UND-FB-FAN

OLB Dayo Idowu. Returning starter from last season's Big Sky Conference #1 defense.

... And that's because of Brian Jones' ignorance. A department-wide Adidas deal would have so many benefits, such as supplied gear and outfitted consistency, but Jones just doesn't get it. It's one of many reasons why Jones is a bad coach and will be gone after this season.

Noseguard and corner appear to be the only real question marks on the defense. The defensive end, linebacker, and safety spots are improved if anything. No Hinojosa is the big one, in my opinion. Corner has added some solid additions -- in Jahmere Irvin-Sills and Vashon Tucker -- and will have returners like Deion Harris, Chris Brown, and Chris Carter,but the noseguard spot is going to come down to how capable redshirt freshman Tank Harris and true freshman Steve Greer are. Wouldn't be surprised to see a typical defensive end play a lot of noseguard, like Carrothers, newcomer Noah Johnson, or Cieslak.

False. Playing UND is going to make NDSU a lot of money (just look at ticket prices), and the atmosphere will be far greater than actual "cheap non-conference teams" like Weber State and Incarnate Word. Your assessments are far too exaggerated, and for that reason, no one on here takes the NDSU class of 2011 seriously. Due to that lack of credibility, I advise you simply stop positing.

You're not fooling anyone. NDSU signed that Weber State contract last year (2014). http://gobison.com/news/2014/2/18/FB_0218141501.aspx As for UND-NDSU, NDSU has been the last one to act "childish" in that whole scheduling fiasco. If NDSU can play at Weber State, they can play in Grand Forks and prove to the state of North Dakota that they are as "invincible" as their delusional fanbase thinks they are.

Adding those two corners is certainly a positive. I don't know what to expect, but it doesn't hurt to add two players with as much potential as they have. Fall camp reports will quickly fill in those playing ability details, I'm sure.

You're right. Go undefeated at home, beating the likes of Idaho State and Montana State, and win a big one on the road, with opportunities at Wyoming, Fargo, and Montana, would go a long, long way towards recognition. UND made steps in the right direction last season, but they didn't have a significant win. Get those in 2015, and respect will come.

Going 4-7 (3-5) would indicate regression and not movement in the right direction. If the defense maintains its level of the play from last season and the offense becomes a bit more productive, UND should certainly win more than 4 games in 2015. I mean, there better be improvement. Nothing wrong with expecting improvement, within reason of course. I expect UND to go undefeated at home in the Alerus Center, considering how well they played there last season in only Bubba's first season. Nothing would please me more than to smack around Montana State; that should be a fun game, especially if they come in ranked top 10.

If a player is the best at his position, regardless of year, he will play. The point you've made is very important in regards to depth. Good football teams have depth to the point that a couple injuries don't derail their season; that is where UND football is trying to get to. One guy on defense you may have missed is NG Tank Harris, who redshirted last season and has a solid chance of starting in 2015.

The Alerus now has some really nice video boards, so UND best be using them to their advantage.

I hope it works out; need help at every position, other than maybe LB.

Tank Harris is now the guy who has to step up and hold down the NG spot; needs to stay healthy and have a good fall camp. Woodsmall, Cieslak, and possibly Greer would be the others capable of playing that spot.

Top notch news! Pat is actually a UND guy who has all kinds of familiarity with the athletics over the years.

Well, I doubt Wyoming is going to come out and play a complete game themselves. Let's remember, Wyoming was not very good last year and it will be their first game as well. With that said, let's hope UND does come out and play a complete game.

I sure hope Bubba has his UND squad on point in week one (offense??), because this game is a golden opportunity to build some nice momentum for the 2015 season. Not gonna be an easy task by any means, just a doable one.

No question that gameday atmosphere in the Alerus has been lacking, at least during the DI days. Of course, this is largely due to the hopeless seasons where the team is never competing for playoffs. Bring in wins, and people will come. Also, doesn't help that NDSU is so successful and is so nearby; they definitely pull in a lot of bandwagon fans.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Alerus Center either, but when you compare the Alerus to the FCS schools of the Big Sky and MVFC, I'd say the Alerus is definitely a top 10 football venue out of those 23 FCS schools. So, I guess its relative. Also, if we are looking at the Big Sky and MVFC just for local FCS argument sake, I'd say UND's HPC (indoor practice facility) is the nicest of its kind of all 23 schools. That's a huge recruiting plus. The facilities, then, with top 10 game stadium and number 1 practice facility, are coming together for UND. Now need to focus on improvements with coaching offices and team meeting rooms. HPC Phase II would get that done.

Bubba gets it. Mussman did not. Bubba is actually a leader, which is what the head coach should be. I don't want to speak for everyone, but most people I've spoke to certainly wouldn't characterize Mussman as that type of person. He just wasn't head coach material. Doesn't mean Mussman was a bad person or even a bad football coach, just not a head coach. Bubba has a plan for UND football and he can relate to both student-athletes and adults (donors, alumni, and high school coaches) to the point that he will grow UND football within that plan.

I'm quite happy with what transpired this weekend. Anytime you get 8 commitments over a single weekend, you're doing something right. Another thing that plagued this program during Mussman's tenure is player attrition, and by getting local (ND, MN, WI) prospects who commit this early, UND and Bubba have put themselves in a good position for player development by adding players interested/excited in staying. The family atmosphere they've built also helps that.

Good for NDSU. Since your reading comprehension skills are typical of someone associated with NDSU, let me point this out to you: THIS THREAD IS TITLED '2016 UND RECRUITING'! Nothing to do with NDSU. UND has 8 verbal commitments before August; Bubba is doing something right, and it's quite hilarious that you just can't get that into your head.

Absolutely. You don't offer a kid this early unless they show you something. Only extra compelling that it is in person with the coaches. UND football on the rise.

I now suspect the same out of UND football as well, particularly with Bubba's staff and the HPC - available most of the winter for workout.

You could maybe try a little harder to not appear to be trolling. Of course seeing these student-athletes in person is a huge plus. Offering someone based on film and FCS/FBS interest is one thing, but when you see how a student-athlete moves through the same drills that UND runs in practice and takes instructions from the same position coaches that will be coaching him if he commits to UND, that is invaluable. Probably most importantly, you get a better idea of how the student-athletes are as a person while competing and before/after competing. Bubba has recruiting at UND figured out far better than Mussman ever did. Just admit it. Apparently, your "job" is to come on this board and try to reassure UND fans and yourself that UND will remain a bottom-feeder. Well, I'm afraid you may just have to admit that UND is improving, whether you like it or not. Mussman's tactic was to offer many FCS/ lower tier FBS kids early on and hope they would commit later on. Oftentimes, these kids weren't from around here so they would leave after a year or just not fit in to what UND was trying to do. Bubba's Elite Camps help better prevent such mistakes, not to mention his staff is just plain better than Mussman's staff.

Nothing but positive to get commitments this early. Means your sales pitches are compelling to commit this early.

Mussman never brought in the early numbers like this nor did he have the state support/camp process that Bubba has already implemented. Really, Bubba's method of recruiting is far more effective.