UND-FB-FAN

To be frank, there are second and third string quarterbacks from FBS programs that are much better than anything we have, and they just want their chance. NIL will be key if UND can get someone like that. With that said, don’t get me wrong, developing good high school QB prospects is absolutely critical. Really, need to be capable of both (transfer portal and high school recruiting/development) to be successful.

Tommy Schuster was conference honorable mention … https://fightinghawks.com/news/2023/8/2/football-schuster-named-to-walter-payton-award-watchlist.aspx as for a true first or second team QB, been a long time. It is a true position of need for this program, so will be interesting to see what Fruechte comes up with. In the meantime, Romfo will keep developing, and don’t lose sight on the defense which is the main area of weakness right now. Need better players on D but Bubba and Schwenzfeier also need to simply do a better job …

I think in the future the portal needs to be hit hard at certain positions (especially QB)- not sure Bubba’s stance on that, but will find out soon …

I agree. Fruechte is great hire. Would like to see him succeed Coach Schweigert as Bubba has opportunities within the athletic department outside of head ball coach. I also think it would a net positive for the football program and athletic program as a whole. Many times, in organizational leadership, a different lead voice can make all the difference.

It’s all lip service and political correctiveness, which University leadership loves and eats it all up - contract extension after contract extension. Apparently results on the field are very low on the principle metric list.

Those three - Feeney, Kaminiski, and Sulik - have a lot to prove yet, and also have questionable physique to what NDSU and SDSU puts out there at QB, and of course Feeney is now gone. TE screen to Vaughn was a nice play call during Fargo game. Recurrent TE theme on here but perhaps the current tight ends just aren’t that talented? Certainly need more big plays out the quarterback position, but the offensive line and skill position players also needed to be better, with the exception of maybe Belquist and Ziebarth, versus Fargo U. All in all, defense is still the major issue here.

Agree with all of this. Two major issues are: 1) defense 2) passing game In my opinion, one of the above is glaring and certainly of greater importance than the other right now, and it has to do with the background of the head coach and his disciples currently on staff.

Tall, athletic, strong-armed quarterbacks … UND did not and does not currently have 3… Jury is definitely still out on what Fruechte does with that position in the next 1-2 years though.

Frustrating is certainly one word to use … amongst others.

Missed the point, but I understand where you’re coming from with your facetious response. Getting blown out by NDSU time and time again, and consistently losing road games, and having zero playoff success, does all come down to the players and coaches, but the processes in place to select, employ, and terminate coaches, and also select/recruit the student-athletes, are all reasonable discussion points in due time. As for timing, it is not appropriate at this juncture, but certainly will be (again) in December/January. They were brought up last December/January, and again are being brought up now. I do appreciate @iramurphy perspective and opinions, truthfully, because it provides great insight into the faction that supports Bubba’s tenure, albeit justifiably overstayed. I’ll defer further comment on coach employment until this December/January, when the timing is again appropriate.

Sure, all 3 phases; not good at all. Comes down to overall leadership of the team… which falls on whose shoulders again?

You’re absolutely correct. As much criticism as our passing game currently gets, anyone who knows football clearly can see that the major issue at this point is the defense. With the NDSU game, after the first three possessions (1 for UND, 2 for NDSU), it was already 14-0. How is that on the offense? It’s not. I completely agree that the defensive scheme is an issue, but it goes beyond that. The only defense that Bubba and his relatively inexperienced (and inbred) defensive staff know is what they’re running. As I said in a different post, if you want UND to change defensively, you need a coaching change with the new philosophy that comes with it. Speaking to other staffs, you’ll hear the on-the-field opinion quite quickly on UND defensively, and it’s not necessarily positive. I don’t expect anyone to take my word for it, but let the career moves of Jake Landry and Danny Freund do the talking then.

Reality has struck again. …Bubba ball UNI is at home. USD and SDSU are at home. Road games on the schedule are against lower tier conference programs. There's still a chance for a playoff run this year. On to UNI.

Nice guy, but you know what they say about nice guys (hint: they don’t finish first). And about there not being a mental hurdle in Fargodome (his response to Tom Miller’s question), well, the response tells me all I need to know. It’s clearly there, and at this point it’s just being deflected. Mediocre expectations equal mediocre results. Players and coaches need to have their jobs on the line, but that is not the case due to an abundance of contentment here at UND with football. On to UNI.

More road games upcoming … so we will see. UNI after NDSU didn’t go well in 2023 … hopefully 2024 is different.

What does their play on the road suggest? Point could be made that team is only motivated at home cause the home crowd does Bubba’s job for him …

As for expectations, UND can’t even perennially win a game or two in the watered-down FCS playoffs, so you tell me where expectations are with this program … coming from the actual “leaders” in the athletic department.

Would’ve been nice to have not been down 14-0, but, well, that didn’t happen …

There’s much more than just the current scheme that needs to go … and it has to do with contracts. New scheme = new you know what

Highest expectations would actually be doing what NDSU has done, winning 9 of the previous 13 national championships. High expectations would be competing within your own conference for championships. Mediocre is not expecting to top your conference, but just get by. That’s where it appears UND has been and is at with expectations. When you lose most road games and then bring that crappy mental approach on the road to NDSU and SDSU, along with FBS games, then yes, you will get your ass kicked. The big picture issue is expectations, though, because the staff needs to be held to an appropriate standard if ongoing improvement isn’t occurring. But right now, winning only 1 or 2 road games per year is apparently considered good enough, which would be “mediocre” expectations.

Agreed. Was personally told the team would play hard vs NDSU but sure looks like words are hollow right now with the UND fb program.

QB play / passing game is obvious criticism, but the UND defense is atrocious. Coming from the Bubba lineage, this is an ongoing concern. Fruechte brings in new ideas and hopefully will correct things (although today was rough), but the defense is the same ol’ recycled garbage in terms of scheme, play-calling, and adjustments. An inbred defensive coaching staff will do that, though …

That’s not a good thing … as for the solution, there’s one common denominator I’m not too fond of …

Same day, different sh*t. Program needed to earn it and change the narrative, but once again looked out of place and weak. Sure, it’s NDSU, but this is the standard/barometer, and UND and the leadership need to rise to it. Right now it is unacceptable. Work to do. Need to bounce back huge against UNI, but the big picture is, well, TBD

Mediocre expectations suck, though; hopefully UND leadership eventually changes philosophy. Need to rise up to the challenge… and that requires some consistent productive change.