UND-FB-FAN

UND starting to blow their lead. Need to get going again after this timeout.

Ranked UND lower than they should've been ranked in my opinion. No big deal - only time will tell if UND's class is #26 or not.

I'd go with la-la land. I love that Hero sports gives the FCS so much attention, but the quality of their articles leaves something to be desired. They have completely fallen hard for the Ag school hype and are quite biased with it. Also, they screwed over UND in their recruiting class rankings, in my opinion. Just my two cents; I think Reyes will get plenty of attention this season from the NFL and he may portentially get some post-season invites depending on how he performs/does health-wise. He has the measurables, that's for sure.

I would intercept this as a positive rather than a negative, although I think it will be very difficult for UND to win in Ogden. Beating Weber at their place, though, would suggest that UND should be able to beat them on a neutral floor. You never know, though; should be a good game.

I know, I know. I was more so just being overly critical of your post because you left out football. UND men's hockey and football are the cream of the crop based on current attendance numbers and future potential in that department for football - period.

I suppose not joining the MVFC might make some, possibly including you, happy .... But no changes coming in regards to that; Kennedy is currently impressed, thankfully. Mark Kennedy‏@MarkKennedyUND More @dfreund7 @UNDfootball I was very impressed by the dedication of the team and the leadership of the coaches. You make @myUND proud. 8:56 AM - 17 Feb 2017

There is one sport on that list that is a major outlier; that is the sport that obviously should be cut. "But, but, but .... it produced Olympic athletics and fits the UND culture!" Oh please, look at the attendance numbers - it is not even remotely close to the following of men's hockey, football, and men's and women's basketball.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-football/4192597-former-und-linebacker-signs-kansas-city-chiefs

I do largely agree with this statement.

BOTH Deion Harris and Cole Reyes have the potential to be drafted in 2018 (although I agree that Cole Reyes is most likely to go first). The situation bodes well for UND's secondary in 2017. Enjoy this team in 2017 - tons of potential!

Exactly. If you can't beat lower-half conference teams on the road, then the big home wins are certainly diminished some. With the big "end-of-the-season evaluation" looming, the road conference performances need to be watched carefully.

Based on my understanding, it will be something SIMILAR to this: (For reference: http://www.undsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=6399&SPSID=58641&DB_OEM_ID=13500) QB - 1) Keaton Studsrud, Sr. 2) Andrew Zimmerman, So. or Brad Heidlebaugh, So. 3) Ben Bolinske, RFr. HB - 1) John Santiago, Jr. 2) Brady Oliveria, Jr. 3) James Johannesson, So. 4) Austin Gordon, So. FB - 1) Kyle Norberg, Sr. 2) Tyler Coyne, Jr. 3) Brett Finke RFr. TE - 1) Luke Fiedler, Jr. 2) Alex Cloyd, So. 3) Hunter Pinke, RFr. WR - 1) Travis Toivonen, So. 2) Demun Mercer, Sr. WR - 1) Noah Wanzek, So. 2) Luke Stanley, Jr. LT - 1) AJ Stockwell, Sr. 2) Adam Stiner, Jr. LG - 1) Dan Bell, Sr. 2) Grant Aplin, Jr. C - 1) Grant Aplin, Jr. 2) Patric Rooney, So. RG - 1) Demon Taylor, Jr. 2) Brandon Miller, Sr. RT - 1) Bryce Blair, So. 2) Mat Cox, Sr. OL to watch: RFr. Ryan Tobin, RFr. Nathan Nguon, RFr. Noah Mortel _____________________________________________________________________________________________ LDE - 1) Drew Greely, Sr. 2) Mason Bennett, So. RDE - 1) Brandon Dranka, Sr. 2) Austin Cieslak, Jr. NG - 1) Tank Harris, Jr. 2) Steve Greer, Jr. OLB - 1) Jake Disterhauput, Sr. 2) Ray Haas, RFr. or Tanner Palmborg, Jr. or Jake Geier, RFr. OLB - 1) Jade Lawrence, So. 2) Jaxon Turner, RFr. or Tanner Palmborg, Jr. or Jake Geier, RFr. ILB - 1) Connor O'Brien, Sr. 2) Cam Hunt, RFr. ILB - 1) Donnell Rodgers, So. 2) Dijon Murray, Sr. LCB - 1) Deion Harris, Sr. 2) Tyus Carter, Jr. RCB - 1) Torrey Hunt, So. 2) Evan Holm, So. FS - 1) Tamas Stewart, Jr. 2) Chuck Flowers, Sr. SS - 1) Cole Reyes, Sr. 2) Vashon Tucker, So. or Andre Randolph, RFr. or Jordan Canady, RFr., ________________________________________________________________________________________________ P - 1) Austin Dussold, Sr. 2) Connor Bolduc, Jr. K - 1) Reid Taubenheim, Sr. LS - 1) Jacob Holmen, Sr. 2) Logan Alm, So. H - 1) Stetson Carr, Sr. 2) Austin Dussold, Sr. PR) Josh Seibel, Sr. or John Santiago, Jr. or Cole Reyes, Sr. or Cameron McKinney, Fr. KR) John Santiago, Jr. or Evan Holm, So. or Cameron McKinney, Fr.

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.