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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.

Absolutely, Midcontinent needs to seriously consider producing a half-hour football program during the football season. The format would be simple (previous game highlights w/ Bubba, next game preview, conference standings, and interviews/spotlight on player and/or coach) and effective in increasing the following of UND football.

Additional outlets allow for excitement to spread at a faster rate. Are you actually questioning media exposure?

Very nice piece. It's interesting and exciting in terms of next season's possibilities. If resources permit, I thinks Midcontinent should produce a weekly 1/2 hour football program with Bubba during the football season, similar to hockey with Brad Berry. There would be an audience for it if it was done as NDSU does their football show on NBC; go through latest game highlights, preview future game, and add in a weekly spotlight on a player, coach, alumnus, or position group. It would only help increase the local following of UND football and help locals realize there is growing hype for the program.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/4027741-comparing-und-athletic-spending-competing-schools Per the article, based on UND's full-time undergraduate gender distribution (46.2% female), UND is perhaps spending an excessive percentage on female athletic scholarships at 50.5% of total athletics scholarship budget. For comparison, the article states NDSU has a full-time undergraduate female distribution of 43.6% and spends 38.9% of its athletic scholarship budget on female athletic scholarships. So, bottom-line, UND spends a greater relative percentage of total scholarship dollars whereas NDSU spends a lesser relative percentage. Theoretically speaking, if UND dropped the female scholarship budget by 4%, that would free up approximately $170,000; I know of several UND programs that could productively use that.....

Better than not having enough teams I suppose.... Should only improve the strength of the conference. Pick out the top schools and form an upper and lower division, IMO. Even if the league is split up according to geography, that yet favors UND; group would likely include UND, Montana State, Montana, Idaho, Idaho State, Northern Colorado, and possibly Eastern Washington/Portland State.

Another Edina player that UND appears to have interest in (along with others, such as FBS Louisiana Tech, FBS Wyoming, NDSU, and SDSU). http://www.hudl.com/athlete/178921/highlights/335199679

http://millersports.areavoices.com/2016/05/05/idaho-report-brings-fbs-big-sky-discussions-public/ What is the future of the Big Sky Conference? Two divisions or two separate conferences for football? Will changing landscape actually cause UND to shift to a different conference (MVFC with NDSU, SDSU, USD)? If for nothing else, all interesting questions for general discussion.

#39 for Will Ratelle at fullback: http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/roster/Will-Ratelle/8d35fd2f-3f46-419c-94c5-cd53fe9b0f54 Best of Luck! Make the team!