UND-FB-FAN

It certainly is important to not conveniently ignore the competive race that NDSU provides in-state. Many want to normalize the status quo, suggesting that NDSU's tremendous success doesn't affect UND football at all; however, UND does need to pick up coverage and support of its football program to keep up with NDSU. North Dakota and Northern Minnesota do not have a population that allows for blatant ignorance of NDSU's success. UND needs to aspire forward progress in football every season, and I believe media coverage is just one such way to facilitate improvement. Of course, consistent winning is also important, but what can be done by fans and UND athletics to help that? Fill the Alerus; improve marketing and game day experiences.

I do agree that hosting the game at Memorial Stadium does offer some positive aspects that would otherwise not be present at the Alerus Center. With that said, downgrading the hype surrounding Spring Games is not the current trend in college football, as the Alerus Center offers the ability for instant replay, in-game interviews, music, tailgating, etc. None of that will be present at Memorial.

Might be a mistake to host the spring game at Memorial Stadium. The facilities and technological capabilities are completely limited. There will be limited streaming capabilities along with additional technological/marketing features. Also, as mentioned in another post, there will be little to no room to tailgate. All in all, why is the Alerus Center with the brand-new video boards being ignored? That is the current home of UND football; it should be utilized as such. I understand that it would be great to have UND football back on campus, and I am for that happening in the future, but not until Memorial is renovated, obviously.

absolutely, leave no doubt. run the table go fighting hawks

Can you imagine how great Kansas, Louisville, Wisconsin, and Michigan would be, then, if they had Nike? Wow! [sarcasm intended]

Saw in the paper that UND was out-rebounded 40-23 in this game... that is horrible. Also, UND shot only 60% from the foul line against Idaho whereas they shot 88% against Weber State and 73% at Eastern Washington. No consistency. All around bad game from UND in Idaho. Also, it looks like the Idaho bench outscored UND's bench 29 to 6. Looking back to the last road game before the EWU/Idaho road trip, they dropped a crucial game to Northern Colorado. This team, under Jones' leadership, does not perform well on the road.

Questionable strategy from Jones. What else is new?

I believe there is a football program deal in place, not a department-wide deal. NDSU football does have a deal with Nike for their uniforms; they are supposedly unique (via font) to only NDSU and not a generic format accessible to other programs. http://965thefox.com/ndsu-reveals-new-green-home-football-jerseys/ Again, in this regard, UND football and Bubba deserve credit because they have a similar deal in place with Adidas. With that said, a department-wide deal with Adidas would definitely be preferential.

As long as this continues at the CURRENT DEGREE, then UND athletics will continue to struggle as a whole. From a rational prioritizing standpoint, the areas of most need should always be addressed first. Right now, considering common logic models and the amount of potential being ignored, UND football and basketball should be the focus areas,. Remember, UND men's hockey is already "maxed out" ($100 M arena, top of the line Reebok uniforms and equipment, great support, ongoing winning tradition, etc.). Unfortunately, UND athletics continues to over-emphasize hockey at the expense of the main sports that every other regional athletic department does emphasize. I am in no way suggesting that UND men's hockey should no longer be the number one sport at UND, but rather more effort needs to be made within the obvious priority sports of this country (football and basketball).

It's ridiculous and it reflects the current ineptitude that exists within the UND athletics department.

Rushed that shot at the end. They made it close, but damn, losing both games on the road trip was not good in terms of competing for 1 of the top 4 BSC spots.

Agreed. UND sure didn't respond too well on this road trip considering all the premature hype surrounding the Weber State win.

Huge 3 pt made there by Q. Hooker

Just stating that this has been a trend with his squads.

11/20 from the free throw line ... Not good. Typical Jones squad once again.

Settling for shots; no quality attempts or drives that result in free throws... Offensive flow is, well, lacking.

If UND continues to play this ol' fashion Jones style of basketball (no ball movement, no rebounding) on the road, they won't win a single meaningful game in Reno.

