UND-FB-FAN

You wonder why Jones' teams have been called chokejobs? Because they are! Jones provides no leadership at all. As soon as Montana regained the lead late in the game, Jones did nothing. He provided no guidance or direction and UND went ahead and just chucked up a poor shot while being more than flustered. Jones jumps up and down like a child not getting his way throughout the game; it's embarrassing for even the fans in the stands. Jones needs to go. UND can recruit top talent, and obviously that always helps, but having leadership from the head coach would help this team accomplish so much more. This whole lackluster coaching situation really is quite disappointing. I keep trying to go to games, support this program and hope Jones can come around, only to be cruely reminded time and again that Jones is not a good Divison I men's basketball coach. His lack of "likeness" is also troublesome. Throughout the game Bubba walks around and talks with everyone, only reminding everyone that Jones just doesn't have "it". Student-athletes played well and the turnout was great. Real disappointing result at the end.

Well, shortly after the school to the south was doing things like this: http://www.thesummitleague.org/sports/mbkb/2008-09/releases/3690215_1 http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/story/2011-12-17/football-championship-subdivision-semifinals/52030000/1 UND decided to do this: http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/und-football-mussman-signs-contract-extension http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/und-mens-basketball-coach-brian-jones-signs-3-year-contract-extension ...despite the fact neither one had even coached in the Big Sky Conference before or recorded any major victories. Not to mention, NDSU was winning FCS championships and playing in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Shortly thereafter: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24248934/north-dakota-fires-chris-mussman-as-football-coach http://www.inforum.com/content/und-loses-two-its-top-football-players-transfer http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports-und-basketball/3634422-und-mens-basketball-ndsu-jumps-out-11-0-lead-coasts-71-42-win-over-und http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-basketball/3892194-mens-basketball-northern-iowa-dominates-und-97-51 http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-basketball/3902300-mens-basketball-ndsu-pushes-69-67-win-over-und In my opinion, UND's athletic department has far lower expectations for football and men's basketball than does NDSU. Its frustrating because NDSU's football and basketball success - coupled with UND's lack thereof - has completely allowed NDSU to takeover the state of North Dakota in terms of following and support. I will say that I am extremely happy that Bubba was hired and I am tremendously excited for the future. Nevertheless, UND's athletic department still has a lot of work to do; the ingenuity for tailgating and in-game entertaining is absent. So, I'll place these here: http://www.valleynewslive.com/sports/headlines/North-Dakota-Beats-Cal-Poly-45-21-For-7th-Win-352847771.html http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/north-dakota-rolls-45-21-win-over-cal-poly

Well, you cannot accomplish great goals without great expectations. Ironically, that has been the downside to UND athletics in recent years; UND's own athletic department sets such low expectations for UND football and basketball that it's resulted in a lack of program exposure and hesitancy within the coaching ranks. Considering there's a working blueprint only 70 miles down the road, UND has no excuses; they need to step it up.

NDSU has achieved two of these in a single season, whereas UND has accomplished only one. I think it is very important for UND to aspire to accomplish all three things in a single season; it's more than possible for UND with competent leadership.

This situation is partially due to NDSU's success, but also due to UND's failures. If UND athletics and Faison would be even slightly competent, UND would have actually been to either the FCS playoffs or NCAA MBB tournament by now. With that, UND fans would not feel as pressured to sway on over to Ag school yellow. Its frustrating; UND needs to do more than settle for only hockey - it will allow NDSU to run the state when it comes to collegiate football and basketball. I understand that NDSU has raised the expectations to such a point where many think UND fans have exaggerated expectations, but that is only an excuse in my opinion. Fortunately, UND football should be (and better be) a annual playoff team starting in 2016 (they should've been an FCS playoff participant in 2015).

This is one of the drawing factors. Considering how NDSU football fans travel, why not play a power 5 opponent in a bowl game where many NDSU fans can travel to? Still, as many on here have revealed, NDSU has logistical, financial, and stadium issues to deal with before a legitimate move-up scenario comes to fruition.

