UND-FB-FAN

As for those members of the Champions Club, I am one - along with likely many on this board - and I certainly would like to see a presence at all home games. If it's cold, that's even more of a reason to host an event so that people show up, not shut it down and deter tailgating and the crowd even further. If it's moved inside, great, just make sure people realize that, even the casual fans. There needs to be a better presence at the most popular sport in the country of North Dakota's flagship university. Just a pure lack of effort and commitment towards football that needs to change. Same goes for in the Alerus during pre-game and the in-game entertainment features; needs to improve. I'm optimistic the winning product put on the field by Bubba will motivate the athletics' staff to do more. Better team intro (lights off), better TD celebration setup, more music, more features (highlights, team/player stories), etc.

UND starting to earn some recognition: http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20160602102752085795904 Again, what NDSU has been doing hurts UND's exposure and even game attendance; nevertheless, Bubba certainly has everything moving in the right direction. Go UND!

The matchup to watch, according to this poll, Craig Haley, and others, is the last Big Sky Conference game of the season for UND: vs Northern Arizona in the Alerus Center on November 12. Man I hope the Alerus is rocking and Bubba Blitz is crushing the pass-happy lumberjacks and Case Cookus. I was disappointed at how poorly coordinated and attended the last home game of the season was in 2015. It was against Northern Colorado and the team was yet alive for a playoff spot; yet, there was no Champions Club tent setup and the attendance was piss poor. Nevertheless, that's a topic for another thread (i.e. give a half-ass effort and improve the gameday atmosphere).

Although UND lost some good ones, Knauf and Rudolph are talking like some of these first-year starters have what it takes to be very good, perhaps even better than 2015's group down the road. Demon Taylor, Matt Cox, Dan Bell, and even Grant Aplin and Patric Rooney all have solid potential. Throw in returner AJ Stockwell and hopefully Elijah Grady and I think UND's offensive line has a real good chance in 2016.

I was moreso referencing the difficult Mussman years that initially sparked the "low summer workout attendance" debates. Before that, from what I understand, Lennon did a tremendous job with the summer turnout.

It has improved since those days, no question.

UND's week 1 opponent, Stony Brook University, recently added an FBS transfer offensive lineman from the University of Maryland: http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/maryland-terps/former-maryland-ol-transfers-fcs-school-can-play-immediately That week 1 battle will be a physical one. Great test to see just how physical the Hawks are going to be in 2016. It all starts up front with UND's tremendous d-line depth. Go UND!

2016 captains: http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-football/4043654-college-football-und-names-captains QB Keaton Studsrud TE Luke Mathewson LB Connor O'Brien S Cole Reyes Good bunch. Go UND!

Top photo: Baylor University Bottom photo: Arizona State University

The QB depth behind Studsrud is certainly a concern, which is why the development of Brad Heidlebaugh and the recruiting class of 2017 (Edina's Brock Boltmann is heavy favorite; http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3360892/highlights/305358386) are so very crucial to the QB position moving forward.

Winning record (7-4) and a ton of returners will usually do it... Hopefully hype leads to big Alerus Center crowds because it's certainly overdue. I suppose UND following up on the hype and just winning will be the largest factor in the attendance debate. Go UND! Big things in 2016.

Yes, but that also could deter him from transferring to another FBS program (desire to play immediately).

There are several possibilities as to why. As for your second question, You don't have to sit for a year if it's to an FCS school (FBS to FBS transfer without waiver requires one year of ineligibility). Also, going off of Wentz being the No. 2 pick this season in the NFL draft, FCS or FBS doesn't matter if you can play. Certainly hope this works out. https://www.google.com/amp/www.vivathematadors.com/platform/amp/2016/5/25/11777424/texas-tech-db-nigel-bethel-to-transfer#

Per SFI (http://siouxfb.areavoices.com/2016/05/24/roster-recruiting-updates/), UND is actively recruiting 3 positions of need for the 2016 season: corner, offensive line, and receiver. All three spots are areas of depth concern, and after last season, everyone including the staff realizes how important depth is to winning a conference championship. JUCO WR Sergio Bailey is being recruited by UND (Missouri State and Eastern Michigan have also offered) - http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1521730/sergio-bailey-ii Offensive lineman Michael Coe is also being recruited by UND. He is a DII graduate. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1678941/michael-coe Also, UND appears to be actively recruiting an FBS cornerback. If UND is fortunate enough to acquire 3 talented student-athletes at the aforementioned 3 spots, then UND will be in good shape to contend for the Big Sky Conference championship in 2016! Go UND!

WR and OL need to be addressed as well. In all honesty, those two positions are more thin than corner. Perfect scenario would be solid additions to all three spots: CB, WR, OL.

Yes.

Montana State's projected QB for 2016 is Tyler Bruggman. I think UND can get after him pretty good and hold their offense down. I expect UND to win this game, especially if they play well to start the season on the road vs Stony Brook and Bowling Green. Bruggman was at Washington State in 2013, Louisville in 2014, and Scottsdale Comminity College (AZ) in 2015. http://www.msubobcats.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3287&path=football http://www.msubobcats.com/news/2016/1/10/FB_0110162822.aspx?path=football

You are correct. UND ran all over Montana State. Here's the reminder:

UND is a top 3 favorite to win the conference this season, in my opinion. Bubba has UND football finally believing in big things at the DI level! About time! The September game in Bozeman is the road game I am going to try get to this season. UND beat Montana State in Grand Forks last season, so now its time to complete the sweep and get the win in Bozeman. UND should be able to still run on them pretty good, and with a new QB for Montana State, hopefully the bubba blitz gets after their offense pretty good also. GO UND! LETS GO HAWKS!

Numbers and measurables are great, but what Bubba and the current coaches are now doing with summer camps as combines/recruiting tools is spectacular. By getting the kids on campus, that allows the staff to evaluate the recruits in-person before offering. All in all, I'd say it has allowed for some pretty good classes thus far. The classes of 2014 and 2015 have been real productive. Of course, the teaching and development this staff does is quite good too. Keep up that work and UND football will have both very good talent and very good depth in a year or two. Right now, this team has good talent but minimal depth.

Georges, Reed, and Stanley provide more than capable ability at the receiver position; however, after them, it gets scary thin. Hopefully the young players and incoming freshmen surprise this year at WR and provide quality depth. Incoming JUCO player hopefully helps as well. Need receivers to keep defense honest with UND's running game. I feel really good about Keaton having a big season; that is, if he plays the whole season... Backup QB situation is also scary. Depth improving but not yet where it needs to be at all positions

Speed is improving...

Reyes has always been one of the fastest players on the team. He's also one of the most talented players on the roster, in my opinion. True All-American type of ability for 2016.

Don't do that - that could hurt the feelings of those with a misshaped sense of reality. Oh, and I hear there are a few of those within the athletic department...

UND Sports Extra "lumps" all non-hockey sports into a single half-hour slot with little time for Bubba to go through highlights and preview the next game. Not to mention, player/coach spotlight stories are not done every week; however, if done every week they would certainly help UND football with program exposure. See NDSU football program on NBC and UND hockey with Brad Berry on Midcontinent. Simple and effective.