh were not DI caliber at corner this year. They were lost and panicked on deep balls consistently. Ty Shannon wasn't horrible at safety, but he was out there too early. The other players I've mentioned, though, weren't showing skill in addition to being uncomfortable. All in all, the QB, LB, and Secondary depth issues were significant. The QB issue is largely where the Paul Rudolph dismissal topic caught momentum. I am of the opinion that he shouldn't be QB coach; his offense is not QB friendly at all. In fact, it's horrible. Ask any former college or pro QB who was worth a damn: the worst coaching is run, run, and now pass on 3rd and 8. Defense always knows what's coming and will make you look horrible.

Wow, your marketing mind is quite unique. Get a grip.

I'm in the same boat. Prior to this season, I was asked by a few couples if getting season tickets was worth it. Expecting a top 10 season as UND had the highest preseason expectations since being a DI program, I gave them my spiel and they all bought. Now I look like a chump to them. They won't renew and probably won't ever listen to me either. Good job UND football -

UND lost 45-7 in the *THIRD* game of the season. The beginning was the end for this year's UND football team. Injuries weren't everything, obviously. Players win the games, but coaches can lose them. The coaches at UND haven't been able to improvise at all when adversity hits, including going back to 2015. They accept defeat just as you did with your comment, even if you preface it. Competitiveness should never be lost with injuries if the coaching staff and depth is flexible. UND's coaches aren't going anywhere because no one wants them - they are stale and lack innovation. Only way around it is very good players with experience.

Oh well, let's *hope* (all this program is good for lately) for a huge turnaround in 2018. My support may be wavering by then, though. Good lord.

Yeah ... DICTIONARY insanity× in·san·i·ty inˈsanədē/ noun the state of being seriously mentally ill; madness. "he suffered from bouts of insanity" synonyms: mental illness, madness, dementia; More extreme foolishness or irrationality. plural noun: insanities "it might be pure insanity to take this loan" synonyms: folly, foolishness, madness, idiocy, stupidity, lunacy, silliness; informalcraziness "it would be insanity to take this loan"

Yeah, because a 3-8 season during an expected top 10 year is completely excusable by injuries ... hell, the injuries were so devastating that UND didn't even have to be held to competiveness standards ... Ridiculous, this season was screwed from the get go and I can't believe people don't realize that. There needs to be better leadership, teaching/coaching, and obviously better play out on the field. The backup players looked like Division III players, certainly not Division I backups, even if they were young. No skill whatsoever. There's perhaps a reason why many of these recruits that Bubba gets have nothing but DII offers.

Damn shame Crandall didn't even touch the ball on that possession ... close but no cigar, need to do better UND thump Arkansas Pine Bluff tomorrow

That announcer sure likes to say North Dakota State a lot... Another misinformed sportscaster ... Go University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks

https://siouxfb.areavoices.com/2014/01/21/verbal-commit-deion-harris/ Committed to the program; perhaps not Mussman, but certainly not Bubba since he hadn't even been hired as HC yet.

Incorrect. Mussman's

Although the notion of recruiting under-the-radar North Dakota high school kids has meaning and sentiment to North Dakota alumni, I am starting to question if it will work for UND at this particular time. UND continues to have very few contributors actually from the state of North Dakota. Why? Well, North Dakota high school football participation has steadily decreased over the recent years, and the few capable of playing Division I football are being taken up by NDSU. Although many of us may hate to admit it, the fact of the matter is NDSU has a stranglehold on the region in terms of recruiting. NDSU will over 95% of the time get the local talent. The answer for UND at this time maybe to expand our recruiting. Bubba needs to look at more big city kids, such as those out of Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, etc., Who simply have more talent than what is available here in North Dakota. Also, talent in the form of FBS Drop downs may need to be considered. These type of players are never great to rely on in terms of building the backbone of your program; however, after this disaster of a season, Bubba may just need to turn this into a rebuild type situation and recruit better players irregardless. I completely understand player development is a slow process. However, I am doubting much development and progression is going on. The young players that played this season showed very little progress throughout the year and the competitiveness was absent. If the coaches are unable to develop these kids into top Division I athletes (because dammit that's where UND needs to be), then you simply need to recruit more talented players. We'll see what happens, but being complacent and leaving everything in place will likely lead to disaster next season also. I sure hope Bubba is active and looks to make the necessary changes. Having a little bit more ingenuity with a modern approach on offense would probably go a long way, also.