All of the key defensive secondary players from last season will return in 2016 with valuable experience. As a result, the secondary will be much better. Cole Reyes is the best player of the bunch and is yet only to be a junior. *Possibly* (if not already) could be the best player on UND's roster next season. Both Arnell and Palmborg got experience last season; I see either one of them filling the other safety spot quite admirably. Also, one of the incoming freshmen will get their shirt pulled and add to the safety depth (and/or special teams); possibilities include Jordan Canady, Jake Geier, or Tim Ryan (all three are very talented football players). At corner, experience is very key, and all returners have it. Deion Harris will again be the lockdown guy, and he will be good. Tyus Carter did some very good things as a true freshman last season; after his year of freshmen weights, watch out. Also, the returning experience of Jahmere Irvin-Sills and Chris Carter is important. Vashon Tucker is a wildcard type player at the spot. Although both incoming CB freshmen Holm and Randolph are talented, they may not see the field due to the four or five ahead of them - will be something interesting to watch in fall camp. Looking at the secondary as a whole, hard to imagine they won't be better in 2016. Losing Will Ratelle is a tough one, but with the returning secondary experience and the tremendous front-line depth developing, UND's defense may very well be better in 2016 than 2015. Good things ahead! Go UND Fighting Hawks!

There was no department-wide Adidas deal to my knowledge, and I think it partly was because of Jones' ridiculous views. It needs to happen; contracts exponentially expand the variety and overall supply of uniforms, apparel, and equipment. The Wisconsin deal is with Under Armour and it takes effect in July 2016. http://www.wsj.com/articles/university-of-wisconsins-badgers-pick-under-armour-as-adidas-contract-expires-1444337014

In theory, UND could sign a contract with Nike and be set with all programs. For example, the Univeristy of Minnesota has a deal with Nike, which supplies uniforms, equipment, apparel, etc. As for gloves and skates, appears most UM players wear Bauer. Of course, with Reebok, there's the Adidas option, and that seems like the most practical option. Interestingly enough, the University of Wisconsin has a contract with Adidas and the hockey program does not sport Reebok (the hockey jerseys are Adidas). Also, Under Armour produces hockey apparel with their deals, also (see Boston College). Either way, UND athletics needs to ink an apparel contract with one of the big three soon (Adidas, Nike, or Under Armour). If South Dakota State and USD can sign department-wide apparel deals, then UND with the marketing capability of men's hockey certainly can too.

Yes, this is perplexing. It needs to happen.

It's not an "Adidas" issue, it's a "lack of agreement/consistency" issue. UND is not utilizing the opportunity to provide better uniforms, equipment, apparel, etc. to student-athletes by producing a department-wide apparel deal with Adidas. Rather, there are only inconsistent, program-type deals.

My point exactly (why it's posted in the men's basketball thread). This needs to change. No reason UND can't have a department-wide deal that offers great variety of uniforms, footwear, apparel and equipment to ALL student-athletes, especially with the considerable pull UND hockey provides with Reebok and national exposure/promotion capability.

Whether this team is on the road or on a neutral court, I have concerns. Beating Weber State at home showed UND can win in a supportive environment, but they have yet to establish huge wins on the road, such as win(s) versus NDSU, Weber State, EWU, or Montana.

As college athletic programs across the country begin to establish apparel deals with top companies - namely Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour - I can't help but notice the departmental inconsistency that currently exists within UND Athletics. This needs to be fixed in my opinion. UND hockey dons Reebok, which is owned by Adidas, the company that every other program at UND wears with one exception - men's basketball. The benefits of a department-wide deal versus just a program deal are well-established; because of the modern nature of college athletics, recruits [really] care about these things. Local programs with deals include NDSU with Nike, South Dakota State with Under Armour, and South Dakota with Adidas. There are also several programs within the Big Sky Conference, such as Montana State with Under Armour and Eastern Washington with Adidas. Brian Faison needs to get a deal done; right now, the current state of apparel within UND athletics suggests a lack of focus on sports other than hockey - particularly since hockey has its situation figured out with Reebok. For the record, UND men's basketball wears Nike. Bubba and his staff made one of the "largest little changes" by establishing an Adidas identity. Now, its time UND men's basketball do the same.