UND-FB-FAN

Chaves did this to the program by propagating the current coaching situation. Alumni and “friends” to the program also enabled this. If want improvement from here, then make the changes that are obviously needed.

I would argue we will have to agree to disagree. You’re gullible to lip service and friendliness. Results speak louder than words in my opinion, and I hold that in higher regard when forming opinions on UND and it’s leadership.

Yes, with a different coach. Thanks for agreeing with the underlying concept. Bobby Petrino —> Ryan Beard.

Agreed, but the point is UND needs to be positioning for an invite, not taking the approach that they can let NDSU move forward and “hopefully fail”. That didn’t work at all last time. I agree that it would ideally be a 6-team package deal (UND, NDSU, USD, SDSU, MSU, Montana), but as you say, getting a conference to dish out 6 invites will be difficult. My main gripe in all of this is I have no faith in UND leadership right now at present. UND needs to be an actual leader, but right now it’s all just lip service. If NDSU stays the only leader, and moves forward to FBS, then I fully expect them to continue to lead the pack in terms of success and the following/finances that come with that. UND needs to start being more aggressive interdepartmentally (and within their own department, also, to be honest).

So you (and others) didn’t learn anything from circa 2004-2007? UND staying behind while NDSU goes up has not historically been kind to UND…

Those said good players, even if you could get them to agree to come here under current leadership, would then be taught minimal accountability and discipline; and those annual low expectations would then enter into those players’ mindset. End result: more embarrassing losses to North Dakota State and South Dakota State, and ongoing consistent road woes. It’s ridiculous that it’s taken us this long to actually truthfully consider what many, including myself, could see years ago; if you want positive change, then actually change. Move on from Bubba and get a better leader of men. Move on from the coach that is the one constant in all of this, and who doesn’t carry enough respect from his players to ever be a champion.

I love UND football. I’d happily contribute 1 to 2 percent of that. Can we find 99 more alumni/fans that love UND football that much? I’d think so, or at least hope so.

Again, this provides context. Anyone who wanted to be honest with themselves knew this translated to issues on the field, but didn’t want to speak of it until things got bad enough…

I agree. I’m withholding formal comment (meaning communication with UND leaders) until the season has concluded. The photos were only released (in my opinion) because of the lack of success. It does provide some context, however. The real issues here are the lack of an accountable, winning culture, as well as perhaps even the deterioration of it. That can be quantified as no playoff wins, an horrific road record, and a lack of head to head success against North Dakota State University I will say, though, to your point @iramurphy, much like the political season were currently in, if you have any strong opinions, I strongly encourage you to voice that with the University of North Dakota Athletic Director and the University of North Dakota President. Similar to voting, your voice matters, and it is not accounted for if kept silent.

Winners win and losers lose. Culture is so important in football, and UND’s culture has been stale under Schweigert for years, and now over the past month or so, we’re seeing actual deterioration.

Getting blown out by rivals, never winning a playoff game, and struggling beyond belief to win on the road already was doing that …

Yep, and UND football just as well go back to division II, or openly opt out of the playoffs every year… No use competing and expecting championships for our alumni, fans, and student-athletes, right?

A couple years ago, so it’s well overdue. The program is lost until the much-needed move is made. At least the University funded and built spectacular new facilities to help recruit a new coaching staff … that is, if the “leadership” actually acts like a leader and carries out the hiring of a new staff.

Not surprising. This theme was evident last year when Freund left, and most in the know started to lose respect at that time. It’s now just growing further …

We’ll get to that once Chaves and/or Armacost (or someone else of great influence) makes the obvious decision to part ways with Bubba Schweigert. As for my take on the matter, it is hiring someone who knows what it takes to implement a winning culture. That usually means a division II head coach who has done it and sustained it himself (DeBoer was this given what he did at USF), or it could be a coordinator from a winning program, but that coordinator needs to be someone of longevity from that program. The risk of taking a coordinator or position coach that has no successful head coaching experience is that they may be a product of the winning culture, not someone who built and directed it themselves. But if it is someone who has been a part of the culture for a while and knows what it takes, then it worth a chance. There’s certain programs at all levels (FBS, FCS, division II) that should be top of the list for UND (potentially) as far as searching for potential candidates.

I will say that leadership and direction from the coaching staff is critical in developing a winning culture. Players leave every 2 to 5 years no matter what, and new players come in. It is even more frequent now in the era of the transfer portal. The one constant is the coaching staff, and I think developing and maintaining a winning accountable culture is significantly dependent on the head coach and his actions and message.

Saw the same thing: And you wonder why I make comments about culture? First off, read books or listen to interviews from the greats: Bill Walsh, Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, etc. It all starts with culture; that is, accountability, discipline, and high expectations from the top down. All champions were champions before they were champions … Despite being a nice guy, Bubba Schweigert clearly does not have the intangibles capable of developing a championship culture. How can anyone think this current level of mediocrity and contentment will get UND to compete for championships with NDSU and SDSU? It won’t. Chaves should be reprimanded immediately, and obviously UND needs a new head coach.

I agree.

The players aren’t playing with focus or enthusiasm at critical times, though, despite some saying they are. The team is lost. Need new leadership in order to implement the culture needed to complete with NDSU and SDSU.

That’s always a concern when you’re trying to surpass NDSU and SDSU, but yet playing close ones on the road with the likes of Youngstown State and Indiana State …

Disagree. UND is a top 10 FCS program now based on facilities. If there is competent leadership, that can institute a winning, accountable culture, I think the turnaround would be quite quick. Remember, the transfer portal can quicken this also.

Well, I’ve said / typed enough. No more talk today. Just need actions. Now on to South Dakota State. Everyone now sees why Danny Freund (who we see next week) and Jake the Snake Landry jumped ship to conference rivals at the earliest opportunity.

Whether UND wins this game or not, my opinion of Kyle will be unchanged. Does not have it and is the principle problem. Need culture and a leader to institute it. Also, if UND fails to score here and loses, it is still the defense’s fault for the loss. Complete crap defense once again, albeit the early pick 6 hurt. Still, need to be able to stop lower tier conference teams better than they have the past couple weeks.

Again, wake me up when we have a new head coach. This program and these student-athletes deserve better. Right now, the team stands no chance with the complete indirection. There’s no leadership. There’s no accountability. There’s no discipline. There’s no championship expectations. The culture is broken. Please excuse Bubba, and bring in a new leader of men that knows championship culture.

Not really that fun to be honest. Typical loss vs FBS team and typical blowout loss in Fargo, and typical road embarrassments. Bubba ball