UND-FB-FAN

I completely agree. The reason DI spring football games exist around the country is not so much for player and team development, although that is part of it, but rather to provide another fan opportunity and get the fan base excited for the upcoming season. Spring games allow for additional marketing of the program and that additional exposure only helps ticket sales in the fall, never hurts. I'm not sure who is against hosting a spring game in the Alerus Center, but I do not agree with having it in the HPC when the games are played in the Alerus Center. Furthermore, the spring GAME, should resemble something of a GAME, even if the rules are altered some. The current situation is just a wasted opportunity as a spring game gives the fans something to be excited about, even if the game doesn't count and has minimal evaluation/practice purpose.

That's all hypothetical now. But yes, UND likely prefers the 2017 matchup over that hypoethcial 2016 matchup with Kupp on the field and Baldwin on the sideline.

You're correct and I understand that. My point is simply that UND believes they can win the Big Sky Conference by doing what they've been doing; in fact, they just won the conference. Run the ball, stop the run, and play good special teams.

Not UND and Bubba - sorry. Minutiae, yes; large-scale changes, no. UND will recruit to their vision irregardless. UND will beat EWU or whoever if they do that.

UND won't find a Cooper Kupp and his crew next year, though. He's gone and EWU isn't just reloading that type of talent. UND gets EWU in the Alerus in 2017 and UND's run and stop the run plan can certainly beat EWU. Again, don't get so caught up in this conference affiliation thing - it won't change what UND does and plans to do.

So a top MVFC team couldn't compete in the Big Sky Conference? This comment makes no sense to me. As UND builds itself via recruiting and philosophy to compete in the MVFC (as they have been doing all along), they will yet compete just fine in the Big Sky Conference. They did just fine in 2016. Big Sky Conference teams and Missouri Valley teams alike still play by the same rules. UND will not change their current direction - OL and DL.

I agree with your points. Just for your information, though, - as I don't know what you know about UND football - Bubba and his staff certainly emphasize defensive and offensive linemen, too. They are building their program in a very similar fashion to NDSU. UND also emphasizes athletic body types (6'2" 185 - 215 lbs.) that can play either outside backer or safety and also have significant special teams roles.

CAA plays a different style that still worked fine against the MVFC. 2016 Big Sky conference teams EWU and UND competed fine against MVFC and CAA (although UND ultimately lost two close games to CAA). Essentially, don't get too lost in conference affiliation.

You certainly implied it when you said UND's backups don't have "real talent". What else would that mean? Let's not backpedal here. We can respectfully disagree on the capability of the players. I think UND's players are just fine and are at the "MVFC caliber" (whatever that is I don't know - just know it's a concept from you NDSU folk).

And the other was from the Big Sky Conference. This just goes round and round. The MVFC team in the finals got run out of the stadium.

Wow, talk about NDSU bias. Yes, UND's backups have "real talent" and aren't just overlooked players that arrogant NDSU coaches couldn't look twice at. UNDs defensive line had injuries last season (including a broken collarbone for one starter) and didn't miss a beat. Nice try, though.

You are putting too much emphasis on that early 2015 game. Early season 2015 versus 2016 UND teams were quite different. More depth, more talent, and more cohesiveness moving forward. Record of the two teams (2015 vs 2016) speaks for itself.

The front seven on defense is already very deep (deepest on the team, in fact). Youre just over-praising the MVFC now. 2016 national champion came from the CAA, just as a reminder. UND will be just fine. Bubba and Schmidt know what it takes to compete in that league.

Bubba and his staff have been building UND in the MVFC mold since the first day Bubba arrived as head coach. UND went from a bottom-of-the-league run defense in 2013 to the top run defense in the BSC in 2014. The same has held true in 2015 and 2016. Eric Schmidt has molded UND's defense to stop the run which will fit the MVFC perfectly. UND's deepest unit is their defensive line. They are 2 to 3 deep at each position on the D-line. Also, point out for me a MVFC team that has a deeper offensive backfield than Santiago, Oliveira, Johannesson, and Gordon - I don't think there is one other than maybe NDSU. The one unit that UND needs to work on is their offensive line. They have been active there, and by 2020, I expect it to be a deep, capable unit.

NDSU won't be at their dominant level of 2013 if UND rises to the top 5; it's very unlikely at least. As I mentioned before, though, both teams can simultaneously be title contenders.

I can sort of see that, but not in terms of top tier talent. I can ensure you the top NDSU defensive players from the recent years (Kyle Emanuel, Marcus Williams, Colten Heagle) would've been welcomed by Eric Schmidt with open arms. Those guys would've fit right in because, bottom line, they are good players with NFL talent. So, my aforementioned point was there is only so many of those type of players regionally for UND and NDSU to recruit and compete for. It's a balancing act between UND and NDSU. Not a complete coincidence that NDSUs dynasty came during the dark years of UND football.

There is a certain capacity or overall limit for two DI North Dakota college football teams, though. That is, the dynamic is a bit of a balancing act. It would be very difficult for NDSU and UND to both be FCS no. 1 and no. 2 based on regional talent numbers (only so many good players in ND, Minnesota, Wisconsin). For UND to rise up the ranks, NDSU has to come down some. I'm not saying NDSU has to drop out of NC contention, but they won't be nearly as dominant as in years past if UND is doing the right thing. I think that is now the case due to UND's progress and Bubba's recruiting putting up far more resistance than in years past (pre-2014). 2016, and now 2017 NDSU, is far closer to 2016 or 2017 UND than 2013 NDSU was to 2013 UND - kind of confusing but just a comparison of both schools' recent trajectory.

Key word you used was "usually" - Iowa State tends to be one of those P5 schools that is an exception to the rule as they tend to make a bit more mistakes in the hiring/performance department. Of course, you did specify that in your comment.

True, but be careful with that Belicheck reference; someone on here will accuse you of comparing Courtney Messingham to one of the NFL's all-time greats ...

NDSU certainly will have some good players for 2017, but whether or not they can put it all together remains to be seen. I edited my previous post to be more politically correct. Enjoy.

Key difference: Bubba has not been fired/relieved of his duties. NDSU's new OC got the boot from Iowa State due to lack of effective performance. Considering that, situations are a bit different. We can agree to disagree on the quality of Iowa State football and how coaching/playing there immediately makes one more valued. Chris Mussman played at Iowa State and look how that turned out for UND during his HC tenure. Again, let's wait and see. If nothing else, this change at OC adds intrigue and something else to follow.

It is not a grand slam hire nor is 2017 offensive success for NDSU guaranteed. This is definitely a wait-and-see type of situation. It has the potential to be great for NDSU or be an issue.

Iowa State has had a terrible football program of late, as NDSU itself demonstrated in 2015. I wouldn't put much stock into Iowa State hiring your new OC as Iowa State football is quite good at making mistakes. Also, UND's defense largely shut down his Montana State offense last fall in Bozeman (15 points scored; 3 FGs, 1 TD).

I agree

Not so fast! That 2-quarterback system that Montana State was trying to run was a disaster! If that was Courtney Messingham's doing, then he may be more questionable as an OC than you think; reminded me of Mussman and the 2013 UND season ....