UND-FB-FAN

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.

What other programs consistently perform within the Ralph Engelstad Arena? Maintenance and updating of the Ralph is indirect support of the UND hockey program; no other program is benefited. So, if 52% of UND football ticket revenue goes towards the Ralph, that is not benefiting UND football. It is, however, either directly or indirectly benefiting UND hockey.

Technically the Ralph receives 52% of what football makes in ticket revenue. How much of that makes it back to the football program? Likely less than the original 52%. So, all this talk regarding UND football making more with attendance and ticket prices is somewhat moot in that those improvements all just go to the Ralph to potentially pump into the hockey program. The Endgame is bleak.

Plenty of room for the football program to grow. That immense potential is partly why so many speak towards it (that being UND football). Yes, UND has 25% additional capacity in the Alerus Center to sell out; product on the field (i.e., wins) *AND* the Gameday experience both are crucial factors in getting 99% attendance to consistently happen. After that happens, then UND can look at raising the ticket prices. First, though, UND needs to reach capacity attendance and that requires more than just wins, although that does help. The Gameday committee that has been working on this issue is far more important than some may realize in all of this. There are plenty of examples from past and present that shows wins themselves won't convince North Dakotans to flock to the Alerus Center. *Positive steps were made in 2017 regarding the Gameday experience; unfortunately, the piss poor product on the field negated that and then some.

Wow, be careful! Some on here might accuse you of being ... dare I say it, logical ... but, but, but, it steps on the toes of the pretty little hockey program ...

"Fuzzy" math, huh? I gave my explanation and the calculations within my interpretation were correct. The approach could be argued. Petey or whoever can approach it however they want, but I didn't include overall attendance for the reasons I already mentioned. Lastly, UND hockey playing in a $100 M gift is a huge factor in all of this. UND football doesn't have such a venue to play in.

My math is correct. The approach to the problem is what differs. I didn't include all of the games because that is intrinsic to the sport's particular season format, not the popularity or potential.

Initial turnout has improved. Largely due to 2016 season when UND football went 9-3. Problem you're referencing is that the students leave halfway through the games. Happens all over the country, even with the football programs that attract over 100k per game (Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, etc.). Even UND hockey has problems with student attendance come the third period.

Last season UND football actually averaged over 10,500 in attendance, but those details aren't important.

What is with your scramble approach? REA manages the majority of ticket revenue (52%) and always sends the majority of that to the hockey program, either directly or indirectly. Don't act so clueless. 52% of ALL ticket revenue - *majority* Does hockey receive more support than all of UND's other programs? Yes Do most DI athletic programs around the country allow a building management group and/or the major donor to manage the majority of their (the university's) ticket revenue? Absolutely not. UND hockey average attendance is approximately 11,500 per game at the REA. UND football average attendance is approximately 10,000 per game at the Alerus. So, does UND football receive 87% of the financial support that UND hockey receives? Absolutely not. The total attendance is in UND hockey's favor, but anyone objectively looking at that knows it is purely a product of the building itself. Basketball would lead UND sports in attendance if it played in the REA and hockey played in the Betty instead. Thus, Engelstads essentially own UND athletics. The Engelstads' personal interests and biases are completely reflected on UND athletics. Not UND, not North Dakota, not Grand Forks, but rather a family in Nevada. Not to mention UND football has nothing to do with the REA yet the REA handles 52% of football's ticket revenue? This current arrangement is not sensible for a DI athletic program; maybe, just maybe, a DII program.

The deal has been made and the [sad] reality has set in. The Engelstads essentially own UND athletics which means UND hockey will always be the program disproportionately emphasized and supported. This was fine back in 2001 when UND was DII in all other sports. Now, with UND trying to play catch up within the DI environment, this agreement continues to boost UND hockey at the expense of UND football, basketball, volleyball, etc. because the REA manages the majority of ticket revenue (i.e., the REA always sends it to the hockey program). UND's "other sports" will always have a hard time with this horribly one-sided agreement in place. UND made a deal with the devil and now we all should understand how (unless you are a hockey #1 fan and we certainly know many are). Large summed donations typically always have strings attached; this one certainly did. For the sake of comparison, NDSU has thrived as a DI institution because the athletic program received an appropriate boost across the board. That can't happen now at UND because of this deal and the Engelstad family. If you're content with UND being "only hockey", then this deal won't bother you. I am not of that crowd and so this arrangement sickens me. I've never been one to understand the GF culture towards hockey and I refuse to blindly support it.

Year four happened because there was no depth; poor recruiting and developing by Bubba and staff during year 1, 2, and 3. Many of Bubba's best players have been "Muss's players": Will Ratelle, Cole Reyes, Deion Harris, Brandon Anderson, AJ Stockwell, Sean Meehan, etc. Let's wait and see on year 5; I'm not expecting any bounce back miracles, unfortunately.