UND-FB-FAN

Hard to criticize the 2015 class too much with true freshmen starters Santiago and Tyus Carter starting every game. Also, nice contributions from Grady, Olivera, I. Smith, etc. The potential was definitely there with that 2015 class, but this 2016 class looks every bit as good or better. Should be exciting moving forward with these two classes from Bubba and staff

Absolutely. He deserves a shot at showing what he's got at the QB position. I'm just getting impatient with "half-assing" the QB position; it deserves considerable attention year in and year out, especially with how depth issues there hurt UND in 2015.

Minot kid will have to make the team at a position other than QB. It will be very surprising if he stays at QB and even more surprising if he beats out Heidlebaugh.

I'm afraid this is simply a case of NDSU football being way more attractive than UND football. As I mentioned in a another thread earlier, all of North Dakota's top football talent view NDSU as the premier in-state designation relative to UND. It certainly makes Bubba's job harder, but I yet have confidence in his plan to move UND to the top of the Big Sky Conference.

That backup for NDSU wasn't too shabby, though. Easton Stick put up over 1,100 yards passing with a 61% completion percentage, 500 yards rushing, and 18 total touchdowns to only 4 interceptions. Point is, NDSU has solid QB play. UND did not have top QB play until the end of the 2015 season when Studsrud came back and started doing some really nice things. Without solid QB play, its hard to win big games. Having a really good defense helps.

I completely agree with you. Many misinterpret this notion assuming it means UND cannot be a successful DI football program. Obviously, that is not the case; however, it certainly does make it more difficult on UND when the majority of North Dakota's and Minnesota's premier football talent prefers NDSU over UND. Also, former UND football fans have flocked down to Fargo to support NDSU football over the past 5 years or so. All in all, it isn't beneficial for UND football at all. With those facts said, what "iramurphy" stated above is also right on; UND needs to control what they can control and make upgrades. Furthermore, the job that Bubba and his staff are doing in terms of recruiting, coaching/developing, and promoting the football program is crucial to UND football becoming revitalized. UND completing phase II of the HPC would be tremendous for the football program due to the upgrades in coaching offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms, etc. Also, the UND administrative efforts at the Alerus Center on gameday needs to improve.

No one can be sure how Wentz will perform in the NFL. Most admit to the notion that scouting is an inexact science. With that said, I know Wentz was a very good college QB and he will be drafted in the first round. Be careful not to criticize yourself into a corner with this one, fellas.

Yes, but they only played one game this week. Not an excuse in my opinion.

Well, you have to at least hand it to Jones in that he's consistent. With that, the guy is not a good enough coach for UND. Time to take the steps required to have a competent men's basketball program that folks can rally around and follow.

Yes. The strategy and close-game leadership continues to be, shall we say, questionable?

Real athletic, passionate kid. Fits the mold as a perfect Bubba – type football player. Would be a great addition.

It seems best to look at positions that are thin or losing senior contributors. TE spot loses Zach Adler; therefore, if Alex Cloyd commits to UND, I could see him potentially contributing right away as a receiving threat. Also, due to the lack of depth in the secondary last season, I think one or two freshmen could play quite a bit there. Candidates include Torrey Hunt, Andre Randolph, and/or Jordan Canady. Of course, as we saw last season with Santiago, if any player is really good then they will play.

Too early to know. That not only depends on how the freshmen look but also how the returners look, as well. Spring ball and fall camp will be interesting to follow.

Clive Georges will definitely be that explosive guy out on the edge in 2016. When he got back into form last season, at around the Montana State game, he was a difference-maker.

Horrible mistake in my opinion. Hopefully Studsrud can stay healthy.

The attendance at Reno over the next few years will be horrid. Changing the post-season tournament format was a very poor decision on the part of the Big Sky Conference. I always thought it would be great for Grand Forks to host the Big Sky Conference tournament under the old format; unfortunately, Jones' teams could never finish first in the conference. When the women's basketball team hosted the conference tournament, the games were very well attended and the atmosphere was good.

I honestly do not think even UND's coaches know the answer to that. Heidlebaugh will have to (hopefully) convince the coaches during spring ball and fall camp that he's improved enough to be the backup. Let's all hope he has improved, because Bartels just didn't get the job done last year.

Randolph will not be playing CB. Looks like safety or, just maybe, quarterback. Either way, he doesn't directly fill in for losing Chinn, who was a very good CB prospect by the way.

Good news. Still work to do. Would like to see a scholarship QB commit like Blount. Also, would like to see TE Cloyd commit to UND (again), and another CB would be nice due to the decommitment of Chinn.

Will be largely beneficial in terms of rightful home field. Also, there was talk in terms of a change in time-frame of the playoffs. That is, they want to avoid playing games over Thanksgiving weekends in order to avoid the associated poor crowds.

Bubba improving his team from 3-8 to 5-7 to 7-4 in only two years of work is tremendously different from Brian Jones and his 10 year UND record of 137-162 (57-66). My point is simple: Brian Jones should not still have the opportunity to coach UND men's basketball. He has a proven track record of mediocre to poor results. UND football under Bubba, on the other hand, is steadily improving. EDIT: If UND men's basketball continues with this success and finishes with a real nice winning record, then Jones may deserve more time to prove he can turn around UND basketball. However, he's had 9+ seasons to do that already so what suggests he will suddenly do that now? I do not see it happening in terms of a Jones-led UND MBB team ever making the NCAA tournament.

If UND can't consistently beat Montana and Weber State (typical top teams of the BSC), who cares if they blow out SUU and NAU? Sounds like some people are just searching for any glimmer of hope they can find.

So, when Jones gets fired, do you leave too?

IMO, UND needs to put the full court press on this kid and offer a scholarship. It's foolish to not go for a scholarship QB in this class; not to mention, this Blount kid is good and mobile like Studsrud.

Absolutely. If the game was played on the road, I'd be much more 50/50 about it, but at home in the Alerus, UND needs to get the win. After the FCS selection debacle of 2015, UND needs to reach the platform of 8 wins, at a minimum; that should include a win versus South Dakota. Like I said earlier, should be a fun game and, hopefully, the Alerus Center is packed.