UND-FB-FAN

The only time Santiago touched the ball during the scrimmage and it was fun to watch.... He's a special talent...need to use the bruisers Olivera and Nevermann readily so that Santiago doesn't get worn down during the regular season.... Having an established backfield and QB gives the offense a ton of potential in 2016...just need to solidify offensive line and wideouts (Stanley and Georges are capable)...

Correct there's buzz building around the football team again (and obviously men's hockey) and we may see another spurt like the late 90s

Touché looking more along the lines of UND athletics success...

Interesting point. Perhaps we should look to history to predict the future; what happened to UND athletics shortly after the 1997 men's hockey national championship?

I believe it was Palmborg at #11, and yes, he had a nice day yesterday. He will be a nice backup option to Reyes and Arnell in the secondary. Sure looks like the staff has at least somewhat corrected the safety depth situation. Of course, that also depends on how the 2016 recruiting class looks in the fall.

Perhaps true. Coach Rudy needs to get on his guys. Either way, Studs is by far the best of the 3 QB options for 2016.

QB situation is not settled yet, that's for sure. It's ongoing. I too think UND needs to be more aggressive with that position. Studsrud is the starter, but there needs to be more top-end competition. Bubba and his staff need to bring in multiple QBs via either scholarship freshmen or transfers. For 2016, UND will have only 3 realistic QB options and only 1 of them is likely capable to lead this team to "big" wins; that is not ideal. Coach Schweigert and Coach Rudy need to adjust this situation; it's a priority moving forward. Good news about the other weak areas - OL, WR, and DB - is that those spots have freshman coming in from the 2016 recruiting class.

Olivera certainly isn't only finesse. That 4-on-4 goal line situation at the end was fun to watch with Olivera forcing his way into the end zone! This backfield has some real nice talent for 2016!

Certainly both the scholarship number and the salary differential are controversial.

Extremely damaging to UND athletics as a whole; successful athletic departments around the country do not prioritize like that.

Faison is complacent with his position on the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey committee (http://www.uscho.com/ncaa/mens-division-i-ncaa-tournament/). He is the perfect example of a lazy athletics director on the borderline of retirement who gives no attention to non-hockey sports at UND. He's exactly what UND does NOT need at this point in time. UND needs advocates for the sports that have the most potential yet need a few more stimuli if you will, such as football and men's basketball.

They need to continue to provide FCOA to the main sports, such as men's hockey, football, basketball, and volleyball. If they can't come up with the finances to at least do that, then they need to cut more sports (such as women's hockey; work around the Title IX issue).

Ultimately, that's all I see with this whole situation. Faison didn't handle this situation properly, and it's frustrating that he does just enough to garner semi-favorable reviews whereas he should be retiring and/or moving on from UND. The athletics situation at UND is a unique one with hockey being the main sport followed by the urge to resurrect and eventually maintain a top football and basketball program; I do not think Faison is capable of raising the funds and/or support for that tall task.

Spring game officially moved to High Performance Center: http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=210889492

Not sure how UND football being poised for a playoff season following UND hockey's national championship is supposed to hurt... If anything, the entire Grand Forks community will get UND Fever.

Yes. Bad deal. Women's hockey should not exist at UND. Need more for other sports that actually attract large crowds (over 2500 spectators).

Coach Schweigert's take on whether or not UND hockey's national championship affects UND football: http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=210881216

UND football needs to consistently win (and that means playoff games given the bar that NDSU has set). Once that happens, UND fans will take action and go out to the Alerus Center to support UND football to victory. So in that sense, I see UND hockey success being largely independent on UND football. Of course, the point of finances was brought up and that does possibly provide some crossover.

Football is a team game. Need to get more than just one player like that every 4 years in order to win championships. That is where sound recruiting and development comes into play.

Umm...Frisco, Texas would look awful nice filled with kelly green... With that said, I agree that UND football hasn't given fans much of an opportunity to rally with each other and get excited. Even FCS playoff games in the Alerus Center offer an opportunity that has yet to be presented to the UND faithful. Hopefully 2016 yields several Alerus Center playoff experiences...

If that financial boost causes UND to put more effort into football gameday at the Alerus, then that absolutely will increase support. Irregardless, UND football winning (or the lack thereof) will be the ultimate factor.

Although I would love to see a positive correlation, I don't think there will be. The support football gets is independent of the hockey program; UND football needs to produce and build their own support. UND football has been average at best since moving up from DII; however, if Bubba and company can do what is expected of them in 2016, then I think the fan base will improve, along with hopefully the in-game atmosphere and features. Leave no doubt in 2016! With the facilities improving, UND football needs to keep growing, as well. Should be an annual top BSC club.

Carson Wentz on Twitter: "Huge congratulations to the UND Men's hockey team! So cool. All we do is win here in this great state folks! Well deserved UND. #NoDak" Exceptional move by this kid. He deserves support from the entire state of North Dakota. With that, this still is a UND site and the majority of this thread's focus should be on Will Ratelle and his potential NFL future.

1 for 1 as Fighting Hawks Go UND!

Hawks gonna be flyin back up north with a championship trophy.... Go UND