UND-FB-FAN

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" Why should we expect different - like actually competing with NDSU or SDSU - unless there’s legitimate change? New facilities could be considered this I suppose. Next 1-2 years will be telling, but don’t lose sight of the fact coaching matters. There’s a reason they get paid what they get paid … coaching is influential and plays a major role in the wins and the losses.

Size (namely height) is a metric used in the evaluation of quarterbacks; has been for years. Is it a hard rule? Of course not, as there’s been several “smaller” quarterbacks who’ve been successful due to intangibles and athleticism, but this is an overall exception to the rule that you’d like to have quarterback(s) with certain size parameters if possible. To your earlier point, in addition to this, UND also needs to do a better job developing quarterback. Current OC/QB coach hasn’t even had his job for a year yet, so still to be determined what QB room will look like a year or two from now for UND.

Sorry, no love for anyone, just my observations. Coach Freuchte has brought a much needed outside perspective, as did Coach Olson. Still a lot to be determined, namely quarterback development and recruiting, but the offensive scheme and play-calling has been overall good thus far. As for head coach, that job has a different set of job expectations than a coordinator job, obviously. It’s an apple to oranges comparison, really. However, for the sake of argument, what has Bubba Schweigert - a “defensive” coach - brought to UND’s defense? UND’s defense is easily the weakest unit on the entire team, and has been for years. But to my point, from a head coach perspective, would like to see better leadership and preparedness of the team in road games, for sure, but also big games. Bubba vocalized it during most recent press conference, but the response by fans was fair: it’s been 11 years so why is he now just providing lip service towards his awful road record and record in big games? Seems like he looks to appease whatever narrative will keep him in somewhat favorable graces with his bosses. Nonetheless, a lot of season left. Will be interesting to see if this team ascends during the second half or pulls a 2023 and descends (which in my opinion would then lead to the whole “change of direction” discussion again come December).

Caden had a drop in Fargo game on third down on a fake bubble vertical route on the sideline. Changed momentum in the game as would’ve been a 1st down in the red zone instead UND settled for field goal.

Yeah … not ideal. Again, transfer portal AND quarterback high school recruiting with Fruechte will be critical moving forward.

Game was over but shouldn’t have been over. Until UND grows in confidence and realizes they have to play big boy football in order to compete with NDSU and SDSU, they will continue to be embarrassed in this region competitively against the best. Sitting your starters in the 4th quarter is not a way to communicate urgency, so I’m fine with them still playing everyone in the fourth. As you said, you only lose respect if you play the less talented guy and play favorites, and it sure seems like people are sh*ting on Romfo and picking favorites with Kaminski given what they know right now. I’m fine Kaminski didn’t see the field, but I’m not fine with how UND played and how they were prepared going into the game; in fact, I’m slightly embarrassed having had to endure that full game in-person with loud-mouth crude Fargo fans all around.

Anyone who knows Bubba knows there’s certainly some stubbornness… he’s in the twilight years of his coaching career, and certainly not the beginning of it (which is when flexibility and ability to change is more likely).

We’ve seen him in a game, and the coaches see routinely in practice. He’s not “way” bigger but I see where you’re going with this. Kaminski is listed at 6-2 200 lbs, but doesn’t quite look that big in person. For example, Cole Payton, for NDSU, is 6-3, 234, and the difference in appearance in person is apparent. Once again, this back up quarterback infatuation is quite predictable and routinely not fruitful.

Payton and Kaminiski are in two different leagues … and playing styles.

Sad truth/reality

To be frank, there are second and third string quarterbacks from FBS programs that are much better than anything we have, and they just want their chance. NIL will be key if UND can get someone like that. With that said, don’t get me wrong, developing good high school QB prospects is absolutely critical. Really, need to be capable of both (transfer portal and high school recruiting/development) to be successful.