Right On Negative performance reports for coaches and players need to be honored with loss of position and/or scholarship. Time to advocate for a god damn winning program.

This line of thinking is the enemy of this program moving forward. If this is the way Bubba thinks, then changes won't be made, UND will continue to be undersized and overwhelmed physically, and UND will ultimately have roller coaster seasons moving forward. The scheme, technique, and personnel can improve and simply blaming everything on injuries will deny progress in those areas.

Useless offensive mind = Paul Rudolph i feel bad for the players and especially seniors like Keaton Studsrud; they could've been used in a far more diverse yet effective offense. Lastly, the multidimensional use of the best players on offense (Santiago, Oliveria, Johannesson) is nonexistent.

But, but, but ... tempo and competent passing offense are not right for UND football and Bubba ball {major sarcasm}

Sorry to all those gentle ears out there, but when you win only 3 games in Division I college football, coaches and players lose their spot. Time to take a hard look at things Bubba and get better coaches and players. This type of a season should not be tolerated by UND fans - it's ridiculous.

He hasn't had a head coaching job since those superb USF years; who knows what he could do if given the chance to lead a Division I football team as head coach.

Wow, you really took that a different direction. Family? That's a ridiculous stretch on your end. If you burn easy, stay out of the heat. Thin-skinned folks are part of the problem, not the solution. You can question my background all you want, but in the end you are just stating your own personal opinions like everyone else. Go UND

... but, but, but ... one more year, please ... Got to love that attitude. I'll be taking a dirt nap by the time UND football makes it back to the playoffs. I'm just asking for raised expectations and for people to put their money where their mouth (typing) is. I donate in order to see a proud winning program belonging to my alma mater, not a hesitant overly-modest roller coaster of a program. Let's hope this year is just a fluke. This season is over and done with after Saturday, I agree with that much. What should happen to rectify the situation and the 2018 expectations is a different situation and is interesting. Better coaches and players is an obvious answer but I think it's also legitimate. Bubba shouldn't and won't go anywhere. Changes can be made beneath him. People don't want to hear but it is what it is. Let's see how Saturday goes and then on to productive, proactive changes for 2018.

So what's the plan now with Reyes' eligibility expired and Harris' post-injury ability in question? Blame the injuries for any of 2018's potential flaws? You can only attribute so much of this to injuries. I'm sorry you feel it is that simple, but then again, some find solace in thinking that way. UND's senior QB and two all-conference RBs have been healthy all season. Studsrud's receiving corps returned intact from 2016 and those guys have played in most all the games. In the preseason, UND's offensive line was looked at as bening more experienced relative to 2016. Heck, the defensive line (which was supposed to be the strength of the defense) has been deep and remained healthy all season. All in all, I think this team has bought into this injury explanation as much as some gullible fans have, and as such, mailed it in a few games ago. The second half of this season has been embarrassing and it goes beyond injuries. It extends to the young guys (who are available) putting in the work and the coaches guiding them along the way to improve game by game. I haven't seen much improvement; in fact, its been quite the roller coaster ride in that regard. This season has been horrid, but that is only partially due to injuries. The injury situation has revealed several other deficiencies within this program. To think everything will be just fine in 2018 while going about the same flawed tactics is insanity. I think we've witnessed how UND and Bubba handle success, and its not good. There needs to adjustments to the way everyone in the program goes about their business (and the health of the players is only part of that).