I understand what you are trying to say, but criticizing the FCS is the not the route to travel. UND athletics is presently inferior to NDSU athletics; that's just the way it is currently. Let's not establish a UND inferiority complex that compensates for UND's inadequacy in football and basketball by demeaning the classification both UND and NDSU play in; it's desperate and short-sighted. UND's leadership is problematic, and because of that, NDSU athletics has surpassed UND athletics in support. NDSU has a very good football program that would rank among the top half of the FBS, so let's not throw the FCS under the bus - that's not the issue nor the solution here.

If NDSU makes their FBS aspirations known, I'm quite sure one of the FBS conferences would eventually extend an invite. Hard to say if NDSU is even interested in moving up, though.

Not sure it would be that bad; several would know due to ESPN Gameday. Average fans who fit into your argument likely wouldn't know of Mount Union, either.

5 in a row is truly unprecedented. NDSU honestly should consider a move-up to FBS; either Sun Belt or MAC. They are far too good of a program right now to miss out on FBS membership. Big 12 talk is intriguing, but NDSU doesn't have the stadium capacity to fit into that conference it appears.

Wentz making himself some $$$ already.

NFL playoffs

UND t-shirt; acknowledges UND has other sports besides hockey. Also, football is the sport of choice in both your instance (FCS national championship game) and nationally.

Absolutely. But UND needs to still increase the focus on football and other non-hockey sports. Part of the reason UND and the fans accept such two-faced actions is the ridiculous notion that UND only sports hockey and everything else is intramural; UND needs to pay attention and start excelling in the sports that the country, not just the region, care about: football and basketball.

"Nice guys finish last?" That adage particularly fits well with today's world of division I college football. If you want to win playoff games and championships, you better be willing to make difficult decisions, including the discontinuation of football scholarships for football reasons. Being respectful and sympathetic does not fill seats and generate revenue on gameday, but winning games does.

Good looking athlete. Best of luck to him at the University of North Dakota. UND can never have enough quality athletes, especially those who are considered talented enough to play FBS ball.

So does this coach named Simdorm explicitly dislike UND or are you just speculating? UND needs to add a scholarship QB in every recruiting class, in my opinion, so Bubba and staff should at least consider Perra.

http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/12-29-2015/1303/2015-fcs-college-football-stadium-experience-rankings/ Alerus Center ranked #49, whereas Washington-Griz comes out #1 and Fargodome at #2. The ranking is a bit questionable, though, to say the least. They have the "high school setup" at SUU ranked #20? Alerus Center tailgating is positively mentioned but the gameday atmoshphere is criticized. Personally, although I subscribe to the "win and they'll come" notion, I do not believe UND athletics fully addresses the issue. UND marketing and gameday staffs need to pick it up; attendance needs to improve but the in-game cheering needs to improve as well. No reason fans can't be cued to cheer on all downs when the defense is on the field, not just 3rd and 4th down. The in-game features do not allow the Alerus Center and UND football to reach their full potential. Alerus Center may not be a top 10 FCS stadium, but it should definitely be higher than #49. I would like to see a refocus by the athletic department in terms of commitment and in-game features. Winning will help, but UND athletics can accelerate this process as well; to dispute that is pure ignorance.

UND MBB is broken; not because of the student-athletes, but rather the instruction they're receiving and the lack of fan support. Faison needs to change the program or else it will continue to sink in the pit of insignificance.

I understand the doubts regarding Lennon coming back to coach at UND under Bubba, but what else is he going to do? It doesn't appear Lennon will be an FCS head coach or coordinator in 2016, so why not take an FCS assistant coach position at a place he's really familiar with? For the record, I would be very surprised yet excited if Lennon joined Bubba's staff.

First opening for Bubba to fill since original staff was assembled; will be interesting to see which direction Bubba goes. Lennon possibility? Doubtful but intriguing nonetheless.

Good chance. One of the few scholarship QBs available between North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Would hurt. He would start at guard next season.

UND's 2016 FBS opponent, Bowling Green, is currently on ESPN in the GoDaddy Bowl. Bowling Green is playing Georgia Southern, a program not long removed from FCS and this is the program's first FBS bowl game. Also, Georgia Southern runs some schemes similar to what UND runs, so it will be interesting to see how Bowling Green handles it in anticipation for the 2016 season UND-Bowling Green matchup.

Nice moral victory for the Fighting Hawks tonight.