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Zimmerman has been the most present for off-season workouts; has the support of the team. Ketteringham will have to out do him in fall camp and impress his teammates to win the job everyone expected he already had won.

Nice rant. Full of excuses as has been par for the course around here. 1st season doesn’t count, shortened recruiting season, snubbed by FCS playoff committee, NDSU fans feel sorry for us, injuries, etc. UND has won 52% of games in last 4 years; overall not playoff quality. 1 playoff season in 4 total; 25% up to your expectations? [insert excuse here] My final statement was 2018 will be a huge season for the direction of UND football; as such, as I said, let’s see what happens. Results speak far greater and louder than all this conjecture; all the talk in the world won’t change 52% and 25%. 2018’s results will change those numbers, though. If UND does well, there will be praise for the coaches and players (deservedly so). If UND does poorly, there will likely be new excuses. It’s been the pattern thus far.

Speaking of, here's an additional excuse (of many) that was recently posted. Man, one can't do wrong at UND unless you've been there for at least 5 years I guess. 2018 will be a huge season for the direction of UND's football program.

One may have to accept that playoffs could be a rarity for UND under Bubba. Is that acceptable with UND's administration? Most likely, football is vastly overlooked. When not the DI transition, Mussman, or injuries, one must find another excuse or embrace reality. Interestingly, and simultaneously disappointing, 7-4 without playoffs could be the reality many are content with regardless of excuses. Bubba has had 4 seasons (fair sample size) and has won 52% of his games (52% won't make postseason). Obviously there will be an additional season (2018) to add to him and his staff's record and I find it to be tremendously important in assessing the current trajectory of UND football.

I wouldn't look too far into the weights for the offensive linemen. I would, however, get caught up in the lack of production from the offensive line during the Bubba era. There has been a combination of physical inability from the players and lack of coordination/discipline coming from the coaching staff. Also, one could argue the scheme hasn't done the o-line any favors either. Lots of blame to go around. Football is based on results; I don't care how much the line weighs if UND can consistently run the ball and protect the passer. Last year, they couldn't do either and we saw a measly 3 wins.

I hope so; the team deserves to have him in that group. Oliveira and Johannesson can handle the duties between tackles themselves, but UND needs more play-makers on the outside (i.e. Santiago out wide).

I don't know, you tell me.

Perhaps Bubba individually does such a tremendous job promoting his program that all other promotion platforms have become unnecessary, along with performance grading of his assistant coaches. I'm not "bent out of shape" about this by any means, but I also am not going to aimlessly shout supportive praises either. A lot to prove in 2018.

I apologize. Limiting marketing/viewing options is crucial for UND football at this time; brilliant ideology from the coaches.

Coaches didn't want increased visibility of their ineptitude? Turning down marketing in any form seems just silly, especially with the Alerus Center's average attendance.

Completely agree. 100% Especially with the defense hurting in ‘17, Bubba and Rudolph kept their head in the sand and didn’t adjust. So frustrating to see weapons on offense (Santiago, Oliveira, Johannesson, Cloyd) with a senior quarterback not being utilized correctly at all. This is where my faith in UND football under Bubba got torched the most last season. The offensive line didn’t gain any studs over the off-season, so I would sure hope the offense will be adjusted for ‘18. If not, it will be another brutal offensive season with the weight being put entirely on the defense.

I hope all these things happen also. Would be a great recipe for a bounce back 2018. Unfortunately, I have little to no idea if the coaching/scheme aspect of these things are actively being worked on.

The offensive scheme/philosophy used by Bubba and Rudolph is anti-passing game. It has to do with the predictability of play calling and archaic formations and concepts. I think the QB position will have a better pure passer at it (either Ketteringham or Zimmerman) compared to Studsrud, but the personnel (o-line and receivers) and scheme is still questionable in my opinion, absolutely.

Completely agree. If we are giving UND a mere 1% chance versus a fellow FCS opponent, then UND will NOT be good enough to make the playoffs this season: 4-7 or 5-6 record this season. I think UND has a 40% or so chance to beat Sam Houston; all comes down to UND's ability to pressure the QB and play deep-ball pass defense. Last season they couldn't play the deep ball to save their life, so that needs to improve in 2018 for UND to win the game. My record prediction is currently 6-5 with no playoffs, unfortunately. UND's pass defense and pass offense concerns me too much; I would love to be surprised, though.

Gotta love a good quarterback. UND should be very happy with this one. Now, development, development, development ... Offense has to become more dynamic and innovative starting THIS season (eyes are on you, Mr. OC/QB coach Rudolph) ...

Thanks

You're ridiculous; your posts aren't worth reading. And don't say I'm bashing high school kids; that's an incorrectly placed statement and you know that. I don't personally attack any players; the judgement is based on football ability, academics, and good citizenship. Nothing personal. These "high school kids" are subjected to the recruiting rigors of college football. They are mature and can handle football criticism (if they can't, then they likely aren't going to develop). The statement that I'm bashing high school kids is completely ignorant and aimless. Nice try.

Understood. I'll just emphasize this statement then: "You doubt the recruiting process this year" - I am skeptical. I certainly hope and do believe that several of these prospects will work out. Like every season, though, the proportion of the class that "works out" will influence whether UND is successful or not. All comes down to development versus attrition. So far, on paper, this class is shaping up nicely.

Let me help you. Your interpretation of my views could not be more incorrect. I don't think anyone here "blindly trust the coaches" ... oh, there are some. "The coaches can do NOTHING right in your opinion" ... a faulty generalization; of course the coaching staff has done some things right. Have you selectively forgotten how Mussman's staff operated? Bubba took UND to their first FCS playoffs in 2016. I do not believe they can do "NOTHING" right; wow, give me a break. The fact of the matter is coaching falls on a spectrum; unfortunately, many on here oversimplify and assess UND football with a splitting approach (either all good or all bad; nothing in between). "You doubt the recruiting process this year" - I am skeptical. I certainly hope and do believe that several of these prospects will work out. Like every season, though, the proportion of the class that "works out" will influence whether UND is successful or not. All comes down to development versus attrition. "I suspect you never will" - step back and look at the overall situation. You're the one being narrow-minded here, not me. I have been optimistic when appropriate in the past and that will happen again when I see improvement ON THE ACTUAL FIELD. Lastly, my pessimism is weighed with the previous results; not conjecture that any armchair quarterback on this site can stir up and write on here. When the actual results (which are independent of most folks on here) are improved, then my outlook will be improved. I will not apologize for being results based; that is the very nature of collegiate football.

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.