UND-FB-FAN

Ain't this is the truth ... Damn

No spring game: confirmed. Not a huge deal in the overall scheme of things. Most important factor is on-the-field success (aka wins). Until UND can beat NDSU, they will remain second fiddle in the region. Has nothing to do with #1 team in country status, but rather #1 team in region. Just so happens that #1 team in region is also #1 in country. Was hoping 2017 was going to be the year. Of course, under such high expectations, UND choked big time instead.

The relatively unique (and utterly pathetic) lack of a true spring game in the Alerus Center will again occur, I'm sure.

These things require money, which the UND football program currently does not have. Have to reappropriate within the department, patiently wait for some mystery endowment, or continue to have UND football scrape by with the bare minimum. Adidas apparel contract does allow UND a few options, although not to the level of top tier FCS programs.

Women's hockey remains far too stale.

Yes, in regards to Twin Cities advertising, I don't think expenditures will tell the whole story. As I mentioned, strategy/placement is a critical additional factor. I think NDSU outdid UND with this during the Kelley years.

That data is quite difficult to come across, as far as directly comparing advertising. When it comes to such advertising, what folks gather by just being present is about as good of a measure as any; they are directly observing the very metric set out by the advertising itself. Marketing/advertising goes well beyond the expenditures; strategy and effort makes a tremendous difference. To "call BS" on something of that sort is perhaps unfounded criticism. NDSU has outdone UND in terms of marketing and enrollment during the past decade, hands down. It may hurt for some, but bite the bullet and admit the facts.

Twin Cities advertising for UND was poor during Kelley years. Period. NDSU presence far outweighed that of UND during said timeframe. Perhaps still does but at least closer now.

Let me clarify: majority of attendance fluctuation is based on wins and loses.

Majority of attendance is based on wins and loses. Changes made for tailgating and in-game entertainment also make a difference, although to a much lesser degree. Attendance to start 2017 season was great due to work done during 2016 season. What transpired during 2017 will undoubtedly hurt 2018's season attendance. Unexpected wins (Washington, Sam Houston, Montana) and eventually a postseason appearance are absolutely needed if UND wants to reach 10,000 on a consistent basis. This attendance situation is just one reason why 2017 was such a disappointment. Bubba needs to be held accountable like everyother DI head coach in America.

Wow, thanks for keeping track. He sure won a lot of games at UNLV, huh? Mollberg and Bartles didn't exactly produce much either, but why does playing on a poor FBS team versus a FCS team suddenly make you better. It doesn't, quite frankly. Again, another subjective crapshoot we have on our hands here. Congrats.

When did I say "Palendech wasn't as talented as ... "? Furthermore, which year was Palendech all-conference or which NFL team did he play for? Give me a break. Folks around here conveniently forget about winning as the bottom line. If you don't want to consider objective results (such as wins), then everything thereafter becomes a subjective banter act. I think it's beyond laughable that people want to frame Mussman's QBs as so damn good when their respective W-L results were all so poor.

Both poor from my standards.

He was only scholarship QB recruit brought in for that class. This when the QB scenario was in shambles (2014-15) with Mollberg injury and Studsrud looking poor, albeit his true freshman season, for the final 4 of 2014. Narrative at the early juncture was that Bubba was heading to Rugby to find UND it's "future QB". Plenty of subjectivity with all of this, but the fact remains that UND has minimally recruited the QB position; and the few they have brought in have changed positions or simply moved on (Mollberg, Heidlebaugh, kid from Minot).

He'd be way better than our current QB coach.

Heidlebaugh was certainly labeled as being the future when he was recruited. Same with Mollberg. Oh how times have changed.

Next year though ... horrible strategy to always "wait for another year" QB continues to be the most important position in football yet UND seems to be doing all it can to win without focusing on that position. Would help if the offensive staff was enthused (and perhaps capable) about recruiting and developing the position. Instead they continue to push players out of the position (Mollberg, Heidlebaugh). I'm concerned with the offensive staff and their future vision. We'll see how it turns out. The kid from Sac State better be as good as advertised.

Linebacker and defensive back play needs to improve. Lack of interceptions and inability to stop the run was the direct result of decreased level of play from '16 to '17. Either the players that underperformed last year improve or UND puts new guys in there (including those back from injury). if neither the old guys improve or the new* guys step up, it will be another disappointing year. *FBS transfer at LB, ILB Rodgers and CB Harris back from injury, and JuCo safety are the major new additions at those spots; can they play?

Honest question to consider: Did UND lose any games in 2017 in which UND frankly had the better athletes/players? If so, that is directly attributable to overly-complicated, inadequate scheme.

Yeah, well add one more name to the list of opposition. Opinions, opinions, opinions ... this is a damn fan forum after all.

As expected ... Damn Bubba's decision to keep Rudolph may crash and burn the whole program ... watch and see, I guess

Injury history will cost Reyes

Good win Like it with Kennedy and Chaves in house.

- if he did the work You misread my bottomline. I think the next AD needs to be more visible in the small communities of ND and MN. That goes well beyond the "face of the department", that is the ability of the department. UND is far bigger than MM or Bill Chaves; donors want a UND that cares to make a difference and is visible in doing that. MM could do this but not merely at face value.

No, my post was aimed at the impulsivity and narrow-mindedness of some donors. MM could very well do what I mentioned but my point was based on impulsivity. Donors should not be acting on a single move such as naming someone AD. Let the guy prove himself. If MM was named AD and did the things I mentioned than that would be great, but how are we all so sure Chaves won't do those things also? He had to work in Cheney, Wash.( small community) amongst many DI institutions and did quite well from a results standpoint. I wont retract my statement because I don't believe people should *suddenly* donate based on a single move. That was my point. That shows narrow mindedness at its best and that's what UND can't afford to have at this time. Whomever the AD is (and it will be Chaves), they need to be a "DOer" and actuate, not follow or coast along (as some believe Faison did). If Chaves can do that, he'll produce a bump in donations that is worth his actions.