UND-FB-FAN

A couple 18 year old kids got caught with marijuana. I am not supporting that behavior, but c'mom; they deserve the chance to at least correct their behaviors. Have you noticed that nice contingent of student-athletes at the UND basketball games? Those are mostly football players, so I'd say they have some positive character. Not to mention Bubba has been head coach of UND football for only two years and so far he has a real nice trend going (5-7 to 7-4, including a 3-game winning streak). What kind of trend has Jones put together over his head coaching career? 10 years of 0.500 basketball.

He has the potential to be a special teams phenom...that could be his calling to make a roster

Wow. I think he made a splash. Should make a camp and get an opportunity at least. Doubtful he'll get drafted since he'll be considered a FB which is the dinosuar position of the NFL...but one never knows...

This list is important for one main reason: it allows UND to transfer over the atmoshphere hype of hockey to football, rather than trying to start something new. UND students and fans are already familiar with the fog horn and Chelsea Dagger celebration, so let's use that to our advantage rather than work around it. Same goes for fireworks on touchdowns/goals and lights off for the intro; all things the Ralph implements quite well and the Alerus should too. It's time to make this a UND thing, not just a hockey thing.

Unfortunate situation and they will need to be punished, likely by sitting out a game or two. With that said, they're both young and deserve a chance to correct their behaviors while still playing UND football. Bubba will take care of this and I have faith this will smooth over.

The perception of NDSU vs. UND is a relevant one, although many UND fans don't want to admit to it. It will take some time, but Bubba has produced a winning program so it will continue to get better. I wholeheartedly agree with your statement on PR/marketing and productions; Bubba needs some help in order to get UND football where he and us want it. You can't have a one man band with college athletics. The Alerus Center gameday productions crew can't be complacent; this is the time to act (music, intro, cues, etc.) due to the team's budding success.

UND is on a 4-game losing streak away from the Betty. If we don't want to talk about how incapable Brian Jones is, should we talk about how this team can't win on the road? The FACT is UND MBB is on a 4-game road losing streak; not something you want to take into a conference tournament, regardless if it's on a neutral floor or not. Reno will still be more foreign than playing in the Betty in front of the home crowd.

Suspend them both for 1 or 2 games. Very unfortunate but necessary. If it happens again, they're done.

Never good. Very disappointing.

I believe this photo is of the Lawlor Events Center, where the Unversity of Nevada, Reno plays; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawlor_Events_Center Here is where the Big Sky Conference tournament is being held: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno_Events_Center

This is incorrect. There are plenty within the UND athletic department who realize what eventually needs to happen for UND MBB to take the next step. It's inevitable; just a matter of time and money. In other-words, I second what @UND-1 posted.

Yeah, not sure about that one...

Not quite sure what you contribute to other than disagreements with the vast majority of people on this board. You're content with average basketball; that's your prerogative and I respect that. However, I also do not think there is anything wrong with setting the expectations a bit higher for UND basketball. It's difficult to accomplish great things with petty expectations.

Jones' track record speaks for itself. UND is one of the only schools in the midwest that puts up with this kind of mediocrity (10+ years of no conference championships) and it is quite sickening. Yes, he won the lowly Great West tournament a couple times, only to then lose in the first round of the CIT both times (Air Force and Drake). His other two CIT appearances also included first-round loses to UNI and transitioning Nebraska-Omaha (ouch!). There are so many excuses (young team, needs more time, has finished in top 3 of BSC before, improvement from 2014-15 to 2015-16), but they are just that, excuses. His overall record is poor and UND needs to upgrade, desperately. At this point, Faison comes off as just not caring one bit, and for this alumnus and booster, that rubs me the wrong way.

Fair and I too agree with this. I do not agree that Jones *SHOULD* be retained, but he will have done enough by beating SUU in the first round to keep his job. And, with that, UND MBB's ceiling remains below a conference championship. If UND goes to Reno and loses to SUU, Faison has no excuse to retain Jones. Time to be serious and try produce a MBB program at UND capable of playing with Weber State and Montana; that's what UND fans want - a winner.

Concise list and I like it.

You can't force people to show up. Winning is the number one priority, and most recognize that, but the job that the productions crew has should not be overlooked. It is very important to come up with in-game features that promote an "exciting atmosphere", including team introduction, TD celebrations, 3rd down defense music cues, timely music and good selections, etc. I've been to enough division I college football games around the country to know UND and the Alerus Center can do a better job. Heck, just go to a NDSU football game or a UND hockey game at the Ralph and see what they do; it can be done and it just requires some commitment and effort.

http://www.bigskyconf.com/tournaments/?id=374

What's wrong with UND trying to win the Big Sky Conference in all sports? If there's nothing wrong with that, then Jones needs to go and a quality leader needs to be hired to replace him. This broken record has been on for too long.

I would love to see competent leadership coupled with the talents of Hooker, Crandall, etc. Right now, they're out there trying to do it on their own.

I would imagine Norberg could be a nice FB or H-back type (see Adler in '15). Has the ability to both block with that build of his and also carry the ball some or catch it out of the backfield. Rudolph loves sneaking the blocking back out of the backfield on play-action, and Norberg could fit that role well.

Then make up for that with defense and good team offense (ball movement/assists). Put the kids in a position to play well on the road and not over-rely on outside shooting. Frustrating that Jones' teams are rarely, if ever, prepared to play well on the road. It's time to shine the light on this horrible trend and change the culture of UND MBB. A lot of talent on this team but no direction for these student-athletes; it's unfortunate.

If UND loses to Montana State - making it two consecutive winless road trips - and then performs poorly in Reno, Faison better see through this smokescreen sh*t show and give Jones the axe. Unbelievable. Figures Jones would do just enough to keep his job and keep UND MBB in the gutter....

In terms of basketball, absolutely; however, Montana is the school that has dominance in both football and basketball. Not to mention, they feel the conference revolves around them; they are an entitled bunch. Certainly, they have great programs, but if UND wants to be a top tier football and basketball school in the Big Sky Conference, they need to shoot for what Montana is doing. Going on the road and getting handled by the Griz does not reflect that. There needs to be some changes for that to happen. Even football got exposed at Montana last season, but Bubba admitted to it and has been working hard to address the depth and technique within the secondary (not to mention there were injuries). If you can't go blow for blow with the major player in the conference - Montana - then its not going to end superbly for UND. So, what is UND MBB going to do about the current discrepancy? Just wait for the players to grow through a directionless Brian Jones' system (like Huff, Webb, and Anderson did)? Or will a change be made so that the culture and system can be improved? I vote the latter.

how inspirational... unfortunately for you and fortunately for us, no one here cares