Tommy Schuster was conference honorable mention … https://fightinghawks.com/news/2023/8/2/football-schuster-named-to-walter-payton-award-watchlist.aspx as for a true first or second team QB, been a long time. It is a true position of need for this program, so will be interesting to see what Fruechte comes up with. In the meantime, Romfo will keep developing, and don’t lose sight on the defense which is the main area of weakness right now. Need better players on D but Bubba and Schwenzfeier also need to simply do a better job …

I think in the future the portal needs to be hit hard at certain positions (especially QB)- not sure Bubba’s stance on that, but will find out soon …

I agree. Fruechte is great hire. Would like to see him succeed Coach Schweigert as Bubba has opportunities within the athletic department outside of head ball coach. I also think it would a net positive for the football program and athletic program as a whole. Many times, in organizational leadership, a different lead voice can make all the difference.

It’s all lip service and political correctiveness, which University leadership loves and eats it all up - contract extension after contract extension. Apparently results on the field are very low on the principle metric list.

Those three - Feeney, Kaminiski, and Sulik - have a lot to prove yet, and also have questionable physique to what NDSU and SDSU puts out there at QB, and of course Feeney is now gone. TE screen to Vaughn was a nice play call during Fargo game. Recurrent TE theme on here but perhaps the current tight ends just aren’t that talented? Certainly need more big plays out the quarterback position, but the offensive line and skill position players also needed to be better, with the exception of maybe Belquist and Ziebarth, versus Fargo U. All in all, defense is still the major issue here.

Agree with all of this. Two major issues are: 1) defense 2) passing game In my opinion, one of the above is glaring and certainly of greater importance than the other right now, and it has to do with the background of the head coach and his disciples currently on staff.

Tall, athletic, strong-armed quarterbacks … UND did not and does not currently have 3… Jury is definitely still out on what Fruechte does with that position in the next 1-2 years though.

Frustrating is certainly one word to use … amongst others.

Missed the point, but I understand where you’re coming from with your facetious response. Getting blown out by NDSU time and time again, and consistently losing road games, and having zero playoff success, does all come down to the players and coaches, but the processes in place to select, employ, and terminate coaches, and also select/recruit the student-athletes, are all reasonable discussion points in due time. As for timing, it is not appropriate at this juncture, but certainly will be (again) in December/January. They were brought up last December/January, and again are being brought up now. I do appreciate @iramurphy perspective and opinions, truthfully, because it provides great insight into the faction that supports Bubba’s tenure, albeit justifiably overstayed. I’ll defer further comment on coach employment until this December/January, when the timing is again appropriate.

Sure, all 3 phases; not good at all. Comes down to overall leadership of the team… which falls on whose shoulders again?

You’re absolutely correct. As much criticism as our passing game currently gets, anyone who knows football clearly can see that the major issue at this point is the defense. With the NDSU game, after the first three possessions (1 for UND, 2 for NDSU), it was already 14-0. How is that on the offense? It’s not. I completely agree that the defensive scheme is an issue, but it goes beyond that. The only defense that Bubba and his relatively inexperienced (and inbred) defensive staff know is what they’re running. As I said in a different post, if you want UND to change defensively, you need a coaching change with the new philosophy that comes with it. Speaking to other staffs, you’ll hear the on-the-field opinion quite quickly on UND defensively, and it’s not necessarily positive. I don’t expect anyone to take my word for it, but let the career moves of Jake Landry and Danny Freund do the talking then.

Reality has struck again. …Bubba ball UNI is at home. USD and SDSU are at home. Road games on the schedule are against lower tier conference programs. There's still a chance for a playoff run this year. On to UNI.

Nice guy, but you know what they say about nice guys (hint: they don’t finish first). And about there not being a mental hurdle in Fargodome (his response to Tom Miller’s question), well, the response tells me all I need to know. It’s clearly there, and at this point it’s just being deflected. Mediocre expectations equal mediocre results. Players and coaches need to have their jobs on the line, but that is not the case due to an abundance of contentment here at UND with football. On to UNI.

More road games upcoming … so we will see. UNI after NDSU didn’t go well in 2023 … hopefully 2024 is different.